More cardigans!

I said I love cardigans, didn't I? Of course I did!
Well, in a break between commissions, I made a cute lolita cardigan ^-^
I thought it would fit that flowery dress I have up for sale on etsy, and I think it doesn't disappoint!

Commissioned work

I have been working on commissions these past few days. Two dresses from fabrics provided by client in a 19th century style.
If I could, I'd probably add a petticoat for both to add volume, but all in all, I think they turned out pretty good :)

Socks everywhere!

A couple of days ago I was on a sock-rampage O_O I made like 17 pairs of socks and stockings in various sizes at one go.. Almost one go ;)

I decided to go with the flow and cut them out of fabrics with different printons, mainly flower motifs. I still have a lot of other fabrics to use, and I predict I will make more socks and stockings soon enough ;)

I don't want to think about taking photos of them all tho...

Cadrigan love!

I'm one of those people that absolutely love cardigans. I love wearing them, buying them and I love dolls in cardigans.
I haven't had much opportunity before to work on some, knit fabrics are usually very annoying to work with (especially on home sewing machines), but recently I have made a couple.

Not countring three brown ones in mori style that I had made to the triplet's set, I also made a white one.
I used patterns I had already made before, which obviously quickened the process ^^

This white cardigan is made to fit MSD dolls, and if you'd like it's up on etsy!

Tiny tinies!

When working with dolls, one has to consider a scale they work with.
It's one of those things some people seem to forget. They use human sized accessories, buttons, zippers, printons on fabrics and other trinkets. Unfortunately it makes a whole outfit heavy and out of scale.
I always try to aim at the proper size of each and every item I use. Big, chunky printons on a fabric are an instant "no, no", same goes with buttons, pearls, beads and zippers (I usually use snaps - they are so much easier to work with!).
You have to also remember not every fabric is good for a doll. Some heavier, thicker ones may be considered for a 60-75cm doll, but they shouldn't be used for 30cm doll! In fact, many fabrics like heavy denim or knit fabrics may be problematic. Thick, cottons and polyester fabrics are not good either. Fabrics with large motifs or applications as well. 
The thinner the better, is the general rule. 
But when working with chiffon or batist you have to remember about using a proper machine needle (60-70) and change them often!

A little bit of history v.2

I do love historical reconstructions, but for dolls, I give myself a little bit of slack.. Maybe I shouldn't ;)
I use modern techniques to achieve a general look for which I am aiming for.
Maybe I should give it more time and I'm sure I will someday, but the price of purely historically made outfit would be so high I need to consider clients to whom accuracy is not mandatory. And so, using modern techniques and patterns (nonetheless inspired by real historical patterns found in Waugh and Janet Arnold) I made first of five commissions.

And a finished product:

A little bit of history

I got a couple of commissions, all of which are historical clothing.
I thrive in historical reconstructions and I had planned on sewing more for dolls as well.

First historical outfit I have ever made won a first prize in a contest at Wilanów Palace.
It was a rococo dress I designed. It took me a month to finish due to a lot of handwork and details it had.
Whole outfit consisted of a dress, petticoat, cotton petticoat, bracelets, hairpin, neckpiece, corset,  shift and pocket hoops (a sort of smaller panier).

Second was a reconstruction of Helena Modjeska's theatrical costume to Antony and Cleopatra. I received honorary prize for it. I have to admit, it was a very challenging work, but unfortunately due to its rather... garish look I didn't get a higher prize. The colours were all based on historical pieces of other Cleopatra outfits that we can see to this day, newspaper mentions and specialist's knowledge.
This outfit took more of my time than the previous one, since there was A LOT of beads, feathers and other details that I had to work on.
Outfit consisted of headdress, earrings, four bracelets, scale corset, shirt, skirt with train, petticoat with detachable train, corset, cotton pad, combinations and sandals.

And an original photo from 19th century:

I have only made one outfit that could be considered closest to historical reconstruction for dolls. It was an anglaise type of outfit. A jacket, gause skirt, petticoat, shift, silk scarf.

cute lolita

Lolita style is basically the most common style I use for dolls' clothes. I enjoy making clothing in that style and I seem to always be drawned to it. 
I love girly and cute clothes!
Not to mention, usually while working on clothing in this style, I work with very pretty fabrics. Those are usually cottons, soft cottons, batists, sometimes tulles. Not to mention, those cottons often come with various pretty printons. And this style loves frills and laces!
Add to that cute pleats, peter pan collars and puffy sleeves and voila, you have adorable looking doll! :D

mid work

A couple of weeks ago I met up with a friend who just came back from Japan after spending there a year. She arrived with a little bundle of joy - very old and beautiful japanese fabrics.
A couple of which I picked to sew some things for dolls for her and not only.
She had a beautiful green silk that I suggested she should use as a scarf. I took it home to run overlock around the edges.

I made a pair of pantaloons for her dolls out of other silk fabrics (one was obviously for obi-age and one for haori).

I still have a couple of other fabrics at home and a couple of designs to work on. But unfortunately at the moment I'm drowning in work, so I can't sew them O_O;

She also brought newly bought fabrics from Yuzawaya (I love their selection!) from which I made two dresses for her.

*this one is available on etsy!

Please visit my friend's flickr! She has both gorgeous dolls and photos!

triplets

I enjoy working on sets that could be used for sisters. Sets like this one:

They are not yet fully finished. My job with them is done, but I'm wating for my friend - Cath - to finish her side of work :) Yep! Those sets are a collaboration between Kalcia's Workshop and CEJJ. Take a look at her gorgeous work!

Bloomers and shirt's collars are made of nice cottons: beige in blue hearts, blue in beige hearts and brown in beige hearts. I got them back when I was in Japan last year, and I wished I found beige in brown hearts there as well!
Shirts are loose and made of hand dyed, silk chiffon. Along with shirts and bloomer shorts sets include a cardigan and leg warmers made of very soft in touch knit fabric.
They have this.. Mori feeling to them.

Those sets are One of A Kind and I will never repeat them.

Once sets are done, I will post proper pictures ^^

sailor set for SD

I wanted to make this set for a very long time. I had boots for ages and I could never find any outfit to fit them, so I decided to just make an outfit especially for them.

I used mainly different cotton fabrics, along with knit fabric for cardigan, cotton laces, pearls.  

Outfit consisted of:

☆ hairpin
☆ bronze necklace (attatched to the bag)
☆ cardigan
☆ dress
☆ petticoat
☆ bag
☆ boots