In the interests of not derailing the "In Progress Projects" thread, I am copying what I've posted so far. I am currently working on the doll for my youngest niece, Maddie, and am still trying to figure out if I want to make her dress Italian middle-class, or more medieval. Maybe I'll have to do one of each! ;D Anyway, here's what I have posted so far:
For my nieces, I have been making dolls using Lynn McMasters' 26-in doll pattern. I drafted my own patterns for the clothes, and have been working like mad to finish these dolls by tomorrow. My 5yo niece, Grace, thinks that I'm "magic" because I can make things like play clothes, tutus, and dolls from just fabric. :)
(http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs096.snc3/16354_709523721780_16925321_41971040_3774057_n.jpg)
Doll parts!
(http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs096.snc3/16354_709523776670_16925321_41971043_7371681_n.jpg)
Doll without hair, but mostly put together. I still need to make clothes for this one!
Here are some in-progress photos of the test doll:
(http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs210.snc1/7733_693038273750_16925321_41455717_714953_n.jpg)
A test bodice, in linen, for the doll I'm hoping to use in our fashion show this year. BTW, silk thread really is the way to go for hand sewing. I also discovered a new love of linen during this project!
(http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs218.snc1/8531_693038473350_16925321_41455737_5541309_n.jpg)
Close-up of the hair, which is made from cotton embroidery thread. BTW, don't do this unless you can find a great deal on the thread, as it ended up taking way more than I thought it would. It's worth it for this doll, which is meant to be a model, but for the little girls, I used fine yarn instead.
(http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs256.snc1/10328_694375828280_16925321_41501232_7379858_n.jpg)
Hand-bound eyelets for the tiny bodice. Again, the silk thread worked wonderfully! I am so glad I bought an actual sewing awl this summer, as it made making the holes very painless.
(http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs276.snc1/10328_694375923090_16925321_41501240_5997671_n.jpg)
Close-up of the process of sewing the holes.
(http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs256.snc1/10328_694375997940_16925321_41501244_2211530_n.jpg)
(http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs256.snc1/10328_694376077780_16925321_41501252_7421772_n.jpg)
Knife-pleating! How I love knife pleating at this scale! Full-sized, not so much, although it looks gorgeous when finished.
(http://hphotos-snc1.fbcdn.net/hs256.snc1/10328_694376057820_16925321_41501251_2370613_n.jpg)
My doll, mostly finished. I messed up on the sleeve cuffs of the smock, and am still trying to figure that out.
(http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs256.snc1/10328_694376097740_16925321_41501253_3112103_n.jpg)
Spiral lacing! The back of the doll dresses for my nieces will be closed with snaps. Much easier for little ones to handle (they are 5, 3, and 1.5 yo)
I can't wait until they open the boxes to find their adorable, historically correct-ish dolls!
Update:
I think the dolls were a success:
(http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs116.snc3/16354_710458408660_16925321_41993314_5621113_n.jpg)
Gracie, and her doll Arial. Yes, she slept with the doll that night.
(http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs096.snc3/16354_710460788890_16925321_41993400_7100777_n.jpg)
Gracie was carrying around both dolls. She watched very intently while I was making the blue dress for her sister Sophia's doll. she had all kinds of questions, and decided that she wants a sewing machine. She also decided that when she grows up, she's going to be my mother (LOL, she was very serious about this!).
(http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs096.snc3/16354_710461327810_16925321_41993401_2915602_n.jpg)
(http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs096.snc3/16354_710461357750_16925321_41993402_836993_n.jpg)
The blue dress was really simple, but I had only about 45 minutes to design it, and put it together before leaving my parents' house tonight. I just took a length of fabric twice as long as the length of the doll from shoulder to foot, and as wide as the doll from wrist to wrist. I cut out a hole for the head (which ended up too big), and just folded satin ribbon lengthwise to encase raw edges on the neck opening, the wrists, and the hem. I tacked the back of the neckline in a couple of places to tighten it up (the neckline ended up about 2 inches too big!), and made a sash out of the same blue ribbon. Sophie loved the doll, but she was a little shy, so that's why Gracie posed with both dolls.
And now my 23 yo sister wants one... LOL! ;D
And a doll challenge here would be wonderful! I love the Italian styles, but since our court is Elizabethan, I never get to make and wear them. A doll challenge would be a great way for everyone to hone their skills, especially hand sewing!
This has inspired me. If I get time I think I'll make a bride dolly for my cherry red bride this summer! Think of it... 1950's style, with raised front hemline to show off fab shoes, in cherry silk dupion!
