THE HOODED CAPE-ANOTHER DESIGN FOR YOUR AMERICAN GIRL DOLL FROM HANNAH'S CLOSET

This cape pattern kept bouncing around in my head so I finally got it done. It still took weeks to get it finished with all the distractions here. For every step forward, there seem to be 3 steps back. I know a lot of you know the feeling.

The Red Riding Hood Cape was the original thought for the pattern using the polar fleece since it is so easy to work with. It is heavy enough not to need a lining. It doesn't ravel so it doesn't even need to be hemmed or edge finished if you choose. The fleece comes in a nice wide 60" and an abundance of color and patterns. The pattern is so simple and easy to put together you can complete the capes in an afternoon from start to finish if there are not too many distractions.

I hope to share another version soon using the same pattern. It is really quick and easy to do and available in my Craftsy pattern store
 @ http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/Toy/AG-HOODED-CAPE/15386. 

The pattern for the girl's version will also be available if you want to make matching outfits.

The morning to take photos I was still putting on finishing touches when great granddaughter, Maizin, was brought over to model. The plan to have everything completed the day before had gone out the window but Maizin's momma and daddy [Andi & Joey] are very patient with me and we had a beautiful sunny day.

Maizin couldn't figure out why she had to wear the very warm fleece cape. She kept saying "But Momma, I not cold" but she did well and we got done fairly quickly with a lot of help from Andi setting the scene for me and here are some of the results with that beautiful child-she really is a diva and so much fun to work with:

 "Now why did I want to come to grandma's house?"

 "I gotta sneeze"

 "Are we done yet?"

After Maizin left, I realized I had not taken any back shots of the capes so I improvised by dragging out my large doll to pose even though she is no where near as gorgeous as Maizin, she would just have to do.

  Construction in the video for the doll's and girl's capes is the same. I hope it helps

My HANNAH'S CLOSET patterns are the way I sew-simple, quick and easy. The pieces can be dressed up or down for a casual, sporty look, mixed & matched or even for a pageant with the right trims and accessories.  Those ideas will be in future posts if I can stop walking backward here.

Thank you for stopping by and I would love to see the clothes on my facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Carolyns-Canvas/151145938331115] that you make using HANNAH'S CLOSET patterns. We can have our own style show.

Have a great day and happy crafting

Carolyn Wainscott


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A great site to check out is Craftsy.com. Patterns from independent designers are available for all kinds of crafting, sewing, quilting, crochet, knitting, beadwork-you name it, Craftsy has it. My reversible, coordinating patterns are available in My Pattern Store @
http://www.craftsy.com/user/pattern/store/43851

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Spring is in the air, and with Craftsy’s Spring Blowout, so are amazing savings! For a limited time, ALL yarn and related kits are on sale at the lowest prices of the season –– and we both know you need some fresh new finds for warm weather! Explore these amazing deals while they last. Offer ends Monday - shop now! 

Yarn: http://www.shareasale.com/u.cfm?d=260230&m=29190&u=705639
Knitting Kits: http://www.shareasale.com/u.cfm?d=260237&m=29190&u=705639
Crocheting Kits: http://www.shareasale.com/u.cfm?d=260253&m=29190&u=705639

Craftsy.com  also offers workshops and online classes with top instructors in their field. I found interesting the free workshop for adjusting your own sewing machine.

Little Girls Love To Dress Up

My sister told a coworker that I have made matching outfits for my little girls and their dolls so I get the phone call to see if I would make them for her daughter. She wanted something really frilly and girly and there wasn't anything in the doll catalog that she wanted.

This is what I have some up with:

The blue gingham check pinafores have coordinating crocheted headbands with large yoyos and tiny pink rosebuds while the burgundy outfits have lacy crocheted beanies with frayed fabric flowers.

I spent hours just ruffling all the yards of fabric and tulle for the pinafore skirts. I really love my ruffler. I decided on the pinafore style because the way it is constructed, it will go between 2 sizes and is a easy fit and just needs a little knit top or blouse.

When I get around to it, I hope to make a video showing the way these are made. They are so cute, they are well worth the effort and not really hard to do.

I do know that if sis's coworker doesn't like these, I have 3 great granddaughters that will love to have them. That was another reason for making them in these sizes-Ashlynn, Jenna and Hannah can all wear them and they just love to dress up.

Here is my ruffler if you aren't familiar with the dinosaur looking contraption:

The #'s indicate how many ruffles are taken-0 is for straight stitching, 12 is a gather every 12 stitches, 6 is a gather every 6 stitches and the 1 is a gather for every stitch [this is the mode I use most-if I am going to ruffle, I want to really ruffle]

On the machine:

To keep the roll of tulle in control, place it on a dowel in a box-rolls off easily

On the floor to feed through the machine.

Going through ruffler-gather per every stitch

Yards of ruffles quickly and easily

The roll of tulle has 100 yards. Rolls of 25/10 yards are also available. Of course, these are all bought on sale or with coupon. I have lucked into after season sales for the 100 yard rolls for about $2-3 at Hobby Lobby and get all I can afford that day. They are usually priced at $9.99. Regular fabric gathers just as easily as tulle. 

If you  don't have a ruffler here is my video tutorial for gathering by zigzagging over yarn  @

Check out my quick and easy doll patterns in my Craftsy Store 
 @ http://www.craftsy.com/user/pattern/store/43851. 
They are perfect projects for a beginner sewist. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Carolyn Wainscott 
www.carolynscanvas.blogspot.com