Sand Suit Tutorial and Pattern

This Sand Suit came with a lot

of other vintage doll clothes

that I revealed in my last post.

It wraps around, criss-crosses in back

 and ties in front.

Here is the back.

I think this would be an easy and fun

sewing project, so I wanted to make 

a pattern from it.

I had to open up the darts to trace a pattern.

Here is the pattern.  

This is made to fit a 14" doll like

my Effanbee Patsykin, 'Daisy'.

Print it out on

8.5 x 11" paper.

Here we go! 

Cut on the fold.

Sew lace on the right side of your 

fabric facing inward.

This will be folded, and top sewn.

Here is how your lace should look.

Make 3 - 4 tiny snips in the inner curves.

Turn and press the lace flat.

The sandsuit should look like this.

Top stitch all the lace.

OK, this next part was new for me.

SEWING A BUTTONHOLE!

I had gone through all the buttonhole steps, 

months ago, in my Bernina sewing machine 

class, but I couldn't remember how it was done!

I did a quick search and found this video:

Bernina 570 Buttonhole Video Tutorial

Yes! The buttonhole foot was in my Bernina box!

Here it is. I watched the video again.

I selected buttonholes under my stitching file.

Then I select buttonhole 51.

After that I select this 'i' button that

the arrow is pointing to.

That brings up this screen.

This is so cool! You hold your button to the screen

and turn the stitch length knob until it

fits your button and VOILA!

It's automatically set for the size of your button.

I used a piece of practice fabric because

I am not 100 percent sure this will work.

This is the automatic stitching button.

You press it when you are using a 

programmed stitch. It just sews 

automatically until you stop it.

LOOK AT THAT!

I have spent years avoiding buttonholes.

I would use snaps, or hooks or velcro

everytime, to avoid making buttonholes!

but this is just AMAZING!!

I'm still learning how to use this 

machine, so this is a big deal for me.

OK, ok, enough of my gushing.

Uh oh, problem.  

I need tear-away sizing paper before

sewing on one layer of cotton fabric.

Did another quick search online and found

that parchment paper or a coffee filter

would work!

Here we go with the coffee filter 

underneath my fabric.

The coffee fillter worked great! 

Look at that buttonhole!

For the front button holes I marked the 

placement of my holes while

the sandsuit was on Daisy.

A couple more button holes and it's ready...

Oops, almost forgot!

SNAPS!  and...

14 inch ribbons!

NOW it's ready.

want to see Daisy in her new sandsuit?

HERE

SHE

IS!

Not bad. I'm pleased with this first try.

I think next time, I will make the

front buttonholes further apart.

I wound up only making one dart in the center

due to Daisy's shape.

"Mommy, Biscuit and me's been good and 

not wiggled. Can we go to the lake now?"

"Hurry up Mommy!"

Sand Hollow State Park

Vintage doll Clothes!

On a recent visit to my Aunt in Texas,..

I found these vintage doll clothes
in an antique shop. I would guess these 

clothes are mostly from the 1940s - 50s.

Here are the outfits:

This playset for an 17 - 18" doll

This sweet pink taffeta coat, I am hoping

it might fit Daisy.

Another playset.

A little sweater and bloomers.

Grey shirt and bloomers.

And this cute wrap sand suit.

Everything was seperated by

lights and darks and soaked in

cold water.

Yes, that water is brown and this

is after two rinses!

While these are soaking let me

describe how I generally seek out

vintage and antique doll clothes.

Firstly, I created this chart to help

me figure out what will fit

my dolls.  It lists their shoulder to hem

length and a flat side to side

waist measurement.

My usual go-to is eBay simply

because I can see a HUGE sample

of what's out there.

I type in the search bar 

"Antique vintage doll clothes".

I mostly look for 1930s era doll dresses

as they are becoming more and 

more difficult to find, so I'll

focus on this style today.

It was helpful to me to do a little research about 

the styles of clothes from different eras.

This is a pattern for 1930s Patsy style dolls.

Notice the high or non-existent waist and

broad round collars. Patterns were

often whimsical like this dress with

children playing with hoops.

Sample of 1930s fabrics.

Over time, I have learned to recognize 

fabric styles from this and other eras.

Two examples of 1930s doll outfits I found 

online. The dress with a round Peter pan

collar and no waist and my favorite,

Joan's Pallazzo beach pants!

Learn about Palazzo Pants!

While working on this post I bought

this little dress from the 1940s or early 50s.

I can't help myself.  Just look

at that cute fabric pattern!

Anyway!

Most sellers of doll dresses know to give

the length, shoulder to hem, and...

The waist, side to side. If not shown in

a photo like this, check the description.

I also ask the seller for measurements if

there are none shown.

I saw this dress and liked it!

I think it might fit my Alexander Elise, 

so I made a bid!

BACK TO MY DOLL CLOTHES.

 FIND.

After 2 days I laid most of the clothes

out on a towel to dry. A couple items

needed more time to soak.

SO WHAT HAVE I GOT TO SHOW YOU?

Here is one of the playsuits. 

I mixed and matched the top and 

bottom to add more interest.

 It is not very feminine, so, later

I may try to add some cute touches.

This navy and grey stripe playset.

Bloomers and top for the beach maybe?

The shirts are all made the same with

large arm holes and a bit oversized.

And this grey skirt.  I like this set.

I may do a makeover on these outfits.

I was hoping this taffeta swing coat

might fit Daisy, but it was too slim.

Sigh.

It does fit Maggie, just maybe a tad small.

Finally something for Daisy!

This little knit sweater is adorable!

AND, this cute sandsuit!

I will make a pattern from this to

share with you all.

I am very happy with my doll clothes find!

Speaking of finds, do you want to see what 

I found online while creating this post?!?

You already knew I got this dress.

I also won the bid for this dress, 

I hope it fits Elise!

I got this mostly for the quilt top made from

1930s era fabrics! The little dresses

might fit my Patsyettes, if not 

I'll do something with them.

This Miss Revlon pink stripe dress.

AND, this apron dress, by Madame Alexander,

bloomers and stockings for Elise!

It is the same style as Cissy's blue dress.

SO, it looks like there may be more dress

reveals in the near future!