Ok so my granddaughter is almost 6. But she is skinny as a rail fence and all legs. Now finding pants on the ready to wear rack for this child is nothing if its not frustrating. And finding sewing patterns can be equally frustrating. She loves loves leggins but if they fit in the waist they are too short. Well when school started she wanted some leggins, being a good Grammie I bought her some and sure enough one trip through the dryer and they were 4 inches shorter than her legs. But they still fit perfectly every other way. So I brought a pair home, her birthday is coming up and I figured I could rescue the the remaining parts of the outfits by making new leggins that were long enough.

Well I did but in the process it got me to thinking, I know other parents and grandparents might just want to know how this is done. So here it is, step by step. For this example I chose a pair of ready to wear pants in a six month size but the concepts will be the same with any child or adults pants.

Materials needed:

Paper longer than the pants by 2 1/2″
marker
RTW (ready to wear) pants
Ruler

Steps to create pants pattern:

1. 1. Turn your ready to wear pants inside out, next insert your hand into the bottom of one leg, follow the leg thru the crouch and down the opposite leg, grasp the hem and pull back into the first leg. This will fold your pants neatly as show below.
   
2. 2. Align your center seams and stretch out the elastic, measure to find the stretch width of each side of the pants. For these pants the measurement is 12 inches.
   
3. 3. Measure from the top of the waist band to the bottom of hem of the pants, and add 2 1/2”. Cut your paper to that length. Christmas wrapping paper works really well for this project. With your ruler, draw a straight line at the edge of the paper that runs the lenth of the pants.
   
4. 4. Using the measurement you got by stretching the waist of the pants, divide it by 2 then add 1/2″ and measure from the line you just drew and mark for the center front and back seams of your pants. in this case I am measuring over 6 1/2″.
   
5. 5. Lay the folded pants onto the paper. Allow 1 1/4″ from the top of the paper to the waist band and a generous 1/4″ on the long side of the pants, the paper should be about 1 1/4″ longer than your pants.
   
   you can see that the waist on the pattern is larger than the waist on the ready to wear pants
6. 6. Place a mark in the hem area of the pants, where the inseam (inner leg seam) starts.
   
7. 7. Trace a general shape of the center seams, place a mark on the pattern paper at the top of the leg.
   
8. 8. Extend the inner leg seam of the pants by 1/2″ and mark. I used a see threw ruler allowing me to place the 1/2″ mark on the pants seam.
   
   
9. 9. Complete the center seam, and hem line if needed. Your general pattern shape should be something like this.
   
10. 10. Cut out of paper 2 of this shape.
    
11. 11. Pants fronts are slightly narrower than the pants backs, you can see that there is about 1/2″ difference in this pair. So using one of you paper pieces you need to mark at the top (waist band area) 1/4″ from the center front seam. We will taper this line to nothing where the crouch curves. Now Trim on the line.
    
12. 12. Align the lone edges of the pattern pieces and tape them together to form one pattern piece. It will look like this one.
    
13. 13. pin pattern piece to fashion fabric and cut 2 pants pieces.
    
14. 14. To assemble pants align the inner seam of each pant leg and stitch with 1/4″ seam allowance on inner leg seam.
    
15. 15. Turn one of the legs right side out and side it into other leg. Align inner leg seams.
    
    
    
16. 16. Pin center front/back seam and stitch with 1/4″ seam allowance.
    
17. 17. Turn under 1 1/4″ for waist and hem and stitch in place. Leave a 1 inch opening in waist to thread elastic through.
    

Congratulations on a job well done! With practice nobody will be able to tell which pants are purchased and which ones are copied!

First let me say that not all of my dolls are cloth. I have 3 grandchildren that are the life of my creativity. The youngest one is now starting to potty learn and needed training pants. Now he has been cloth diapered from the start and of course we needed cloth training pants, well a quick look see said nothing store bought was gonna work for us. I was looking for the gerber training pants of years ago and could not find them. I found 1 lonely pair at a yard sale and decided to use that for inspiration. Well they worked for us and recently I was part of a discussion on a group for cloth diapers and they asked for pictures so there they are with the step by steps, I hope this helps someone.

1. 1. Find a pattern. There are several free trainer patterns online, I happen to like Easter Bunz free trainer pattern but almost any will work. If you want to use Easter Bunz you can download it. Print your pattern and assemble it as instructed.
   
   
2. 2. Measure from the center of your pattern in 2″ and mark a line. On my pattern this allows just over 1/4″ in the crouch area. This allows the sides to remain one piece, this is important so adjust as needed on your pattern.
   
