I hope this meets all the criteria for a Proper Colonial doll dress!

Hi everyone,
Thank you all for weighing in on the dilemma I was having with the dress for Felicity. I think my problem was it had been TOO long since I had made anything for Felicity, and I just forgot how to do “Colonialism!” :o)
But thanks to all of you, I think I am back on track…

But first I wanted to mention a few things you were discussing…

Sissy, I really hope Peyton is better now and back to almost normal… and we would LOVE to know your recipes for Peach Pies you make and your jam as well! Yum Yum!

Rosemary… you said your hubby LOVES Cheeze-It’s… well I have my hand raised because I love them too…they are my downfall. I can’t even let myself buy them… I am like a squirrel… I just keep adding and adding more until my cheeks are full… I know that sounds gross, but I just want to keep their taste in my mouth. Also that scarf you were thinking of around the necks of Colonial dresses is called a Fichu. I thought about adding one, but it will depend on how close the ruffle comes up on Felicity’s neck when I get the snaps on the back. I used to just have one when the neckline was a bit low.

Anne… you get eczema from lemons? Oh, you poor thing… I just finished the last of the lemon bars I made for Memorial Day. For me it was so yummy!

Dorothy L… you were hoping for maybe a ruffled part around the neckline? I hope this is what you had in mind.

Debbie… I have to ask… did you used to make costumes? In your comments you sort of referred to something of the sort.

Okay, now let’s see how today goes…

I sat down and was talking with my hubby and used the bright light shining through the windows to help me see to get the rick rack taken off the dress. It only took me maybe 10 minutes. It was worth taking it off because I had already lined the bodice and set in the sleeves perfectly. There were no puckers or gathers so I really didn’t want to start over.

I used some of my very delicate white Batiste and cut a long strip about an inch wide for a ruffle. I folded it over itself long wise and pressed it, so I’d know the middle of the strip. Then I sewed 2 rows of basting down on the outside of the creased line. I pulled my basting threads up and spaced out my gathers and tried my best to get it even on the bodice. It was a bit tricky as the fabric is so delicate, but I think I did okay. Then I basted it in blue on the top and then later, pink on the bottom, so I’d know when I removed the basting stitches they were all out.

Once the ruffle was basted in place, I worked on the under sleeves using the same Batiste.

Here is how the sleeve looks with both layers of the ruffle.

I stitched down the middle of the neck ruffle and then removed the basting stitches. I found the perfect blue embroidery floss in my stash and did a hand stitch around the neckline, trying to make it as even as I could.