A Struggle

8/26/2020

Sometimes I get the feeling that most people think I pop out my doll costumes just like that. But I struggle too. In fact way more nowadays than I used to.

I was working on developing a KID size version of my 'Outlander' costumes, and since Peach was my only available KID, I used her as my model....

...and when the outfit was done, I took some photos of her with Rosie....

Something didn't seem quite right to me - like the outfit needed something - so I tried making a little cap. I wanted one that sat on the back of the head and helped to minimize the bigger KID head size. The first one wasn't right, and way too small, so I made a second one.

I also thought the jacket lacked something, so added chain stitch embroidery around the edges just like Rosie's. The stomacher seemed too long, and at that point there was nothing I could do to physically change that, so I embroidered a chain stitch edge around it and painted the outer edge a dark blue to make it 'blend in' to the colour of her skirt.

And I thought I'd try the outfit on Lisa with her darker hair to see how that would look....

I was very happy with the changes to the outfit...

...but the two of them didn't seem to work as well together as I had hoped. Lisa seemed to give off an 'old west' vibe, whereas I was really looking for something several decades older.

So I thought I'd try Peach again, since she has a narrower face, and very small features compared to the other KIDs. And this time I was lazy and didn't feel like redressing them both, so I just switched their heads....

I think I liked the outfit best on Peach after all, and it had also become clear that to make a KID work best in a photo with a Raccoon lady, I'd need to have the KID's head in 3/4 view....

I don't know if it's her sculpt, or her wig, but Peach definitely looked more period appropriate...

9 Comments

Jay

8/26/2020 09:29:21 am

The outfit was great to start with. But I love the changes you made to the outfit! I especially think the stomacher treatment is darned brilliant.

KarenC

8/26/2020 09:42:40 am

I also like Peach better. Her face is younger, but also her faceup seems more appropriate. I love her little mouth. (Great idea to just switch heads - lol!)

Donna Leggee

8/26/2020 09:50:45 am

Like Jay said, the outfit was great to start with and your changes made it even better. I like it best on Peach too. She seems to have found her era!

Lorraine

8/26/2020 10:30:22 am

Love the outfit--the changes work well. Although I like the outfit best on Peach, to me the cap makes both girls' heads look larger. Peach's head size looks smallest in her first three photos with Rosie.

ResinRapture

8/26/2020 01:41:34 pm

I agree, Peach looks more the part. Her timid smile, the narrower face and the less modern hair style make her look like a shy little girl. Rosie's sculpt is very classy, and somehow the two of them together are a better match, I think. Maybe Iple really comes up with FID sized kids. They said they'd consider it...

Martha

8/27/2020 04:34:22 am

I think whichever KID I go with would work better with the FIDs, but I only had Rosie to pose her with in photos right now.

I don't know how I'd feel about Iplehouse coming out with FID scaled KIDs and BIDs. I have a lot of them, and would hate to have to replace many of them. But then, I'm sure people just getting into the hobby would appreciate it.

Dorothy

8/26/2020 06:32:15 pm

I can't decide which KID I like better. I like the outfit. I really like the carpet bag.

Sara

8/26/2020 08:45:35 pm

Beautiful outfit and it looked great on both girls, but Peach does seem to fit better with Rosie. Maybe it’s her lighter hair giving her a lighter vibe like Rosie’s?

I just want to add how much I appreciate you taking the time to talk about your struggles. Sometimes it feels like all the talented people try to pretend they never have issues, and it’s just nice to know someone as amazing at making doll clothes as you are has to take time and fix things and make changes instead of it just coming out perfect immediately. That means the most to me, because I’m still starting out in my own creative journey and it can be discouraging to see how much better at it other people are, when they never seem to have difficulties. But knowing that you work hard and succeed encourages me to know that if I work hard I can succeed too! Thank you, Martha!

Martha

8/27/2020 04:43:13 am

Thanks for your comment.

This is exactly why I post threads like this. I've been sewing doll costumes my whole life, and due to over 50 years experience, many outfits do come out just how I imagined them, but then there are others that fight me every step of the way. These days it seems to be happening more often than not. But since "good enough" isn't in my vocabulary, I will take things apart and redo them - multiple times if necessary.

I had a little sailor suit recently, which was super simple, and should have been easy to whip out, but no. I had to redo the pants hems THREE times before they looked right. Almost every single thing on that super simple outfit had to be redone more than once.

So, best of luck with your creative journey.

A Struggle

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