   
   
3. 3. Cut a strip of PUL or Fleece that is 4 1/2″ wide and as long as your trainer pattern is. Also cut a 4 1/2″ strip of your inner fabric, this can be a wicking fabric or flannel or even a knit interlock. I used an interlock in this example.
   
   
4. 4. Cut the pattern you marker earlier on the 2″ line.
   
   
5. 5. Pin the adjusted pattern piece to your side fabric, I like interlock knits for this as they have the stretch to pull up and down on the child.
   
   
   
6. 6. Pin the inner edges of the “wings” to the long side of the PUL strip you cut earlier with right sides together and stitch with 1/4″ seam allowance. Repeat for opposite side.
   
   
   
   
7. 7. Fold wings back toward the center, and place the 4 1/2″ strip of inner fabric right sides together matching raw edges and stitch both long sides with 1/4″ seam.
   
   ,insert your hand into tube and turn right side out.
   
   
   
   
8. 8. Compile your Soaker. In this example I used a cotton terry with 6 layers, but microfiber, hemp or a combination could be used. For ease I make mine as long as the trainer is but short ones could be used if you added a tail to them to extend it the length of the trainer. The point being that something attached to the soaker extends to the ends of the trainer to be caught in the waist band.
   
   
   
9. 9. For a pullups style trainer, you will add FOE (ribbed knit or lycra can be used) at this point and closures (Snaps or touch tape, etc). And your done! If you are looking for non-side opening pants continue on.
   
   
   
10. 10. For traditional training pants add side seams with 1/4″ seams.
    
    
11. 11. Add FOE or Ribbing to the leg openings to bring them to the size of the childs legs. repeat for waist.
    

Congratulations on finishing the trainers, I hope you like this style as much as we do!

Thank goodness its Tuesday! Mondays seem to hit with a full force around here….especially Mondays after a holiday.

I had a great blog post to make yesterday, but as luck would have it that post was number 4 on my list of things to do and I never got to number 3. Seems that the whole world came through my living room yesterday or called me and it just took many hours longer to get anything done than it needed to.

The good news is that I have tried a new pattern for a new size doll, and I think I like it. My granddaughter got hold of an american girl catalog/magazine and has been drooling over the pictures for ever. She seems to think that she needs one of these dolls….they are cute and all of that. But their pricing is a bit much for Grammie to deal with. So anyways, I tried a different pattern and I think I like it. So look out we may have a new doll on the site before long. Maybe I will open it for preorders in June when I get back from my trip to Texas.

A note on that trip, Grammie and Poppy….will be leaving the grandkids and the cloth baby dolls home with Great grandma and making a trip to Dallas the last week in May. We are going down to see our youngest daughter graduate from High School with honors! Yes we are so very proud of her, but I am telling you so that you know…I will be taking the store offline for that week. No selling since I wont be here to ship….We will be back online and ready to go on the first of June….

Look for new babies and new designs to go up quickly in June! Dont forget to get your suggestions in on what your little ones want to go with their babies…..because while the cloth baby dolls and the grandkids are stay home my sketch pad is going along with us!

Until next time….

This past weekend I took all the cloth baby dolls and went to a craft show and yard sale. Now this is not small task as there are way more baby dolls than there are of me! But everyone behaved well and the show was great. I sold a lot of clothes for baby dolls as well as for children. I had the opportunity to visit with a lot of people that I already knew and make some new friends in the area. If you attended the East Berlin Community Center’s Yard and Craft Sale on Saturday the 25th sign in and comment!

Now on to the new stuff. As anyone who has visited the site knows We stock a range of patterns for babies and baby dolls. This section is growing, and out next pattern to go on sale will likely be the diaper shirt and pants. This pattern is sized in a large preemie/newborn size. Its perfect for bringing baby home from the hospital, whether your baby is the human kind or the cloth baby variety. Quick and easy to make this pattern will delight any new mommy.
The pattern will of course be available in download as well as the print version.

In other news, I am currently working on a new doll that will delight the older girls. More on that to come but you can be sure they will love it.

Also in the process of bring born are 5 new cloth baby dolls. At this point they don’t have personalities yet so I cannot tell you if they will be male or female but I can tell you they will be adorable! If you want to personalize one please order now!

One final note….there is a contest coming…..the details will be announced, as well as the prize, on Monday.

Here is another freebie for you. This is the 30 minute diaper bag. Every little girl needs a place to carry all her baby doll care items. We have the quick and easy pattern for you to make one.

