Hardy Amies' 1956 Suit

This suit is one of the first designs I fell in love with when I became obsessed with sewing for Gene.

I found this picture in a library book years ago.  I believe this is from John Peacock's  20th Century Fashion:  The Complete Sourcebook.

(Picture By John Peacock)

Hardy Amies was a British designer who designed for Queen Elizabeth.  I searched the internet high and low to find a photograph of this suit, but I have not found one yet.

This was my first attempt back in 2006.

It fits the Tonner dolls much better than Gene.

Last year I redesigned the pattern to fit Gene better.  I made it out of silk noil.  Noil is one of my favorite suit fabrics to work with.  It gives the look of wool without the bulk.

I also made it in navy noil.

While I was working on the red and navy suits, it occurred to me that this is a great basic suit pattern.  I wanted to see what it would look like without the front straps, so I made the pattern up in a green noil without the straps.

I was honestly surprised how much I loved it. 

The color is perfect with "Cocoa Crisp's" green eyes. 

 My original suit on Brenda Starr. 

Just for fun, the hat is a pin from JoAnn Fabrics.

To purchase the pattern, click here.

I've Been Very Busy

 

 

This is the third (and last!) time that I have attempted to make this outfit.  Each time I think it has gotten better.  You can see my first time here, and my second time last year here.

 

 

This travel ensemble was inspired by the 1953 film "Gentlemen Prefer Blonds" starring Marilyn Monroe.

The first time I made this outfit, I made the dress a very simple knit sheath with a rounded neckline and a sash.

This neckline has "neck wraps", as I call them in my pattern instructions, that cross over in the front and snap in the back.  I am not sure how I figured the pattern out, I am afraid I would not be able to do it again.  I must have gotten lucky.

 

 

 

 

This is last years outfit, a commission, I made this out of a nice crepe, because the first knit that I used started staining the doll almost immediately!  The crepe was nice to work with, but I thought it didn't have the drape that I wanted.  I went back to a lightweight but different knit for this outfit.  I lined the dress in a flesh colored knit.  The knit was sometimes a pain to work with, but I like the way it drapes.

 

 

I got the neckline right on this design, but not the skirt.

 

 

 

The skirt on this dress, was impossible for me to figure out.  I have always had a hard time with drapped skirts.  Everything I tried looked bad.

 

 

I ended up just stitching a hip drape into the left side seam and gathering it up on the right hip.  It then goes around the back of the dress and hooks on the left side.  Not exactly like the original dress, but I like the results.

 

 

Here is the Franklin Mint Marilyn Monroe doll's version of the outfit.

 

 

 

Note to self, never try to restyle/cut a doll's wig again!

 

Theses outfits have been sold.

 

If you are interested in purchasing this patterns, click here.

Sound of Music Red Suit

I am still laboring away on my huge batch of  red outfits.  Only 3 more styles to go!

 

This stylish suit was inspired by the 1965 classic "The Sound of Music.

 

The Baroness Elsa Schroeder wore this suit in the film.

 

 

 

I love this backdrop.

 

 

 

And this one too

 

 

 

The blouse is sleeveless to make it easier to dress the doll and because I like the way it looks.

 

To purchase this pattern click here.

“Imitation of Life” Cream Wool Coat Ensemble

This is the second time I have made this outfit.

It is inspired by the Lana Turner 1959 film, “Imitation of Life”.

My “Shadow Song” Gene was having a hard time standing on her own, so the chair came in handy. Thank goodness it matches the outfit.

Next time she wears this outfit, she is going to wear her white pearls.

To purchase this outfit, click here.