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The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was
retired in August 2007. It is being provided by
“Sew What’s Up,”
which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: MaryW
Date: 05-20-2005, 09:09 AM (1 of 26)
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I have been thinking lately about dressing my vintage doll. She is about 75 yrs. old and bald! I want her to have some fancy clothes as well as long nighties. Scraps will come in handy for her. Rescuing dolls from yard sales and dressing them is quite the hobby for some. Usually the dolls are then donated to the needy at Christmas. I think this would be something we at the site can look into as well. Anyone interested? Cleaning up the dolls and dressing them for some little girl might do us all good. To think of the smiles on their faces is heartwarming. MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: joannequilts
Date: 05-20-2005, 09:39 AM (2 of 26)
Yup, you can count me in on that one. 
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User: joannequilts
Member since: 12-22-2000 Total posts: 3070 
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From: SummersEchos
Date: 05-20-2005, 09:40 AM (3 of 26)
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I could do that, it would be fun. Summer Summer
FREE FALLIN |
User: SummersEchos
Member since: 09-29-2004 Total posts: 884 |
From: weezie
Date: 05-20-2005, 01:16 PM (4 of 26)
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Another wonderful idea Mary!! I belong to an Orginization that does Christmas for Needy Families and have seen the ear wide smiles and heard the pleased giggles of children that might well not have had Christmas without help from "Elves"Some of us do a doll a month or more according to our schedules in life and many who don't sew make wooden toys or repair other types of toys.We can make a big difference in some child's life and it's fun to dress dolls and stuffed animals too.Besides it often gives a needed boost to families who no fault of their own can not make Christmas happen without taking money away from household bills or have Disabled parents.I'll do a minimum of 24 dolls for this and enjoy each of them just to know a child will be tickled to have one. Weezie weezie
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User: weezie
Member since: 01-01-2002 Total posts: 34 |
From: MaryW
Date: 05-20-2005, 04:38 PM (5 of 26)
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Weezie, 24 dolls is a lot! Are you sure you can do all that.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: Pudge99
Date: 05-21-2005, 11:46 AM (6 of 26)
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My highschool used to do something like this at Christmas time. The boys in wood shop built cradles and the the girls in sewing made the clothes and bedding. Anyone else that wanted to be involved worked on putting them together and delivering them. It was a wonderful thing that I believe has gone the way of comercialization. Last I knew they where taking donations of new in package toys. Probably some kid got a splinter from the cradle and the parents tried to sue the school. I might be interested in joining in this one. Gina
Pictures of my successes and failures Pfaff 2040 Janome Mylock 134D Singer Futura CE-100 w/ Autopunch Husqvarna Viking 3D Sketch |
User: Pudge99
Member since: 10-30-2001 Total posts: 1375 |
From: KayTee
Date: 05-21-2005, 01:02 PM (7 of 26)
| Count me in for this one! I've done this with teddy bears as well (12 one year). A friend and I did a whole doll wardrobe two years ago. I was sewing for my sister's granddaughter at the time, making matching doll outfits. I just doubled the doll outfit so as to have the extra one for the project. |
User: KayTee
Member since: 12-06-2002 Total posts: 98 |
From: MaryW
Date: 05-21-2005, 04:39 PM (8 of 26)
Hey KayTee, nice to see you again. 
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: KayTee
Date: 05-21-2005, 04:58 PM (9 of 26)
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Hi! I guess I've been kind of quiet on here but I read the boards all the time. I recently signed up for an acrylic painting class so all my time is being spent on trying to do what the talented people do! Sewing has been sitting on the back burner - not quite to the point of putting my machine away  but certainly over to the side. Right now I'm sewing some fundraiser projects for a local feline rescue group....Joanne's beginners quilting BOM (no, haven't done May's block yet  ) and beading. Several beading projects on the go, practicing for next year when I try beading my DD's wedding dress.I don't know what I did for information/entertainment before I had these boards to check several times a day! Sure appreciate everything you do to keep them running. |
User: KayTee
Member since: 12-06-2002 Total posts: 98 |
From: MaryW
Date: 05-27-2005, 06:44 AM (10 of 26)
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Ok ladies, it's nice to see there is interest. Shall we decide on one charity or donate to our own local charities? The choice is yours. I don't know of any around my town but I am sure there must be some.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: weezie
Date: 05-27-2005, 09:22 AM (11 of 26)
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Weezie, 24 dolls is a lot! Are you sure you can do all that. Our group has done this for 14 years Mary and I find that by a group of three or four of us getting together as a production line we have close to a hundred dolls each year,sometimes a few more.One girl loves the washing up and hair styling,another enjoys cutting outfits,and I love the sewing most and when she can the fourth loves doing facy hats and trim work.The Area we live in has been hard hit by the closing of several factories and mills in the last few years so somebody needs to help these folks who thru no fault of their own have lost jobs.If one looks in the news papers it will tell you that the numbers collecting unemployment is down from past years.Often what this means is those not on these lists have run out of benefit weeks they can collect.After the first year I was one of Santa's elves helping to deliever toys and food to these famlies and saw the wonderful grins of the children and heard the teary eyed Thank yous of the parents there was no way I could stop doing this now.Several times I have seen those who recieved in former years helping others in another year.It's truly a wonderful thing. weezie
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User: weezie
Member since: 01-01-2002 Total posts: 34 |
From: MaryW
Date: 05-27-2005, 07:47 PM (12 of 26)
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Weezie, you are an angel.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: MaryAnne
Date: 06-08-2005, 04:43 PM (13 of 26)
 I think this would be a good thing to do. I didn't realize that any one took anything but brand new in the box things. I used to love making things for my daughter and her "family". What kinds of dolls do you usually do, barbies, babies, etc?
