Wearables Sewing Project: Bohemian [ Round 108 ]

And once again I really should take part (especially since I now have a boho girl, and her body just arrived...) but all my sewing time is likely to be taken up with the online 18th Century stays-making class I'm enrolled in.

More living vicariously through the rest of you it will have to be for me (again) this round.

Teddy

 

I think most of my dolls and myself have bohemian tastes... so I will at least begin many items. I am working on a pair of black jeans at the moment that I want to distress a bit, that fits, right?

and the patchwork scarf I tried and failed at several times last month would also be a successful bohemian piece, so yay for that...

I would like to make a fringed bag, some colorful shoes, and a zillion other happy pieces... mare

 

It turns out I had an entirely wrong idea of what bohemian style looks like. A google pics search later, I learned a new thing and also have a plan for an outfit that should fit this month's theme.
So hi, I'm in! With Anwen (FairyLand MiniFee Chloe) who is figuring out a style for herself and still needs all the clothes she can get.
The outfit will include a sleeveless underdress with a tiered skirt, made of reddish-brown silky lining fabric and an overdress with puffy sleeves made out of a stretchy lacy material in gradients of blue and brown. Haven't decided on the length yet: mid-calf or full-length. Probably also some accessories.
I've started on the underdress today: made a pattern for the bodice using the paper towel mock-up method, cut it out and began sewing. Hand-sewing for now because the fabric is slippery and it's easier to do short bendy seams by hand, but I hope to use the sewing machine for the tiered skirt - it will be just setting a lot of ruffles and then sewing in a straight line.
Will try to post pictures soon.

 

Ooo, I think I would like to join this round. I have some fabrics that may work well already too.

 

a first few daydreams about this month's sewing. no particular dolls in mind,

March sewing daydreams by mare joy smith, on Flickr

 

Not sure who I am going to go with but A-Line minifee girl for sure
Idea board taking into account what I currently have at home. Unfortunately my car was hit and run a few weeks ago and in the shop getting fixed up so I don't think I can count on getting a trip to the fabric store anytime soon.

 

Did some digging around in my fabric and yarn stash this evening...
Picked out the butterfly fabric. I have tried to make a kimono once with it but it only came out okay. I am hoping to make a much better version. For contrast, I have this dark blue yarn. I think I will get started this week end on this. I am super excited to see what I can do.

 

I crocheted the top. I like the way it came out. I didn't use a pattern at all. I winged it. Which is why I got a jump on starting it already.
I will attempt my Kimono next. I made one in the past and it's okay. I am hoping this one comes out much better.

 

I'll be making my outfit for my A-line Minifee Rens again this month. I'm leaning towards making a crochet top, either by crocheting it myself or by reconstructing a doily, along with a maxi skirt and possibly some jewelry. I don't have any particular patterns that I plan on using, I'll probably just freeform crochet the top on my doll and sew together gathered rectangles for the skirt. I don't have any patterns for what I would like to make, but honestly I feel like using no pattern fits into the spirit of Bohemian fashion.

 

For this round I will do a bit of a colab with @JennyM . We will work separately, but for the same doll, a Soulkid Finnley named Fiona that belongs to her.

My plan is to make a light summerderess in white cotton with lots of gathers and a bit of embroidery. Since we only meet ocationally I will use another soukid body (also owned by JennyM, she lent it to me for this round) as a mannequin. They don't have the same bust size, but I think I can make it work.

@nekoKaori Looking good. You are off to a good start.

 

Sounds fun!

Nice work.

The downside (for me) of haivng a doll with a bohemian type character is that my view of it means that crochetted clothing is practically obligatory... and I've never taken to crochet.

Teddy

 

Progress:
Bohemian progress 1 by helgie, on Flickr
Bodice and skirt of the under-dress are ready, next is sewing them together, adding shoulder straps and the last snap to the closure. I hope the skirt takes a better shape after ironing. There is a seam going down the front of the skirt that needs covering with some kind of decoration.
Over Anwen's shoulder is a scrap of the fabric for the over-dress, and I hope to use the velvet ribbon at wrists and waist.

 

Very nice, and it looks like it can be worn as a dress in its own right too.