Lynn McMasters's Soft Doll patterns make wonderful Dolls. One of these days, I am planning to make a Henry VIII, some of the wives, along with a young Princess Elizabeth to compete. The Clothing patterns can also be used as a idea to draft other period patterns to dress the dolls.
These dolls also make great models for other periods such as 18th Century, Victorian, Goth, etc.
I shall fritter some of my Christmas money in this way. ;D
I'm gonna have to try this out. I think my girls would love it.
I may try to take up sewing again for this!
How much is the pattern?
Those dolls are lovely, and Gracie is SO cute!
Thanks for the compliments, folks! I have the cutest nieces imaginable!
The doll pattern is actually only $5, believe it or not! And if you buy three or more patterns on Lynn McMasters' site, you actually get a discount (I have never had a problem finding 3 I want at at time!).
oh, my, gosh!!! :o
I totally think people would love to buy these, at my "selling" events in the summer!! *whistle*, if you were in southeast Michigan, I'd set you up in a corner of my booth and watch them sell, just to see peoples' reactions.
So glad you're spoiling the girls. ______Shannon; The Colonial Peddler
I have a cloth fashion doll with a similar body. I've always intended to make up tiny versions of my own garb for her to wear, because I think it would be cute to carry around at faire.
However, she's got a HUGE head (think Bratz dolls. Ew) with a screen printed face. It just wouldn't look right. Maybe I'll give this a try!
Wow.. I been trying to make dolls but can't find a pattern I liked.
(http://lynnmcmasters.com/newpatterns/dollbodycover.jpg)
Just go over to http://lynnmcmasters.com/ (http://lynnmcmasters.com/) and click Patterns. Scroll down until you see the pattern. I also suggest ordering the Clothes pattern to go with it. Those can be used as ideas for other redrafted patterns to fit the doll body.
I have lusted after Lynn's Queen Elizabeth doll for quite some time. Since my OTHER hobby is collecting Barbie dolls I've always wanted to do costuming for them, but since I can't ever seem to find the time to sew garb for ME....Barbie will just have to wait.
I bought a really cool cloth doll from a vendor at my home faire, Sterling Renaissance Festival, 2 seasons ago, but I can't remember her name. I'm going to write myself a note so maybe I'll remember to take a pic of my doll tonight to post here. She's wearing a lovely red dress, a sort of upper-middle class girl I suppose. Expensive, but I didn't mind since I felt I was "supporting" the festival a bit.
Lady Rosalind....your dolls seem far superior in quality than what I have. You could get a little business going for yourself. They're beautiful!
I've just about finished the dress for Maddie's doll, but I still need to add the snaps to the back, and make a smock.
(http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs127.snc3/17452_715450938590_16925321_42182589_8046038_n.jpg)
(http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs147.snc3/17452_715450958550_16925321_42182590_5447711_n.jpg)
A close up of the embroidery on the bodice. I wanted to add a pop of color here, since I used the blue for the hair ribbon, and the skirt trim.
(http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs127.snc3/17452_715450514440_16925321_42182583_6901668_n.jpg)
A view of the back of the doll.
(http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs147.snc3/17452_715450559350_16925321_42182584_4089305_n.jpg)
A side view of the doll.
And a picture of Maddie, just because!
(http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs116.snc3/16354_710458553370_16925321_41993322_1152485_n.jpg)
She's the one in the lavender shirt. I think the doll might be taller than she is... ;D She'll be two in March.
(okay, back to see if my frozen fingers can sew some snaps on... okay, maybe it's time to stop sewing for the night and settle down with some hot chocolate.)
Must haz dolly... I think I might make one to match the little girl's kirtle and smock I made back in the summer.
Wanted to resurrect this thread to show my partially completed noble doll that I made for an educational presentation that took place Saturday.
Please excuse her disheveled appearance, as it was windy, and she kept falling over, and the teenager tried to fix it. ;D
(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs146.ash2/40660_776217047820_16925321_44244787_2232158_n.jpg)
Yes, she has no hair, nor sleeves, nor is her bodice trimmed. But, she looked sweet. ;D
She's wonderful! Although minus hair, etc, she does have something of Anne Boleyn's doomed aspect about her... ;)
How much do the patterns run? I've started thinking of making some doll clothing to practice skills on.
I cant tell which is cuter the little girls or the little dolls! :D
They have the CUTEST little princess in MN (I think she stands around 4' right now? and is about 12 or so? maybe younger...They did a beautiful job on her dress and in speaking with the dress maker its totally expandable and will fit her for at least another 3 to 5 years. :O Thats amazing!!
