Her mom wasn’t thrilled at not getting it listed on Ebay. But I had a big excuse…
I delivered the wedding dress to Barbara today… praying the whole way there that it would fit without anything else having to be done! AND my prayers were answered… it fit like a glove and she was very happy about the lace being inside the armhole areas. She said the dress was very comfortable. YAY! That’s always a big thing to me! The hem is just a bit shorter in the front…I only turned up what her mom had the hem marked to. It actually makes it easier to walk in when the front is just a tiny bit shorter right in the front where your feet kick out. She loved the sleeves being closer to her arms and I pulled the bodice lace over about 1/4″ on each side making the lace a little bit less loose looking. I was VERY happy and will show you some pictures after the wedding on Saturday. I didn’t want to have them somehow leak before the wedding.
Just as I was breathing a sigh of relief, she asked me very humbly… “could I ask one more favor of you…my mother in law’s dress is a bit too wide on the sides from the waist to the hem. Would it be possible for you to take in the skirt area?” Her MIL tried it on and it did need to be taken in about 1″ from the waist to the hem on both sides. After doing the wedding dress, I thought this should be a breeze… Well, why is it with alterations, things “should” be simple, but they never seem to be. This was the skirt of the dress…
I had to open up an area along the waist where the seam started on each side. Then I stitched about 1″ from the bottom of the skirt coming up and tapering it into the waistline seam. I had the do the same thing with the silky lining of the skirt… then do the same thing for the other side seam of the skirt. I used my steamer to press the seams open. I then stitched across the waist area where I had taken out just enough to take the seam in. Then this happened…
I could NOT figure out how to get the skirt turned to the right side… it was just a jumble of seams and I had a hard time figuring out what was what… I pulled and turned and then it looked like this…
Nope…that wasn’t any better… so I had to stop and think (and I prayed again) that I could figure it out. I laid it on the bed wrong side out… and just studied it for a minute… since the bodice was all enclosed, I realized I HAD to get it turned by going through the hem somehow… I opened up the seam where the hem was factory stitched and reached my hand into the dress… I gently pulled the inside of the dress out through that hole, and suddenly I realized it had worked! When things are sewn together at factories, they use methods other than the way things are normally sewn. The hem was attached to the dress lining and was just a bit shorter allowing for the dress hem to be turned up. I had to hand stitch it back in place. I was SO relieved… you have no idea!! :o)
It was terribly crumpled up by the time I got finished, so I turned on my steamer again and got to work. This dress’s top layer was actually chiffon… think of a 1950’s headscarf… even my hubby knows “about Chiffon” and me not liking to sew it. Somehow miraculously, it looked really nice on the hanger… and I can only hope it will be a perfect fit on the MIL. Here is a picture of it after I steamed it. The bodice was just slightly damp from the steam… if you notice it looks darker in spots…
…and here is one of the side seams; YAY…no puckering.
When I was ALL finished, I hung it up and went to my sewing room. My hubby was at church working on the AC, so I had some time to sew. I wanted to make a pair of capris for Bailey or Dazzle but I wanted to make them so they weren’t so bulky in the waist this time. I drafted a new pattern and like it very much… but I think the next time I will make them just a little bit wider in the leg.
I added a little red button on the side of each leg.
Thought I’d show you what this dress fabric came from… a little boys 24 month seersucker jacket… It was really adorable and I hated to cut it up, but it was the perfect scale for doll clothes…
Bailey was so tickled she started rolling on the table and kicking up her heels! “My dress is done… My dress is done!”
Here are a few more pictures of the set…
I know this will fit the new Dazzle doll as well as Bailey because I marked the measurements on my pattern pieces and that first dress I made fits Dazzle perfectly. Someone bought it from me! Here is another way I have been seeing how things work for Dazzle. I enlarged the picture of her to the exact size she is…
Bailey and Dazzle are very close to the same size and I think I’ll do okay with just using Bailey as the model…
I’ll see you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
I’m so glad the wedding gown fit the bride, and she was happy with it.