Teddy

 

My plan was to not participate in this round, but who can resist the bohemian style. My Fiona (Soulkid Finley) has so far only one single outfit, created in the last Mori Style round. After this round she may have three outfits, thanks Lillith!

I have found a scarf in my drawer with the right look and feel. This will be transformed to some kind of shirt/dress/coat. Pictures will follow.

 

The fabric

 

Looks ideal for bohemian, and lovely and lightweight.

Teddy

 

I love this top! Crochet is a good skill to have for this round

Such dreamy fabric - I can see it making a perfect elegant summer dress

 

Thank you Teddy.
I learned by watching youtube videos. I had better luck with starting with a hat as you work in a round and don't have to worry about edges. I suggest giving that a try if you ever decide you want to pick up crochet.

@helgie That is looking good so far

@Lillith Thank you and I love that you have a friend to work with. I wish I had someone close by I could to doll craft time with.

@JennyM I love that fabric choice. It's so pretty and nice for spring.

 

Sadly, while I've been "taught" crochet many times (in person and innumerable you-tube videos), it simply doesn't stick with me beyond the end of the lesson. I've been able to knit since I was around five years old, but crochet remains a mystery to me.

Teddy

 

@helgie Nice!

Oh, that looks lovely!

Actually, she is my mom. She kind of slipped in to this hobby through osmosis. It's my fault.
But you are right, it's great to have friends in the hobby. Or just craft friends in general.

It's funny, I'm the complete opposit. I am fairly good at crochet, but with knitting I can only do the very basics.

 

Hello. Is it okay for me to join in?
It will be my first time participating.
But I have just recieved my first SD girl (Merrydollround Ophelia) and she hasn't got a stitch to wear so this is a perfect opportunity to give myself some extra motivation.

 

Jump right in. These things are open for everyone.


Fun to see an Ophelia here, she is such an interesting sculpt.

 

Hello and welcome!

Of course you can join in.
Congrats on receiving your Ophelia

Teddy

 

Congrats on your new girl. This is a great chance to start accumulating clothing.

@Lillith Aww that's great.

@Teddy I am like Lilith. I could knit something if I had to but I don't know too much beyond the basics. I think my love of crochet is partly because it faster than kniting.

 

I just put some finishing touches on these Sandals. Currently they are drying. I painted the bottoms to be dark like the hemp I used.
This is the first time I have made sandals and I am pretty happy with the result.

 

They look great!

Teddy

 

@nekoKaori Wow, that looks so good.

 

They look lovely.
I have made a pattern idea for my shirt/dress/coat. It will have a plain front, wide sleeves and as much of the decorative border
as possible. I don't want the look to be too fluffy, the dress shall drape well I hope, but not dominate the outfit totally. It shall be worn with jeans, shorts or a minidress, perhaps crocheted. But for now I concentrate on the dress. The remaining part of the scarf may end up as something very fluffy later.

 

Sounds like a plan.

Teddy

 

@Teddy @Lillith @JennyM Thank you so much

I can't wait to see your dress come to life. That scarf was a fantastic find for fabric for this round.

 

I too have a new arrival who's practically naked. Got these lovely pants going, just need a waistband but I'm trying to decide if I want to go drawstring or not, and I've got this pillowcase that's a bit threadbare, but perfect for a fun flowy poet's blouse, or maybe a trench vest or something? At least he'll have something to wear when his eyes and wig get here!

DoA Sewing Round 108 by Jules B, on Flickr

ETA: at his size, it might work to make a granny square top of some kind.... I've got a metal plate and wrist surgery apiece that make working at dolly scale challenging so I prefer to not go super small, but I might be able to do this comfortably!

 

Certainly worth a try, if it won't exacerabate the physical issues.

Teddy

 

Pieces cut!

 

Progress!

Teddy

 

Thank you for the warm welcome everyone.
Does anyone use Pinterest for theme ideas?
I've made a Bohemian inspiration board on there and feeling excited and full of ideas now.

 

Maybe you could post it here so we can see it? I'm sure some people use pinterest, but not all of us.

 

@Lillith I will see if I can work out how to do it.

