I made this when I was in high school, so it's got a few mistakes that I hope never to make again. I don't do a lot of American Girl-size doll clothes anymore; it's mostly Pullip now. Still, I'm quite proud of it, mostly due to the lace detailing and really luxurious feel of the black satin.
Unfortunately it seems either the black is too dark or the white is washed out in these pictures. :C
The back:
Unfortunately it seems either the black is too dark or the white is washed out in these pictures. :C
The back:
There's a blouse, skirt, petticoat, corset/cummerbund thing, bloomers, and hair tie. I made everything but the bloomers--not sure where they came from, but they were definitely purchased.
Here we see the biggest fail during the creation of this outfit : the blouse size.
Here we see the biggest fail during the creation of this outfit : the blouse size.
I used patterns from the book The Doll's Dressmaker by Venus Dodge (her books are lovely btw, well worth buying). There were two possible pattern sizes I could have used, 16-18" or 18-20". Being young and stupid, I compared the patterns with Josefina's body size and picked the smaller of the two. Turns out I should have picked the larger.
I had planned to make the whole back of the bodice overlaid in lace--you can see the lace on the sides there. But after I made the shirt and (finally) tried it on... or tried to try it on... I realized it was far too small. Of course, with the confidence of youth, I hadn't bothered with a practice blouse or toile. So I cut the blouse in half and inserted that plain gusset you see up there. Here's a clearer picture :
I had planned to make the whole back of the bodice overlaid in lace--you can see the lace on the sides there. But after I made the shirt and (finally) tried it on... or tried to try it on... I realized it was far too small. Of course, with the confidence of youth, I hadn't bothered with a practice blouse or toile. So I cut the blouse in half and inserted that plain gusset you see up there. Here's a clearer picture :
It's edged in lace so I could pretend it was intentional. IIRC, the collar is actually two too-small collars stuck together--hence the wrinkling and seam down the back.
Of course, the front was too small as well, which was why I had to add ribbons down the middle (and the ribbon doesn't even overlap all the way):
Of course, the front was too small as well, which was why I had to add ribbons down the middle (and the ribbon doesn't even overlap all the way):
You'll see here that the buttons are non-functional--there're snaps underneath. Made it very lumpy--buttonholes would have been much prettier.
I also notice at this point that I never took out the gathering stitches in the petticoat. Hm.
Blouse and petticoat together :
I also notice at this point that I never took out the gathering stitches in the petticoat. Hm.
Blouse and petticoat together :
She looks top-heavy without that giant skirt.
I do like the double machine-stitched hem here--I probably did this to make the lace lie flat. It turned out much better than the black skirt's hem, as you'll see below.
The cummerbund-like thing is a rectangle of satin with a larger rectangle gathered on to it at the sides and back. Here's a closeup of the back, with corset-style lacing :
I do like the double machine-stitched hem here--I probably did this to make the lace lie flat. It turned out much better than the black skirt's hem, as you'll see below.
The cummerbund-like thing is a rectangle of satin with a larger rectangle gathered on to it at the sides and back. Here's a closeup of the back, with corset-style lacing :
Turns out you can't lace fabric together without some kind of boning! Who would have guessed? The back of the cummerbund bunches up something awful and is easily my least favorite part of the outfit.
And now, the problem with machine-sewing small rolled hems on skirts ...
And now, the problem with machine-sewing small rolled hems on skirts ...
Yes, I didn't catch the underfold consistently, so raw edges are peeking out every few inches. :C Probably could have used some kind of binding for the ruffle-to-skirt seam, too; there's a lot of loose threads around.
The last item is the hair tie. It's just a long tube of the same black satin. Could also be used as a belt. I discovered today that I'd never bothered finishing one end :
The last item is the hair tie. It's just a long tube of the same black satin. Could also be used as a belt. I discovered today that I'd never bothered finishing one end :
Overall, I like the outfit and it's a nice display piece (probably the highest-quality doll clothes I own from a distance and from the front), but the raw edges and bunched-up cummerbund make it awkward for play. Not sure whether I'll ever get around to fixing them.