Mood:
a-okNow Playing: A quieter hummmm from the computer - Beloved Hubby dusted.
Today's is also kinda early, but a lot's gone on - and if there's one thing I learned during the snowstorm, it's "do it now !". Because once you miss one day, it's much easier to miss more - often a week or so.
So. Last night, I sewed the 'long pants' from Fashion Doll Clothes. They went together well, no problems at all. Fit is great ! This is probably the best pants pattern I have - although McCall's 4860 also fits beautifully, it's a lot more work. I did, however, take less of a hem at the cuffs. It should have been a half-inch, I took about 3/8ths. Minor, to be sure, but I hate it when dolls have 'floodwaters are rising !!' pants. And actually, it's about where I want 'em, but given my druthers, I'd like 'em just a twitch longer. So next time, I'll probably go with a quarter inch hem. Couldn't this time, as the fabric was not lending itself well to such a small fold.
I used a silver fabric I picked up at a yard sale, and it's more of a 'raw silk / matte' finish than the tinfoil-lookin' appearance it has here. It has tiny black 'nubs' in it, which is why I always use black thread. Wish the 'nubs' showed up better, it actually looks quite sophisticated 'in person' ! Fabric itself frays like mad, and if I don't liberally apply Fray-Check before I sew with it, I won't have anything left of the garment by the time the last seam is sewn. Wish I knew what it was, but for all I know, it's furnature lining. Dearest Son spilled red Kool-Ade on it, and it washed right off. Good stuff, if ya ask me !
The crotch-curve is about as good as it gets. They do slide quite far up her ankles when she sits, but they don't bunch up at her hips, or pull at the seams. The fit would probably be smoother with a softer fabric, but I'm quite happy. These went together quickly - about a half hour, once I let the Fray-Check dry - and I didn't change a thing but the aforementioned hem.
Her blouse is made from a carefully cut hair scrunchie from a three-pack at Dollar Tree. She also has a burgundy and a black one. I used the 'sock' or 'peasant blouse' method presented on the main site to sew it. Basically, if I can sew a tube out of it, I'll probably end up making a doll a blouse from there !
And I'm slowly making my peace with 'Room With A View'. Elphie's shown next to her bed in it there. It's hard to enjoy something when you feel ripped off about it, but you don't wanna make trouble for a small company...i.e., yer ticked, but not ticked enough to start something. And I've had it for six months already, I might as well use and enjoy the thing, the money's spent ! :) Maybe I was expecting too much...but seeing pieces held together with snipped-short straight pins was not a reassurance of quality ! Anyway, I need to quit my sniping and use what I have, right ? Right !
I also made the 'basic corsage' from Fashion Doll Clothes last night. Now, to me, a corsage is a flower worn near one shoulder or the other, but Mrs. Ionker means 'strapless bodice'. Why she suddenly lapses into Old French by way of Middle English, I have no idea, but there it is. I should have known it was too small for her to have added seam allowances. And the pattern had no markings (like the 'cut one on fold' that should have been there ), and no indications of seam allowances...just a dotted line for a shorter-waisted doll fit. So I had to draw those myself - not a pain, really, but when she says she's already done that to the clothes...well, I guess her corsages don't count as clothes, or something, I don't bloody know.
In any case, I did it, but I hate having to. There's a good chance something was lost in my translation, some curve I went too shallow or too high on. It's scanned, and ready for another trial, but I just don't want to mess with it right now.
I think I'm gonna curl up with my DVD of MSTK's Santa Claus Conquers the Martians and this bag of Goldfish crackers. I deserve a lazy break !
Hope your day went well - and that your shopping's done ! Me, I still got stuff to make...(sigh)
