Sewing Samples from My Past

Back in the 1970s, I used to "make" my dolls clothes. Funds were limited: I had an allowance of $1.25 a week and daily lunch money. Even skimping on lunch, I needed to choose between dolls or action figures and accessories for them. Dana the budding collector would usually choose a doll or an action figure. I had about three patterns for doll clothes OR I could trace the outline of outfits my dolls wore. My pieces were serviceable. I could "make" the outfits more like what a real person (i.e., ME) would wear.

Here are some pieces I made. I photographed them and then turned some of them inside out to show seams and hemming. In the first photo, I have a rose polyester blouse, a brown corduroy jumper, a white cotton full slip, a denim miniskirt, a gray midi skirt, a white polyester shirt for Michael of the Young Sweethearts, and a reproduction of a 19th Century set of white cotton bloomers.






I didn't have a sewing machine. Nor did I want one at the time. I used old clothes or small fabric swatches from fabric stores. Nothing elaborate. But I had fun. And my dolls had "original" clothes ;-D

Helpful Sewing Links, One Recommended by Niel

Since I've been talking "sewing," I decided to three sewing related links. The first is from Niel of Niel's Dolls


Tips and Tricks by Valkyrie

Tips and supply suggestions.


Perestroika Fitting Tips

Illustrations showing various playscale female as well as a few male dolls and practice fitting.


Perestroika Sewing Links

Links to patterns, other sewing tips and tools, etc.

Patterns for the Mixis Dolls - What Would You Want?

"Just one pattern OUR size ... that's all I ask!"

Houda and Opal would like more clothes. Clothes are a passion of fashion dolls. I have plastic bins full of fashion doll clothes, but the Mixis shape is decidedly rounder and fuller at the buttocks than the mounds of mostly Barbie fashions I have. Homemade clothes would expand their wardrobe.

If you were to sew fashions for your Mixis dolls, what kinds of pattern would you want? I have a new poll in the sidebar. Please let me know what your Mixis pattern interests are and I will forward that information to Debbie Goodland, YNU Group, Inc. Owner.

Halloween Treats Barbie at Pathmark - $9.99

Pathmark on Aramingo Avenue had TWO Halloween Treats Barbie dolls available - a "Blonde" one and an "AA" one. They were displayed, two of each, side-by-side in rows as shown in this photo:




Happy (Early) Halloween!

Poll Results In: Susie Wins

The results of the "Whose Doll Photos Should be Submitted for a Virtual Halloween Party" poll are in.

Drumroll ... Susie wins!

Susie received 20 votes. Janay received 9 votes. Emerald received 7 votes. Barbie received 4 votes. The four contestants gathered to take a photo. Susie asked Tyr (aka Randy here in East Philly) to pose with her in the second photo.




Susie Wins!




"Thanks, Randy! Thanks Readers for voting for me!"

My Scene Hollywood Bling Dolls Seen at Kmart

Thursday afternoon, I stopped by the Center City Kmart on my way home and saw this series of My Scene dolls, Hollywood Bling:



so I photographed them to present here. The Hollywood Bling dolls are one of the 2009 My Scene waves (series of a fashion doll set). Fans of this line should look for these dolls now.

Mixis Sale: Sunshine Dolls $29.99; Outfits $15.00

Great news for Mixis fans who want to complete their Sunshine Doll set OR their Inspired Clothing collection: from now until the end of the year, YNU Group has these dolls and outfits for sale. The Sunshine Dolls - Emerald, Houda, Opal, and Rosa - will be $29.99 while the Inspired Clothing line will each cost $15. This sale works ONLY through the Mixis website and ONLY if you enter the promo code 'mixisrock.'