MaryAnne
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User: MaryAnne
Member since: 05-15-2004 Total posts: 14 
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From: MaryW
Date: 06-08-2005, 06:58 PM (14 of 26)
Any type of doll is fine. The kids aren't that fussy. 
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: MaryAnne
Date: 06-09-2005, 12:38 AM (15 of 26)
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Ok but what organizations take the completed dolls? Or will you be collecting them? I am new to this 
MaryAnne
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User: MaryAnne
Member since: 05-15-2004 Total posts: 14
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From: Lorraine
Date: 06-09-2005, 11:35 AM (16 of 26)
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I have gone to Good Will and Salvation Army and purchased some "in good condition" dolls who just needed a good bath and hair dressing...then made some clothes to fit and given them to children's home.
Lorraine
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User: Lorraine
Member since: 05-24-2002 Total posts: 2 |
From: Lorraine
Date: 06-09-2005, 11:37 AM (17 of 26)
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Does anyone have a site for doll clothes? Patterns, etc.?
Lorraine
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User: Lorraine
Member since: 05-24-2002 Total posts: 2 |
From: MaryW
Date: 06-09-2005, 01:16 PM (18 of 26)
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MaryAnne, I haven't decided which organizations will receive the dolls. You can certainly send them to me and I will be sure they find a good home.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: MaryW
Date: 06-10-2005, 12:29 PM (19 of 26)
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One of the best sites is www.savethedolls.org
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: weezie
Date: 06-10-2005, 03:07 PM (20 of 26)
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I think this would be a good thing to do. I didn't realize that any one took anything but brand new in the box things. I used to love making things for my daughter and her "family". What kinds of dolls do you usually do, barbies, babies, etc? We take any and all dolls to work up Maryanne.If you have a lady doll that has no legs,she can become a bed doll for an older girl,or the top of a treasure chest-jewelry box.Rag dolls go to toddlers who love soft light weight friends.Barbie is fun to dress in many ways according to the age of which child will get her.Every dolly wants their own child to love her.And every child deserves to have a special friend that Santa and his Elves bring to their home.I up until a work accident was always a small woman so I was Candy Cane Elf. weezie
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User: weezie
Member since: 01-01-2002 Total posts: 34 |
From: momto7
Date: 06-13-2005, 01:46 AM (21 of 26)
| This sounds really neat I would like to do this too. Where would we send the dolls this would be neat to do locally too. |
User: momto7
Member since: 09-02-2004 Total posts: 16 |
From: MaryW
Date: 06-15-2005, 02:18 PM (22 of 26)
You can keep them and donate locally or send to me and I will find a thankful recipient. 
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: mamahoogie
Date: 06-16-2005, 10:05 AM (23 of 26)
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I've been thinking of doing this as well. I will give you all a couple of hints that worked great for me when I was making my grdaughter Barbie doll clothes. 1) Iron your pattern sheet with a cool dry iron before you cut anything out. Iron on lightweight and the cheapest iron-on fusible web you can find on the back of the pattern sheet. Cut out your (oh so small) pattern pieces. With the fusible web on the back your pieces are much stronger and will not rip. I do this for all small pieces even on garment patterns for myself or grkids. 2) Forget about putting facings in Barbie doll dresses and tops. Cut out two fronts and backs and sew them together and then turn right side out. Voila! Faced and stronger and neater.Hope these helps. Violet 
I've decided to live forever - so far, so good.
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User: mamahoogie
Member since: 12-25-2002 Total posts: 461 |
From: MaryW
Date: 06-16-2005, 10:17 AM (24 of 26)
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Good tip, thanks.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: MariLynnTX
Date: 06-24-2005, 06:05 PM (25 of 26)
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I have done some of this in the past and it is fun. I also made 2 complete wardrobes once, from bikinis to ultrasuede coats with matching hats and bags, one with fur trim, one with velvet trim. These were for my twin granddaughters Barbie dolls. After I get moved--I am right in the middle of it and have to move by August 10--I maybe will have some time. I'm trying to get the stuff I am going to move separated from what I am giving away or putting in the humongous garage sale Shauna and I are having in a couple of weeks. After I move, I think I will go to bed for about 3 days! I have also had computer problems, and I smoked up my postage-stamp-sized kitchen. No real damage, just smoky, and only in the kitchen. Happily, I do have renter's insurance! MariLynntx Oh boy! Shauna just brought over her boy (6) and Lisa's two (6 and 7) for me to watch while she runs an errand! Life is a song...we give it harmony or dissonance.
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User: MariLynnTX
Member since: 08-13-2001 Total posts: 256 |
From: MaryW
Date: 07-05-2005, 08:47 AM (26 of 26)
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This is really cute. A strip quilted vest for dolls. http://www.sewingweb.com/Projects/DollVestBrown/ MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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