Classic Doll Designs Pattern Blog

Monday, April 30, 2012

Style 111

This stylish ensemble was inspired by a 1953 Doir creation.

Click on any photo to make it bigger.

JACKET

Shoulder seams and collar

Cuffs are stitched to the sleeve between the markings.

Inside of the jacket.

“Pockets” and straps pressed.

SHEATH

Machine stitch in the ditch

Back seam

Close-up of hat and sheath straps.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Style 109

This dress is inspired by the 1961 Marilyn Monroe’s film “The Misfits”.

Trim the seam allowance off the fusible interfacing.

Click on the photo for a larger photo.

Make sure you make a left and right skirt and matching lining.

Press the upper bodices’ seams open.

Skirt sewn to lining.

Pleat right skirt to the bodice.

Stitch left skirt.

Pleat the ends of the upper bodice.

Upper bodice is stitched to bodice.

Bows are stitched to the gathered shoulders.

Style 108

This outfit is inspired by the 1959 Lana Turner film, “Imitation of Life”. Pattern includes instructions for the coat, sheath, and hat.

Stay-stich the in inside corners of both the fur collar and coat fronts.

Coat front stiched to coat back.

Close-up

This is a different jacket, but it shows how to press only the sleeve seams at the ends.

This will help when you stitch the side and sleeve seams.

Press side and sleeve seams open.

The fur gets caught in the seams, carefully pull it out of the seam with a seam ripper or pin.

Lining stitched to coat hem.

Stitch in the ditch the collar seam to the lining.

Fur cuffs marked on the wrong side.

Whip-stitch the edges of the cuffs.

SHEATH

Stitch in the ditch at the armhole.

HAT

Hand gather around the hat top.

Lining is fused to the hat top.

IMPORTANT!!!!!

I FORGOT TO INCLUDE THE PATTERN FOR THE CROWN INTERFACING.

CUT A STRIP OF INTERFACING 1/2” X THE LENGTH OF THE CROWN PATTERN.

FUSE THE INTERFACING TO THE MIDDLE OF THE CROWN AND PRESS THE ENDS UP. FUSE THE TOP END WITH A NARROW STRIP OF WONDER-UNDER.

Hat crown stitched to hat top,

End is stitched down.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Style 107

This stylish suit was inspired by the 1954 classic "Rear Window" staring Grace Kelly. Pattern includes instructions for the suit, halter blouse, hat, and belt.

I realized too late that I forgot to take pictures of this outfit while I was making it. I hope the pictures that are here of the almost-complete outfit will help somehow. Click on the photo for a better view.

This is not the green suit of course, but it show how the sleeves and side seams are all sewn at the same time. Pressing the seams open is very important.

Inside of the jacket, the fronts and back are silk dupioni, and the sleeves are lining fabric. This saves money and keeps the sleeves from being too stiff.

A close-up of the “pocket”. Make sure that you don’t accidently catch the lining while sewing it on.

I cut about 1” off the bottom of this jacket and made the “pockets” horizontal for a different look.

The back seam of the skirt and lining are sewn in one long seam. The skirt is turned right-side-out through the back opening.

Back of skirt. Note how the skirt is a little longer than the lining. That is achieved by cutting the lining shorter. I only cut 1/4” off the lining on this skirt. I have since changed that to 3/8” to 1/2”.

Skirt Front

The two halter top pieces are stitched together at the bottom and the seam is pressed open.

Halter top turned right-side out before pleats. For Gene, fit the top to fit the doll so that it can be worn under the skirt. Otherwise the skirt will be too big. For the Tonner dolls, fit the top so it can be worn over the skirt.