Erin Hentzel’s challenge on FB (Avery Lane Sewing) ended recently, so I wanted to share my entries for the SWAP (sewing with a purpose). The purpose was to have a set of up to 8 clothing pieces + up to 4 accessories that would interchange with one another to create a mix/match wardrobe for 14-inch dolls (Ruby Red Fashion Friends, Wellie Wishers, Hearts for Hearts and Glitter Girls).
I made all 12 pieces allowed:
Always glad to have visitors & happy to answer any questions you may have, so you’re welcome to leave a comment here for me.
I recently received my copy of Erin Hentzel’s newest publication, Doll Studio Boutique, and it was totally worth the wait!
As her book cover shows, you’ll be able to create 46 different doll outfits/accessories for any 14-inch dolls in today’s market, including Ruby Red Fashion Friends, Wellie Wishers, Hearts for Hearts and Glitter Girls. Many of the patterns in this book can be sewn using a Fat Quarter and you’ll love the variety (tops, t-shirt, skirts, shorts, pants, dresses and sleepwear), as well as fun accessories (slippers, headbands, totes & bucket hats). Erin always gives us lots of fun variations!
In deciding what to showcase today, I chose two coordinating flannel scrap pieces from my stash to sew the nightgown and slippers from Erin’s book. My first piece featured various sheep, most of which were too large for these sweet smaller dolls, so I centered only the smallest sheep on the nightgown yolk front piece, cut it out and added a small lace trim @ the top edge. My coordinating fabric was used for all other nightgown pieces and slippers. Using scrap fabric sometimes means you don’t have exactly the size a pattern calls for, such as here for the skirt width, but it was still sufficient to create a sweet nightgown.
Here’s my nightgown & slippers modeled by three different 14-inch dolls – RRFF Mikayla (re-wigged Kayla), Wellie Wisher Camille & Hearts for Hearts Mosi:
I know I’m going to really enjoy sewing all the sweet patterns Erin has provided in this fabulous new book, which is available from her publisher, C&T Publishing, Amazon, Target, most book stores and some Joann’s stores.
Thanks for stopping by today and if you’d like to join Avery Lane Patterns Sewing Group on Facebook, you’ll not only see lots of great doll fashion, but Erin’s recent post for a Launch Party Challenge for Doll Studio Boutique that runs from December 27th through January 24th and includes a fabulous Grand Prize for BOTH Beginners-Only participants, as well as for an Intermediate/Advanced sewist, plus a runner-up prize in each category! ;’)
Elsa from Frozen was my choice for Erin Hentzel’s latest challenge on Facebook: Avery Lane Patterns Sewing Group. We were required to use a pattern, either from one of her books or individual patterns she’s shared, to create a storybook (real or fictional), fairy tale, or fantasy character’s doll outfit.
I chose Elsa because I’d previously sewed an Elsa dress for a friend’s Granddaughter and still had plenty of left-over fabrics. In fact, that Elsa dress was my very first post here & you can easily find it by using “Elsa” in the search box @ top right on my opening page.
To create this Elsa dress I used Doll Dress Boutique’s Chapter Six Party Dresses for my front & back bodice pieces, as the front has a sweetheart neckline. I then used sleeve piece #45, lengthened to wrist length, and skirt piece #23, lengthened to ankle length. Mixing/matching pattern pieces is one of the things that makes Doll Dress Boutique a favorite pattern book of mine for creating many different looks. These were the only modifications I made pattern-wise per Erin’s challenge parameters.
My dress for this challenge is City Girl from Erin Hentzel’s book, Doll Dress Boutique.
I purchased the floral fabric from my local Wal-Mart and after deciding it was what I would use for this challenge, I searched my ‘stash’ of solid fabrics for one I could use for the ruffles and border. The only thing that truly ‘matched’ was a small scrap of bright yellow . . . so this very bright version of City Girl came to be:
AG Lea Doll wearing City Girl Dress
Erin holds lots of fun challenges, contests and give-away’s on her FB page, Avery Lane Patterns Sewing Group, which is a lovely group of ladies who enjoy sewing for dolls. She has 3 other books, plus a 5th coming out in October, 2021, Doll Studio Boutique, for smaller 14″ – 15″ Wellie Wisher, Hearts for Hearts and Ruby Red Fashion Friends dolls. I’ve recently acquired some RRFF dolls, so want to get some things sewn and pics posted soon.
