Welcome to the Kick Off Day for Pickle Toes Patterns Vacation Time Blog Tour

A recent call for participants by Pickles Toes Patterns saw me say, "yes please".  When I surveyed the patterns we could work with I almost wished I had a granddaughter. The dresses were absolutely delightful. But it's only grandson's here so I asked for the next best thing, some doll clothes. I made two matching outfits for my neighbour's granddaughters.

This was the moment of the big reveal for them. They were all ready for bed and I went over with the outfits. The outfit I selected was the Daisy Pinafore. It comes with a top that wraps easily around the back of the doll and shorts that can be made at two different lengths. I made the Bermuda short length which is the slightly longer choice. The Play shorts are about an inch shorter.
The instructions were very easy to follow. Perhaps not as detailed as some I have seen. I believe they made the assumption you knew a little bit about basic sewing but definitely beginner friendly. My biggest challenge was putting the snaps on the pinafore. Back in the day when I was originally doing this type of thing you got a two part metal affair that had little holes in the outer ring for you to stitch through to stitch them in place. The snaps today are much nicer looking but require some level of competence to apply and not over do it.

This is a better view of the outfits. In the photo with the girls the dolls are sporting a shoulder bag purse. In this photo I removed the purse as it was not part of the pattern we were given to work with. But a word about the shoulder bag pattern. It was designed by Lesley at Berry Birdy designs. It is a small folded coin purse but with the addition of a strap it became a shoulder bag.
If you have any doll lovers who  also have small girls they may well like making  a matching little girl's dress pattern. I did not know these girls well enough and they do not live near me so I had to pass up that opportunity.
Be certain to visit the other bloggers on the tour. I have had a sneak peak of a couple of the outfits they have created and they are beautiful Thank you Pickle Toes for including me as a stop on your Vacation Time Blog Tour. And a word or two from the folks at Pickle Toes.

Pickle Toes Patterns is so excited to bring to you a collection of patterns that are easy and fast to sew. Their patterns have the basic ingredients that you need to make a new sew your own. Color blocking, different fabrics and new styles are just some of the reasons that Pickle Toes Patterns should be your go-to when looking for something fun and unique. Many handmade children's boutiques use PTP's patterns to customize their designs. Kellie the owner and founder of Pickle Toes Patterns started out just as clothing designer making custom children's clothing because she couldn't find cute clothing for her boys. Boys' clothes eventually grew into girls' clothing, which grew into making original designs. To make original designs, she had to make original patterns, and Pickle Toes Patterns was born! Pickle Toes Patterns is not just a business, we are a family. I hope you enjoy sewing our patterns as much as we enjoy making them. We hope you take the time to look at all of the other blogger's post and creations. You can follow Pickle Toes at the following social media channels.

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July 23 Quilts by Joanne and Do it Yourself Danielle

July 24 Our Play Palace

July 25 That's So Lilly and Sewing Ambi

July 26 SewGeeked and My Sewing Roots

July 27 Frullemieke and

Tales From A Southern Mom

 

We are so excited to bring you this great giveaway to win patterns from Pickle Toes Patterns and our friends at

Goober Pea Designs

Kelly J Designs

 

Jilly Atlanta Designs

 

Entry-Form

Piecefully, Joanne

We are nearing the midway point for the Ellie and Mac blog hop

I am fortunate to be joining a group of serious sewing bloggers as they show you summer patterns from Ellie and Mac. As one who likes to put my usual spin on things I decided that the dolls in the house need to get ready for summer too. My next door neighbour's grand-daughter was kind enough to loan me her 18" doll (briefly I might add) so that I could make my interpretation of the Simply Sweet Doll Top.

The first problem I encountered was a lack of knit fabrics in my stash. And as someone who does very limited online shopping and has absolutely no shop within a two hour drive that sells appropriate knits I switched to a woven and mildly altered the pattern. A bit about the pattern first. It is fantastic. If you are just starting out the detail in the instruction is wonderful. This pattern could be tackled by a beginner as the instructions are so well laid out and so clearly illustrated.

The pattern is lengthy but well worth it in the detail it provides. I made the top only as the doll's owner was anxious for her return. If you are able to use a knit fabric then the top or the dress will fit over the doll's head. A woven will not stretch enough to do that so I cut it up the back and added a velcro closing.

So here she is for her stylized photos. Long pants and boots because it is tick season but a lovely comfortable sleeveless top. I love that just like her owner the doll wears glasses.

I hope as you visit the other bloggers on this blog hop that you will get all kinds of great new ideas for summer sewing. Be sure to visit the other bloggers who have made interpretations of Ellie and Mac designs to help you get ready for summer sewing. The list below identifies my fellow bloggers and their date on the blog hop.

1. May 7th: Seams Sew Lo
2. May 8th: Tenille's Thread
3. May 9th: Seams Sew Lo
4. May 10th: The Sewing Goatherd
5. May 11th: Aurora Designs Fabrics
6. May 14th: Our Play Place
7. May 15th: Sewjourns
8. May 16th: Aurora Designs Fabric
9. May 17th: QuiltsbyJoann
10. May 18th: Liviality
11. May 19th: Momma You Can Make It
12. May 21st: Margarita on the Ross
13. May 22nd: Sewing Blue
14. May 23rd: Kathy's Kwilts and More
15. May 24th: Momma Newey's Makes
16. May 25th: Jot Designs USA
17. May 28th: The Scatty Sewer
18. May 29th: Granma Texas Sews
19. May 30th: Fee Bricolo
20. May 31st: My Sewing Roots

Piecefully, Joanne