Simplicity 1179 for American Girl Nicki

 This is the third time I've used this Simplicity pattern.  I had already made view F (the coat & hat) and view B (the sailor dress) in the past, and now I decided to tackle view C, the blouse and pleated skirt.

 

While all these outfits have many pieces, steps, and details, they go together really nicely and make a quality-looking garment...much nicer than anything you could buy commercially, I think!

 

Nicki wanted to be my model today.  I think the browns and blues work really well with her complexion and hair color.

 

I used a quilter's cotton in a Civil War print for the skirt.  It has a contrasting waistband and brown, rayon lace at the hemline and shoulder straps.

 

The pattern went together quite easily AFTER I pressed all those darn pleats!  Marking and ironing seemed to take forever, especially since I had forged ahead without reading the instructions and pleated everything before realizing that I needed to have hemmed and trimmed the skirt FIRST.  Oh, well.  It all worked out in the end.

 

The blouse is made from a "specialty" cotton I picked up at JoAnn's recently...it is sateen with a subtle stripe running through it.  The sleeves are also pleated.  If fastens in the back with buttons.

 

The blouse bodice has applied lace and a lace collar to give it an "heirloom look.

 

The skirt opens all the way down the back and closes with snaps.  The straps are permanently sewn to the front with buttons, but attach to the back waistband with snaps.  If I were to make this pattern again, I would permanently attach the back straps as well.  There is no reason to make them detachable, since you don't need to undo the straps in order to get on the skirt.  I wonder why the pattern designer called for this?

 

I always like to make a hair bow to match.  It attaches to a small hair clip.

 

I think Nicki looks so pretty in this outfit!

 

We are currently having very stormy weather in our area, and expect to receive 5-6" of rain over the next few days!  I was able to snap these pictures when the sun came out for a few, brief moments between downpours.  Nicki had to hang onto the tree for support because the wind kept threating to knock her over!

 

I am off this afternoon to go teach my little sewing pupils how to make this outfit.  I hope to upload more photos later of their creations.  Have a nice afternoon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Simplicity 1179--A Drop-waist Dress, Coat & Hat for 18" Dolls from the Titanic Era

I bought this pattern several months ago and finally got around to stitching up a couple of the pieces.  I just love this era of clothing...reminds me of the Titanic and Downton Abbey.

First, I decided to make View C, the sailor dress.  I have a huge weakness for nautical style clothing.

I think this is the FIRST time I've ever sewed a pattern where I pretty much followed the instructions as written.  I almost always end up making major changes.  But this time, I resisted the urge and followed the instructions, step by step.

The hardest thing for me was not lining the bodice--I love to line bodices!  I just think it makes them look so much cleaner and finished inside.  However, I restrained myself and made simple neck facings, like the pattern called for, and it actually turned out quite well.  I did finish all the raw edges with a tight zig zag, just to keep everything looking neat and tidy.

The dress opens completely down the back and fastens with five buttons.  The sixth button (at the waistband) is decorative and sits over a snap.  The main fabric is a pretty, woven plaid which I've had for years.  I like it because it doesn't have a "right" or "wrong" side.  The collar, sleeve cuffs and welts were made from a lightweight linen.

The collar is removable. Here is the dress without it.  I think it looks cute both ways.  I love the detail of the sleeve cuffs and the little welts at the front of the skirt.  I couldn't resist and also made a matching hair bow.

Next up, I made the coat and matching hat.  How cute is this???  Again, I followed the pattern instructions exactly.  It wasn't as difficult to do, since the coat is completely lined--just like a real garment.  I used a recycled, light blue linen skirt which I had picked up at the thrift store long ago for the outer fabric, and a quilter's cotton from my stash for the lining.

It fastens down the front with four buttons, and there are four, additional buttons which are attached to the tabs at each side of the top of the pleated skirt.

Back view--I did have to run to the fabric store to buy the trim which I attached to the collar.  I just didn't have anything in my stash that was small enough and in the right color to work.  Oh, and I had to pick up buttons.  I do have a large button jar, but finding eight, matching buttons just wasn't going to happen.

I LOVE this little coat and hat!  The hat, by the way, was super simple to make.  Just a large, circle of fabric which is gathered to a band.  

And here's a peek of the lining.

Sewing for dolls is so much fun.