Hi everyone,
I hope you had a wonderful weekend. Mine was busy again as usual, but I managed to find some time to make a few “changes” to Ruby Red Fashion Friends doll, Violette’s dress. (That’s a mouth full!) I was thinking about how I was going to fix it because I saw a really cute dress in my head but wasn’t sure about how to bring it alive. This is my first 1920’s doll dress… that I can recall. So, I went back and studied the 5 comments left from my readers and tried to figure out how to do what they were saying…
This is what you all mentioned…
Charlotte… you said this fabric was probably Georgette and I believe you were right. I just don’t know WHAT KIND of Georgette this is… There is pure silk Georgette, polyester Georgette, crepe Georgette, Chiffon Georgette, jacquard, satin, double, stretch, and nylon Georgette. I found an article on it which said Georgette fabric is woven using tightly twisted S and Z yarns, which are twisted in opposite direction. The tight weave creates slight puckers on the fabrics surface, giving it a distinct crinkled finish.
I looked for a tag in the dress I cut up but the only thing in the dress is a piece of place lace about 2″ x 4″ with a cream piece of satin slightly smaller on the top of that with a keyhole cut out of it. That’s the label… I looked for a garment tag inside the dress, but it has been but out. When I cut off a piece of the fabric, it’s almost like super fine wavy threads. It hasn’t been easy to sew, as it’s slippery as well as very fine and sheer. BUT… I’m over the hump now and will keep going.
Marilyn… you suggested Violette might need a pair of T-strap shoes to go with the 20’s dress. I didn’t think I had any, but I found a pair of cream ivory shoes for the Little Darlings that will have to work. Her toes are a bit scrunched, but I got her feet in them…
You also mentioned Violette was the perfect model for this dress… and I totally agree with you… I haven’t done anything to her hair or her headband yet, but that will be coming up soon… Thanks!
If you click on any of the pictures they will enlarge. :o)
Dorothy L… You mentioned maybe making the bodice longer with a band that tied or buttoned and thought the “feather” part of the dress fabric was a little too big in size for the Ruby Reds. You also mentioned possibly making an A-line skirt that was slimming… You had some headpiece ideas, but I haven’t tackled them yet…
Joy… you thought a longer waisted dress would be better and the dress definitely needed to be shorter and she needed a necklace tied in a knot!!!
Linda… you suggested a longer bodice as well and not so full of a skirt and make it shorter. She wished the pleated skirt I used as the underskirt was actually the skirt that showed.
SO… I took all of your ideas, and realized you were all on a different page than I was, but I quickly got the ideas in my head and put all of them together.. and this is what I came up with. When I decided to make it a 2 piece set, things began to fall in place.
I did use the feathered part of the dress because it worked as an “under skirt” to my “A-line” skirt… this was the best I could do. I just added an elastic waist to hold it in place. But… it was a little sheer, hence the “over skirt.”
Then I made a pleated skirt like Linda wanted that you can slide over the underskirt…The ends of the skirt curled up when I hemmed it, but I kind of like the way it looks. I call it “Perky!” :o)
This is what it looks like under the skirt… it keeps her legs from showing through…
I took the skirt I had originally added on Friday, off, and it was not much fun. The fabric is SO delicate and I was picking out stitches one at a time and very carefully at that. When I got that skirt off, I looked at the bodice and wanted to add some length like you ladies mentioned… I lowered it as much as I could by using the fringed hem piece and some stability to it by folding it over and under and stitching it in place. It sets on the outside of her hips and I personally think it looks much better this way.
You may think it looks boxy, but the 20’s did have that square boxy look to many of the dresses.
The back isn’t finished yet and as I said earlier, her hair or headband hasn’t been “born” yet, but I’ll get around to them. The back will close with hidden snaps and probably some little buttons.
Here is a picture of Violette laying down… Sometimes the color looks better with my lights looking down on my dolls.
Her lips are the exact match to the pink on the fabric.
Well, I hope this is an improvement for everyone. I don’t think I can take what I’ve done apart anymore… it’s too delicate.
I will keep working and see what I can get finished for tomorrow. My hand and thumb have been cooperating with my sewing, as long as I don’t have to pull on anything, or use those scissors… I have a tiny pair I’ve been using that is easier on my thumb. I still wear my brace when I’m not in my sewing room. I’m hoping things are looking up.
