Wearables Sewing Project: Pick a Decade [ Round 124 ]

I've got some worn out pajamas that need to be retired, but there's plenty of decent fabric left in the legs. It's candy print, M&Ms with really saturated colors! I think I'm gonna make a 2000s/2010s era skater dress for Vivienne, my CP Delf NaNuRi girl (seen here with her brother, my first ever BJD who's been with me since 2006)
Nanu siblings! ❤️ by Jules B, on Flickr

My original plan was to use this tutorial, but that was when I was still intending to make something for a 1/4th scale doll. I'm not confident I can get good circles without the leg seams really messing up the drape, so this time I'm gonna use the tutorial as inspiration for drafting my own pattern! I've been on a big fabric recycling kick lately, and seeing AlisonVonderland's Upcycled Wardrobe thread has really fueled my inspiration!

 

@Mamo Ooh you've got old CP Delf ! I really love those molds ! I have some at home too. ^^

I don't know if I will join this month, I don't have an idea yet. But for sure I will enjoy seeing all the projects. =)

 

After a couple months of pinksplosion (I did finish the tulle monster for last month! But ye gods.) I'm gonna bop over to the opposite side of the color spectrum and dig into good old 00s emo. The victim this month is Nikki, since with her fullset and all, she feels just like those 00s-era DeviantArt OCs. I mean, come on:



I've got a few items I want to make, and we'll see what I get to. I always, always need more pants, so some of those super-short jeans, or full-length in either ridiculously skinny or full, would be welcome. I just went out and picked up a couple B&W striped knit pieces at the thrift store, along with a red tank top, so maybe some shirts or a zip-up striped hoodie! The big plan right now is to use some like, black spandex knit I have to make a skater dress (basically as a tank top and circle skirt is the plan thus far) and decorate the hem with some skull beads I have from one of those old Hot Topic-y bracelets alongside some studs I swear I have somewhere. I just need to find them...

@Mamo Ayy same era/concept! I'm so excited to see what you make!

 

@JaxxCapta yessssss, a whole Hot Topic squad in the making

 

Here's my drafted pattern and my fabric!
Round 124 Pick a Decade, '00s-'10s skater dress! by Jules B, on Flickr

I think I'm gonna be making some adjustments after I have the shoulders sewn up, since this is what it looks like at the moment:

Spoiler: pics

Round 124, 2000s skater dress! by Jules B, on Flickr
Round 124, 2000s skater dress! by Jules B, on Flickr

I'm looking forward to getting this wearable! I need to find some leggings for her to wear with it, take it to the full 00s-10s vibe lmao.

 

{sigh!} Once again, I'll do my best to get aorund to joining in, and will cheer everyone else on from the sidelines.

Teddy

 

I'll be cheering everyone on from the sidelines too. I have too many things going on and non of them can really be fitted into the theme of this month.
But I will watch the thread and if I do come up with somthing I may join later. If nothing else I will enjoy the show and admire all the fun things you guys come up with. I love these monthly projects.

 

Ah my favorite challenge theme returns I spend pretty much all my crafting times with nostalgia goggles on already, so when this comes around I like to go back further than usual.
I'm totally not sure who I want to make for yet... But I have ideas.

I'm really excited to see that @JaxxCapta and @Mamo will be making cool 00s wear and I'm very flattered that my wacky project journal was inspiring Mamo, thank you! I didn't realize how deep I would fall into the 00s nostalgia hole when it suddenly became popular but it's been a fun ride. I am following so many accounts posting fashion nostalgia on instagram and I feel like it's the only thing I'm interested in right now

I think I want to go 1960s this round. I actually do have some vintage 60s fabric I've been thinking about how to use. And I have some new fabric that is a good psychedelic look as well. Trying to decide if I will make for my DD + sq lab SG (fauve) or something for Chantal (Bobobie Pandora). I've decided to go full retro on a revamp of Chantal, but I'm already two outfits in, and Fauve hasn't gotten anything new recently.

 

That is going to be so wonderful @PoeticSoul I really love that look as well. I've also been thinking of styling someone similarly at some point. The fact that you have cool heirloom scraps and such to use for it is amazing. I can't wait to see!

Those bonnets in the 1970s were sometimes a very funky piece. I love them. And I remember having an old one to play in as a kid the other day I saw one at a resale shop that was made out of a psychedelic neon fabric and wow that sure was a look

 

Oooh, @AlisonVonderland that's gonna be exciting! I love seeing vintage fabric used in dolly projects, it's so cool

Oh man @PoeticSoul I had bedsheets with those Holly Hobby pinafore girls on them as a little kid, you've transported me to a time I can't wait to see how it turns out, it's gonna be so cute!

 

Sounds like a charming project.

