I had a very productive and creatively fulfilling last couple of weeks.  Here are some new things that I’ve been working on that I put into a new outfit for Dianna Effner’s Little Darling dolls.

I changed up my dress pattern a bit and put in princess seams and a lace collar.  This beautiful english lace is from authenticlace on eBay.  I hand pleated the lace and inserted it into the neckline for a collar.  I am very happy with how this dress turned out.

My usual cardigan sweaters did not fit with the collar of this dress so I came up with this capelet design.  The pattern took some trial and error and a lot of math to get it just the way I wanted it.  I think it shows off the dress nicely and is so delicate.  I really love this tiny accessory.  This is my second knit that I have incorporated beadwork into and love how they look in knitwear.  Thanks to Knit Picks for the tutorial on beading.  I have zillions of beads in my stash so now I have a new use for them.

After trying all of my usual headpieces, (headbands, felt flowers, bows, Juliet cap)  I made this cloche.  After looking and looking for headpiece alternatives I decided a hat made out of the dress fabrics would be the perfect finishing touch.  I didn’t have a pattern so I made this one myself.  I had an American Girl doll hat pattern that I looked at to see the pattern piece shapes, but outside of that my measuring tape got a lot of use.  I had some unused #30 cotton thread that I had dyed for my tiny Amelia Thimble doll sweaters and the colors were perfect for this outfit.  So with a very tiny crochet hook and lots of patience (my fingers felt huge) I made these tiny rosebuds for hat decorations.  A glass leaf in my stash fit in perfectly with the roses.

Voila!  “Spring Daydreams” is finished.  I put a lot of thought and time into making this outfit all come together, but I think it was worth it.