the Cap & Flower Wreath

I really like the beaded wired cap I'd made for some of Naomi's gowns, and thought the mauve elf gown could use one as well. So I traced the cap template onto medium iron-on interfacing twice. I pressed the interfacing onto the wrong side of the mauve fabric, then cut the two pieces out along with the cotton lining fabric. I stitched the cap together, and then realized I was supposed to attach the trim BEFORE attaching the lining. So I started over and cut out two more cap pieces and lining.

The centre seams of the cap and lining are each sewn together. Then the trim is sewn a seam allowance away from the front edge of the cap. Then the lining is pinned to the cap right sides together, and the outside seam is stitched, leaving an opening at the centre back to facilitate turning the cap right side out. Clip the corners and curves, turn the cap right side out, and stitch the back opening closed. I always baste the finished edges to make nice crisp edges.

Then it's time to add the wiring. I use a medium gauge wire (the label fell off years ago so I don't know the actual size) and start by making a small curl at the end of the wire and stitching it to the centre back of the cap lining, being careful not to stitch through to the good side. Then I stitch the wire to the cap as shown in the photo below, ending with another curl at centre back. Then I start picot beading all the way around...

The good side...

The finished cap showing all the beading.

The pink lace gown demanded a flower wreath instead of a cap. So I crocheted a chain stitch long enough to fit over and around the doll's wig, then single crocheted in every chain stitch, and then a second row of single crochet. The ends were stitched together, and then the flowers were stitched to the head band. After going all the way around, I stitched two pink silk ribbon bows to the back.

Final Details

Both gowns required a jewelled chain hanging from the waist at centre front. So I measured a length of chain, cut it, and added a row of beads and jewelry caps to both ends. I also needed something to go in centre front at the waist, but didn't have anything suitable, so made it from a flattened filagree bead cap, with a large rhinestone and string of gold beads glued to the middle.

​After stitching the final jewelry to the gowns, and making a simple pair of stretch under sleeves, the gowns were almost finished. I decided the pink lace overskirt wasn't quite long enough, so added a wide pink lace to the bottom to lengthen it. I also wasn't happy with the plain edge of the lace hanging sleeve, so did picot beading along the edge all the way to the bottom.

I felt the mauve hanging sleeve still needed something, so cut another even longer hanging sleeve from pale lavender nylon tricot and stitched it into the inside of the upper sleeve. ​

And both gowns were finally finished...