I had this wonderful green with colorful Fall leaves print that I showed you a while back. I had gotten it down on one of our trips to Missouri and there was only a fat quarter of it… (18″ x 22″) My plan was to make a dress for Janie to model with her red bob wig and it was going to look adorable on her. I found the pattern I always use for my Little Darling bodices… cut out the dress very carefully, as I only had a limited amount of it… I lined the bodice, added the sleeves, made sure the cuff was the right circumference to go over her spread out fingers and around her upper arm…
…and then I tried it on Janie…
…but for some reason, it didn’t go on very easily… it wouldn’t even meet together in the back…
Oh, crumb… I checked and somehow I mistakenly picked up the wrong bodice pattern piece. I used the one for 10″ Patsy Tonner. But now the sleeve cuffs are too big around on Patsy, so you know what I’ll be doing tomorrow… ripping out! UGh! I can salvage it, and it will look cute on Patsy, but it shouldn’t have been this way.
Janie is all upset, because she wanted the dress, and I have no more of the fabric… she said, “Yea, but what about my red wig? This fabric was supposed to be mine!” I told her we’d find something else to go with her red wig…
So here is a look at what I’ll transform this dress into for Patsy.
I plan to make her a little straw hat using both of these braids…
Well, it’s late and I better get to bed so I can get started ripping out these sleeve cuffs in the morning light…
Janie is pouting and Patsy is singing… such is the life of a dolly seamstress!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
You can’t win them all, Jeanne, but I do think this next dress IS going to be a winner! You are making lemonade out of a lemon, although that pretty dress is hardly a lemon! I love the lace trim and the orange of the hat will make up for Patsy not having red hair.
I’m trying to get in the fall mode here, leaves are falling like crazy, but it’s way too hot to think of anything but stay inside with the air conditioning and trying to get cool! At least you have something there to do in your sewing room today! Happy sewing!
Hi Linda,
Well, I’ve been working at taking the dress apart and put back together…so now I’m ready to move on to finishing it. It wasn’t too terrible.
The leaves are all crisp under your feet around here….I’m not ready to rake them….
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
What beautiful autumnal fabric! It may not have been your plan, but you have a beautiful little dress. I’m sure Janie will understand this morning.
I hope your dress ushers in fall weather.
Have a good day.
Take care.
Hi Charlotte,
Thank you for your sweet compliments on the dress. The fabric certainly didn’t usher in fFall weather here. It was very hot today but it’s supposed to cool down into the 80s by the end of the week.
Thank you Charlotte,
Blessings, Jeanne
Nice save! Love the print and I’m sure it will be darling. Did you promise Janie she’d be next? I’ve taken to adding some to the back of a dress and collar lining as I no longer trust the measurements even when using the correct pattern. The hat will be a wonderful accessory. Can’t wait to see it.
It’s just going to start being really hot here this week, high 80s. It’s been relatively cool all summer. I got out all of the Halloween decorations before going to Rogers Gardens Nursery today to look at the rooms full of Halloween decorations so I won’t be tempted to buy anything. It is in Newport Beach, California, if one wanted to look up their website and see the video. They also fill rooms with Christmas decorations later in the year.
Enter “Videos for Rogers Gardens” to find it easier.
Enter: “Videos for Rogers Gardens Halloween” It’s there, just have to enter the right words. Sorry.
Hi Susette,
Thank you, Susette,
No, I didn’t make any promises to Janie that she’d be next….hopefully she’ll forget.
I’ve done my fair share of adding fabric to the backs when it was “almost” too tight, but this one was too tight in the armholes too.
I can’t wait to get started on the hat either!!!
I hope you had a good day “just window shopping” at Rogers Gardens!
Thanks Susette,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh what beautiful fall fabric. The lace is perfect. I can see either hat color. It’s the perfect outfit to kick off fall. A nice walk in the leaves!
Thank you Paula,
This fabric really is a great way to start off Fall! You might see both colors on this hat!
Thanks add o much for your compliments!
Blessings, Jeanne
Can certainly see why Janie is upset. Lovely dress on her. Guess you can’t extend the back to make it fit? Put decorative buttons down the back and no one would know.
Can’t wait to see Susette’s nursery video. Has to be on the other computer though as mine’s too old.
We’re getting some warmer weather. I would prefer it at 78 year around. Not going to happen though. 🙂
Hi Joy,
No, this time an extension on the back of the dress wouldn’t work. It was just way too small in the arm holes and across the back. That’s why I had to pass it down to Patsy. She’s thrilled! Janie..not so much.
I like it just a little cooler than 78…but that sure beats 90 any day of the week!
Thanks Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
Paula says “A nice walk in the leaves.” It sounds wonderful. We’ve just had 3 days of weather in the 40s, so our leaves will be turning soon.
Poor Janie. Poor Jeanne. That was a fast recovery and it is working out fine for Patsy and for all her fans. You do have lots of lovely fabric that you showed us at the same time. One of them is going to be perfect for Janie, and we’ll all love it, Janie most of all.
It’s a lovely day here for working inside, so I’d better get to it.
Hi Marilyn,
I like walking through crispy leaves the best…I don’t know why.
We haven’t had any 40’s yet, but they’ll be here soon.
I haven’t seen Janie sulking too much today…she got put back on the shelf and didn’t say a thing about a new dress.
I spent most of the day inside…except for when we had to go to my mom’s house earlier in the day.
I hope you got lots accomplished.
Blessings, Jeanne
I can see why Janie would be upset, that dress fabric would have been stunning on her. What a shame. It will look cute on Patsy and at least you will be able to salvage it now. The hat will be lovely, especially in a two-tone.
I can hardly believe fall is here. We are in the high 80’s- very low 90’s, the hottest it’s been although the burning bush is starting to turn most of the tress are still green. Summer past a little too quickly this year.
Hi Laura,
I think Jamie is going to be okay with not getting this dress. I showed her lots of other fabrics on my shelf and she thinks she can find something else for me to make her a new dress out of.
I got enough done on it today and Patsy will look pretty cute in it. It WAS a good save…Glad I didn’t have to trash it…
Our weather is about the same, but it’s supposed to be in the upper 70’s or low 80’s at the end of the week.
Thanks Laura,
Blessings, Jeanne
Poor Janie! I’m surprised she didn’t find some coordinating fabric in your stash and ask you to just make a new bodice! I’m sure some of my girls would have done that!! LOL
Your hat-making looks so interesting! Is it difficult to do? Are there tutorials available? (Or maybe, have you done one in the past?) Thanks.
I haven’t been on the computer a whole lot this weekend; last Thurs./Fri. night/early a.m. I had hubby into ER for a few hours (he’s okay and home again), and then Fri. night I started with a bad cold. I was out for a bit Sat. morning, but spent the rest of Sat. and almost all of Sun. in bed! Feeling some better tonight, but now He’s coming down with my cold. (It seems we share….)
Haven’t been in the sewing room for a few days–am anxious to get back in there! Poor Mariko is Still waiting for me to finish her smocked dress!! (She’s my latest LD, rehomed from another collector.)