Quote from: LadyStitch on August 05, 2010, 04:27:20 PM
How much do the patterns run? I've started thinking of making some doll clothing to practice skills on.
Actually, the doll clothes are all my own modifications of Lynn McMaster's Highlander Doll Clothes patterns. Well, the bodice part of her pattern, anyway. I made lots of modifications, actually. The doll pattern is $5 and the clothes are $12. I think you get a price break if you order three patterns on one order.
http://www.lynnmcmasters.com/ (http://www.lynnmcmasters.com/)
This latest doll has a corset and everything, although she is super tightly laced in this one, as I made it too small. The bodice is also too small, and needs a stronger interlining, maybe of cotton drill, as it tends to wrinkle in the front. I used two layers of silk for the bodice, and two of linen for the corset. The corset bones are tiny cable ties!
The overskirt is one width of 45" wide silk, 18.5 inches long, with a 5/8" hem. I marked the pleats 1/2" apart, in two rows, 1/8" apart. The rim is 1/4" grosgrain ribbon. I will be adding a narrow silver braid trim later. It was dead simple to make, and if you understand cartridge pleats on a normal skirt, this is a lot easier.
The underskirt is knife-pleated, and owing to some mis-measuring, it overlaps a bit in back, and the waistband wasn't long enough. It's pinned right now. I was under a tight deadline to get this one ready, so there are some shortcuts.
The smock is a low-necked smock, I ended up taking a wide rectangle of white muslin, and then figured out how wide the shoulders needed to be. I cut out the neck opening, and knife-pleated the neck opening to the right size. Her cuffs are elastic, as I have yet to have enough patience to do normal cuffs at this size. Maybe this winter.
My niece Maddie LOVES her doll, and drags it (almost literally), everywhere. My sister has washed the dress several times already, and so far, the rest of the doll is actually holding up okay, too. Grace and Sophie like their dolls, too, but not quite to the extent that Maddie does. ;D
Yea, still want that pattern. On my wish list!
I have the Lynn McMasters patterns as well for the Cloth Doll and Clothing.My plan is to make a Henry VIII and most of the wives over the years for comeptition. That is if I get "down time" to do that.
The pattern for the Henry VIII doll, I will draft myself.
I got the patterns for the doll and clothing and Im slowly working on getting a doll done, but I do have a few questions. Lady Rosalind did you put the 1/4" boning in like the instructions ask for? Im wondering if the doll really needs the boning in the body or could you use cable ties instead of the corset boning it asks for? Thanks for your help.
Since this is a doll thread I have a question about dolls.
I am making a dolly for my niece and I am having trouble with the hair. I am making it out of yarn and the book that I have says to make a skein of yarn tie it in the middle and sitch the skein on the head, but I have problem the yarn yanks out of the skein when I tug on it. My neice is only 14 months old so I want it to be sturdy.
How can I make it stay and look good I think they look rather egg headed at the mo
Lady serena, I used a duct tie, cut to length, and it seems to be working fine.
Adriana, here is a link to the instructions for doll hair that I used. It seems to be working fine!
http://www.lynnmcmasters.com/DollHair.html (http://www.lynnmcmasters.com/DollHair.html)
Oh, and if I can ever find the time in the next two weeks, the girls are getting Alice in Wonderland dresses for their dolls for Christmas. :)
Thank you. Could you post pictures of the dresses would love to see them.
Thank you!
I have been cobbling the directions from 3 differnt crafting books togeather for the hair for this dolly
She walks on her head? ;) :-*
Found a neat blog today from someone doing some period doll costuming:
http://adournements.com/blog/?cat=6
Sempstress (one of my FAVOURITE costuming and sewing blogs EVER) has recently created a set of fashion doll patterns: one with legs, one with a straight solid base and one with a flared base so you don't need a hoop skirt. The patterns are available to download for a small cost here (http://www.sempstress.org/store/) She also has a pattern for wench wear and she has instructions on pattern drafting throughout her site. Check it out!
Now I really need to get the patterns so I can make my baby a doll
More Stunning Doll Eye Candy!!
I just found out that the mom of one of my needlework buddies has a historical costuming business for dolls! Check this out:
(http://www.costumecavalcade.co.uk/Renaissance.jpg)
With TONS more pix (including some in dollhouses (http://www.costumecavalcade.co.uk/gallery.htm)) on her website: Costume Cavalcade (http://www.costumecavalcade.co.uk/index.htm)
Those are so cute!
Ditto, gem!!
I just bookmarked this site for ideas of some dolls I want to do. I wonder if this creative person made her own patterns? They look similar to Lynn's.