I still have my Holly Hobbie rag doll from the 70's wearing the very outfit in your pictures. She's not as she was as I unglued the bonnet fom her head and gave her a full head of hair, and I altered the one-piece dress to be a separate dress and pinafore, but I used all original fabrics (much hunting for second-hand Holly Hobbie dresses to combine for enough fabric!) so she still looks the part.

Looking forward to seeing how your project turns out.

Teddy

 

Well I'm pleased to report it looks much more like a piece of clothing than a sad rag now! The back and the collar are finished, I'm gonna add fasteners (and it won't take me a year this time, I swear!!!) and then continue on.
Unfortunately, she took a tumble and sort of collapsed onto herself on my desk and got a weird dark mark on her faceup, so I'll have to see about buffing it out with a sponge. Sorry Viv!!

Round 124 skater dress progress by Jules B, on Flickr

 

{laugh!} I don't think anything with that bright cheerful print could be described as a sad rag.

Good luck buffing out the dark mark

Teddy

 

@PoeticSoul That is going to be absolutely ADORABLE!

@Mamo That is such a fun fabric.

 

@Teddy thank you! She looked so rumpled in the first try-on I worried it wouldn't look good, but it's already shaping up nicely!

@Lillith isn't it? I'm going to have so much fun with it. I think I'll be hunting down some lime green ribbon from my stash to if I can to make a belt and really bring out the greens

@PoeticSoul I know what you mean, it's so cheerful! I'm so excited to put outfits together with it

 

That sounds like a great idea. With a fabric like that you could easily pull on any one of the colours.

 

My sleeves are cut, and now pinned! I decided to just use the preexisting hem for the sleeves for that chunky t-shirt dress look tht was popular back in the day. The threads are a different color, but who cares, lol! It's fashun

Round 124 skater dress sleeves by Jules B, on Flickr

I gotta say, I really wore these pjs beyond their lifespan because they were so comfortable, and the fabric got so soft after so many years... but it's so soft it can be kinda slippery to work with! An unexpected challenge for myself, lol.I'm really pleased with how it's coming along!

 

@Mamo That fabric is so fun!! And oh no Viv hitting her head there. Dolls just want to cause chaos sometimes, I swear. Man that chunky t-shirt dress or the oversize sweaters, especially with leggings... truly a classic.

@AlisonVonderland 60s sounds so fun! I'm interested to see the vintage fabric and what comes of it.

@PoeticSoul That style and those fabrics/notions look like they'll be such a cute complement to the Kaniboom bunny. There's such a charm to the prints and the patchwork of that time.

I went a little ham today and decided hey, since I didn't sew over the weekend, I'll spend today sewing! I traced a shaped tube top I'd knit for the basis of the tank top, made a test tank top out of the red one I'd thrifted earlier, and after some adjustments it was full speed ahead. I could not for the life of me find those studs, but I did find some jewelry chains I think I picked up at a garage sale! And of course I took apart the skull bracelet I wore until the elastic couldn't handle it and sewed the skulls around the hem.

Getting a circle skirt to be the right size still vexes me, and the placement of the skulls may be... creative, shall we put it... but it is done and it may lean more 2010s than 2000s but for going off my memory of the time for the most part, I'll take it.

I took a couple pics of the full dress, one showing the skulls better, and one more period-appropriate picture.

Spoiler: Good old, classic 00s/10s photo

 

Aw these outfits are looking great so far! I love the cool skulls detail @JaxxCapta and of course, the downward angle selfie
@Mamo your candy dress is coming together so nicely. I hope it's as fun to work on as it is to look at! I love a very wild and colorful print

I'll try to catch up today by putting together images of my fashion victim + the fabric + a concept image

 

@JaxxCapta she's looking amazing! The extra chains remind me of Tripp clothes from back in the day!

@AlisonVonderland thank you! I'm excited to see your concept, and your fabric! Did you end up deciding between your two victims yet?

 

Well @Mamo I think I should sew for Fauve (on the SQ lab body) if I want to use the vintage fabric I am thinking of, because the colors suit her best. So I'm leaning that direction. But finding it hard to commit because #1: executive dysfunction but #2: i'm on a vintage bender anyway so I have a lot of different ideas for different dolls anyway. The 60s looks are some of my favorite and I never really commit to it for anyone so it feels very high investment

 

Oh, the skull beads are a nice touch!

Teddy

 

Oh, wow! Everyone's made such amazing progress already!

I've decided to make this pattern:

MSD Large Bust Dress Step by Step Illustrated Sewing Pattern - Etsy

When I first saw it, it reminded me a lot of the cover of the American Girl book Meet Samantha, which I think is set in 1904. Her dress is plaid, has a drop waist, and pleats. The collar is really different though, and I don't care for how big this one is. I might change it. We'll see.

I had a hard time choosing a good fabric for this. It just seemed like there wasn't much to pick from, and I didn't have the appropriate materials in my stash. Hopefully this will look okay.

