Wildside Collection free tank top pattern - American Girl Doll Fashion

I have been sewing some new items this week.  Tank tops, night gowns and panties that coordinate each other.  My granddaughters picked out fabric and elastic.  They are like most children - love the animal print designs.  Here are some things I made for them and will be adding to my Etsy store GiGis Doll Creations

Patterns  for night gown and panties are from Love U Bunches.  Tank top a free pattern from Liberty Jane

Wildside doll panties collection

Below are Isabelle and McKenna modeling the tank tops and panties

Thanks GiGi

Sew In Style Make Your Own Doll Clothes Book Review

Several weeks ago I entered an online contest on  a Facebook page click here --> Sew in Style Book  they were giving away the book Sew in Style Make Your Own Doll Clothes by Erin Hentzel.  I won the book and it came in the mail today.  In the contest you had to state who you would like to give the book too.  I have two granddaughters and I wanted to share it with the older one.  I want to inspire her into sewing.  She was really excited when I told her about it.  She will be here in a week so hopefully she pick out some patterns from the book and we can sew them.

I wanted to do a book review on it.  After I opened, I was so excited to win this book...it is an awesome book full of tutorials, resources and patterns. As you can see on the photo above and the one below there are young girls in the photos and to inspire them to sew.  I recommend this book for the young, new to sewing, or advanced sewer.  One can never stop learning. This book is packed with projects and patterns. 22 projects.  Book cost 22.95 - so you are purchasing a pattern for approximately a dollar.  Now that's a sweet deal. 112 pages.

 Sew in Style: Make Your Own Doll Clothes ISBN 978-1-60705-765-6  Soft cover book.

 Chapter one is the Go To Chapter - that is packed full of sewing information  and bright colored photos- sewing notions, fabrics, how to cut patterns, seam allowance, trimming corners, clipping curves, list of supplies, glossary, etc.

If you are a visual learner this book has awesome photos. 

Patterns are at the back of the book and are made on thick paper. Patterns - here are just a few of the 22 projects  - skirts, tops, dresses, bracelet, purses, PJ's, sleeping bag, shorts, pants, yoga pants,  headbands, jeans, tunic top - awesome doll wardrobe collection.


Links for Sew in Style
Avery Lane Designs website  http://averylanesewing.com/
Avery Lane Designs on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AveryLaneDesigns
Sew in Style on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/SewinStyleBook
Etsy https://www.etsy.com/shop/AveryLane - to purchase her other patterns and the book.

I have give this book 5 stars *****.  Well written and I cannot wait to sew doll clothes from this book and help inspire my granddaughters to sew too.  On the https://www.facebook.com/SewinStyleBook they are having a summer sewing camp.  Be sure and check it out.  They are giving away prizes too.


I hope to inspire you and your daughters or sons to start sewing doll clothes too and build your sewing skills.

As always, thanks for stopping and browsing my blog.

GiGi

WW 1 Historical 18 inch Doll Nursing Uniform Pattern Review

I had the pleasure of being a doll pattern tester for Genniewren Etsy link on making the WW 1 Nurse Uniform for 18 inch dolls  Being a Registered Nurse - I was humbled and honored to test this pattern.

This was my first pattern to test.  I learned to make sure you read all instructions and not to sew when you are really tired.  I made a couple of mistakes - but they were my own.  The pattern is well written  with detailed instructions and a lot of photos.  I am a visual learner. Sometimes I have to see what the end results needs to be before I can sew it. I have to have a visual in my head. Sometimes that can be challenging to me. The pattern has two variations - two different collars, two different hats, and two different aprons.  Two arm bands and the option of making the sleeve protectors.

At the end of the pattern, there are several pages well written explaining the history of WW 1 nursing and several historical photos of nurses wearing their uniforms. The photo above and below are from Genniewrens  Pattern. 

Here are my photos:

Thanks for stopping and browsing my blog. 

GiGi

18 inch Doll Furniture for Living Room Doll House

I was needing some furniture for the living room in the granddaughters doll house.  Dear hubby said he would make me a couch and chair.  Here is our tutorial on making the 18 inch doll couch and chair.

He used craft pine  board 3/8 inch thick,, 6 inches wide, 36 inches long from Lowes (bought 2).  He used his table saw, table router, drill press, nail gun and wood glue. He did not have a pattern.  He took the doll and measured her and decided to make the furniture sitting low the ground so the doll would sit more naturally.  He made a decorative scroll on the front panel of couch
and chair.

