Hi everyone,
I’m trying to continue with my list from several of you who sent things in my absence! Today you are going to be thrilled to see what Linda G has to share. It’s been 25 years in the making, but she’s finally reached the end! I know you will enjoy it!
I’m only sorry that the comments still aren’t able to be made. I will have to call Sarah tomorrow and see if she can figure out what is going on, now that I’m back home.
This is what Linda G. had to share with me.
Dear Jeanne and George,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you walk this path. Amazing as it seems, the Lord is with you and will sustain you… as He has promised. At the end of the day, we can rest in His promise and presence.
Something to fill the days on the web site if you want.
I have just finished a project that I started back in 2001…before I even had granddaughters or an American Girl doll! I’m catching Charlotte’s fever to finish those UFO’s!
Since childhood, I have been fascinated by clothing from around the world. My husband and I both have all Swedish ancestry. My grandparents were all born in Sweden and 3 of the 4 immigrated as adults. I grew up with mail coming from Sweden. As I started working on family history, I realized that there would be a folk dress for each area that they immigrated from and fell down the rabbit hole of researching them. When I got an AG doll, the next step was to make her Swedish folk outfits! Then came grandbabies… and the process slowed. In 2019 I finished outfits for some of my relatives and also the areas of my two friends’ Swedish grandmothers. I shared them with you at that time. (I don’t remember which ones) The granddaughters have already laid claim to one outfit apiece…. when I’m done with them.
Now my set is complete after 25 years of working on it off and on. I borrowed books from the library and searched on-line for ideas, colors and fabrics. I used a pattern by Doering Designs called Old Country Costumes, out of print, but you can find it on-line from Ingebretsen’s, in Minneapolis. They also carry the woven Swedish ribbons.
My mother’s dad came from Torsby, Varmland, Sweden in 1911 and her mother followed the next year with the three children! The birch bark backpack was made by my mother’s uncle and sent to my girls.
Jim’s maternal grandparents came from Nössemark, Dalsland, Sweden in 1890 and settled in a farming community north of St. Paul, MN. I found hand crocheted lace on an old pillow case that I used on the apron.
My dad’s cousin in Sweden sent me this pretty fabric with Dala horses and red roses printed on it. It would be typical of the folk dress for Leksand, Dalarna, Sweden. I was enchanted with the idea of the specific dress for a little girl…bright yellow!
Both my grandfather (in 1906) and Jim’s great-grandfather (in 1884,) immigrated from the Småland area of Sweden. The belt has very specific traditions for the embroidery. Besides the x shaped layout, it includes the logo for the current monarch of Sweden, the seamstress’ initials and the year it was completed!
The folk dress you are most likely to see at Swedish-American events is the blue and yellow dress made popular by current Queen Silvia of Sweden. It mimics the Swedish flag and is easy to find the materials. The flowered head band is typical for Midsummer events.
Even though this project took me all these years, I never lost interest in completing it… just ran out of time. Thankfully I can now say “I’m done!” It’s nice to have a doll/sewing group that I can report to that understands me! 😉 Have a great rest of the summer.
Prayers for Jeanne and George.
Linda G from Minnesota
Thank you Linda! Your Swedish dresses are just as lovely as can be. What a work from the heart! Each one is prettier than the one before. You must be so proud of yourself for finishing up all these projects and now you are DONE! Not very many seamstresses can say that!
Thank you for sharing!
Blessings, Jeanne
