I’m excited to be part of the blog tour for a wonderful new book! Doll Days, which features patterns for 18″ doll clothes is written by Erin Hentzel. Erin is the owner and designer of Avery Lane Patterns, as well as a dear Facebook friend of mine. I am thrilled to say this is her second book! Her first book,… Read more »
I’ve done quite a bit of pattern testing for other doll clothing designers in the past. One of my favorite designers is Bonnie Spencer. Here’s the lovely Bonnie, owner and designer at Bonnie’s patterns are first rate! She starts with great ideas, translates them into well-fitting designs, and includes all the little details that make construction proceed smoothly! Here are just a few… Read more »
As promised last week the Janie Carroll Designs newest pattern Sprinkler Season is out today! The Sprinkler Season is one of the first patterns I drafted. It’s a favorite I return to again and again. Here’s an early version: I set out to streamline everything about sewing swimsuits for dolls. The simplicity begins with a single pattern piece to cut for… Read more »
Getting excited as the Sprinkler Season Pattern nears completion! In the true Janie Carroll Designs ‘Ezy’ fashion, the Sprinkler Season suit is a quick stitch project. This halter style swimsuit has just one main pattern piece! Your doll better start looking for the towels and lounge chairs while you fire up the sewing machine. You’ll be done before she’s found… Read more »
Ever wonder what happens inside the Designers mind? Do they just ‘magically’ know exactly what they want to do? Do they wake up at 3 am with well-formed, Fabulous ideas? Sometimes. and Sometimes not. Often the design process is the same for all of us. We start with a vague idea. Something triggers our desire to make something Unique Generally,… Read more »
I like to say that thrift store shopping is a little like searching for Prince Charming. You have to kiss a lot of toads before you meet a Handsome Prince! This week I met a prince! Ok, she was more of a Princess…this girl… lying in a glass case display, with nothing on but a price tag! (In case you’re wondering,… Read more »
I’m always extolling the virtue of learning something new. I really try to push myself in all sorts of directions. Sometimes, it’s even a little painful! For 2 years my dear friend, Sarah, helped me out by cutting designs and words for me. I’d send her ideas and samples of fonts and then I’d drive over and pick up the… Read more »
How are you doing with the goal of learning something new with each project? I hope you’ve incorporated that concept into your sewing life! How about another idea for improvement? I find it difficult to settle myself down to the ordinary tasks of any project, such as: Cutting out the pattern Trimming and clipping seams and corners Pressing seams in construction Hemming… Read more »
Broken Threads, needle woes & skipped stitches – oh, MY! You’ve been sewing along, living a happy life when Suddenly, the thread just keeps breaking! Or you’ve got skipped stitches or maybe it’s the needle that’s breaking for no apparent reason. Let’s talk about some of the possible culprits and work on Finding Solutions in Oz…or right at home! We’ll talk about… Read more »
You have this fuzzy vision of what you’d love to create, but… You’re afraid well, good news! Let’s challenge ourselves today to get past fear and get going! I used to tell my kids ‘I already know who is going to win that part in the school play! Someone that tries out for it!’ So, pick a project, or even just the next… Read more »