How it’s Done . . . and Why
When I do insanely complicated things I have to answer two questions. First of all, why? What's my reason for the extra effort the project will take? In the case of Hattie's...
Projects
The drop-down menu above can take you directly to each doll’s wardrobe page, where there are only posts for that specific doll. On this page, you can read about all the wardrobes in progress, in whichever order I happen to add something.
The Deep Satisfaction of Radical Neatness
I may have mentioned previously how influential my mother was when I first learned to sew. She was the perfect combination of patience and uncompromising perfectionism. She explained carefully, without rushing. She...
When the Hardest Part of Sewing Isn’t the Sewing
I have to confess to an embarrassing weakness. I do my best to hide it. I have my private "accommodations". But sewing for such a tiny doll has tested the limits of...
In the Beginning . . .
Hattie has been with me for about a year, and even though sewing time has been sparse, it's safe to say we've made the most of it. I began with "whites" which...
No Wagons Here!
The fashion plate above represents clothing worn by children in 1857. It falls right in the middle of the years when firms like Kister, Kestner, Hertwig and others were exporting thousands of...
The Euphoria (NOT) of Pleats
It probably won't surprise anyone to hear that a sciency person like myself ADORES the predictability and specificity of pleats. They're parallel and geometric! They're neat and controlled! And they're easy enough...
Bittersweet Musings
In the course of collecting antique fabrics and trims, I sometimes buy something I love - only to discover later that it's not as useful as I'd hoped. The color doesn't flatter...
Hard Won Victories
It started with love at first sight . . . (doesn't it always?) The green dress in the above fashion plate caught my eye and next thing I knew, I was dreaming...
Magic in Unlikely Places
How much must I hate myself? Let me count the ways . . . It would be funny, really, if not for the angst it causes. I'm speaking of that subconscious place...
Guilty, Guilty, Guilty . . .
If there were cones of shame for sewing, I'd definitely deserve one right now. Because I cheated - on purpose. And it's not the first time. The trouble is, I value historic...