Molly Phoebe Rose-Petal and the Incredible Family Gift

October 2, 2014 Lisa Press

Molly Phoebe takes a moment to ponder her good fortune.

A little over a month ago, after I sold a Phoebe doll and thanked Sarah, the woman who purchased her, I received the following message back.

"We are all so excited to make clothes for her!"

I was thrilled that Phoebe appeared to have a team of people sewing for her, but was baffled about how Phoebe had landed herself in such a lucky situation. So I asked about the "we".

Molly Phoebe before she was Molly Phoebe

And for that simple question, I got to peak into the process of the making of an incredible gift by an amazing family.

Phoebe had a team of seven sewing for her. Phoebe's new home was in a family of eight children. Sarah, the amazing mother of eight, had bought the doll as a surprise birthday present for her six year old daughter Gemma, whose birthday was in a little over a month. Sarah and her six older children were going to going to use the month to enhance the gift by making clothes for Phoebe.

"Phoebe caught my eye because of her appealing modern look, her adorable long skinny limbs just like Gemma's and her beautiful face. I then showed her to my five oldest girls and they went crazy. Hence the inspiration to use her to get everyone sewing and knitting and quilting on a tiny manageable scale. It was the PERFECT summer's end project."

Not only is Sarah an amazing quilter and knitter, but she has passed these talents and values on to her children. " I REALLY want to pass the idea and love of handmade objects for loved ones and the home to the children. Modern life is very fast paced if we don't slow down we miss the beauty."

The girls started sewing dresses from the Doll Dressmaking Series on this blog and started making Phoebe a wardrobe of dresses. Sarah made sweaters, fair-isle knitted boots and quilts. And her older son made Phoebe four pillows. The youngest, who is four, just watched all of the activity. And there was a lot of activity to watch.

Together they made Phoebe: 9 dresses (and several matching ones for Gemma), 5 sweaters, 3 pairs of knitted boots, 2 quilts, one scarf and one hat!

When everything was done, it was all packed into three doll trunks just in time for Gemma's birthday, which was now going to be celebrated a bit sooner due to her father's deployment.

Phoebe and her wardrobe are very cherished and go everywhere.

And Phoebe is now Molly Phoebe Rose-Petal, which seems like the perfect name for a well loved doll with a huge wardrobe.

Making reversible dresses and knitting. Click to enlarge.

Sewing and quilting and more sewing. Click to enlarge.

Phoebe models handmade boots, quilt and a unicorn dress.

Gemma starting to open the first part of her gift.

Phoebe thinking about what to have for breakfast

Phoebe and Gemma are off to school with matching dresses.

If your Phoebe doll has a special story, please send it along!

Featured

Jun 14, 2014

Just what exactly is so special about a handmade doll?

Jun 14, 2014

My Journey in Doll-Making: A New and Incredible Challenge

September 30, 2014 Lisa Press

Recently I have been trying other doll patterns. For several reasons. But mostly because I am on a mission. Some of you know a bit about the mission, because I have been asking for advice.

I am sewing dolls to give to children in the foster care system. I have been working with a non-profit who assists the children with all sorts of support and services.

I have a list of children who will be recipients. From the list, I know just enough to help me design the right doll for each child. For each child there is a different set of attributes I feel the doll must have.

Two of the recipients are teen mothers. I have been thinking about them a lot.

The task of making their dolls has been a different sort of challenge. Like the other children, I want the doll to be a companion, but I also wanted it to be less about playing with dolls and durability, and more about something pretty, stylish and could be both a friend and a soothing decoration that also spoke to them. A doll for a more grown up girl, who still is a child and doesn't have a lot of pretty things.

And I wanted it to be a doll for a girl who probably wants to reclaim a bit of her childhood.

The challenge of making dolls for these children has led me to trying all sorts of doll patterns. I LOVE an excuse to sew different kinds of dolls. It gives you insight into your own processes and it pushes you in new directions.

For a few years now I have been obsessed with Jess Brown and her dolls as in Jess Brown Rag Dolls. First, what doll-maker is not a bit jealous of Jess Brown? The success she has had with her handmade dolls is staggering. She has been in Martha Stewart magazine, Sweet Paul, Courtney Kardashian just Instagrammed her daughter's latest Jess Brown doll.

A few weeks ago, Jess Brown came out with a book, The Making of a Rag Doll. I love doll books (and also have that Jess Brown obsession) so of course I bought it.

