Monday, March 11, 2024

New Pattern Prototype in Cotton Sateen

 

So I made a new pattern that is inspired by a vintage design and I wanted to try it out in a fabric that I have a lot of before I cut it out of silk as I originally intended.  The reason I have a lot of this fabric, which is a cotton sateen, is because it's a designer deadstock roll end so I had to buy the whole 2 1/3 yard piece to get it.  But the fabric worked so beautifully for this dress, I'm glad I had it.  The bodice is fully lined but I left the skirt unlined.  All the seam edges are finished with a serger and I did take the time to hand hem it.  For the silk version, I will make the skirt fuller and add to the length so I can put a petticoat under it.  The formal version doesn't have the bow and has a short jacket that goes over it.  But I love this version of it as a summer dress.  This one is available for $100 plus 6$ shipping in the US.  email me at nwickman@chartermi.net if interested.  






Friday, March 8, 2024

Lavender Silk Vintage Reproduction for Gene or Retro Glam

 

Not great pictures today.  It's gray and rainy in Michigan but I wanted to get this posted.  How often do you find three different silks in your stash that match?  This is a gown inspired by a vintage design.  The dress is lavender silk taffeta, the overskirt is silk organza and the belt is silk charmeuse.  I wanted to use a zipper in this dress so I incorporated the overskirt into the belt.  I used a bound continuous lap in the back of the overskirt so it's easy to put on over the doll's head and the opening is virtually invisible.  The belt does close with two snaps in the back.  The icing on the cake is the tiny sequins and size 15 beads that I stitched around the edge of the bodice.  Just the right amount of bling, I think, but she could still wear some sparkly jewelry with this outfit.  The gown and overskirt are available for $150 plus $6 shipping in the US.  Email me at nwickman@chartermi.net in interested.  






Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Poppy Floral Strapless Repro Dress

SOLD  Thanks.  This pretty little dress was inspired by an illustration of designs by Philip Hulitar, who was a chief designer for Bergdorf Goodman in the 40's and 50's.  (Pic at end)  The draped bodice and skirt are cotton lawn in a poppy print while the midriff, bow and piping are silk.  The bodice is fully lined in white silk/cotton voile and closes with snaps in the back.  The dress includes a separate petticoat of white silk/cotton voile and tulle.  Accessories not included.  I just thought pearls would be a feminine touch for this gown.  The dress and petticoat are available for $130.00 plus $6 shipping in the US.  Email me at nwickman@chartermi.net if interested.  





 


Saturday, February 24, 2024

Repro Gown in Light Blue Silk Taffeta

I had a request to recreate this dress in a pale blue tissue silk taffeta and it's beautiful in this color with the cream contrast.  I don't usually like doing the same thing twice but it did give me a chance to make some minor refinements to this bodice pattern--and I do really like this bodice despite the tricky curves.  Just as a reminder, I'll post the inspiration pic of the bodice at the end.  




 

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

1956 Gown and Coat Repro Fashion for Gene

SOLD  Thanks.  I made a version of this outfit about three years ago for Tonner dolls in purple silk.  Since the fabric combination of green silk tissue taffeta and silk blend brocade from the last evening outfit got great reviews, I've recreated this look for Gene in the same fabrics.  

This is the inspiration for the outfit and here is the first dress I made for Tonner.  There was a time when pattern envelopes showed pictures of the pattern pieces.   That helps a lot as you can enlarge them and get the start of the pattern.  Even if it won't fit doll bodies, I can make it work by doing the necessary alterations like opening up the bust, taking in the waist and lengthening the pieces in a couple of places.

  






I'm beginning to like using zippers in some dresses.  They work best in straighter dresses that have side seams for fitting.  I machine baste the zipper opening closed with the longest machine stitch.  The zipper can then be pinned and sewn in place, and the basting thread pulled out.  The only place I've found that carries the tiny ones in a 12" length is Tamara Casey's Fletcher Pattern Company.  She also sells extra pulls so you can use the remaining zipper tape for another project.  




 

Thursday, February 1, 2024

Rose Brocade Coat and Spring Green Dress

SOLD  Thanks!  So this is the coat that I had originally made to go with the rose taffeta dress in the previous post but it just didn't work.  The dress was too boufy and it needed a straighter skirt under it.  I decided to go with a spring green silk tissue taffeta with the rose silk taffeta accents.  You can see the sketch that I made in the corner of a crossword puzzle at the end.   The coat is a beautiful silk blend brocade.  It is fully lined in pink silk/cotton.  The coat features a gold metal clasp at the neck.  The dress, also fully lined in matching silk/cotton voile overlaps in the front with a dozen tiny buttons but it actually closes with a back zipper.  The piping along the top and the front drape and bow are rose pink silk tissue taffeta.  

The dress and coat are available for $165 plus $6 shipping in the US.  Email me at nwickman@chartermi.net if interested.  






And finally my sketch on the crossword puzzle.  The dress looks surprisingly like the picture I drew. 



 

Pink Silk Taffeta Gown with Fur Capelet

 

Zita kind of looks like she's going to prom in this gown.  The dress is rose silk taffeta with a removable tulle overskirt.  This was originally going to go with the brocade coat that will be in my next post.  But the coat just didn't work with the dress.  I still felt like the dress needed an accessory so I came up with the cute little capelet made from Minky Cuddle 3.  The dress is fully lined and has rhinestone, pearl and bead embroidery accents on the bodice.  

The dress and capelet are available for $140.00 plus $6 shipping in the US.  Email me at nwickman@chartermi.net if interested.