I plan, perhaps over the Winter, to make an Anne Boleyn doll for my friend for whom I did thPelican Portrait gown. i have been wanting to do a series of Tudor dolls and then market the clothing patterns. So many ideas, so little time.
Silly me did not go to bed until 3am this morning. I was on the Internet, eBay, and found a lovely 19" Porcelain Doll already in a Renaissance styled costume that will be perfect for the Anne Boleyn I want to do. So I bought the dark haired doll for $25, plus shipping. It should arrive within 2 weeks.
(http://tudorhistory.org/boleyn/anneboleyn1.jpg)
I have tons of Black Velveteen, contrast fabrics, beads, pearls, etc. I already have replicated the French Hood for a VMS client 3 years ago. I will use the Tudor Tailor book as a guide to make the pattern to fit the doll. I plan to find more dolls to create the Six Wives of Henry VIII and compete them in the future. The Anne Boleyn Doll will be for Jeannine. A one of a kind that no one else will have.
I will be sure to post a BEFORE photo of the Doll before I take the costume all apart.
The Porcelain Doll I ordered from eBay arrived today. It was as i expected it to be. Lovely and perfect to recostume as Anne Boelyn. The costume it has on now is not all that bad. I will use it as a basis to draft the Tudor gown and accessories based on adult patterns to the Doll's mesurements.
(http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/247442_10150275068786280_568686279_9324095_5588977_n.jpg)
(http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/247442_10150275068781280_568686279_9324094_3227351_n.jpg)
LO and BEHOLD!!! I found another 19" Porecealin Doll on eBay for $18. Dark hair that I can restyle to be Katherine Parr
Stumbled across more wonderful costumed dolls today! She even provides *patterns* for her designs.
http://www.molendrix.com/galerie1.html
Check these out:
Eowyn
http://www.molendrix.com/shield1.html
And this completely spectacular Tudor ensemble, built from the stays up:
(http://www.molendrix.com/images/clem23_medium.jpg)
http://www.molendrix.com/Clemence1.html
Those are ADORABLE Gem! Who is it that has the Cosplay Kaylee (http://www.molendrix.com/Kaylee_ball1.html) floofy dress....Cap'n Faye Cutter? She (or if it's not Cap'n Faye, whoever it is!) needs that doll!!!! And the boots on Galadriel (http://www.molendrix.com/Galadriel1.html) are sooooo precious!
Very cool links, gem!
I was impressed with the Miniature Gabled Hood. I will be challanged to make a pattrn for one when I do the Jane Seymour doll.
Which is why the 3 year project for me to do the 6 wives of Henry VIII will be fun. With all that I have coming up for the rest of this year and into next already on the schedule, it will take me 3 years in my spare time to do all 6 dolls.
Quote from: gem on May 16, 2011, 02:17:55 PM
More Stunning Doll Eye Candy!!
I just found out that the mom of one of my needlework buddies has a historical costuming business for dolls! Check this out:
(http://www.costumecavalcade.co.uk/Renaissance.jpg)
With TONS more pix (including some in dollhouses (http://www.costumecavalcade.co.uk/gallery.htm)) on her website: Costume Cavalcade (http://www.costumecavalcade.co.uk/index.htm)
She has a Dr. Who doll on there. So want!
She is amazing. Not only does she do historical, but if you send her a picture, she can make one like you, your daughter, son, etc. Could be a really interesting Christmas present. ;D
Love the Firefly dolls...she even made Kaylee's wedding cake dress!
(http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Franklin-Heirloom-Porcelain-Doll-Cinderella-19-0-/00/s/MTAwMFgxMDAw/$(KGrHqIOKpcE6d+LCEEyBOv)23VZJg~~60_3.JPG)
I have a bid on this doll on eBay from the Franklin Mint. Starting bid is $9.99 with 6 hours left to the Auction. This 19" doll will be perfect for Catherine Howard.
I won the doll
Yay!
Ok, I have a question. I have recently starting making Barbie garb for a friend's daughter as a gift...I have her court gown almost complete, and want to make a french hood for it...anyone have any idea how I should do it? I have searched everywhere for a pattern, or even a tutorial (I am such a newbie sewer) and have had no luck....any help would be greatly appreciated!
While looking for bust portraits of various Roman empresses today, I came across this:
http://www.vroma.org/images/mcmanus_images/domnadoll.jpg
A doll from antiquity, with the head/hairdo of empress Julia Domna, but with a doll body with joint arms and legs. Originally it would probably have been dressed in the latest fashion. It is considered a toy for a little girl, not a statue of the said woman. And we think modern Barbies are long-limbed. Hah! This one even have a.... erm, mons pubis.