Style 115

 This adorable dress was inspired by a costume worn by January Jones in "Mad Men".

I love this design.

For more information about this outfit click here.

Click on any picture to make it bigger.

 Center front bodice pieces sewn together.

View from the wrong side

Sleeve hems have been finished, pressed up.  Ease stitch the top of the sleeves.

Bodice lining stitched to the bodice front.  I did not line the sleeves, to reduce bulk.

Notice how the front seam allowances are directed towards the center front.

Bottom of the bodice lining has been stitched and pressed up.

Bodice lining neckline has been under stitched.

Inside view of the dress.  Lining has been tacked to the bodice front at the seams.

Lining has been tacked at the shoulder seams.  Sleeves are hand hemmed.

Snaps

Measure from the table up to mark the skirt.  Make sure your doll is standing up straight.

Sew the snap to the back of the belt.  I like to offset the belt a little to keep the two snaps at the waist from being right on top of each other.

Pin the extra belt up to make the bow.

Underside of the belt with the bow knot.

Belt with bow

Belt on dress.

Style 114

This stylish suit was inspired by the 1965 classic "Sound of Music". The Baroness Elsa Schroeder wore this suit in the film.  Pattern includes instructions for the suit, and blouse.

For more information about this outfit, click here.

Click on any picture to make it larger.

JACKET

 

 

Sides sewn to the center fronts and center back.  Neckline stay-stitched

 

Cuff sandwiched between the sleeve and the sleeve lining.  Lining under-stitched

 

Lining hem is stitched 1/4" up from the jacket bottom.

 

Tucks at the front facings

 

Faux buttonholes

 

Buttons

 

 

SKIRT

 

Cut 3/8" off the bottom of the skirt lining.

 

Under-stitch the lining at the waist

 

Lining under-stitched at the hem.

 

The shorter lining makes the shirt hem.

 

Hand stitch the back opening

 

 

BLOUSE

 

Blouse lining pinned to the blouse.

 

Gathering line on the peplum

 

Peplum gathered

 

Bow and tail (I called the tail a tie on the pattern, but they are the same thing)

 

Center of the bow marked

 

I gathered the bow with two different needles on each side of the bow's center.

 

Tail gathered, one side is shorter than the other.

 

Bow, tail and knot.

 

Bow assembled

 

Tack the bow to the peplum and shape the bow with pins or hand stitch.

Style 113

I realized after I finished these dresses, that I didn't take many pictures while I was making them.  So I will work with what I have.  This isn't a very hard dress to make.

This is a picture of the bodice and lining being sewn together.

 I clipped off the scalloped edge of the lace.

 The lace edging is hand stitched onto the top and waistline of the bodice.

I added the back bodice extension so the dress would fit the Tonner and Grace Kelly dolls.

 You don't need the back extension for the dress to fit Gene.

 Jacket

 The jacket has only the two armhole seams, the seam allowance is as narrow as you can possibly make it.  The lace edging is hand sewn around the jacket and the sleeves.

Style 112

 

 

This dress was inspired by a beautiful Grace Kelly outfit.

 

 

 

 

Dress

Click on any photo to make it bigger.

 

I fray-checked the center back edges of the skirt.

The pleates start at the back bodice dart and end 1/4" from the center back to allow for the seam allowance.

 

bodice is marked at the center front.

Bodice is gathered at marking.

 



 

Hem is measured up from the table.

 

 

 

Jacket

 

Fray-check the bottom of the jacket.

Staystitch the underarms of the jacket.

 



 

 

Clip to the point.

 

 

Staystitch the necklines

 

Understitch the lining to the sleeves.

 

Press the neckline and the hem open.

 

 

Twist the jacket before you put it on the doll.

 

 A close-up of my suede-backed fur.

 



 

Stitch the fur cuff on the jacket.

 

 

Belt

 

 

How I press the belt to reduce bulk.