 

https://pin.it/7JDFK5e
Link to my Bohemian themed Pinterest board.
I think even if you don't have an account you can view it, but I might be wrong.
I would actually love to make most of these outfits for myself too.

 

@kimlouiseb It's possible that you can see it without being logged in, but not without accepting pinterestes vast selection of cookies, something not everybody is comfortable doing. Part of the screen is also covered by a log in thingie that won't go away. So all in all, not a nice experience.

 

Ah, okay, that's a shame.

 

Yup, it sucks. But as long as people give them the trafic it's hardly going to change, so...

But, back on topic:
I am working on tiny cartrige pleats for the cuffs. If my plan works out there will be a bit of smock embroidery on there as well.

 

Oooooh! nice.

Teddy

 

Sadly it's not straight forward for those of us with pinterest accounts either - if I click on your link, I get a brief glimps of your page before it asks me to log in (while logging me in automatically) and the act of logging in takes me to my own Pinterest pages with no way back to yours short of kn owing the name to search for and knowing wht your little icon picture looks like in order to pick your account out from the others with the same name.

What a shame they made it so awkward.

Teddy

 

I'll be back with pictures once I have more actual work to show, but the pants are finished (I did decide to go drawstring, but it's almost entirely decorative, I'm pleased with the results). I'm making a little market bag from some scraps and a strip of webbing, and I'll need to make a quick pattern for the long vest that the pillowcase is going to become. I also picked up some supplies to make him some shoes, we'll see how adventurous I get! I'm about to start a new job next week so I might have to keep my projects small in the immediate future.

 

Hi everyone. I'll take part, despite a rather late start. I recycled this rayon fabric from a vintage 60's blouse, and plan to attempt making a tiered dress or skirt. The fabric is very well worn, so I'm hoping there will be enough that is usable. My fashion victim is my Mystic Kid girl, Méla. If I've enough time. I may add some accessories as well.

Recycled vintage fabric by Linda Lou Brown, on Flickr

Boho collage by Linda Lou Brown, on Flickr

 

@Aeilia - It looks nice
My progress. How hard can it be to cut a bit of my scarf, make a gathered back part and add some seams. Well it can be very hard, I should have known better. This fabric is a nightmare for me, but I had a vision of something great and ignored the rest.

I have not given up. Have reduced the width with 20 cm to get the right silhouette. I also removed the gathered part and added 2folds (pleets) for the same reason. Now some seams and hems remains. Wish me luck!

 

Good Luck!

It sounds like the fabric is fighting back! I hate it when that happens.

Fingers crossed for that then!!

Yay!

Good luck with the job!

Teddy

 

Thanks for your Good Luck wishes @Teddy. The sewing by hand worked fine and the ironing as well so here is the result. (I must fix her head, it turns.)

 

Yay!

That came out very nice.

Teddy

 

Oh, pretty!

I have done some embroidery around the collar and cuffs. I also have to do much of the sewing by hand, this fabric is very thin.
I also made a bit of a sewn lace reinforcements at the front opening and even if this is perhaps not my neatest lace ever, I think it will look ok once the whole thing is done.

 

Pretty!

The reinforcing at the front looks fine. I often do a thread bar across the bottom of slit openings in full-size garments to prevent stress on the opening from tearing the slit longer.

Teddy

 

Thank you!
This is pretty much just a more elaborate version of the thread bar, but why keep it simple?
In hindsight, perhaps a simpler reinforcement would have been better, the thread was a bit thick for this to work well. But it is what it is.

 

@Lillith Fiona is a very lucky doll this round! The cuffs looks adorble and the neckline as well!

 

@JennyM Glad you like it!

 

First off it so exciting to see all the progress everyone has made so far.

@JennyM Your end result is lovely. It's so perfect for the boho theme.

@Lillith Nice embroidery work. All your little details will really take the outfit to the next level.

@Aeilia I like that fabric. Can't wait to see the skirt or dress you make with it

I ordered some new needles off amazon that should be in tomorrow so hopefully I will get some actual sewing worth showing in tomorrow.

I also made some bracelets. Once I find my fray check and can snip the long strands off they will be done....
I just used it on my sandals last weekend but have no idea where I put it away.