Oh, yes, factory construction is a whole different kettle of fish! I have a very old (and much loved) jacket from Eddie Bauer, and the sleeves needed new elastic. I had to take out part of the bottom hem (sewn thru the fleece lining as well as the shell) in order to get to the sleeves–which had to be turned inside out!–so I could replace the elastic! Let’s not do a simple casing when you can make it nigh onto impossible to work with instead!! LOL But I did succeed, and that experience gave me the courage to attempt shortening the sleeves of a lined rain jacket from Land’s End. It had those straps that wrap around the sleeves and button, and that all had to be moved up, too, in addition to going thru the lining to get to the sleeves to do the work. But I did it!
Bailey’s outfit has turned out really cute. I do like the little pedal pushers (to me, having grown up in the 1950s, capris are very slim pants that end just above the ankle–think Mary Tyler Moore on The Dick Van Dyke show; SHE wore “capris”!) under the dress. So nice if Bailey decides to climb on the jungle gym!
Elizabeth and Barbara, I’m glad you are using your rollators, also. I know, Barbara, as long as I’m sitting down, I think I’m still 40!! 😂🤣😂 And then I get up and my body tells me differently!! I bought my rollator over a year ago and used it the first time at my sewing expo in 2024. What a difference!! I could do all kinds of walking before I started to get tired. It was amazing, the difference between that and walking with a cane. If I just use a cane, I can get around, but I feel so insecure and vulnerable, like I’m going to topple over any second. Then I tend to hold my body more tensely, and of course that doesn’t help, either. So yeah, if you’re sitting on the fence about getting/using a walker, just do it!! You will be surprised.
Charlotte, Barbara, and Elizabeth, nice to hear that Y’all are having better times with your rollators , it sounds really helpful. I will probably need one some time, I am sure, at my age. My friend who broke her ankle a couple of years ago had to stay in hers all the time that she was not in bed. She could not put her foot down on the floor for 3 moths! She could move around the house by pushing one foot. I don’t know what she would have done without it.
Charlotte, it sounds like you have the same Lands End jacket I do. Thankfully I have not had to alter it. It is perfect for SE Texas winters. It keeps the wind out and since a lot of times we have cold, rainy days a regular coat would not be waterproof and often they are too heavy. This jacket with the lining and the hood is perfect and I like its longer length. I just bought it last winter and so far I have been more than pleased with it.
Regarding the Rollator, I often think my problem is with my legs but it is actually with my back. The Rollator gave me support while I was walking and while my legs got tired because I did a lot of walking, my back was not the problem it usually is. Having to admit to incurring the annoyances of getting older can be tough but I have to say once I realized the advantages of the Rollator, that will not be a consideration any longer. I’m still in pretty good shape, but lack the endurance I used to have because I haven’t been able to stay on my feet long enough to do the walking I used to do. It was my favorite form of exercise. The Rollator really helped with that. I would not have been able to enjoy the day at all without it.
I’m so happy that the bride was thrilled with how her dress turned out, Jeanne! She went to the best, and got it! I love the mother-of-the-bride dress too! So elegant and such a pretty shade of pink! I’m curious to see what the bridesmaids will be wearing, since the bride and her mother have such lovely dresses!
Little Bailey looks like she thoroughly loves her new outfit! She certainly is ready to find her place in the upcoming Fourth of July parade! The pedal pushers are a cute addition to the little dress! Everything just “clicked” with this outfit, dressing her up from head to toe! Yes, Charlotte, capri’s went down to just above the ankle, and pedal pushers just below the knee, but Jeanne isn’t as old as we are!😊
With several of you ladies talking about rollators, I had to look them up! I never did use them, so it was a mystery to me as to what they were! I admit I do see them more and more now , but never knew what they were called. I did and do have a walker for when I had my knees replaced, but canes never did it for me. When you are unsteady on your feet, it helps to have something for both hands to hold onto.
Linda, I never knew about rollators either… until my parents reached their 90’s
They are the greatest invention. My daddy went to Heaven two years ago, this Sunday, hard to believe., I do still sometimes feel like sobbing.
