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Some of my stuff

5721 views 26 replies Latest reply: December 21, 2009 at 11:48:34 PM

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Dec 13, 2009
Posts: 27

auroranova message #1
Some of my stuff
December 15, 2009 at 10:17:45 AM

Okay, I just figured out the photo insertion, so I'm going to practice here. I tried making a photo album, but all my pictures are cropped. I'm hoping that will get resolved soon. Here's a few of the fashions I've made for the dolls I love to sew for. Everything is hand-sewn. I name all my fashions, too, so I've put those above the picture:

White Christmas

This was inspired by the movie "White Christmas" starring Danny Kaye and Bing Crosby. This dress is reminiscent of the gowns worn by Rosemary Clooney and Vera Lynn at the end of the movie. It's modeled by Dawn.

Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy

Gary looks ready to rope and ride in this ensemble consisting of gray calico cotton shirt and black faux-leather, fringed vest and pants. The belt is faux snakeskin, and the lariat is hand-braided button-and-carpet thread. A store-bought (Michael's) ten-gallon hat tops it off.

White Lace and Promises

Dale looks stunning in this beautiful bridal gown of white satin and lace. The bodice and veil are trimmed with embroidery trim. A rosette serves as a bouquet.

These are three of my personal favorites. I'd love to see yours!

Member since:
Dec 13, 2009
Posts: 27

auroranova message #2
Re: Some of my stuff
December 15, 2009 at 10:35:02 AM

Just a few more here. I promise not to be a thread-hog, LOL!

Neko Kimono

"Neko" means "cat" in Japanese, and this adorable cotton calico print just cried out to be made into a kimono. Modeled by Princess Tenko, the kimono is made in the traditional three-piece style---the body is one piece, the sleeves are the second, and the collar is the third. The obi is made from gross-grain ribbon with a satin cord accent knotted in front with a square knot. The back is adorned with a silk flower. Traditional Japanese obis are actually tied in the back in very elaborate styles.

Lounge Leopard

A purple crushed-velvet robe trimmed in leopard-print satin, with matching belt and pajama bottoms. Gary also sports faux-fur leopard-print slippers. He's not telling me what happened to the pajama top, but I can guess I'll find it in Dawn's closet.

Rock 'n Roll Gold

As seen in the comparison shot, this gold lam� tuxedo was worn by Elvis Presley (but only once!) for an album cover shoot. Gary is wearing a reproduction made of gold lam�, trimmed in gold braid; a gold lace dickey finishes the ensemble. I heard him mutter something about heading to Heartbreak Hotel after finding Dawn with Kevin.

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Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4584

Stitchboard Admin message #3
Re: Some of my stuff
December 15, 2009 at 11:45:07 AM

DAMN! With work like this, you've got every right to be a thread hog!

Hee hee, you're lucky I don't live next door, or you'd probably find a lot of these pieces would mysteriously "disappear"... Wink

I especially love the kimono, as I'm partial to them...but I do love them all. White Lace and Promises is incredible...so is White Christmas! Oh, and that Gary...he's got a wardrobe to be proud of! (What a playboy, huh?!)

