Even 14

Hello everyone! It has been a while, since October 14th actually. After finishing that monstrously long crazy-quilt top (HERE), I needed a break!

Not a break from creating, but delving immediately into another long drawn-out project, which, my next garment project is. I thought it would be fun to go over all the little things I’ve made during the last two and a half months. So here goes…….

Cinderella’s New Ensenble

I started out with my biggest challenge; a new winter look for Cinderella. For sixty-four, she’s looking pretty good. This idea has been floating around in my head for a few years. I had everything collected, except the faux leather and polymer clay, which I needed for her boots. In all, I created six pieces. That’s almost half of my fourteen.

I started with the easiest project, a skirt made from an old moth-eaten wool sweater. The sweater was my initial inspiration for this whole look. Next, it was time to knit the vest. Somewhere, I had collected a beautiful skein of fuzzy tweed yarn, which I thought was perfect. I really wanted a cardigan, but there wasn’t enough yarn in the skein to do that.

Next, I made the blouse, I probably bought fabric for this a few years ago but don’t remember where. I drafted the pattern from a smaller doll pattern. When you have a 28″ fashion doll, there aren’t patterns and you wing it as best as you can. Next time, I will make the cuffs looser, but besides that, the blouse came out pretty good.

The beret, again adapted from a smaller pattern, is made from felt and ribbon in my stash. I crafted the bag from leather (also lined with leather), which I also had.

The hardest was saved until last; the boots. I had to hunt down some faux leather. I’ve made booties for Cinderella before, so worked off a shoe pattern that I already developed. The heels are sculpted from polymer clay. I’m not that skilled at making doll shoes, but I try.

All this was a bit of work, which is why I don’t make very many clothes for her and is probably why, my mother didn’t either when I was a kid. The other posts about me sewing for her are HERE and HERE.

But I have the next ensemble planned.

Dog Beds for the Poodles

Nine years ago, we bought a non-running 1968 Mustang Coupe. Finding it a bit overwhelming to have it fixed, we just stored it at various places. This past spring we finally decided to take the plunge, found someone we could trust (an old student and his father), and started an adventure that didn’t end until October.

After she came home, I decided our Mustang needed dog beds for Niki and Lynnie. I used Simplicity 2297. However, I didn’t pay attention when I bought the pattern, but it is a NO SEW and meant for fleece. But I purchased a plaid flannel.

Since I was using a woven fabric, I had to scrap the instructions and make up my own. This included fabric ties, casings, and serging a lot of edges. It was a love/hate relationship). However, I love the softness of the flannel and the classic look. As you can see in the first photo, Niki couldn’t wait to try them out.

About the Mustang…here’s a collage of how it came out. I had nine years to think about what I wanted and didn’t deviate too much from my original inspiration. Its color is Meadowlark Yellow, an original 1968 Mustang color. This was one of the largest creative endeavors I’ve undertaken. Michael got to go in occasionally and help with the restoration, but I called the shots on how I wanted it to look inside and out, including under the hood. I’m very happy with the results. So are the grandsons!

Michelle’s 100% Handspun Scarf

While working on the beds I knitted a scarf for my daughter Michelle. I used my ROMC technique (read about the technique HERE.) I only used my handspun which was leftover yarn from my ROMC cardigan that I knitted before and during Covid. See that article HERE. Michelle loved it and immediately started styling it with her handmades. I did not trim the fringe but left it up to her to decide how long she wanted it.

Christmas Clothes for Nikki and Lynnie

I had so much flannel left over from the beds, I designed some Christmas togs for the kids. Of course, I had to use my embroidery machine and found some cute images at Embroidery.com. This site never fails me and I always find something I want to stitch. They even have free embroidery patterns. I used my usual garment patterns: Niki’s vest, for years, has been adapted from McCalls 5998 and I used McCalls 6218 for Lynnie’s dress. Both of these are fairly old patterns and not currently in production. But, of course, you can find them everywhere.

I’ve been making dog clothes since I first adopted my Sophia in 2009. It’s something I love to do. They can be fanciful and cute.

Purple ROMC Scarfs X 2

After making Michelle’s scarf, I made one for Rachelle. There was enough yarn left over to make one for me too. Over half of the yarn in these scarfs is my handspun.

Although, I love all the purple handspun I made, what makes these scarfs shine is the variegated ribbon yarn. It’s a pain to knit with, but what a difference it makes. Below is a close-up in natural sunlight. It’s a stunner and I love wearing this since I finished it last week.

Finally, the Last Garment-a Knitted Cape for Lynnie

I still had enough purple yarn left for one more project. Last year I knitted Lynnie a little cape (read about it HERE) and decided she needed another one. It came out absolutely darling and I used almost all of my purple yarn. I love these capes and they take no time to knit up. There are probably more in her future.

This is all I have left of purple yarn in my knitting basket. There’s enough of the purple cotton slub yarn to knit something small for Cinderella, maybe a jump-off to a new ensemble. Who knows?

Well, my friend, that’s it. After all these small things, maybe I am ready to embark on my next project, which is another long one. It is a vest and that’s all I can say for now.

Stay warm and safe,

Untill next time.