I think Mae’s sweater can be saved…

HI everyone…
Well, my hubby’s truck finally sold today! YAY!! I was the go-between because he doesn’t have Facebook Marketplace on his phone, which is where it was listed. I had to relay all the messages to him and then he had to “think” about what to say back to them… In the end, this evening, the guy came over and bought it. Now to move forward with his other truck. Hallelujah!!

I wanted to say something to Barbara about the mention of a doll pattern that had sleeves you set in by gathering up part of the sleeve on the top part and then sewing down onto the bodice without really setting in a sleeve at all. I have a book called Fashions for Small Dolls and I think this might be the same idea. It was designed by Rosemarie Ionker… Here is the book on Ebay… I just picked this listing to show you the book…

Anyway, here are 2 of my dresses found in the archives (made back in 2009) using the pattern like (I think) you are meaning…
The pink and white dress is on 7 1/2″ Skateboard Riley and the blue dress is on 7 1/2″ Snow White Riley… both are Helen Kish dolls.

The sleeves do go in easier, but it’s still a bit tricky… I’ve probably made a few more but off hand I can’t remember who wore them.

Okay, I think I can make Mae’s sweater work… turns out alcohol gets out Fray Check… and this Fray Block must be tougher, because it’s taken me 4 times to get it to this state….

….the sweater yesterday…

…the sweater now…

It has softened up the area and lightened it quite a bit… I think I may do the alcohol soak another time or two just to make sure it is completely gone…

It was looking good enough to me to forge ahead with what goes underneath. I’m glad more people said they liked the little bluish/aqua print corduroy fabric, because I had more “things” that went with it than the other pink print. When I looked closely at the pink linen piece, it did seem kind of spring and summery like.

So I only got the bodice made… but it’s going to be a romper. I’m using Marsha’s pattern to make it…

Okay, it’s “imagination time” again with one of my outfits… I had to lay down Mae in order to lay these pieces on top of her…
I had some hair ribbons in the right color, some decorative Cluny lace, and I think I have a piece of leather to make her some shoes.
See if you can imagine it… :o)

Here’s a close up of the color… on my monitor it’s pretty correct…

Here’s one last picture of the sweater laying on the fabric…

I’ll have to see what else I come up with…
Thanks everyone…see you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne

12 thoughts on “I think Mae’s sweater can be saved…”

  1. Congratulations on selling George’s truck! Nice that it went fairly quickly.

    And big congratulations on getting that stain out!! That is marvelous. I knew there had to be Some way to do that!!

    The cluny lace is absolutely perfect for that fabric, according to my monitor, anyway. The ribbon seems a bit too coral and too deep, from what I’m seeing. It could just be my monitor, though.

    My grandson Isaac spent the night here last night, and we were up at 5 this morning, getting a little breakfast, packing him snacks to take with him, etc. Last night he had spotted Ron’s heavy suede vest from many years ago, and thought it looked pretty cool, so I let him have it, and he wore it today–I was able to snap a couple of quick pictures when I dropped him off this morning. By 3 p.m. my time, he was back in Missouri.

    Yesterday I was telling him about some of the nice things that happened to me because of friends, some of whom I’ve never met. One thing I told him about was when I broke my arm, almost two years ago now, and how people from this list sent cards and even flowers! And then about all the kindnesses shown when Ron died. He said, “you have some pretty nice friends.”

    Yes, Isaac, I do.

    1. Joy in northern CA

      So glad your grandson could spend some time with you and that he liked Ron’s vest. Other person here still has his suede Levi vest from the 70’s. Don’t think it still fits though. 🙂

    2. Sissy Lingle on the GA coast

      He sounds like such a lovely young man, Charlotte! And how nice to know that he will be wearing something of Ron’s.

  2. Linda in St. Louis

    Yes, that sweater can and is saved, Jeanne! It looks just perfect now, and I don’t think anyone would concentrate on looking at the formerly stained spots if they didn’t know the story! And maybe you should throw that tube of fray check out!

    That darling piece of corduroy again today is two different colors for me! I know the real one must be the pretty aqua blue background, but most of the pictures show it to be a gray. I wonder if it is the lighting! But I think the idea of making a cute romper is just perfect for Mae!

    Like Charlotte mentioned, the Cluny lace is just perfect for the trim, but that ribbon is way too bright, at least on my monitor.

  3. Bonjour. C’est une bonne idée d’avoir fait voir ce livre de modèles. Je l’ai et je ne connaissais pas ,cette façon de faire les manches. Pour ,les très petites poupées, c’est plus simple ,que de monter des minuscules manches. Mon “écran, me dit,” que vos couleurs ,vont très bien ensemble.

  4. Joy in northern CA

    Nice that one truck is sold and only one to go. Definitely will clear some space so Jeanne, can park in the garage? Maybe not. 🙂 Here, we haven’t had a car in the garage in many years either. 🙂
    Good to know about the way to sew in sleeves differently and from a book I have as well. 🙂
    Glad that alcohol was the key to removing that old fray stuff. I agree with Linda. Throw it out. 🙂 I’m glad you chose the corduroy blue print for fall. It should keep Mae warm and toasty when she goes out to play. When the cute jacket is with the fabric, I like it too. However, when you add in the ribbons and lace, I’m seeing that those don’t seem to match as well. Perhaps, there is something in the lighter color of the pinks in the jacket knit fabric that would work? Or even ecru lace? I guess I’d like to see the lovely romper fabric showcased rather than the bright trim.
    Youngest grand had his “Golden” birthday on the 9th. (9/9) So, we are heading to his birthday get together on Sunday. Should be fun.

  5. Good morning dears, Another warm day in northern Virginia but not stifling !
    Today is hubbs and my anniversary. We do not have anything planned. I might bake a pie.
    I love the sweater Jeanne, how do you finish off the edges? sew them down? glue?
    the edges look really neat and tidy. I would love to learn how to make everything so neat…. hot iron and sizing? 😍
    I love the corduroy and the ribbons!
    Enjoy this day, all of you

  6. Barbara in SE Texas

    Oh, the dress fabric is corduroy. I hadn’t realized when I picked the pink. I will always go for corduroy at this time of year. So glad you found a way to fix the fray check problem. I will keep that in mind should I ever “overdo” it. I like using fray check or fray block. I’ve used them both. Before I had my current serger and I was not fond of the one I had, I used those products a lot, especially if the fabric was prone to fraying when handled a lot. Also I have some patterns for small doll clothes that recommend fray check rather than serging to keep from having a lot of bulk.

    1. Barbara, when I make small doll clothes, and especially on the tight curves, like armscye seams, I often will clip the curves, then zigzag the raw edges (pulling the curves straight so the clipping stays “open”), and that makes a good finish, but much easier than trying to do that tiny curve on a serger!

  7. Sissy Lingle on the GA coast

    Jeanne, I am so glad you found a way to remove the stains. I love the Corduroy fabric, I have had it before, I will have to look and see if I still have some. I had forgotten that print, it is so pretty. On my MAC the colors all seem to match. Looking forward to seeing more as you work on it.

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