[[Progress in sewing -NEW- Yarn wig on pg 5!]]

Wow, I can really see the improvements! The dress and the hat look great, especially if you're a beginner sewer.

 

Nice work, especially since you say you're just starting out. ^-^

Love the Einstein pin BTW. XD

 

I love the dress! I might have to try that sometime! And her stalkings, I've gotta try making a pair of those! The hat is cute ^^ I think I'll try to do that sometime after I find which socks are mateless in the laundry XD or maybe I'll just kidnap a pair and make two matching hats :3

So, did the shirt origionally feature Hillary Duff? That's the only name I can think of of famous people that has ARY in it XD; ((watch, I bet later I'll think of a bunch that have it or something))

 

What type of sewing machine do you have? If it's anything similar to my Mom's ((the one I've been using)) I could possibly give you tips for sewing with it ^^ I think the biggest thing for learning to machine sew is practice and experimenting with stuff. My Mom actually gave me a piece of fabric and told me to knock myself out playing with all the different options on her machine to figure out how to use it. And then she told me pratical uses for various stitches ((from regular strait stitch to zigzag stitch))

 

Ooh, I'll try that for the stalkings! :3 ((My doll I'm *hopefully* ordering tomorrow or the next day, whenever Junkyspot responds to my e-mail on how to moneyorder order XD I'm getting a DZ Shoyo who'll be named Shoko probably ^^ ))

I'm not a big fan of Hillary Duff either. But that is a cool dress! I actually went looking around today to see if I could find anything to do something like that to. Next time I'm at the mall I'll have to see what I can find.

Okies, for sewing with a machiene, first there should be lines on it near the needle, those are your seam and hem allowance lines.
Hem= the material that was flipped over and sewn to creat a nice edge
Seam= two pieces of material sewn together

The regular stitch that looks like ----- is going to be your regular sewing stitch and the one you use the most often. The zigzag is going to be for sewing unhemmed seams together. You'll put down a regular ---- stitch first and then along the edges do the zigzag.

Usually you use a 1/4 inch seam allowance, basically 1/4 inch of material added extra onto the pattern ((if you buy a pattern at the store they already allow for this)) for where you sew. I when I make my own patterns make them extra big so I can first hem all the material and then sew seams ((leaving 1/4 inch for hems on each side of the material and 1/4 extra for the seam. I'm not sure if store bought patterns do that or not. Usually when I use store bought ones I do the --- and zigzag or whatever my Mommy tells me to do XD; ))

That'll be the most basic stitches that you'll use and probably the only ones you use. You can set how long your ----- are if you have the right machine, if not it doesn't make much of a difference how big they are so long as they're not huge.

Hooked up to the machine you'll have a pedle (pedel? sp?) The harder you press it the faster the needle goes up and down and the faster the material moves through ((summed up: the fast you sew)). The lighter you push the slower you sew. On the right side of the machine there should be a wheel. Turn this towards yourself to sew normally. Turn it away from you to sew backwards. My sewing machine has a button for sewing in reverse on it. I'm fairly certain most do, but I'm not positive.

When sewing near the end of what I'm sewing ((like the bottom of a skirt or something)) I usually sew it to the end, put it in reverse for a few stitches, and then cut the thread.

As you're sewing you guide the material with your fingers. DO NOT PUT YOUR FINGERS UNDER THE NEEDLE!!!!!! I know that sounds stupid, but a friend of one of my friends did that. And then he ripped his finger out of the needle that he put through it. Ouch!

Use your pointer and middle finger of your right hand to guide the material close to the needle. Use your left hand to guide the rest of the material. This only works when the extra material is hanging off to the left. When it's pushed to the right use your right fingers to guide and ignore doing stuff with your left hand. Unless you're left handed. Then my instructions get screwed over and you get to work out how you're most comfortable guiding the material.

Around the needle there should be a metal piece that holds the fabric down. On the back of the machine there should be a lever to lift it ((so you can put the fabric down)) and then to move it back down. You can lift it by hand, but it's generally eaiser to use the lever ((my lever is broken currently so I have to lift it by hand. It's a real pain.))

Remember to pin your fabric down before sewing. Pins help bunches! Like seriously. I tried sewing without pins before ((I lost the pin box ^^) It was hell. If they're sideways ((horizontal)) and have the head sticking out a bit ((so the metal piece around the needle doesn't get stuck on them)) then they'll go through fine. If they're up and down ((vertical)) they won't go through. You can sew right over the pins if they're horizontal though.

I *sometimes* take my pins out as I'm sewing right before I sew over them, but you don't have to. I just have a bad habit of getting them caught in the machine by running the metal piece over the heads >.<

The machine itself should come with instructions on how it makes a bobin and how exactly to thread the needle. If it doesn't take a picture of it and I should be able to figure it out from that for you ^.~

Good luck when you start sewing with it! :3

 

There's only 1 thrift-y store near me, about 20 minutes away, and it's not one my Mom will let me drive to yet ((I'm 17, just got my liscense)). However, next time I'm in the area I'll see what they have! :3 And I'd probably be more likely to find in there than at the mall too ^^

Sweet! She's a cute doll. I'm not too fond of her face-up on the site and am gonna give her one myself. I'm getting her the pink wig and blue eyes that JS has. And then I'll give her pink lips and a pink blush.