 Shown in photo's below he drew a layout by penciling in where to pre-drill holes for nails. Used drill press with 1/8 inch drill bit - lining up holes for front and back.  In photo in lower left hand corner, used a larger drill bit for counter sinking nail heads.

Using Black and Decker orange drill, he us pre-drilling holes for nails in front, back seat, and scroll panel.

 In photos below, he instered nails - paneling nail with ridges. Used Tight Bond wood glue to attach sides.  Used  counter sink punch to tap in nails to counter sink.  In photo in lower right hand corner, used wood filler to fill in nail head holes for smooth finish.

Various views of the chair.

  For the arms of the chair, he routed the edges off to make them smooth and curved.

He did a curve on each side panel on couch and chair with using the band saw to make a decorative curve. View the above photo in the lower left corner. 

We cut one long piece of foam that we purchased from Hobby Lobby and two pieces of foam for back cushions on the couch.  For the chair we only cut two pieces of foam one for bottom and one for back.  I did not have a pattern to make the coverings for the foam cushions.   I measured the foam and added 1/4 inch seam allowance and cut my fabric. I made a pattern using freezer paper.  For the strips I measured all the way around and added 1/4 inch to end and sides to allow for sewing.  

  Measurements for fabric for the bottom  foam cushion on couch was  14 1/2 inches x 6 1/2 inches (cut 2).  Strip was 39 inches x 1 1/2 inches wide - cut one.

 Fabric for back seat cushions on chair and couche  were 4 1/2 x 7 1/2 (cut 2 for each cushion  which was 8 total) and strip was 22 1/2 inches x 1 1/2 inches wide (cut 4 for the four cushions.  The bottom cushion for the chair was the same.

I am using straight stitch on my Brother sewing machine.  I decided which side was the back and I started sewing the strip in the middle.  I did not sew right end of the strip.  I left about 1/4 so that when I brought the strip around I could join the two by sewing them together, then laying the fabric down and finish attaching the strip to the fabric.

I left an opening in the back, inserted the foam and then did a straight stitch and finished sewing up the back/bottom piece.

I made some pillows.  I just cut a 4 x 4 square, sewed the sides, turned right side out and stuffed with poly fil stuffing and folded the end that was open down and placed under sewing machine foot and closed with a straight stitch.

I think I need an end table and some wall decor.  The flat screen TV - made from $1.00 photo frame from Walmart.  I made a copy of Saige's book - Paints the Sky and cut it out to fit the fame.  Used command strips to hang on the wall. 

I hope you have enjoyed this doll furniture tutorial.  If you have any comments  leave below or questions please ask. Be sure to click on the right side of screen - Follow this blog to see more inspirational, creative and fun things to do for you American Girl dolls or other 18 inch dolls.  As always, thank you for stopping by.

GiGi

American Girl Doll Night Gown and Blankie Pattern Review

Brand new pattern from Love U Bunches night gown and blanket. I made two night gowns and two blankie's.  Bitty Twin and McKenna are shown modeling the two nightie's and blankie's.  The pattern does not mention using this gown on 15 inch Bitty Twin. I thought I would try it on her and it fit.  I did not have to make any adjustments in the pattern for it to fit 15 inch American Girl Bitty Twin doll. 

Here is the Pattern you can purchase from Pixie Faire Me & My Blankie

This patter was easy to follow, easy to sew.  I used a straight stitch of 3.5 to sew on my  fold over elastic - FOE.  I used Velcro hook and Loop from Farmcookies on Etsy - Ultra thin Velcro for doll and it worked perfect for this nightie.  

I used a ribbed knit for both blankies.  Polyester ribbon from Hobby Lobby on Bitty Twins blanket and Grossgrain ribbon from Hobby Lobby on McKenna's blankie.

This was my first experience on sewing with fold over elastic (FOE) and I didn't have any problem with it.  I purchased my FOE at Hobby Lobby in the Ribbon and Trim section.  They have multiple colors and design prints to choose from. I like to purchase it when they are having 50% off Ribbon, Trim and Tulle sale.

I hope you have enjoyed this pattern review and found it to be inspirational. To keep up with my sewing adventures be sure to click on the Join this site on the left hand side of screen to follow me.

GiGi