I'm currently working on a 'Jennet' outfit for a JID. It's coming along nicely, but the plaid fabric my customer chose, seems a bit too stiff for my taste. The 'Jennet' costume is more or less a 'period' outfit, so the skirt shouldn't be so stiff and sticking out like a ball gown. The shawl is also way too stiff to wrap nicely around anyone. So I washed the dress and shawl, then let them soak in fabric softener. After squeezing out the excess water, I've arranged the skirt how I'd like it to dry.... ...and placed it on a wire rack over a heating duct to dry. Here's hoping it stays that way.
2 Comments
I finished knitting the faux chain mail vest. It's for a large-bust JID, so my Isar is modelling. I also made a collar/cowl to finish off the look. If it was for me, I'd stain it darker, and add dark brown 'rust'. But it's not, and 99% of people prefer their doll clothes pristine like it's fresh from the tailor (or in this case, the 'black smith')
Efreet, ever the entrepreneur, has convinced Coco to join him and Ringo on their paper route.... Ringo, who always seems to be stuck carrying the heavy bag, isn't too sure he likes the idea of dividing the profit between three of them now..... But Efreet said he could get the route expanded, so everyone would still be getting the
same 'take-home' pay. "You mean, more work for the same money??" But the new recruit is only too happy to be allowed to join them.... One year ago today, our adorable little grandson was born.... His birthday party will be this coming Sunday.
I'm working on knitting a simulated chain-mail vest and collar for someone's doll. I'm no knitting expert and wasn't confidant that I could do it, but agreed to try. It's one thing when I knit a bit of simulated chain-mail from silver crochet thread for a sleeve that's just peaking out from under an elaborate fantasy costume, but it's quite another when it's the over-garment. Anyway, I'll see what this ends up looking like when it's done....right now it's not exactly looking very promising.....
When I was making Lisa and Bonnie's purple dresses with the velveteen bodices, I took some photos to share my technique for working with velvet (and corduroy, or anything with a nap). I used to always pin the patterns onto both the velvet and the lining and cut them both out. Then when I tried to put the right sides together, it was always impossible to get the lining to stay in place and match up. Even when it was pre-basted. The nap on the velvet made the lining move, and it would always end up too short somewhere. It was always so frustrating! So now I don't bother to cut out the lining at all until AFTER sewing. Whenever I need a velvet (or velveteen, or velour) bodice, I usually first trace my pattern onto some lightweight iron-on interfacing. Then I cut out the bodice. Then I place the velvet right side down onto the lining fabric , pin it down, and cut widely around it. Then I hand-baste through the layers along the stitching line. On these bodices, the back seams and neckline get stitched first.. You'll notice that the bodice on the left has moved during basting, and now touches the edge of the lining fabric in one spot. That's not where the velvet bodice was originally positioned. But because there was extra fabric all the way around, at least the velvet is only up to the edge now, and not over it. With the lining fabric not being cut out yet, it doesn't matter if the velvet walks to one side a bit. After machine stitching, the back and neckline edges are trimmed, the neckline curve clipped, and the bodice it turned right-side-out (left, below) I press it on the back, then trim the lining away... A perfectly aligned lining!
No more fussing with trying to make a pre-cut lining stay in place when working with velvet! My Coco and Bono are finally home. With it being so cold and humid (it snows almost every day) it took a long time before Charie could paint them. Anyway, they are home now.... Coco inherited the only 'boy' wig I have, but Bono was another story. I've spent a lot of time trying on the various spare wigs I have, but I can't decide. She looks good in many of them. She was painted to look like Lonnie's little sister, and she does look just like Lonnie did when she first arrived, but Lonnie has yellowed considerably since then. Anyway, I think I like the red hair - I don't have any redheads - but I prefer the style of the blonde Hannah wig.
I made her dress from a length of embroidered soft green lace, which was a gift from Charie. And, finally, one more picture of Coco.... One of the kids leaned over a little too far and suddenly the whole fort started to crumble... ...right on top of poor Ringo.... "Oww!!"
With it being so cold outside, the little ones are continuing to enjoy playing with their blocks... However, Erzulie had bigger plans.... ..and under her supervision, they built a huge fort....
With yesterday's snowfall, my 'Christmas Tree forest' is finally ready for winter photography. Jan had gathered all the real trees out on the curb after Christmas, cut them down to half, and mounted them in the upper garden. They've been waiting for some snow-cover ever since.... So I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to take a few photos of some of my other dolls - after all, I do have more than just little kids - and they rarely get the chance to come out. I'd made a new saddle blanket for my horse to replace the pink 'girlie' one he came with, so I took him, along with Kyle and Isar, 'into the woods'..... Isar, ready to leave .... A final check of the bridle.... *By the way, when I made Lisa's purple dress, I also made a duplicate, which is now up for sale.
|
AuthorMartha Boers is an award-winning Canadian doll maker and costumer specializing in fantasy and historical-style costumes. Archives
March 2024
|