I've sewn a couple things for her already. And once I get her I'll post a progression thread of them and more stuff on her! :3

 

You're doing great! I love the last two pieces... I may have to try and make my boys a hat like that, it's adorable!

 

I can't wait to get her XD She's even prettier when given a good face-up :3 After her I'll probably save up for TinTan, Xi, or Meigi ^^ I'm not sure if I want my next doll to be a boy or a girl doll, though I suppose I should wait until I get my first one first ^^;

When she comes I'll probably post pics of my clothes on both her and Aya ((DZ TinTan, she's the one my little sister is ordering)).

 

I love that bunny hat and the dress/shirt. Nice idea with the "cheat" for the stiching on the arm.

 

your very first one was a nice fit ... id guess the 4th was based on the 2nd.. and i really like it.. it looks really cute

im so envious of that bunny hat... i want to make one for my ittle dalring too to wear at bed time... arghhhhh but ica nt sewwww... coz of my wrist right now...

nice arm warmers.. i.. it was really great that the stripe was at thre right place...

maybe i should go to walmarttoo to look for such... i really have no idea in reality where t oget such types of fabric.......

well.. they were really nice firstfruits

 

you know what... there has to be a walmart here but... i cant seem to remember where... hmmmmmmm... uuhuhuhuhumphhh... guess ill try kmart for now... .. ill ask around where it is later...

good luck on your site as well...

 

I love her new eyes! And I need ride to wal*mart. I must find on sale clothing!

That in being said I shall move on to important things. Like those being some of the cutest armwarmers I've ever seen. The clip on her hat really adds to the effect of the whole outfit :3 As for the hat, even if it doesn't look cat, it's still really cute! ^^

 

EEEEE! So long as I can cash my checks I'll be sending in the MO for her tomorrow! ^__________^ *dances and jumps around excitedly and energetically ((thanks to a bottle of mountain dew))*

 

Such energy. ^^'
Nana, you make me feel old, and I'm the same age as you.

 

Does the shirt actually feature Hilary Duff?

EDIT: ah curses, it's already been guess ;;

 

lovin' it (: your stuff is so fashionable and cute and it makes me desire to have a girl doll all that more - or make similar things for my boy who is a cross dresser XD

 

I love the two-tone wig - it's very distinctive.

 

OMJ. That wig is so ADORABLE. Especially with the hat, you did a great job : D

I love the two toned colors, and you picked two that went very very together, it does look a tad bit loose in the shot you took facing upward, but with the hat on you aren't able to tell at all.

 

I think all Mohair wigs do that to some extent, I know the one I borrowed for my doll would shift around something terrible on his head. It's still a STUNNING look for a first timer's wig. : D

You did an excellent job, but how far did you have to scale down that pattern by?

 

the new wig looks really nice i really like it

 

XD I know how you feel, trial and error seems to be my main pattern creation process, and then I constantly end up loosing the final product patterns anyway.

Again I congratulate you on a job well done, and wish you much luck in future sewing endevours. : D

 

^^; Oops. I don't want to make anyone feel old XD *is afraid of getting old herself*

 

That's so cute! ^^

This place you got the fur swatches from, do they have an online site? Or do you know where I could find fur if I've never heard of that place before?

 

Oh sweet! I must go beg Mommy to let me! I love you! That is so cool! Nya! I wanna make a fur wig and Mommy will like that 'cause it'll keep me busy and because it'll be cheap hair for my doll! *squee* Nya nya nyaaaaa!

 

Nyaaaaaa! SHE SAID I COULD!!!! XD *is doing that now* And I'm going to make my older sister off in college do it too and make her then send me swatches. I'll bribe her! :3

 

I really love your works! Her outfits are well done! I'm planning to make some outfits some my new doll. I'm just waiting for her... XD

 

firstfruits, may I ask how you found the wig pattern on that site? I can't seem to get to the actual pattern. It doesn't really help that my monitor is showing everything in random characters...
Thanks!

 

Your wig is VERY beautiful and I hope you take pride in all your work because is it all fabulous~ This is another thing I wanted to try when I get my doll. Question: If you ever make another wig can you show your step by step processes?

 

Nehehehehe :3 At the moment I'm trying to find how to log out so I can do everything for my onee-chan. Then, the swatches will ship to her and she'll ship them to me. In return I'm sending her 2 boxes of fruit Gushers and some money and whatever other random box fillers I find as a bribe ^____^

 

Oh that two toned fur wig is supergreat! It looks so cute and funny and cheerfull!

 

Hi, freshfruits,

Good job on the sewing, shirts, hats, stockings, and a wig!

I think you show from the very beginning a good design sense, and finish the edges well. I think you're figuring out patterning, making patterns, which can be a lot of fun.

Using the existing hem in the baseball shirt sleeves is efficiency, not laziness! Depending on the shirt, you may get a couple of body pieces and the sleeves out of sleeves, or around the bottom of a t-shirt, with all the hem edges finished.

I look forward to seeing your doll and her wardrobe in the future, too.

Ann in CT

 

I like it in the 2 tone colors! It looks to fit really well too, and goes perfect with your girls outfit Bravo!