Last I posted I mentioned that there would be a craft project to show you all. Well the one I had in mind I haven't gotten to yet. It will be just me and the baby tomorrow, toddler and hubby are heading to the lake so maybe tomorrow during nap time.
There was some stitching that had popped on the hem of one of my sons PJ shirts so I busted out the sewing machine to fix them. And I saw this guy in my sewing box.
Once upon a time I this was going to be my "Benny" doll, a character from one of my favorite video games. But I needed to make him a black and white checkered jacket. I started but when moving and kids came along, his project was abandoned. I had one sleeve done and that's where I quit. I have three posts on him, you can read them here!
Benny Project 1
Benny Project 2
Benny Project 3
So I got the wild hair to try this suit jacket again. Sewing is the BANE OF MY EXISTENCE. For reals. I come from a long heritage of seamstresses. My mother made clothes for me when I was little. Her sister made clothes for both my brother and I. Then when I took Home Economics in Jr. High, my sweatshirt was so abysmal that we had to run to my dad's sister and have her help us with it. (Well, I did get the cuffs sewn correctly, it was the neckband that was terrifying.) And when I was the high school drum major (conductor) we were doing a medley of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, my dads other sister made me a kick butt Esmeralda costume
My best friend is a wonderful seamstress who helped (mostly made) me a couple of sundresses that I wore to Hawaii and my sweet Mother-in-Law made...MADE! all the bridesmaid dresses for her wedding. (And some sweet Barbie clothes which you can check out here!)
So in the past I have made a pair of PJ pants and the pattern said right on it "Sew Sew Easy!" Yeah, my mom had to help. And don't ask me how I managed to get this robe for Stacie to look this good. Beginners luck I guess. If you want to read about the robe for Miss Stacie, you can check out the link here!
Sewing is like me and Cross Country skiing. I want to like it. I try my best but in the end, my sewing machine and I just don't get along (like me and cross country skis.) But I persevere.
So I had to start by undoing what I had originally done. There was a pucker in the sleeve that was not going to work. And I had only cut one front and one back panel. But I wanted the back to be all one piece so I cut one large piece on the fold. Then cut another front panel and stitched them together at the shoulders.
Now time for the sleeves. I have such a hard time with sleeves! I trimmed one back and then sewed. They didn't line up perfectly and one did have a weird pucker and the stitching didn't line up but I just used my seam ripper and detached that thread. I can always go back later and clean up any loose stitches by hand if I need to.
Ok, not too bad honestly!
Time for the second sleeve. This one did not go as well as I hoped. Too much fabric for this sleeve. I should have trimmed like I did the last one. AAAAAND...I stitched it on backwards. See the seam ripper in the background? That got another go around on this sleeve.
ugh.
OK, time to try on or size. Not too bad. Looks a little big but I did give myself a 1/2" seam allowance so that could be it. That left sleeve is strange but we'll just see how it turns out in the end.
I figured that I would hem the sleeves before I stitched them up the side. I quickly realized my mistake. Need to sew on the INSIDE not the OUTSIDE. :) Seam ripper, you can stand down for the moment.
Then I did the easy way and sewed up the sleeve and down the side in one solid stitch.
One went perfectly! One did not...
And friends, this...THIS is why I don't sew.
It is much too big and doesn't even fit right. And my patterns were from an actual Ken jacket! I just gave myself a generous seam allowance rather than the factory 1/32" seam they have.
So I just wrapped it around him and back into the sewing box he goes. Maybe if I had a Ken pattern the jacket would work but I don't have any of those. And this is a My Scene doll so he's a little bigger than a Ken.
Maybe I'll have inspiration another day...or hire my mother in law to make one for me.
Remember Sew Free Fashion Fun? Mattel please bring those back for those of us who are inept at sewing.
I still have the other project so maybe if I'm feeling inspired I'll tackle that one.
I am excited for some posts coming up in the next month or so. We have some wonderful garage sale finds and I can't wait to show you. Courtesy of my dad! So I have to get them and then I can throw them up here. SO EXCITING!
Have you made anything for your dolls (or for you?) Let me know in the comments!