Maryellen is ready for our AZ spring in her new flowered romper. It’s Viola by Violette Field Threads and can be sewn as either a dress or romper. I’m excited now to sew it in dress form!
Due to Covid 19, my shopping is limited to getting needed supplies/groceries, so this beautiful spring fabric is one I picked up @ WalMart recently. So happy their fabric department is now fully re-stocked as it’s my only fabric source in our small town. Of course, like so many of you, I’m very anxious to be able to go shopping for anything other than necessities.
Thanks so much for visiting my much-neglected blog today. Hopefully I’ll be inspired to do more sewing & posting soon!
Erin Hentzel recently challenged everyone on her FB group (Avery Lane Patterns Sewing Group) to create a Sewing With a Purpose wardrobe for 18-inch dolls using her book Doll Days. Sewing with a purpose is creating a mix & match coordinating/interchangeable wardrobe for your doll. Three lucky winners each received some lovely fabrics from Erin as prizes.
My doll’s SWAP wardrobe was made using fabrics already in my stash:
Now I’m looking forward to Erin’s newest pattern book due out October, 2021, Doll Studio Boutique: Sew a Wardrobe for 14” Dolls (46 Garments & Accessories) – can’t wait as my 14-inch dolls are rather neglected.
Back today with my latest sews from VFT, trying to complete outfits for what I hope to sell this Fall. I had fun with four more patterns.
On the left is my flowered Berklee top, an A-line swing top that comes in two lengths. Since the shoulder ties must both be untied to remove the top, I slightly modified it by enlarging the ties a bit. This makes tying/untying it easier, but I then added a bit of width to the back, cutting it open and adding Velcro. Now even small girls can easily dress their dolls as the knots don’t actually need to be untied. I’ve added pics of both front/back so you can see what I did. Berklee comes with shorts as well in both slim & full widths, but here I paired it with these adorable petal shorts. They are Sylvie and I just love them!
The pink top on the right is Riley, a fun double-layer tank with high front neckline and thin straps for cool summer dressing. I just love the back on this pattern, which includes a double-layered dress length as well! I paired my Riley top with VFT’s Lilly shorts because I thought the added pom-poms were so cute!
Now I need to start thinking Fall for my sewing projects!
Recently I finished this fun Allie top and shorts pattern from Violette Field Threads. I really like the sweet top with the triple pin-tucked bodice front, open keyhole and neckline tie back.
The coordinating shorts truly catch your eye with their unique bow front. Though these shorts have a flat front, the back has elastic for on/off ease when dressing.
We’re nearing the end of our sweltering 2019 shorts-wearing spring/summer here in AZ, but I’ve got a couple more of VFT’s tops/shorts to share with you soon. I’m finishing up some separates that I hope to add to my future first-ever doll clothing sale that’s been cancelled three times already! Thanks for stopping by. ;’)
Erin @ Avery Lane Patterns Sewing Group on Facebook challenged us to create the Tea Party Dress View A from Doll Dress Boutique for Fall during a sew-along she held for us. She posted several videos of the steps for anyone wishing to sew along.
Lea wearing my Tea Party Dress, View A
I chose a FAV fabric I’ve had in my stash since 2013, but sadly I’ve now used all but a few small pieces. Erin’s unique skirt detail makes this sweet dress really special. I really enjoyed her sew-along and I love how Lea’s new Fall dress turned out!
I was originally planning to submit my previous Fall dress as my entry, but I’ve now entered this dress. If you have Doll Dress Boutique and would like to join the Fall Challenge, you have until September 15th to post your dress on her Facebook Group, Avery Lane Patterns Sewing Group. There will be prizes awarded to 3 winners, 2 by popular vote and a 3rd random winner.
On our private Facebook Group for Avery Lane Patterns, Erin posted a sewing challenge: make a doll dress, fall-themed, using Doll Dress Boutique, so here’s my entry:
I chose to sew her Princess-Seamed Dress, View D, from Chapter 7 with it’s ruffle-trimmed sleeves.
Erin’s princess-seamed bodice with added piping is perfect to showcase my embroidered fringe flower, using variegated thread to echo the colors in my fall fabric. Rather than a collar, I simply added piping @ the neck. While trying to use fabrics in my stash, I’d have preferred a coordinating background fabric other than white for my flower, but these trying times call for just going with what’s close @ hand!
Hoping everyone is staying healthy and safe – sewing is my go-to activity to relieve stress.
MER*made9 