Anyway, Charlotte, you have done everything! I agree altering factory made clothes can be daunting. I do not have a serger (and never want one) but the unsewing is a work in itself, then you have to get yourself back to the situation at hand. my mom would say “been there done that” I believe all of us here have delved into daunting projects and had most of the time great success!
Well, here on the home front, my daughter is an angel. Her girls have been such a joy. I sleep like a log every night. They are coming out this afternoon at two for last minute things and then load up some cars, and load up Jason’s car too.
Then they are going home sweet home tomorrow morning early.
Bailey’s dress is the cutest outfit ever! I showed the girls yesterday the photos of Bailey and they were so happy with the cuteness. Are you going to give the watch away with the outfit? Bailey seems quite attached to it.
Have a fun day everyone. It is going to be blazing hot today.
Thanks for your thoughts on my sister’s water disaster in her home. I feel so terrible for her. She never married, but she has quite a few good friends.
she adopted a boy from Russia 25 years ago and he is a doll, but at Present he is traveling around US with friends. Kids these days are interesting. I pray for him.
I will check in on Joyce today and see how she is managing.
Jeanne, What would your friends do without you! What a kind person you are, as we all know. So pleased to hear that the wedding dress was perfect and I am sure the MIL will be thrilled, too. Looking forward to seeing the wedding dress on the bride.
Bailey I the cutest in that outfit, and yes, those are peddle pushers, dear. I remember them well. I love her look of joy as she “rolls around on the floor”.
Well, today we head out for our 3rd Thursday lunch with my high school class of ’57. last month there were 16 of us, sometimes less, but it is so great that we can get together still.
My sewing has stopped for awhile as I am trying hard to get things together to try to sell. I have several bins of mostly Kish dolls and doll clothes. The boxes and boxes of fabric go to the Dorcus group or to Good Will. I tried selling it on FB but the problems dealing with people wasn’t worth the trouble.
Hoping that all of you have a lovely day.
How fun you get together with your HS buddies. I’ll bet you have some great stories to share. 🙂
Oh, love the pic of Bailey kicking up her heels and showing off her new shorts, capris, or pedal pushers. 🙂 The outfit is amazing to see especially because it is so tiny. What a great artistic endeavor.
Jeanne’s description of working on the mother of the bride dress was compelling. I was ready to cry. Such a nightmare, but Jeanne righted the ship and pulled it off. Well, pulled it through the hem, I guess. It looks lovely. And so glad that the bride’s dress fit as well. 🙂 Whew…..
Well, the sew along is about over, and I’m still on week two. Oh well. At least I have the sleeves sewn on now. 🙂
So hot yesterday that all I could do was trek out and water the cukes, zukes, and tomatoes. But, this morning is is cool and prediction is for a nice day. So, hopefully, I can go back to getting more weeds under control. After a walk first. Yesterday, we went for a walk and ended up in the garage of a friend checking out his new garage door. Really neat with high rollers and whisperingly quiet. An hour later, we headed home in the heat. Not so pleasant. Guess we all had a lot to discuss. Ha ha
And my latest RR girl, Abigail, is nowhere to be seen. Last update she was given to a carrier in LA, name unknown, with no further information. So, no idea where she may be or when she is expected. Sure hope she arrives soon.
Joy, I have been waiting3 months for a gift for my younger son. It is one of the wooden puzzles you see on FB. This one is a LOTR ones, and he is a huge fan. I has been sitting in a town in GA for a week. We are going to take the info to our post mistress and see if she can help. Good luck on your doll.
Thanks for the good luck wishes. No updates today on my Abigail, since she was sent from LA for delivery by unknown carrier. Crickets on that one. Sorry about the puzzle. Maybe the label fell off? But, I’ll bet if you call that post office in Georgia, they might try and find it. I’ve had luck doing that in the past. Not today though. Holiday. 🙂
Dear Jeanne, well, you have managed to “style” the bride and the mother of the groom. Now you can add Wedding Couture to your resume.