Until next time!
11 comments:
Oh man, like you, I really want to like sewing but have a heck of a time with it. Just about every time I manage to see a sleeve or pants leg on wrong side out, even when I am trying to be super careful! One time I made a sleeve that ended up half the size of the other- and I was even using a pattern!
I know your pain! At least you made an effort, I haven't touched my dolls in ages. Better luck next time!
Do you *want* to learn how to sew better, or do you think you *have to* learn how to sew better? I'm not sure how you're leaning here. I think practice can help, so stick with it if it's something you really want. A jacket is a maybe not the best for practice, though. Maybe try a basic skirt? I can definitely relate to trying to get things done with two little ones around!
I've made lots of things over the years for my dolls, Mr. BTEG, my daughters and myself. I usually enjoy sewing, but there are times when I get frustrated!
I sew a little. I used to sew more. I actually made aprons for sale years ago. I still make aprons, I just don't sell them.
For my dolls... no to tiny!
You CAN do this, you just need to want to. I know if I think I HAVE to, it never works out right!
I also knit, 1 thing only, dish rags!
hugs
m
Stay calm and straighten your crown. A doll jacket is an ambitious project for a first try, so don't be too hard on yourself, especially when you don't have a real Ken pattern. Taking the pattern off an actual garment isn't easy. If you do, keep your seam allowance as small as possible, since there already is one in the seams. If you really want to sew for your dolls, give it another try. Like Barb the Evil Genius said, you will get better with practice. Even experienced doll clothes sewers have their frustrating moments from time to time.
May be this pattern from Chelly Wood is useful for you:
https://chellywood.com/2016/06/29/finnickodair-doll-plays-tybalt-in-chellywood-com-stopmotion-video-of-randj/all-montagues-thee/
Her site has lots of free doll patterns.
My mother thaught me how to sew with doll projects. Many years later, with lots of practice I enjoyed sewing for dolls very much. From time to time the sewing bug bites me and I just have to play with fabrics.
Hugs
Andrea
This reminds me about the time, when I decided to knit a vest at school. My sister, my mother and I knitted on that piece and it finally turned out to be a stuffed pillow for my dog. He liked it a lot. :D I like to sew, knit and crochet, but at the same time I need to concentrate real hard, so that I do not make any mistakes - measurements and sizes being the one thing that can go very well. Did ones a dress for my Barbie, but it turned out to be too large, so my BJD got a new dress instead!
You can learn from the mistakes, I thought then. And try again... :) Like a simple skirt or a t-shirt! And sew for hand, if you can. But the jacket looks nice, even if it is too large!
Friends you are too kind. I think for me is I feel I "have to" learn how to sew better. Maybe I should change that. I do want to learn. And maybe it is just a practice thing. I need to not expect everything to turn out perfect the first time. I'm too much of a perfectionist, that's the Libra in me! I'm sure my mother in law just didn't whip up her bridesmade dresses overnight, LOL. My aunts i'm sure also had their bits of frustrations before they became the masters that they are. Maybe the jacket is not the thing to start with, maybe I'll go with pants, those seem easy. And a skirt.
I think you did great for a first try. Cut new pieces and at it again girl!
I forgot to mention that you should also make sure to get comfortable with using your sewing machine. Are you using the right needles and thread for your projects, for example? The right stitch length? Not doing those things is like trying to cross-country ski with downhill skis, I would imagine. :) (Not that you ever ever done that! I'm just making a funny comparison.)
PS: I have an Award for you at my blog, if you want to. No must, but it would be fun. :)
Thanks Friends. I do need to get more comfortable with my sewing machine. I know I'm using the correct stitch length and tension and needles. I think it's just me! LOL. And Barb yes, it would be like using downhill skis on a cross country course so that is really a very good comparison! I will try it again....after I do some much easier projects first. I'm such a perfectionist, I expect to be good the very first time with something and that is most certainly NOT the case and it's ridiculous that I push for that expectation. Practice makes perfect!
DollsDolour, I'll for sure check it out! How fun! Thanks so much! :) <3
Post a Comment