What you will need:

• 12 inches of fabric for the outside of bag and strap
• 9 inches of lining fabric
• ruler
• marking pen
• 2 metal or plastic rings (1″ works well)
• Snaps, velcro or buttons
• a way to sew it all together

Ok lets start:

Cut the following pieces from the outside fabric:

• 2 pieces 13 ½ x 9 inches
• 2 flaps  13 ½ x 6
• 1 piece 28 x 3

Cut the following pieces from the inside fabric:

• 2 pieces 13 ½ x 9 inches
• 1 piece 9 ½ x 8 ½

Now lets put it together:

1. Stack the 13 ½” x 9″ pieces up. The 13 ½” sides are the top and bottom of the bag. In the lower right and left corners you will measure up from the bottom and in from the side 2″ and mark a square. Do this on both the left and right sides.




2. Put these asside for later use.
3. Using the 9 ½” x 8 ½” inner fabric piece, fold in in half right sides together, so that it measures 4 ¼ x 9 ½. Using a ¼” seam allowance stitch on the 4 ¼” sides. Turn right side out and press. This will be the pocket on the front of your baby doll diaper bag.
4. Mark a stitching line on the open edge ¼” from the open edge.



5. Using one of the 13 ½” x 9″ outside fabric pieces that you cut in the first step, align the stitching line drawn on the pocket with the inner corners cut in the front of the bag, the fold edge of the pocket should be towards you.



6. Pin and stitch in place.
7. Fold the pocket toward the top of the bag, and press.



8. Put the other 13 ½” x 9″ outside fabric piece on top of this one with right sides together and stitch the 9″ sides and the bottom 13 ½” side of the bag with ¼” seam allowance. Repeat with the 2 inner fabric pieces.



9. Align the soon to be corners as shown int he picture below and stitch. Repeat with remaining corners



10. With the 2 flaps 13 ½ x 6, place them right sides together and round the corner edges, if desired. Stitch around the now curved edge. Turn right side out and put side.



11. Using the 28″ x 3″ piece, fold it in half so that it will measure 28″ x 1 ½”. Stitch the 28″ side using a ¼” seam allowance. Turn your tube right side out.
12. Cut 2 sections 4″ long off the tube. You will now have a 20″ piece of tube, and 2 4″ pieces.



13. Now that we have all the pieces lets put the Baby doll bag together with just 1 seam. On the oustide portion the the bag, use 1 4″ tube piece, slide 1 plastic or metal ring onto it and fold it in half meeting the short ends. Align this with the side seam of the outside bag portion and pin in place. Repeat with second 4″ section, ring and side seam. Now pin the open edge of the flap to the side of the bag that DOES NOT have the pocket on it.



14. Now slide the inner body layer over the outer body layer. (the flap will be between the 2 layers) Stitch around the top of the baby doll bag with 1/2 in seam allowance leaving a 2 inch opening in the front. Turn bag right side out through the opening.



15. Ladder stitch or whip stitch the opening closed. Add a closure to the flap and each end of the remaining tube section. Feed the tube section through the rings on each side of the bag and close.

See simple and easy and you have the ideal baby doll diaper bag. We used Flurr in this example but you could use any fabric for the outside of the bag.

You know sometimes when sewing for babies, whether dolls or the real thing, we want something timeless.  What is more timeless than blocks.  Well today I came across some really cool directions for blocks for babies.  These are all cloth and can be adjusted to make noise or not!

I made these blocks in different sizes, with the same basic idea but not with this pattern, for my youngest grandson Christmas gift in 2007.  He is still playing with them.  I have also made some for my dear granddaughter for with her “babies”.  Nothing like it cloth doll babies playing with cloth toys!  It does not get better than that.  Check out the directions for this free block pattern here

You can also find some neat rings to make by going to the ring instructions, babies love rings with they are baby dolls or live babies!

These two links have great directions for your use, and best part is that they are free. But in all honesty the easiest way to make a soft baby toy is to get a coloring book with big images, cut out 2 of any image and stick around the edge, leaving a hole for turning and stuffing. Stuff the toy, and ladder stitch the opening shut, use soft scuplture to add any details in the face that you might want. This opens the opportunities wide up. Your baby could have any number of toys. Want to add a bit more variety? Add some ribbon and some hard plastic rings to the toy.

On another note be sure to check out the new dolls I added to the side on Friday, they wont be here long!

Happy sewing!