The book comes with a pattern. Not the same pattern that is used for the dolls that Jess Brown sells, but a smaller version with different arms and head. The more I thought about what the doll for the two teen mothers should be the more I thought this doll pattern might be the one.

Sewing with this pattern was so completely different from sewing a Phoebe or an Egg doll. I found that oddly refreshing.

I made the dolls out of a soft brushed twill. There are only three simply shaped pattern pieces to the doll. She was simple to make. My biggest challenge was turning her tiny thin arms inside out. But it was so worth it, because those thin arms are key to the doll's elegance.

The doll body does not take that long to make. And her directions, which include clear line drawing diagrams, are great. I deviated a bit here and there. She uses felted sweaters for the hair, I used black polar fleece for hair, added bangs and I tweaked my faces a bit.

The real fun came with making the doll clothing. The clothing pattens are simple. The dress pattern is two pieces, the pants are one. But what I loved most was Jess Brown's approach. No time is spent on fussing with the traditional finishing details. Things are not hemmed, just some stay stitching here and there. No sleeves to fit into armholes, no linings, no gathering. Nothing to fuss with, nothing to mess up, and nothing to possibly redo. No fitting adjustments. No hand hemming.

This was so liberating. This allows you to focus on decorating the clothes. You can decorate them Jess Brown style or create your own style, which I did.

I also gave each doll a handbag, which will have a second dress in it. Because I have a feeling these girls may want to play with their dolls, just a little bit.

Doll Dressmaking Series: The Peter Pan Collar

September 24, 2014 Lisa Press

The Peter Pan collar, the very essence of cuteness. They are not so hard to make. If you can make the reversible or the lined dress, the collar is just a few extra steps.

At the end of this post is a form to get the Peter Pan collar piece.

The collar can be used with either a lined/reversible dress or the facings, both previous posts in this series. Pin and cut four collar pieces, your dress pieces and your lining or facing pieces.

The first step is to sew the collar pieces together, two and two. But they are small and have a tendency to be pushed by the needle into the needle hole and then get chewed up. To avoid this start sewing start the beginning of the collar piece over a piece of tissue paper or stabilizer. Then tear it off when you have sewn the collar pieces.

Turn each piece right side out. Push out the seams with a point turner or knitting needle. This will help the two pieces look symmetrical.

Press.

Using the centerfold line of the dress front, position the two collar pieces and baste them into place in the center where they need to touch.

Pin to sew both collar pieces to the neckline all of the way around.

Sew collar to the dress neckline.

Match lining up to dress, with right sides together. Or facing if you are using facings.

1. Sew from bottom of the back around the neckline, making sure you catch all layers, the lining, both sides of the collar and the dress fabric.

2. Trim excess fabric and clip the curves.

3. Before you sew the armhole seams, pin collar edge in so you do not accidentally catch it in the armhole seam.

4. Sew armhole seams, clip curves.

5. Turn right side out and press.

6. Continue to follow the instructions for the reversible or facing dress for the side seams.

Trim and enjoy! Form for collar pattern pieces below.

Keep up with all pattern pieces through my newsletter and receive the base set when you sign up.

Fancy Nancy departs for Maryland

September 23, 2014 Lisa Press

I've made a few Fancy Nancy's this past year. My first Fancy Nancy was a special request from a customer with young daughters. To be honest I hadn't heard of Fancy Nancy when she first asked. My youngest is thirteen and we kind of missed the Fancy Nancy thing.

I had so much fun designing and making that first Fancy Nancy. I think the one leaving today is maybe my fourth. I am still equally as smitten and so grateful to that first customer for having me design such a fun doll.

Today's Fancy Nancy is flying off to her new home in Maryland in a few minutes.

Fancy Nancy is careful to live up to her name and always wears her crown.

Busy with a few custom orders

September 22, 2014 Lisa Press

A Phoebe and an Egg left for Maryland today. Only after they were all packed for the Post Ofiice (lots of tape already on the shipping box) did I remember that I hadn't done my traditional sending off to a new home shot.

In lieu of the departing box shot, I will post a few shots of Phoebe and Egg modeling before they got packed up to travel.

A custom Baby Egg in her retro cherries and gingham outfit

Doll Dressmaking Series: Yes, Another Tool

September 19, 2014 Lisa Press

The next tutorial will be making two different collars. Collars can be a bit tricky because they are tiny but they need to be a bit precise to look good.

