Do you remember the mushroom motif craze in the 1970s? They’re back! Actually mushroom motifs have been popping up in design for a few+ years now, and in more modern colors, which I am happy about. Back in the ’70s they were mostly seen in those 1970s colors—orange, avocado green, brown, and harvest gold. Even though I cannot get used to that color scheme again, when I saw these canisters at the Volo Antique Mall last year I thought they were cute. (My aunt had these in her kitchen.)
I think the first year I started seeing mushrooms pop up again in design was 2012 when I saw this fabric designed by Natalie Lymer. I immediately fell in love with it. To this day, this is one of my favorites for Bethany.
I really need to make something for this girl again, she’s so cute! But, I digress, sorry about that.
I’ve been saving this new mushroom print by Lizzie Mackay for one of my first fall-ish ensembles. I know it’s not fall yet, but I couldn’t wait to use it!
Here is Lucy modeling “Woodland Whimsy”. Aren’t the colors in this print lovely? They’re modern, vintage, and cozy, all at the same time.
Did your see Lucy’s little girl gnome charm? She told me it’s for good luck.
I’m not sure how I initially got the idea to knit mushrooms for this ensemble. I get side tracked a lot, especially in the mornings. I think I picked up a scrap ball of bare wool, and started knitting in the round on my double pointed needles. I most likely wanted to practice starting with a few stitches to make sure I remembered this technique. (It is almost Santa hat season, and I start from the top down.) I guess a mushroom cap started forming, and all of a sudden I have accessories for “Woodland Whimsy”! Magic!
Lucy’s little capelet is knit with moair/silk lace weight yarn and her vintage styled headband hat is knit with a fingering weight Peruvian Highland wool in the same color. The colorful little mushrooms were fun to embroider in bullion and straight stitches.
Lucy’s 3/4 length sleeve dress is finished beautifully inside. It is tedious as there is a lot of hand sewing to do, but I love to dress my dolls in dresses finished like this, it’s so luxurious. (lol) The dress is completely lined except for the sleeves so as to keep the bulk down. The sleeve seam allowances that show on the inside have been double turned and hand sewn in place. All the other seam allowances are hidden in the lining.
Since it took so long to finish the inside of this dress, I’d love to show you what it looks like. I think this bodice takes four times as long as a lined sleeveless bodice. All that just for sleeves!
Here is a sleeve turned inside out. You can see the tiny hand stitches holding the double turned underarm seam and hem in place. The bodice armhole lining is hand stitched to hide the top of sleeve’s seam allowance.
And, with the sleeve back in place.
Okay, I have to know . . . Is anyone else as neurotic silly with the insides of their doll dresses? I’ve tried to change, but I can’t!!!
Lucy’s “Woodland Whimsy” ensemble will be available tonight at 7:00 pm CST, cindyricedesigns.com.
I hope you all have a nice day! Thank you so much for stopping by.
Cindy Rice Designs 
Lucy is such an adorable model, and this little dress just suits her so well. The special capelet will be perfect when those fall breezes return. It is the cutest outfit. All of the details outside and in make for one outstanding outfit. I just acquired a pair of brown boots as well, in anticipation of my LD’s arrival in the future. Tell Lucy to watch out for wolves in the woods!
And no, my dresses do not look that wonderful inside. And most have a straight pin holding them together down the back. Snapaphobia here. 🙂
Hi Joy. Your comment reminded me of my mom. She made all of my Barbie doll clothes and I couldn’t wait to dress my dolls in everything she made . . . only the snaps took forever to get sewn on, so I’d often have to wait and wait and wait. It was very hard! I don’t particularly enjoy sewing snaps either, but my customers probably wouldn’t like a straight pin holding the dress together. It used to cause me more grief than it does now. I developed a system that works for me every time, no more ripping out if the two sides don’t line up. Quite awhile ago I put up a photo tutorial on this blog. I thought maybe my system could be of use to someone else.
Your Little Darling will be moving into a home with lots of goodies. How much longer now?
Thanks, Joy!
Wow! Lucy’s ensemble is beautiful!
You did a meticulous work and the finish is perfect!
I admire your great talent!
I love the little capelet with colorful mushrooms!
Bethany’s dress is wonderful, I love this fabric and the matching socks too!
It is a little less warm today, but temperatures climb again from Wednesday!
Have a beautiful week!
Friendly yours,
Catherine
Aww, thanks Catherine, you are so nice! I really need to squeeze in something new for Bethany. I was looking at all my dolls last night. Millie, too, has been neglected. And, the tiny ones . . . We are quite warm and humid too. We’ve been getting rain, so the grass is beautifully green again. Hope you had a very nice Tuesday.
Love both the outfits, i especially love Bethany’s
Thanks so much, Norma. Looking at sweet Bethany makes me want to make something new for her. It has been years and years!
Oh my goodness…. love that mushroom fabric in the dress Bethany is wearing, but my very favorite is Lucy’s ensemble with your knitted collar and hair piece !!! It just doesn’t get any more adorable or professionally crafted. ; )
Aww, thanks so much Shelly! I really enjoyed pulling this ensemble together. And, the colors helped make it different and fun.
Do you have any knit patterns for sale like what you used on this woodland pattern?
Hi Donna,
I have just started writing patterns for some of my doll knits. Maybe in the future a cape will be a pattern I publish. Sorry that I don’t have one available at the moment.
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