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!