Pointy collars need to be pointy, rounded Peter Pan collars need to be rounded. And the two pieces (sides) should mirror each other.

Part of their precision depends on turning them right side out and pushing out their seams before pressing.

For years I have been using a plastic Dritz tool for poking at their seams once they are right side out. The point turner was created for making sure corners are corners but it can also help small rounded shapes take on their exact shape.

It's not so pointy that it will poke through.

I keep one by my iron and one by my sewing machine. I either lose this a lot, or really love it.

or both.

You can find it here:

Create for Less

Amazon

Farmhouse Fabrics

Doll Dressmaking Series:Dress with a bodice and gathered skirt

September 16, 2014 Lisa Press

Last week, you learned reversible dress. From the photos I have received, at least some of you got that down fairly easily. This next dress uses a few skills learned from that dress for a new style of dress—a dress with a bodice and gathered skirt.

Doll Dressmaking: A dress with a bodice and gathered skirt.

The bodice pattern piece can easily be made from your basic dress pattern. Choose where you want your bodice to end and end the pattern piece about 1/3 of an inch beyond that.

You will end up with two bodice pieces, one for the front and one for the back. You will need two of each, because you will be making a lining for the bodice.

The pattern piece for your skirt is basically a rectangle. For Phoebe I used a 10.5"x8" pattern piece, to be placed on the fold. this will give me a 21 x 8" piece of fabric for the skirt.

For the Waldorf Doll and the American Girl Doll I would make the skirt pattern piece 12"x8". The 8 inch side will go on the fold, giving you a 24"x8" skirt.

Ultimately the skirt size will come down to taste, how full do you like your gathering, how long do you like the skirt? I don't like my gathering very full.

Start by making the bodice.

1. Pin and cut two bodices, one for the outside, one for the lining. I used the same fabric for both, but you switch it up.

2. sew all four shoulder seams.

3. Press.

1. Sew neck and back edges and armholes as you did in the lined reversible dress tutorial. Right sides together.

2. Turn right side out. Press.

3. Sew side seams as you did in the reversible dress.

Finish the two 8 inch edges of the skirt. these will be a part of the back closing of the dress.

1. Iron each edge over 1/4 inch.

2. Fold over again and stitch.

Next is gathering the skirt:

1. Set your machine stitch to its longest length. On most machines, it is 5.

2. Start your first line os stitches by reversing for a few stitches, as you would most seams, to secure the stitching. But do not secure the end of the stitching. Instead leave a long thread that you can grab and pull.

3. An eighth of an inch away, repeat. You now have two rows of long stitches, secured at the beginning, with long threads at the end.

4. Take the two threads from one side of the fabric (depicted in red on my sewing) and gently pull.

5. Pull the threads until the skirt is gathered and the same length as the bottom of the bodice. Even out the gathers.

Still confused by gathering:

Craft Cupboard has a good tutorial.

and so does Craftsy.

1. Secure gathering by winding thread around a pin.

2. Pin gathered skirt to the outside fabric of the bodice. Right sides together.

3. Stitch along the lower row of gathering stitches.

1. Fold bodice lining in about 1/4 inch.

2. Hand stitch with a hem (edge) stitch to hold in place, keeping raw edge of skirt tucked in while you sew.

Your dress is almost done.

1. Hem to desired length.

2. Press.

3. Add trim if desired.

There are lot of ways to change this dress up. trims, contrasting fabric, the same fabric. Different types of fabric (wool, tulle, silk...

Have fun and send photos!

Doll Dressmaking Series Update

September 15, 2014 Lisa Press

Tomorrow, how to make a dress with a gathered bodice, and how to gather!

Off to a new home

September 15, 2014 Lisa Press

Baby Egg left for her new home in Indiana today. Yes, she flew home in her jammies.

Sister dolls

September 11, 2014 Lisa Press

I recently received two custom requests for my African American doll with the fun braids. One request was a for a jointed Baby Egg and one was for a toddler Phoebe doll. They look like sisters who are maybe 18 months apart.

The hair for this doll is done by wrapping wool yarn as though casting on for a knitting project at the end of each braid. Then I take the ends of the yarn and with a needle weave them back through and cut them.

I thought it would be fun to do a photo shoot before the ends were woven in—Medusa style.

Soon they ship off to different homes.

Phoebe doll before her hair is finished.

Subscribe to our mailing list