Doll Shoes

I've been having yet another go at trying to make some decent shoes for my Gotz Just Like Me doll.  This doll is about 10.5 inches tall and has really tiny feet that measure about 1.5 inches (40mm).  I can get shoes for my 18 inch tall doll but here in the UK I can't find the tiny shoes.  Here are the efforts I've come up with today...

Looks like there is a bit of tidying up needed on the soles of the sandals.  Anyway, these shoes aren't a bad as some I've made in the past.  After watching a great series of videos I had another go, this time using craft foam for the soles as you can see in the above picture.  It works out much nicer than using fabric covered cardboard, which I just could not get to grips with - glue everywhere, shoes stuck to my fingers, bits coming apart and lots of horrible frayed edges.  The white shoes are made with felt and then have a foam sole glued on.  The sandals I made by folding a strip of fabric, then smearing a layer of glue in between and ironing it so that it stuck flat and gave a bit of extra support to the fabric.  Then just sandwich the strip in between the craft foam soles, very quick and easy.  If you go and watch the recommended video you'll see the fabulous sandals she makes.  She also has videos of how to make lots of other doll things.



A Dress For Bridgette

Here is the first doll I bought, she's a Gotz Precious Day Girl Elisabeth but I renamed her Bridgette...

I bought her because I was making American Girl sized dresses for a friend and I needed a doll to try the dresses on for size.  This doll was a lot less expensive and is the same size.  I made her quite a few clothes to start with then got another couple of dolls and started making clothes for them.  So, poor Bridgette got a bit neglected and I thought it was time to make her something new.  I got the pattern for this dress off the internet but of course I can't find the link now!  I think it is a bit short and would look better with a blouse/tee shirt under it as you can see her cloth body.



Spring Outfit

Today I was surfing the web for no-sew dolls clothes when I came across two wonderful videos, episodes 2512 and 2513, that feature Joan Hinds talking about her '30 Minute Doll Clothes'.  I tried to find the CD/book of the same title but it must not be available here in the UK.  So, I made up my own patterns and used her way of sewing them together. 

Here's Ginny modelling them...

 This is the sundress

Sundress with bolero jacket

I think this is the quickest I've ever completed an outfit.

Blossom Toys Doll

This doll has been hanging around at various family members houses for years.....

It is a Blossom Toys walking doll, about 25 inches tall, from the 1970s or early 80s.  It no longer walks, needs a good wash and brush up and only had shoes on until the other day.  Her hair has been cut at the back, right down to the roots, so I think a headband is needed.  I have made her some underwear, and the skirt, so at least she is now decent.  My next job is to clean her up and finish making her some nice clothes.

Does anyone recognise this doll? 

The Skirt

Because I liked Madeline's little knitted walking suit, I've decided to make one for Chloe...

Here she is modeling the skirt.  She had to wear a summer top so that you could see the waistband.  It fits nicely and is a good length.  Now Chloe is waiting for a top to go with it.  She wants a cable pattern the same as Madeline is wearing.  Also, she wants a beret, but she wants her beret to be knitted.

Here's the pattern I came up with for the skirt...

A Doll’s Walking Outfit 

The Skirt 

4 ply yarn

2 ¾mm and 3mm needles 

The tension on mine worked out at 12 stitches to the inch. 

Measure your doll’s waist and multiply by 12, this gives you the number of stitches to cast on.  My doll has approximately a 5 inch waist so I did the following… 

Cast on 60 stitches 

Row 1-  knit (in back of stitch to give firm edge) 

Row 2 - k1 sl1 

Row 3 – sl1 k1 

Row 4 – k1 sl1 

Row 5 – k2 p2 

These four rows above will give you the waistband that you can run elastic through when you come to make up the skirt. 

Continue in the k2 p2 rib for four rows 

Then on the next row increase one stitch in each knit stripe, eg k1 inc 1 k1 p2 

(The right side will be k3 p2, the wrong side will be p3 k2) Carry on in this rib pattern 

When work measures 1 ½ inches below the waistband change to bigger needles 

Carry on in the rib pattern until your skirt is the correct length for your doll, mine measured 4 ¼ inches. 

Cast off keeping to the rib pattern. 

Insert elastic into the waistband and sew up the back of the skirt.

OR

Sew up the back of the skirt until you reach the area where you increased the stitches.  Then using a crochet hook do single crochet on one side up to the waistband, chain 6 and fasten off at the top of the waistband, this gives you a button hole.  Sew a button to the opposite side on the waistband.

Let me know if you find any mistakes in my pattern

Madeline's Knitted Suit

I have never knitted anything so cute as this little outfit!!!  Madeline is a lovely size to knit things for from the new knitting book I was talking about in my last post.  I also have another book full of patterns for this size of doll (about 7 inches).  The hat is crochet, I had to alter the pattern a bit as it looked too small in the original size and would have just perched on top of her head.



Marie Gets A Doll

This little doll is the perfect size for Marie.  It was priced at £2 from Wilkinson but then there was a 50% discount so it only cost £1 - bargain!  It says on the back 'Simba' so I know it is a French doll though it is made in China (of course).

I'm really busy knitting again.  I got some fab dolls clothes knitting books for Christmas.  I received an Amazon voucher from my DS and DIL and bought several books by this author.  They are perfect for the style of knitted clothes I want my dolls to have.  So far I've knitted a little cable jumper and matching beret for Madeline, just got the skirt to finish then I've show a picture.