Thanks everyone,
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, you did wonders with that dress, and now it REALLY looks like a 1920’s dress!!! I wasn’t thinking that the skirt would flare out when hemmed, but it looks really cute like that and gives it a certain vibe, like she is ready to dance! I also love that the bodice is longer, and that made a huge difference! I am fully satisfied with the dress now!
She needs some stockings or thigh highs for her legs to give it a finished look, and the shoes work out perfectly!
Yes, now a long beaded necklace (that doesn’t hide that mediallion too much) and some tweaking on her headband, and maybe a little purse? I can see her doing the Charleston in this outfit!
So glad to hear that your thumb is coming along, slow, but steady!
What a difference!! That bodice looks Much more “20s” than before, and I like the skirt more now, too. You are definitely on the right track!
I love reading your thought processes as to how you got from point A to point B! It’s interesting, and helpful to me, as a sewer, too, as I sometimes do the same thing!
The outfit is really great now, Jeanne. I am amazed at how you have worked that difficult fabric this way. You really have an eye for finding interesting fabrics in the thrift shops! As Linda said, she is ready to do the Charleston!
Be careful for that thumb!
HI Sissy,
I hope this doesn’t ping on your phone and wake you up, but I thought maybe I’d try sending you a reply to your comment and see what happens. Maybe it just got stuck!
I was reading up on what to do if someone couldn’t comment even though they could get into the post… didn’t find anything yet… this might be a problem only Sarah, my webmaster can solve. We WILL get it fixed…
Thanks Sissy,
Blessings, Jeanne
There you go! Perfect! Now for more of a statement hair band with beaded fringe and matching purse. Finish with two necklaces of different lengths made of tiny black beads that are long enough that they don’t cover the medallion on the bodice. No need for a charm at the ends of the necklaces or maybe the longer one with one fringe tassel. Just a couple day’s work!
Very cute. What a difference that pretty waistband makes! I like her headband, especially with the medallion showing at the side. Would it work to just add some embroidery? Nice shoes, and how lucky you are that they are in such a good color.
Violette’s hair is lovely for this. Should you also show it on another doll so that people can see that it would work as well for a doll with a different wig?
I love what you’ve done with the dress. It looks perfect.
Oh yes, definitely has the 20’s look now. Love the longer waist. It definitely looks like she can run off to do the Charleston, as Linda mentioned. Seems like I might have a beaded necklace around somewhere that was very long and one piece that could just be tied. I’ll look, but not sure I can find it after the big pack up when we had the fires. And I was looking at some 20’s outfits over the weekend and saw that many rolled their stockings down to below the knee. Scandalous. Interesting, but I don’t think I would do that with this outfit. 🙂
Well, other person wanted to go to an estate sale yesterday, if you can believe it. I went to high school with one of the sons, but their parents had lived in the home not far from us since it was built in the early 60’s. The first day the street was lined with cars but yesterday afternoon, it was much quieter and it was also 50 percent off. Other person wanted to see the lay out of the house as it had a breezeway. Only house we’ve ever seen around here with that. After seeing the original prices, which were very high in our minds, glad we didn’t brave the crowds. It was sad to see all of the items displayed, but at least the family had kept the photos. Really hate to see those at sales. Anyway, other than an electrified White sewing machine, and a bunch of nameless bottles they had dug from the old dump behind their house, I didn’t see anything I wanted. Until, other person found two boxes on a shelf in the garage. Guess what was inside? Empty old wooden thread spools. I love old spools and have saved all of those I’ve used up sewing with over the years. I keep them in big jars. Anyway, they were each marked 10.00 dollars. What? Nope, wasn’t going there. Well, one of the workers was in the garage and said, what would you pay? I looked clueless and other person, who of course really didn’t want the spools, said a dollar. The guy said, okay and put on a new tag of 2.00 dollars so when we went to pay it would be half off. So, I brought home two large shoeboxes full of very old spools. Great labels on them too, and I only spent two dollars. 🙂 Strange things make me happy. 🙂
Guess I’m strange too because I would have wanted the spools. I’ve been keeping all my wooden spools as I empty them. A bit of nostalgia I guess because we used to keep them, color them and make necklaces out of them.
