It's time to try and make new clothes for the dolls. Poppy Parker is languishing in drab cast offs, and deserves something colorful.
With the sun shining this morning, this pretty blue cotton print needs to be used!
Time For Some New Fall Clothes
There are some gorgeous colors out right now. With the weather getting colder and the leaves falling, I'm back in love with heathered purples and greens, tempered with greys and black. I'm also loving the knit fabrics out. Some are so soft they're pure luxury, even if they are a total pain in the behind to work with.
After attending a fashion show at Bellevue Square last week, I'm thoroughly inspired now. I especially want to make some doll sized tights. That green and plum will be a great pop of color with a wool skirt and sweater. The black would make a nice knit top, or a lovely, clingy wraparound dress.
Plus, I have a new doll arriving that has been an agonizing several months wait while I chipped away at the layaway bill. He is going to need some loungewear while I work on his wardrobe! I'll post pics and more information after he arrives safe and sound, and I get him clothed. Just a hint, he's a SD sized BJD doll. Those familiar with these lovely resin dolls also know how anatomically correct they can be. I'm a prude, and just can't handle a "nekkid" manly doll in the house. :D
Now off to do all the chores I have been avoiding. Including finishing up a couple of doll sized sweaters after I still didn't learn my lesson about leaving enough room in the neckline to get it on the doll... *sigh*
Just A Wisp Of An Idea
Ideally I'll be able to get more details out either on paper, or in fabric!
Stripes. There Will Be So Many Stripes...
I have so many bits and bobs of wonderful laceweight yarn, I just started knitting up yet another doll sweater. After the little fitting fiasco of the red silk one I intended for an Ellowyne doll, but became a Fashion Royalty sweater dress instead, I started off with 18 extra stitches on my cast on, for 72 total. I did a 2 x 2 rib at the hem, so it's nice and stretchy. I also learned my lesson, and will not do an i-cord edging, especially at the neckline and armholes (if sleeveless) without going up at least two needles sizes! I'm sure there are much better edging techniques, but I haven't dedicated myself to learning any new ones for my repertoire.
At first I was going to do solid purple, but the little bits of color in one of my myriad of knitting boxes kept calling to me. So next went a lovely silver, then this gorgeous russet red I'm using on the current stripe. Next may be the teal blue, then green, and then we'll see from there.
I am picturing this as a sweater for Wilde Imagination's Prudence. I think all of these stripes will suit her personality well. This will most likely be a long sweater, with the hemline at mid calf, because I want to get lots of stripes in. I'm not sure how I'll do the sleeves or neckline yet, but as with my previous "for the heck of it" knitted doll items, I'll figure it out when I get to that point.
And if you haven't checked out Penelope's Fine Yarns yet, you're really missing out! Even if you wouldn't knit an adult sweater out of laceweight cashmere, why deny yourself the pleasure of working with a luxury yarn? A lot of her skeins are the perfect amount for a doll sized item, and very reasonably priced.
I've been a customer of hers for well over a year now, and have lots of her yarns in my stash. There's something about having cashmere, silk, and fine merino yarn glide through your fingertips. It's cheaper than therapy! And considering how much my dolls "talk" to me, I'm sure friends and family have at least thought about my therapy needs... :D
Not Everything Is For The Dolls
This is my first foray into altering clothes. The gown in question is lovely but understated. It needs a few changes but even the relatively small ones we're planning will make it look entirely different.
I'm excited and nervous for the challenge, but I know it will be worth the effort. And I'll still have the duct tape dress form of my best friend that we made in a couple of hours on Friday, so I can make more stuff and have a model for it!
My dolls will be jealous of the attention she gets, but that's just normal in this place. :D