Materials for Cinnamon Tart Dress by Prairie Night, on Flickr

Good luck, everyone! Can't wait to see your updates!

 

They look like they'll work just fine. The blue check is very pretty.

Teddy

 

@Gaiagrrrl That does look a lot like the Meet Samantha stuff! Those fabrics are so cute.

 

Planning on going for late 90s/early2000s for Maxima here for this round
Trying primarily to decide if I go for distressed jeans or camo cargos. Leaning toward the camo since she's already got a couple pairs of jeans.

Spoiler: Inspo pics

 

@Gaiagrrrl it's gonna look great! the print is gonna really stand out with the nice clean lines of the pattern you chose!

@foulmonster a timeless classic!

 

For my part, I've got my dress finished. But between using my shortcuts of easy project, preexisting seams, and being unemployed and digitally job-hunting full time, I have a lot of time on my hands and this is a lightning fast turnaround especially for me. I normally have neither the time or the energy for getting something done so quickly, and I'm making the most of it but I hope nobody feels pressured!!

Round 124 skater dress, done! by Jules B, on Flickr
DDE had some Dollmore leggings in stock that were perfect for my idea for this outfit, and I would rather buy them premade than fret constantly about them being even (like the last time I made a pair lmao). She's definitely looking ready to get dropped off at the mall to check out Hot Topic with her friends! I decided to leave the bottom hem unfinished so it would be juuuust slightly longer and keep a nice flow.

Spoiler: More pics!

Round 124 skater dress, done! by Jules B, on Flickr
I'm very pleased with how it drapes! I think not hemming the bottom was a good call, hooray for jersey knit!

Round 124 skater dress, done! by Jules B, on Flickr
My plan for the boxy sides was to see if that would work for an asymmetric hem at the bottom... it did not. I should've just followed my own instructions from making the pattern to extend them out farther all the way down.

Round 124 skater dress, done! by Jules B, on Flickr
And a fun little discovery: if I don't do up the snap in the back, she can wear if off the shoulder for that classic 80s tunic look!

We're going through a lot of old clothes at my house, which means a lot of raggedy stuff that would normally get tossed can be a little fabric shopping spree! I've got my eye on a tie dye shirt and and an orange blouse that are in the "go" pile, thinking about making a few more easy shirts while I've got some steam. Originally the plan for this month was to take these M&M pj pants and recycle the dickens out of them into as many things as possible, but I'll see how I feel. I really feel like making a pumpkin orange tunic to wear with these leggings

 

@PoeticSoul

You're making a dog's golden years comfortable and that is far more precious and more important.

 

@PoeticSoul I hope she recovers well! You're a true friend to animals, and I know she'll have a great life with you! Maybe she'll end up needing some clothes too, sometime

 

@Teddy @JaxxCapta @Mamo Thanks! Now that the pieces are cut out, I think it's going to work out well.

@Mamo @JaxxCapta @foulmonster I love all this great Hot Topic stuff! It takes me right back to those days!

@JaxxCapta The chains and skull details are just perfect!

@Mamo It's so cool you're up-cycling your M&M pajamas. The print is so fun, and it's awesome to take one thing you love and turn it into something else that you can use and keep on loving.

@foulmonster I think the camo is a good idea!

@PoeticSoul I love your patchwork Holly Hobbie plan. I remember her from when I was a kid, too. We were obsessed with Little House on the Prairie and dressed up like that all the time. My mom made us bonnets and everything. Also, I'm so happy you've found a dog to rescue! It takes a special person to devote the time, patience, and love that these animals require, but it's so worth it to see them begin to thrive again under your care. Best of luck to you with that!

 

Oh, sorry for the double post, but I wanted to ask a question about Fray Check, and I forgot...

I've never used Fray Check before, and the instructions don't say, so do you put it on after you've cut out your pieces and before sewing the seams together? Or after you've sewn the seams together?

It seems like there would be benefits of doing it both ways, so I'm not sure which way would be best. Thoughts?

 

@Gaiagrrrl

In regard to the FrayCheck, I've also seen a third option for using it - to paint it along the edges of the pattern pieces (chalked on the fabric or however you choose to transfer them) before cutting them out, so to avoid fraying after the fabric is cut.

I'm sorry that this doesn't answer your original question! I don't use FrayCheck very often because it makes the edges of the fabric hard and also can yellow some fabrics. But I know some people like it for difficult fabric or for tiny clothes.

 

This works particularly well for very tiny clothes, but I do like it as a method for larger stuff too

Also, always test it on a scarp of each fabric as it will spread differently on different fabrics.

Teddy

 

@StellaMarigold @Teddy

Thanks for your replies! I never would have thought of that, and it makes sense for stopping fraying from as early as cutting out.