Well, glad I’m not the only spool collector. 🙂
I’m definitely lovin the look. That flair on the skirt is perfect. I’m sure one of the AG dolls had a 20’s dance costume or something. I’m thinking it was silver sequins? The necklace should be tiny beads, like Mardi Gras style. Those flappers liked to make em swing! Kudos.
I haven’t been commenting on this outfit, but I have been reading the comments of others and agreed with the ones opting for a dropped waist and shorter skirt. I figured others were saying it for me. Guess I could say that now too because I totally agree that this outfit is getting cuter by the minute. It’s always funny to me that it was scandalous to have such short skirts in the 20s, even though they were knee length. I guess after eons of wearing floor-length dresses, showing one’s calves was considered indecent exposure to some. They would have had apoplexy seeing some of the things worn today. David and I are watching “Murdoch Mysteries” which takes place in the 1890s and early 1900s. I can’t imagine having to do everything daily wearing so much fabric. I am totally enjoying the costuming.
Well dear sofa sisters I’ve done it now. I’m going to have to get some pointers from Joy on how to pull this off. I decided I wanted a new doll for Mother’s Day. I was going to order one of the new RRFF girls but missed the cut-off for preorder. Got the date right just not the time. What to do… Then I remembered that the Little Darlings had a Sculpt 5 now so I went to Magalie’s site and picked the eye and hair color and length of hair I wanted, named her and sent my order and my deposit. Then I checked my e-mail and saw notices from both the Dianna Effner site and Happily.com that there was a new L’il Dreamer named Kayci and she is absolutely adorable. So I ordered her too. I told hubby I ordered a doll for Mother’s Day (the new Li’l Dreamer who will arrived shortly), but neglected to mention the Little Darling that would be coming down the road. He told me to let him know when the doll count reached 100. It’s coming quicker than he thinks.
Oh, so glad you are getting two new dolls. I saw Kayci and am thinking about her. There is also one being offered by the French doll shop. I’m sure both of your girls will be adorable. 🙂 Congrats and what a great Mother’s Day you’ll be enjoying. 🙂
Jeanne how would you manage without the sofa sisters to keep you on the right track lol. I have to say that I agreed with most of the comments though and love the changes you have made. It just didn’t scream 20’s and Charleston before but now it is spot on. I am so glad that you are able to sew again just don’t do too much too quickly.
Barbara, I am guessing you haven’t been affected by the flooding. I checked in with my brother and he said it was further north than them (they are in Karnes City) and my nephew who lives in Houston said they were fine as well. TV always show the worst of any disaster. After our first earthquake in Sep 2010 the News reported (every night) from outside the one place in the city that was very badly damaged. (After Feb the next year they had no problem reporting from different places). About a year ago there was Cyclone Gabrielle which caused a major disaster near Napier in Hawkes Bay. To watch the news broadcast you would think the whole of the area was completely devastated when in fact it was confined to just a part of the province. Not that I am trying to minimise what everyone goes through when these things happen just that they are not always as widespread as the News people are trying to suggest. Mind you, to put things into perspective when Queensland had major floods a few years ago the flooding covered an area the size of France!!
I was just thinking this week that this time last year I could hardly move and if I ever went anywhere where a wheelchair was available I was glad to use it. I am grateful for how far I have come, still have twinges, can’t expect much else at 79 but can walk the dog now so it makes him happy too.
Have a great day everyone, Kia Kaha (stay strong)
We’ve been doing fine here in Sealy (west of Houston) but have had a lot of rain (my Crepe Myrtles are loving it). I don’t worry so much about the flooding here since even during Hurricane Harvey our city was the staging area for the surrounding areas, but I do worry about hail. Bellville just north of us had terrible hail a few weeks ago and that was too close for comfort as far as we were concerned. I know what you mean about the news media since the only time I hear from some people is when they see a bad Houston weather report. Then they are sure we’re in the midst of it. So glad you’re doing so much better this year.
Always some sort of weather, earthquakes, or volcanos to report on for sure. Hope all of yours stay far from Christchurch. And so glad to hear about the positive healing report. You’re such a trooper. 🙂
I LOVE this version! She doesn’t look like she’s playing dress up in her mother’s clothing! 🙂