Well to start let me apologize I try to post to this blog every two days at the most.  Well I started to post on Thursday of last week but discovered that Wordpress was out of date so instead of posting I had to upgrade wordpress in stead.  A good upgrade to be sure but still it was inconvenient.

Now lets get on to the changes.  I have had people ask me in the past if the pattern for the Grammie Doll was available.  The answer has always been no, its in the works but not done yet.  Well I spent last weekend just working on the pattern and its now ready for you!  Its a fairly simple pattern but not necessarily a beginner pattern.  A beginner can do it, the end product will just take a bit longer, so get on over and get your pattern today.

Next change, well some of my craft show friends are so happy with the patterns they got on this site that they want to be able to share them.  I can understand that I like to share patterns that I like too.  So we have set up a distributor program, well its more an affiliate/distributor program.  Whats the difference?  Well as a distributor you can buy the intems from me and resell them.  Thats a simple explanation, but it suffices.  So how is ours different?  Well we have alot of electronic patterns, well each of our patterns are availabe in both formats.  Now you can of course buy the paper/print patterns at a discount and resell them, but how could someone sell online?  Well that is where the affiliate program comes in.  If you sign up for our distributor/affiliate program you not only get to sell the print version but you ca sell anything on our site and get a commission for the sale.  See I have looked at affiliate programs where only certain things on the site are commissioned and I hated that, so we did it differently.  Also, with our program you not only get commission on the first sale you get commissioned on any sale for 1 year.  So if they buy 1 item today, and 10 months from now they come back and buy the store, the person who sent them today will get commisions onthe second, third or fourth sale!  Now I dont know of another program that will help like that, better yet you get a 30% discount on the print patterns, and you get a 30% commision on the online sales….at grammies dolls we are all for the customer!  So get signed up today for our distributor/affiliate program…..we cannot make it any better! You can sign up today at the affiliate signup page.

Well first things first.  The grandkids brought home a cold and of course its run its way through the house!  But finally with time and lysol we are on the healing side.  Hopefully this is the last cold of the season.

Now on to bigger and better news!  We have new patterns up and ready for your use.  We know that some people would prefer to make their own accessories for their little one to use.  Right now you can get patterns for 2 different style baby beds for your doll, a dolly carrier.  Recently we have added the romper pattern and brand new our dolly diaper pattern.  All of these patterns can be made by any skilled sewer, from beginner to advanced.  Coming this week is our vintage style day dress.

The vintage day dress is ideal for everyday wear by your dolly baby.  Quick and easy its sure to be a delight to the little mommy.  Combine this with our dolly diaper and you have an adorable outfit.  Utilizing a timless style this dress is adorable.  Add lace, ric rac or even embroidery stitching and its a treasure to behold.  Although sized for the grammie doll newborn baby doll, it will fit other dolls as well.  If it was to be worn on a baby it would fit preemie to newborn.  Although the current size if for newborn and premmie it is scalable for large sizes!  This pattern also boasts our sockin shoes.  These shoes can be worn alone or with socks and are nothing short of adorable!

We have several more patterns in the development stage including our grammie doll newborn!  Soon you will be able to make your very own grammie doll!  Keep watching this blog, we will be announcing its debut shortly!

We know that valentines day is coming and in celebration we are offing a special freebie with any handmade baby doll ordered between now and February 10, 2009.  Order today and we will include our special heart rattle with your baby.  Each heart is machine embroidered with I love you on it.  This rattle includes a uniquely designed “handle” so the baby doll can “hold it”.  This muslin baby doll was ideal on its own is now made all the more special with her own toy!

Ordering a baby doll from grammies dolls just got even better.  Our dolls comply with the new Consumer Protection Saftey Inprovement Act.  We have a resonable testing program in place and our dolls are made from 100% cotton muslin.

 

Alot of parents want to sew things for their childrens dolls, we know this and have a selection of patterns that include baby doll carseat, a baby doll carrier, and baby doll bed.  But just the other day I loaded a pattern for a quick easy romper for a premmie or newborn size doll.  I suppose that if someone wanted to they could also use the pattern as an outfit for a real newborn.  If you are planning to do so just be careful in your selection of fabrics.

I plan to also add a dress pattern, boys overalls and shirt pattern and a pattern for babydoll diapers.  These patterns come about at the request of my darling granddaughter who is her Grammies Doll….

As she requests some new item for her Newborn baby doll, I draw up the pattern and offer it to other doll makers and moms.  I hope they are helpful….

Here is a picture of the newest pattern and some of the others as well….want on of them just click on the picture and you can order them.