Hand-stitched Fun!

Between projects that take a lot of thought, I like making fun, quick little hand-stitched do-haws:  tiny quilts and odd quilted birds.  I made all of these in the last nine months.

The birds, I made in the last ten days, needing a break from my overwhelming Princess Poppy (fish) quilt.  I have been powering on through for the last couple of days and she is nearly complete.  I am putting her in the upcoming (09/26-09/27) BBQ Quilt Show.  She is rather a surprise, I started last February, then procrastinated on the quilting bit.  

I am also getting ready for the doll quilt show, which is also at the BBQ Quilt Show.  I have to sand and spray paint some more doll stands, get the curated quilts collected up, and dress the dolls for the show.  I am so happy Princess Poppy is soooo close to being finished.  About three more hours is all I need.  No more birds til after all this other business settles down.

Rag Doll Clothes

I went to visit my aunt, who lives out-of-state.  She sent me back with a Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy that she made for my cousin forty years ago.  They did not have any clothes on.  It seems that was not an issue with the TSA folks who opened and inspected my luggage.  My aunt asked me to make some clothes for them, so I brought them back to see what I could manage.  Good news!  Simplicity, it seems, has been producing pattern number 8043 for many years.  I looked it up on the internet, wrote the number down, and went to JoAnn's, where they actually had it.  This pattern has the doll patterns for three sizes of doll and the clothes for all three sized for both dolls.  That is a lot of patterns in one pattern.  Needless to say, I was impressed.

To get rolling, I started with the hat.  It turned out alright, so I was motivated to make the rest of Andy's outfit.

After I got the collar completed, I thought it would be smooth sailing.  It was not exactly smooth, but not too rough either.

It's a good thing I have pins!

I carefully read the instructions two or three times, to make sure I got it right.  I had to connect that top part to the pants part.  That is what makes his dandy little suit so adorable.

I put some Velcro on the back so he does not get a chill, and viola!

He is so much happier, now that he has clothes.  And these are the official pattern clothes.  I chose the fabrics from my extensive stash.  It took me one entire day to make this outfit.  The next day, I spent the entire day making the outfit for Raggedy Ann.

It would appear, I did not take any photos of my clothing construction progress for Ann's outfit.  It was plenty frustrating.  I thought it would be easier than Andy's.  I shortened the pantaloons and the sleeves, to make them fit this doll correctly.  The sleeves, pantaloon bottoms, and waist of the apron all have elastic sewn in.  I was so glad when I finished!  I decided she is a modern girl and does not need a pinafore.  

I have to admit, it is quite satisfying to successfully complete such an exercise in clothing construction.  Now, my aunt tells me she does not want them back and either does my cousin.  What?  They are adorable!