Sewing Again, and a Word About Muslins/Calicos/Toiles



1990's version of Burda 3197

 Gosh! I can't believe it, I had some time this weekend to cut out a top using a way out of print Burda pattern 3197. I didn't have to do a muslin because I had already made up the top when it first came out, which I think was some time in the 1990's. I just loved it at the time, and wore it a lot.

I don't know if the stretch sewing world has moved on since then, but it has separate pieces for facings around the neck line, so I am going to do that again as they worked quite well on this first go of the top. I used special iron on interfacing that stretches with the fabric. The neckline has a good shape to it too. I have found that nearly every Burda pattern that I have tried from their catalogue range has fitted really well.

What do you think of the fabric? I got it at Crafty Mammas, an Australian online fabric store. I have a feeling it is meant for children, but I think I can just get away with it. As it is a kind of test of my skills using the overlocker for more than just finishing edges (yes, I am going to sew as much of this top using this scary machine), if it looks a little strange, I will just wear it around the house.

I have just received my delivery of stretch fabric from Knit Wit, so the plan is to make some more tops.

A big big thankyou to that sewer extraordinaire from Sydney, Kristy of lower your presser foot who kindly did a post in response to my query about how she does her muslins. She has some really good tips, so check it out. I am doing these test garments more and more these days to avoid wrecking lovely fabric. It takes so much longer, but is worth it in the long run. I doubt a professional sewer would proceed without making one for their client, so I don't know why we home sewers do, and expect to get the same good fit.

Dolls! Lovely Paper Doll Op Shop Find

Browsing the magazine and book section of one of my local Op Shops yesterday, (that's Charity or Thrift store, depending on which country you live in) I came across a copy of Sew Beautiful magazine, and spied these paper dolls, still in tact.



I love the way the doll has her own doll. The doll's doll has her own wedding outfit.



If you can get your hands on a copy of issue no 72, 2000 of Sew Beautiful, you will get to see all of the outfits. They take up 2 pages of the magazine and are printed on card.

 





Dolls! Cute Wardrobe Pattern for 18 Inch Antique Style Dolls

I was searching through my extensive pattern stash for stretch top patterns when I spied this ensemble for dolls. This is the swimsuit from Vogue Craft pattern 7244 designed by Teresa Layman and released around 2000. At the time, I planned on making up one of these outfits for a German doll that belonged to my grandmother. In the end, we paid an expert to restore the doll (she was in pieces with raggy hair and no original clothes). It cost far more to restore her than what she is worth, but as it is a family heirloom, it was the right thing to do.

This is the party dress and a sailor suit style dress.

If one of my dolls thinks she needs a swimsuit, I have the pattern!

There has been a lot of buying of fabric and patterns and talking about what is going to be made here on Lizzie's Arty Crafty at the moment, but no sewing, except for cutting out a paper pattern. Not sure if that counts as sewing. I think I might be able to steal an hour or so of sewing time this weekend though, and still do some study, so wish me luck.

Always Time to Buy Fabric

I was in the city on my lunch break recently, and found the Tessuti fabric store by accident. I think if you are a fabricaholic, fabric comes to you.

I purchased enough of this Japanese cotton fabric (my heart goes out to those people at the moment) to make a short boxy jacket, but as it is very busy (that's a 50 cent Australian coin in the above photo), I am thinking more along these lines:



 I have this vest pattern already and it is Kwik Sew 3619. They also show this version on their website, without the ties, made in one fabric and with button closures:



I think I am going to be able to sew over the Easter break, or sooner if I can spend a couple of afternoons working on my certificate course for work and get that out of the way. That's the plan anyway...

Dolls! Pretty Peggy Nisbet Character Dolls

I have 4 dolls, 2 of which are labelled Happy Dolls, and from my research, I believe they are made by the English doll maker, Peggy Nisbet in the 1960's. The tag of the ballerina doll reads "T.67 I am a little Ballerina and my name is NANETTE I dance on point and my favourite ballet is Swan Lake".

I like her best out of my 4 Peggy Nisbet dolls because of the faded mushroom colour of her tulle skirt and the cute hair do. Here is the other side of the tag that came with this doll:

My next favourite doll is this dancer with a frilly bonnet. I like the way Nisbet used fabric that makes the doll looks as though she has just done a twirl on the dance floor.

Next up is doll T.67 who is an Irish Colleen and her name is Bridget. These dolls are mostly in good order, the only consistent wear and tear is to the painted on shoes and socks.

This doll was in very bad order when I got her. Her clothes were infested with moths, so I made her a new set. Her face is slightly chewed, and she has lost her hair.

I am pleased with the replacement blouse and apron I made for her, but the skirt turned out a little less full than it should have been, going on the look of the original original outfit:

On the original dress, they folded the skirt and then attached it to the bodice. I couldn't manage that with the fabric I used, which was 100 per cent wool. Once made, the outfits are then placed on the dolls, and the openings stitched together.

I do have some long mohair lengths and some acid free glue to try and give her some hair, so I will have a go at that at some stage.

These dolls are quite reasonably priced, and pop up all over the auction sites on the internet, so if you are interested in collecting them, now is a good time I think.