Hi everyone,
I told you I wouldn’t show any more boots today…not even a tweak on the ones I just finished, and I’ll keep that promise!
But I had to mention “boots” in my title to get me to what I’m talking about today… a blouse…
Not just any blouse, but a very pretty blouse made by Talbots. I found this somewhere, probably Goodwill or our Thrift shop; I can’t remember. All I do remember is thinking, “this is SO beautiful and it would make a great doll dress!” So, I bought it knowing I would eventually cut it up.
Here’s the blouse… it’s VERY sheer… I’m talking Kleenex sheer and as delicate as tissue paper.
It is MUCH prettier in person than in my pictures. I don’t know what it looked like when it was brand new from the factory, but there are little five-petal flowers cut out and tacked randomly all over the front. They were scrunched up when I bought it, but I just loved the fabric, so the flowers were the least of my worries… the flowers are frayed on the edges for a bohemian kind of look to me… but who knows… when the blouse was new, maybe the flowers were all perfectly pressed and looked like they were just sprinkled down the front.
Anyway, here is a close-up picture or two of it…
What I really loved besides the fabric print, was the edging used along the neckline and the armholes. It’s super delicate and dainty and has been sewn with a stitch that makes it look like little tufts about every eighth of an inch. I took the trim off… along with the tiny bias trim. I don’t know exactly how I’ll use it, but I hope I can figure something out.
So I cut out a dress for one of my girls… (you’ll have to guess!) and got the bodice sewn together; actually, just the square neckline sewn together and pressed. It is going to be tedious as just this much sewing was challenging. I was sewing it with a piece of paper underneath my presser foot to keep it from being sucked down into the throat plate of my machine. I’m going to have to reinforce the neckline corners somehow or the winner might be trying it on their doll and pull the corners and pop and thread and I’ll be in trouble!!
I’ll come up with something… Anyway, here are a couple of pictures for your imagination…
Another one of the skirt… I’ll tell you, it DOES have a circle skirt.
…and one more…
I hope that gets your mind to wondering who will this dress be for and what will it look like!
I’ll have a post for you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, that is really a pretty blouse, Jeanne. I used to get Talbot’s clothes fairly often (we had an outlet store less than 10 minutes away!) but I don’t remember seeing this blouse there or in any of the catalogs, so it might have come out after that.
How wise of you to carefully remove the bias and that trim; you can use it maybe at the hem or the waistline or something. Definitely worth saving!
I imagine the fabric is a voile. Yes, paper under the presser foot is good. Are you using a really fine, sharp needle? I would probably try a 65 if you have one; otherwise a 70. Also, if you have a single-hole throat plate (for straight stitch only), that should help, or put a piece of tape over that wide gap, pierce it with your needle but lowering it thru the tape, and that could help, too.
Now, as to who it’s for….my first thought was one of the Ruby Reds, like Anaelle (am I remembering that name correctly?), but then I wondered if maybe an AG doll, but you just did one of those. So….I’ll guess a Ruby Red. I think the bodice is too wide to be for a Little Darling, and the print is too big for TenPing or the smaller dolls.
Many thanks for all the well wishes about Expo! I will be sure to take plenty of pictures, although I might not get them sent to Jeanne until after I get home. I’ll see how tired I am! Dorothy in PA and the World, tell Charlotte Noelle I like her advice! I am very fond of cookies! 😂
What a pretty fabric, Jeanne! It would have made a pretty spring blouse for you! But yay, I’m sure some lucky doll is just beaming now, because it is for her! I am thinking for a Little Darling, or at least someone that size. I can’t remember the last time you made something for one of them. This dress, so far, really looks like a pretty Easter dress, and I am imagining a pretty straw hat too!
It looks like it will be a delicate, flowy type of dress, not exactly fitted, but a really comfortable style, perfect for running around looking for Easter eggs! That edging could be a band around the hat, with pretty pink flowers attached. Pink Mary Jane’s too, and a delicate slip would completely the outfit! I think I am getting carried away with what it might be, but it’s fun to think about the finish line when you give us something to think about!
Ooooh Gorgeous blouse, if I look at those flowers and the raised ones long enough it reminds me of a magic eye picture haha😵💫😆
The sewn bodice is nice… and sleeves. This is going to be pretty. I can not imagine yet which doll but it will be lovely.
Yesterday I took a break from sewing blocks for the next quilt and cut out some tiny pieces to make a dress to go with my new pink sweater made by Anne!!!
Well, it has been a long time since I made doll clothes, it is fun and a little bit “fiddly”. It is a simple dress pattern so it it turning out okay. Yes, Charlotte, agree, the single hole on the throat plate makes a better work area. This has been a really fun diversion.
Like you Jeanne, working these brain cells does make you feel younger – all of those skills are still top notch, just need polishing! I do not have 14″ doll patterns so I have to resize a dress pattern from a basic pattern for 18″ dolls. Goodness it does bring back memories of sewing doll clothes at the dining room table back in the day.