But don’t stop there! Your doll photography is amazing. I love how you managed to capture Bailey “in motion.”
When you are in need of new business cards, you are going to have to add a line that says,
“Jeanne of all work!” This is, of course, a play on the term “Jane of all work (smile).
I just love watching you create.
Bailey is such a cutie and even more so in her posed pictures. Bailey kicking up her heels made me smile big. As I was dressing my Meadow Lolla into her summer short set this morning, I was thinking how cute these dolls are to pose but not so much fun to dress sometimes. Trying to keep her arms and legs in the right position to put the clothes on was fun indeed not to mention putting on her shoes when her feet kept turning. But they are the cutest dolls and are fun to pose because they actually have some flexibility (a lot of flexibility). Many of my other articulated dolls tend to be stiff, especially in their knees.
Wow! Another alteration project. What a great job you did on the MIL dress. I always marvel at how the simplest project can become less than simple once it’s started. I remember the dress my stepdaughter brought me from the resale shop that she wanted me to alter into a Scarlett O’Hara type gown for her prom. The dress was in pretty good shape so I said why not. Then I discovered that there were perspiration stains in the underarm panels which would require total replacement. Fortunately the dress was a color and fabric that was easy to find and match, and luckily the dress fit well so didn’t require any size alterations. A couple years later her younger sister decided I should make her prom dress. She brought me a Vogue pattern and some lovely fabric. I really do prefer to make a garment from scratch, but Vogue is not my usual go-to pattern company. The dress was a lot of work but did look beautiful when it was finished and her pictures are lovely.
Update on the long dress for the pageant. Dionne and Jaiden went to some resale shops yesterday and managed to find a couple perfect long dresses for the pageant. I hadn’t thought of resale shops but know many people who buy their formal dresses from them. Often the dresses have only been worn once. With “the season” for long dresses being over now there are more long dresses in the resale than the retail shops. Things actually turned out perfectly. Dionne is going to be Jaiden’s escort because she needs to be there with her and Sean has Skyy and Azure so can’t be there all the time. Dionne is tiny so one of the dresses she found will fit her and the other Jaiden will wear. They should make two very lovely ladies. Things are coming together and I’m breathing a sigh of relief.
The pedal pusher comments reminded me of a funny story. When I was a junior in high school I dated the boy-next-door. His mother and mine were sitting outside in their yard chatting one evening so we joined in. The mothers were talking about pedal pushers and sizes. Paul chimed in that he wore a size 12. We all looked at him and started chuckling. He wanted to know what was so funny. We explained to him what pedal pushers were and we doubted he wore them. He thought we were talking about shoes. In his mind what else would a pedal pusher be.
What great news about Jaiden finding something she likes. Who cares where she found it, but I’m sure it will be great. Maybe you can snap a pic of her with a blanked out head to share. I’d love to see the dress that she has chosen.
Oh Jeanne….I totally understand what you went thru altering the pink MIL dress! My Granddaughter had a dress ordered for her H.S. Prom several years ago and it was an “American” size, but too loose and gappy on the bodice top and the sides. So family would come to me for alterations which I did for them…because I could sew and it’s family! (Often, They paid me for my sewing skills and time!)
I went through the SAME issue you had with trying to figure out how to turn it right side out after taking the top apart. It was a puzzle how the manufacturer assembled the dress, and it took a ton of patience on my part. I almost thought I wouldn’t be able to put it back together again and thought about purchasing a new prom dress from a local store…maybe a store that offered alterations!
But I kept at it and would not give up and with more time and some hand sewing, the dress was ready to return to my Granddaughter. And she loved how it fit her figure! Your sharing of your MIL dress episode took me down memory lane….I could remember clearly how frustrated I was at trying to alter the prom dress that should have been a piece of cake!
P.S. I’d rather “alter” doll clothes and patterns any day!
Twice! A whole tutorial on alterations! Thankyou Jeanne!
Beautiful job on MIL dress!
And so cute outfit for Bailey!!