Melanie (cat slave and Official Feline Can Opener) =^.^=
~~~~~
I'm a beading, knitting and crochet addict. If that means I'm admitting I have a problem, then I admit to nothing. Please refrain from helping me.

Member since:
Nov 24, 2009
Posts: 270

wizdmzchyld message #4
Re: Some of my stuff
December 15, 2009 at 11:52:05 AM

And if you've ever a mind to make that purple robe in the giant economy size, I'm first in line.

Charlene

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Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4584

Stitchboard Admin message #5
Re: Some of my stuff
December 15, 2009 at 1:33:50 PM

Charlene,

Is Gary a STUD in that outfit, or what?! Wink

Member since:
Dec 13, 2009
Posts: 27

auroranova message #6
Re: Some of my stuff
December 15, 2009 at 8:20:07 PM

Awww...gee, thanks! I really love sewing for Gary and the guys. I have so many ideas in my head that I want to get to, but the holidays come first right now. I'm working on a yachting outfit for Gary that will be a gift to a friend of mine. Blue cotton twill double-breasted jacket, white docker slacks and a white turtleneck dickey. I don't know if I'll be able to work out a hat or not. I'm not much of a milliner.

It helps to have Barbie patterns I can reduce down to use as a base to start from.

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Member since:
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Posts: 4584

Stitchboard Admin message #7
Re: Some of my stuff
December 15, 2009 at 8:49:05 PM

Now who can resist a man with a dickey?

The yachting outfit sounds fantastic! Hope you'll get some nice pics of it to post here. Hats...can you perhaps crochet something?

Do most of your Gary patterns come from Barbie patterns? (Okay, well, KEN patterns! Though there is the crochet pattern of Ken in drag, LOL.) Did you get the Dawn gals' patterns from Barbie patterns? Is it a direct scale reduction, or do you have to make some alterations after reducing?

That's the one bad thing about knitting or crocheting Barbie size patterns for smaller dolls like Dawn...things don't reduce well. If you reduce it too much, you may end up knitting or crocheting hundreds of stitches with incredibly fine knitting needles or crochet hooks. Sad

At least with sewing, patterns reduce nicely!

Miss Freckles

Member since:
Nov 9, 2009
Posts: 62

knitnknanny message #8
Re: Some of my stuff
December 16, 2009 at 1:34:41 AM

I loved the clothes. And the photos are really good. But I think what I enjoyed just as much was the description below the photos. I can't think of the right word here, so I'm going to settle for "very nice". And informative. Wink

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Member since:
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Stitchboard Admin message #9
Re: Some of my stuff
December 16, 2009 at 7:34:01 AM

Marilyn,

I completely agree. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but a good description makes it all the better. Many years ago, a dear friend used to sell on eBay. She found that when she described her pieces, she sold more and at better prices!

Member since:
Dec 13, 2009
Posts: 27

auroranova message #10
Re: Some of my stuff
December 16, 2009 at 7:48:01 AM

I reduce the Ken patterns down to 54% of the original. I still have to make some adjustments here and there for a better fit for Gary. He and Ken don't have quite the same body style. I think Ken may actually be shorter in the torso, because shirts tend to come out a bit short on Gary, but the pattern envelope shows them just fine on Ken. Ken's all leg, I think, like Barbie.

Member since:
Nov 24, 2009
Posts: 270

wizdmzchyld message #11
Re: Some of my stuff
December 16, 2009 at 9:45:58 AM

Thought I'd mention your rendition of "White Christmas" is really lovely. Our culture lost it's love of beautiful ball gowns, but my heart still lives there.

Charlene

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Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4584

Stitchboard Admin message #12
Re: Some of my stuff
December 16, 2009 at 10:38:51 AM

Quote:

I reduce the Ken patterns down to 54% of the original. I still have to make some adjustments here and there for a better fit for Gary. He and Ken don't have quite the same body style. I think Ken may actually be shorter in the torso, because shirts tend to come out a bit short on Gary, but the pattern envelope shows them just fine on Ken. Ken's all leg, I think, like Barbie.

Argh! Do you have similar issues with Barbie/Dawn, then? Barbie and Ken do tend to have unrealistically long legs, IMO.

Look at that smile! (Photo guaranteed unretouched)

Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4584

Stitchboard Admin message #13
Re: Some of my stuff
December 16, 2009 at 10:46:42 AM

Charlene,

Quote:

Thought I'd mention your rendition of "White Christmas" is really lovely. Our culture lost it's love of beautiful ball gowns, but my heart still lives there.

I completely agree. LOL, I'm glad we don't have to buy and wear them, but I do enjoy such loveliness and wish we could see more of it. It's nice that at least the dolls can wear them!

Member since:
Nov 24, 2009
Posts: 270

wizdmzchyld message #14
Re: Some of my stuff
December 16, 2009 at 7:04:06 PM

I always thought it would be wonderful fun to wear a dress like that just once in my life. *sigh*

Charlene

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Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4584

Stitchboard Admin message #15
Re: Some of my stuff
December 16, 2009 at 10:40:11 PM

Charlene,

Quote:

I always thought it would be wonderful fun to wear a dress like that just once in my life. *sigh*

Actually, you could...if you look for the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism, I believe), they do a lot of Civil War reenactments. I remember a woman I knew years ago, who belonged to SCA and had some beautiful old-fashioned dresses, which she wore to the reenactments. Argh, though I'm not sure those outfits are terribly comfortable!

If you'd prefer crocheting them for dolls, Annie's Attic/Annie Potter Presents used to (and still may) offer a new collection of Barbie-size crochet gown patterns every year. I used to have almost the entire collection pre-flood, now have nothing. They started these patterns in '82, IIRC, and the gowns are exquisite. Quite collectible.

Another company which makes crocheted doll gown patterns is Paradise. The patterns are kind of pricey, but they're very beautiful.

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