I hope we get some sunshine today, I have been feeling kind of “low”. Perhaps I will go for a walk this afternoon and ask my new neighbor.
I wish all of you a lovely happy day!
Jeanne, the fabric is gorgeous and I am so glad you are using parts that are so pretty. It will be fun to see how you put it together and which lovely dolly will wear it. The colors remind me of the one you made for Mae that I loved so much.
Praying for George and his surgeries. Please keep us posted.
We are on our way soon for our Wednesday service down the street. When we get home I’ll make cookies for tomorrow’s church free lunch, then I will have to take care of Peyton’s hair. He is looking very shaggy dog. My first husband wanted me to cut his hair and I ended up cutting my sons hair too when they were little. Peyton hasn’t been to a barber since we married. Funny how things can happen.
Check with y’all later.
Oh, a new dress for us to ponder. The first thing I noticed was that trim Jeanne, saved. It looks like the same kind I used to made a horse bridle recently. Not easy to work with, but it looks lovely on the former Talbot’s top. And now to the dress. I’m stumped on the wearer of this dress. It seems too big for a Ruby Red or LD. And Mae had a recent spring dress and of course, boots and jacket for Chrissa. Maybe it’s the way the dress is laid out and it looks big. If that is it, I think it may be for a Little Darling. They look lovely in dainty prints. Hope we find out soon.
Cloudy, gray, and wet outside, but it doesn’t look like rain today, so we can get in a walk. And it’s warm, 58 right now and probably climbing.
Someone has a huge collection of Scottish dolls on Ebay right now. Made me think of Paula’s collection.
So many things that I should be doing, but I can’t seem to get it together to start. And then the waterlogged yard and all of those lovely green weeds everywhere. Must concentrate.
Dear Jeanne, the fabric is very pretty. I think it is for a Little Darling.
Hmmm, I am guessing it will be the “first dress of Maypril” (smile). Some little girl doll and some Mama are going to be very happy!
Very lovely fabric. I’m not very good at guessing who the dress will be for. Guess I’ll have to just wait until you share. I really like the trim. When it was on the blouse I couldn’t see exactly what it was and it’s larger than I thought it would be.
Thanks, Karen for explaining about your daughters’ school retreats. The idea is wonderful. So sorry about Marion becoming ill and having to miss some of the retreat. Hopefully she is feeling better now. Last summer my grandson Skyy was at church camp and had to leave early when he became sick. The next day he was fine but there was only one day left and it’s a long drive so he didn’t return. He was very disappointed.
Thanks, Barbara! She seems to be doing much better, so I will probably return her this afternoon when I pick up her sister from school. That’s sad about Skyy missing out on church camp. Marion was really disappointed, too.
The fabric is very pretty, but it’s difficult to determine the exact scale from the photos. My guess is a RRFF or possibly another AG.
I am sure the fabric is way prettier than it shows on my computer, which is pretty already. I am no good at guessing who it is for so will wait and see.
I have one more bit of homework for the quilt class on 14th March then I must get on with the quilt for my brother.
We have decided that some of the boxes of fabrics and UFO’s are going to be dated. If we haven’t at least started on them within a year they are going to the free table. Sam is doing that with a lot of her stuff too. I have 3 huge plastic storage boxes of denim (for bags), three boxes of shirts for making quilts, and there was a huge box of scraps that I didn’t want to throw away plus several shopping bags also with scraps. They have either gone in the rubbish, the bigger pieces have gone to the free table or if I have kept them they have been made into squares of different sizes and stored. If I don’t use them in a year they will go to the free table as well.
Charlotte, have a lovely time at Expo, I am looking forward to seeing your photos.
Joy, no termites just woodworm and mozzies are just normal size. I get bitten occasionally and keep Anthisan cream in which usually fixes it. NZ does have sandflies which are a nuisance but not in Christchurch, the only place in the country that doesn’t have them.
Last Sunday was the 15th anniversary of the big quake in Christchurch when 185 people died. We were having aftershocks for years after, but we don’t cringe every time a truck goes past now! I can’t believe how fast time seems to go when you get old! Someone mentioned 1986 on the news yesterday, that doesn’t seem so long ago to me but it is 40 yrs!
On that note, have a great day everyone
That is great news about termites. I think that we probably have woodworms as well, but haven’t heard of them here. We are twenty miles from the coast, but also no sandflies here either. And I do remember that awful quake in Christchurch. Definitely made the news here. Hoping for no repeats.
Hi everyone…
I left comments on the post yesterday… but it was late…
Just wanted to let you know I won’t be around tomorrow until later in the day and I’ll try to give an update on my hubby’s surgery.
I will have posts scheduled for Thursday and Friday…
Love you all…
Blessings, Jeanne
Certainly hope that all goes well tomorrow. Definitely be thinking of you and George. Take care and drive safe.
We will be praying for you guys! We love you, too! 🩷 Hope all goes well!