This might be a really dumb question and I'm embarrassed to ask this, but does it then end up gluing your pattern pieces to your fabric?

I've already cut this pattern out, so I won't be able to try that this time around.

 

Don't worry! There are no dumb questions!

I think this method would work best if you marked the pattern pieces on the fabric, then removed the actual paper patterns, and then FrayChecked the lines to be cut. I am not sure if FrayCheck would glue paper as well, but I imagine it probably would, so not removing the paper patterns would result in them being stuck together.

However, that could be a bonus if someone didn't mind making the paper patterns again. Potentially the patterns could be glued to the fabric and then trimmed along with it, leaving a FrayChecked inner edge. It might be a useful method if a particular fabric is difficult to mark (like a velvet or something).

I'll have to try that sometime!

 

Yes, thanks, that makes sense!

I've also read about using tissue paper to stabilize fabric when you're sewing tiny seams, or working with certain types of fabric (lace, etc). I wondered if using Fray Check as an adhesive of sorts in this way (just along the very edges), might actually be beneficial, if it wasn't glued so fast that you could still tear it away after you were done sewing? And, again, IF you were willing to make multiple copies of paper patterns?

 

Is it too late to join in on this?

 

@greg_kagawa It's never too late to join! Come right in!

 

Ahh, I'm a little late to the thread So much wonderful progress already!

I'll most likely be continuing my current project from last round. Hopefully I'll finish this time We'll just say the decade is the 2000s for men's semi-formal fashion!

 

I plan on making Cindy a sleeveless flared-leg jumpsuit. Decade is 1970s, sketch to follow.

 

So based on how the tester pattern turned out, I made both a tunic and an actual asymmetric hem dress (hopefully) pattern. And the space in between the two kind of reminded me of the shape of a bag, so I went ahead and made a lil bonus pattern in there too, haha! They're all cut out and ready to go, though I'm still kind of puzzling out my next move. I might sort of combine the two patterns and make a tank top, with raw shoulders to make it look like the sleeves were cut off of a finished doll t-shirt (much like real life). Then maybe make a bag with the M&Ms print? I might cheat and just cut the pockets out of the pants instead, as close to wasting nothing as possible!

Round 124 pattern set! by Jules B, on Flickr

 

Well... I went to a craft store and saw these fabrics on sale... So I will try to make a 60's outfit for Torrie. x) I found the scarf for a very cheap price and will try to think of adding it to the outfit. I dont have any idea yet. XD But I will find something before the end of the month, I'm sure. ^^

 

I've been away for a few days with no online access (casttles, teddybears, and steam-trains in scenic Cornwall - scrumptious) so had a lot to scroll throguh to cathc up on this thread - As ever, it's nice to see so much going on here.

Teddy

 

I feel better that there are others just joining. I'm desperately out of sorts but I said I wanted to participate so I am going to try
I did decide on Fauve because I love her and am sick to death of the clothes I have in her size so this might kick me into a refresh:

IMG 20230714 164422 — Postimages
(This dress I had just finished but I'm in such a bad mood and can't stop hating it so I need to get it away from me until I feel positively about it again lol)

I said I wanted to go 1960s and I meant this kind of pattern heavy, colorful, fresh, preppy mod aesthetic. I think all the dresses here give a good base idea:

Lumii 20230714 172206990 — Postimages

I absolutely love the yellow dress and want to make exactly that at some point but I need to make patterns and I would like to start with the more traditional shift since the yellow dress has the tie that gives or accentuates an empire silhouette which I use way way way too much already (because it's my favorite). But Fauve has weird proportions (her body is so small compared to her head that I think a more blocky shift might really be great on her.
I'm intrigued by the hidden front pleat situation and how it keeps the hips slim and sleek but wonder if it would help the skirts look good seated (as my dolls always are basically).
I also think I'm too unwell feeling to think I would mess up if I use the vintage fabric so ... I don't know. I have plenty of fabrics that will work. Going to dig around and start drafting something.

 

Sounds like a good plan.

I'm sorry that you're so out of sorts going into this, but perhaps working on it will help distract you.

Teddy

 

Thanks @Teddy -- that's just life for the time being. I'm glad there is all month to work on it

 

The dress is going well. =) I was not sure of the design but I'm happy it turns great for the moment. ^^

 

Looks like it's coming along well

Teddy

 

@Moonycat31 it looks lovely! I love the vintage print with the vintage style pattern, it really looks great!

 

@PoeticSoul it looks wonderful, and so comfy-cozy! Your eye for piecing and layering never ceases to amaze

 

@PoeticSoul Thanks you ! You dress is so lovely !
@Teddy @Mamo Thank you too. ^^

I want to add some sleeves but I need to figure how. Maybe with the pretty scarf I have. Will try it just to see how it could look like.

 

Yay! A fluffy dress and pinafore is ideal for a little bunny.

Teddy