Here's a brand new pattern for Halloween, but I hope it will also be a good basic princess pattern for little girls and their 18" dolls any time of the year.
I really wanted to do this pattern for quite a while. This was one that I initiated and so I took the time to make better sketches than I usually do to explain my design concept.
I even colored them in!
I love the challenge of proportioning the doll's costume so it looks like the girl's.
To do that, I take important length measurements like neck to floor and neck to desired waistline. These costumes are high waisted, but since a doll's body is proportioned differently than a human child adjustments have to be made.
Also, I don't want to measure from head to floor, because doll heads are so much larger in proportion to a child's and that would throw everything off.
Also, I don't want to measure from head to floor, because doll heads are so much larger in proportion to a child's and that would throw everything off.
To start something like this, I always use a proportional scale. With this, I can take a key measurement from the girl size and the corresponding measurement from the doll, the neck to floor for example, and line up one of those measurements on the inner wheel with the other on the outer wheel and put a small piece of tape to hold it in position. Then any other measurement is easy to find in the same proportion all around the wheel.
This, of course, can be done with math. But even with a calculator is just isn't as fast as picking up the proportional scale, at the desired setting, and just looking.
This, of course, can be done with math. But even with a calculator is just isn't as fast as picking up the proportional scale, at the desired setting, and just looking.
Here is a photo of the basic muslins for the girl and doll.
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But, they won't be exactly the same ... certain details need to be done differently for doll clothing.
But ... oops! I just looked at the photos of the finished costumes and I forgot that as I was working I decided to make the girl's sleeves like the doll's with elastic. I thought that would be easier to fit and more comfortable for the little girl to wear.
I will be writing several other blogs on these costumes about the edging on the fairy skirts and the wings and the head pieces, etc. Stay tuned!
But ... oops! I just looked at the photos of the finished costumes and I forgot that as I was working I decided to make the girl's sleeves like the doll's with elastic. I thought that would be easier to fit and more comfortable for the little girl to wear.
I will be writing several other blogs on these costumes about the edging on the fairy skirts and the wings and the head pieces, etc. Stay tuned!
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