American Girl ADDY and Simplicity 1391--again!

A few years ago, I sold my American Girl Addy doll.  I was trying to thin out my collection a bit, and honestly, I had never really bonded with that doll.  But lately, I had really been missing her and regretting my decision to have sold her.  So I went on the hunt for a new Addy.  And I found one!  A fellow member in a Facebook group advertised this lovely, early, Pleasant Company Addy, and I just knew she had to be mine!

I believe she is a first edition, or at the least very early, since she has some of the hallmarks of a first edition doll--straight, soft eyelashes, soft vinyl face, exposed ribbon at the base of her wig, and marked Pleasant Company 148/16 on her neck.  She has the sweetest expression!

She was nude when I bought her, so I immediately set about making her a new outfit.  Simplicity 1391 is my go-to pattern for civil war era styled clothing:

I made a version of the blue dress in the upper right corner.  I left off the belt and the bow at the neckline.  Otherwise, my creation looks pretty similar.  Another difference is that I almost always line the bodice instead of using facings.  I just think it looks so much nicer.

I used a vintage piece of cotton eyelet insertion to accent the hem.  Bias binding with picot crochet edge trims the sleeves and the dress bodice.

I wanted to make her jacket and bonnet set from wool, so I headed off to Goodwill and purchased a women's, 100% wool skirt to cut up for just $6.99.  I only used about a third of it, so not bad for the cost!  The jacket closes with snaps under decorative buttons.  It is completely lined with printed cotton.  

The bonnet is my favorite part of this outfit!  I just love bonnets.  It is also completely self lined, with a matching wool ruffle along the inside that frames her little face.  A vintage piece of ruffled trim adorns the outside of the bonnet.  It ties under the chin with vintage seam binding.

The jacket may look complicated, but it actually sews together very quickly.  The fit of this pattern is impecable, as well.  It is designed by Keepers Doll Duds, one of my favorite doll pattern designers.

I still need to make her a proper slip.  She borrowed one from another doll for the photos, but I want to make one just for her.  I guess that'll be my next project!

American Girl Cecile and Simplicity 1391 again

Remember how two Christmases ago I used this pattern to create a new outfit for my daughter-in-law's beloved Addy doll?

 

This is the dress I ended up creating (sorry for the kind of dark picture):

 

 

I liked it so much I vowed that I would someday get around to sewing one for my own dolls.  And to go along with it, I also wanted to sew the bonnet and hat.

It is SO cold and snowy right now.  But Cecile was a good sport and dutifully posed in the almost foot of snow we got dumped with a couple of nights before.

 

The bonnet and hat are View F on the pattern.

 

I love everything about this jacket and bonnet...the cut, the fit, and the style.  It has a very definite 1860's feel to it.

 

I used a piece of red, plaid corduroy that's been in my stash FOREVER.  I had just enough to make these pieces.  They are lined with black cotton sateen, and trimmed with a black braid from JoAnn's.  The little pewter buttons came from my stash as well.  The buttons are decorative and sit over snaps which fasten the jacket.

 

The bonnet ties are made from wide, black, grosgrain ribbon.  I diagonally folded up and hemmed the edges because cut grosgrain ribbon ravels horribly.

 

Bright morning sun!  I love Cecile's eyes.  They are a dark shade of green and match her dress so perfectly.

 

The snow made for easy posing!  I just stuck her down and the deep snow kept her from toppling over.

 

And here's the dress.  The skirt is two layers--the underneath has a deep, ruffled hem, and the overskirt is trimmed with lace and braid.

 

I had just enough lace to trim around the skirt.  I love it when this happens. Makes me realize this project was meant to be.

 

The bodice and sleeves of this dress were sewn and trimmed just like the first dress I made two years ago. 

 

It closes in back with snaps.

 

I bought Cecile (along with Marie Grace) right before they were retired.  They are both gorgeous dolls.  However, for some reason or another, I had never undressed Cecile until now!  I didn't realize how pretty this dress would look on her until I tried it on...the muted green of the fabric matches her eyes so perfectly.

 

The sun is a little harsh in this photo, but I wanted to show the ruffled trim inside her bonnet.  This bonnet is really very easy to make--there are just two pieces--a back and a brim!  One in the plaid, and one in the lining.  I attached a ruffle from the black sateen to the lining so that it would perfectly frame her little face while she was wearing it.

 

She wandered over to check out the giant snowman (well, to her anyway!) that my kids had made.  His "eyes" and buttons are actual buttons from my stash.  Do my kids know how fortunate they are to have a mother that's a seamstress?!

 

Here's a better picture of my two youngest which shows that the snowman isn't a giant afterall...

 

Enjoy this beautiful day no matter what kind of weather you're having!