Pioneer Memories & a Free Apron Pattern For a Doll

Here in Utah, we celebrate something called Pioneer Day every July 24. It's in honor of the first group of Mormon pioneers who entered the Salt Lake Valley back in 1847. This upcoming holiday got me thinking of my own pioneer ancestors.  Do you have any pioneer ancestors?  I have a great grandmother and a great great grandfather who crossed the plains in 1863. In memory of them, I made this pioneer outfit. My favorite part of the outfit is that cute little apron, which I refashioned from a linen napkin.

  

I was given several linen napkins that had holes in them. I turned all of those sad-looking napkins into doll aprons.  If you happen to have some cloth napkins laying around, try refashioning them into doll aprons, you'll love all the detail a cloth napkin adds to it! In fact, let me show you how simple it is to convert a cloth napkin into a doll apron.  This project should take you about 15 minutes from start to completion.

Once the seam has been sewn, the basting stitches can be pulled out.  Iron the edge of the ribbon and you're done with your darling doll apron.  See, I told you it was easy.

If you want to add a pocket, use a corner of the napkin that you cut off and cut out a rectangle. Iron the edges under and then sew the rectangle onto the apron closely around the edges.

Depending on where the holes were in the linen napkin, some of my aprons turned out a little shorter than others.  No matter the length, a linen napkin makes the perfect fabric for a cute doll size apron.

Now, back to my great grandmother, who I mentioned earlier. For most of her journey across the plains, she got to travel sitting on top of a wagon loaded with stoves that her father planned on selling when he reached their destination. Toward the end of their journey, the wagon was going through a steep grade in Echo Canyon and started tipping over. Horrifyingly, the stoves fell on top of her. As luck would have it, she recalled that a folded carpet was used to cover the stoves and miraculously eased the blow of this fall.  Her children stated that she often told them that it was "the protection of an all-wise providence that saved her life." I am so grateful to God for protecting my great grandmother. 

So, if you'd like to join in the Pioneer Day celebration, or any pioneer celebration of your own, you'll want to make your own pretty pioneer apron for your doll. Happy Pioneer Day to all of you two weeks from this Friday! xoxo Grandma

Don't want to make this outfit?  Go HERE for a completed Pioneer Outfit.
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Linked to: Nap Time Creations

Gone Fishing Outfit & Accessories - American Girl Doll Style

It's been a while since I've made anything for this cute doll and she was feeling quite neglected. So today, I'm debuting her "Gone Fishing" outfit with the perfect accessories for a child to have a little summer fun with her doll.  

It took me a while to create a fishing rod I was completely happy with. Several of my attempts were literally thrown away until I finally created the fishing pole shown in these photos. I'm quite pleased how it turned out. The best part about this fishing pole is that it can actually catch fish! How cool is that? See those cute little felt fish? You can actually catch them with the super small magnet on the end of the hook. Talk about giving this little toy a few extra bonus points with your kids! 

To complete the summer look, I made a doll-sized reversible fishing hat and a "Gone Fishing" sleeveless shirt.  Now this girl is all decked out and ready for some summer fun down by a fishing hole.

This pattern is an instant downloadable pdf and can be purchased HERE.  The set includes the Gone Fishing sleeveless shirt, fishing pole, felt fish and instructions on how to convert an ornamental creel into a child's toy.  The instructions and patterns are a bargain for only $3.00.  If you'd like a chance to win this pattern for free, go to my Etsy shop HERE, like my shop and leave a comment below telling me who will be the lucky recipient of your Gone Fishing creation. Two winners will be announced on the last day of spring, June 20th at 9 p.m., Mountain Standard time.

UPDATE:  Thank you to everyone that left comments and visited my Etsy shop. Two winners were contacted Friday night via my Etsy shop.  The winners were Betsy and Marilyn.  

If you don't want to make a "Gone Fishing" outfit, you can purchase this Gone Fishing set HERE or a fishing pole & creel HERE. Good luck!  - xoxo Grandma

30 Things to Make for an American Girl Doll

Linked to: Nap Time Creations, Crafty Allie

30 Things to Make for an American Girl Doll - Free Patterns & Tutorials

Attention all American Girl doll lovers! Look no further, because I have a stash of American Girl doll ideas for you right here at your very finger tips.

I've gathered 30 posts together that show you things that you can make for American Girl dolls into one post as an easy reference.  If you enjoy free patterns and tutorials, then this should be a fun post for you.  All these posts show you how to make things for your child, grandchild, or your doll(s) because let's face it, I know a lot of you out there collect dolls.  

Last month, I finally purchased my own American Girl doll -- before that I was just borrowing my grown daughters who have left them at home. Maybe you've noticed that cute blond doll with a few freckles across her cheeks?  Yup, she's mine - at least until I give it away to a granddaughter one day.  I have visions of showing her my huge box of clothes and accessories and letting her choose what she wants for her doll as her gift.  

1.  Refashion pants into a doll sized tee pee go HERE.

2.  Make tights from knee high socks go HERE.

3.  Refashion men's socks into doll mittens & hat go HERE

4.  How to make easy doll socks go HERE

5.  A Valentine's Day Doll Dress.  HERE

6.  How to make doll backpacks - a tutorial go HERE

7.  How to make doll clip boards - a tutorial go HERE

8.  Lace Hankie into a Doll top with a free pattern & tutorial found HERE

9.  Baby Clothes Refashioned into Doll Clothes.  Downloadable tutorial sheets so you can refashion easily found HERE

10.  Four downloadable tutorials on making doll sized sandals go HERE

11.  Tutorial on how to refashion a leather wallet and eyeglass holder into doll sandals. Go HERE

12.  Tutorial on how to turn a child's swimsuit into a doll swimsuit go HERE

13.  Turn a sock into a doll leotard go HERE.

14.  Turn a doily into a doll skirt - a tutorial go HERE.

15.  Make a precious purse - fit for a doll.  Free pattern & tutorial go HERE

16.  "Never throw away an old wallet!"  Free pattern & tutorial on how to make doll shoes and a purse from an old wallet go HERE

17.  Tutorial on how to make a super simple doll purse from a jewelry pouch go HERE

18.  Free pattern to make the jumper on this doll outfit.  HERE

19.  Pattern review on refashioning a bathrobe into a doll sized kimono.  HERE

10 dollar store purchases into clothes for an 18" doll with complete tutorials and some free patterns too.

20.  Little Miss Santa Outfit from Santa hats go  HERE 

21.  Sweater Dress from thermal socks go HERE 

22.  Leggings from knee highs go HERE

23.  Elf Outfit from Christmas Stocking go HERE 

24.  Doll sleeping bag from a chair cushion & tea towel go HERE 

25.  Shorts from shirt sleeves go HERE 

26.  Skirt & scarf from a scarf go HERE 

27.  Party dress using a sequin headband go HERE

28.  Night Gown from a baby fleece blanket go HERE 

29.  Zebra Jacket from a fleece scarf go HERE 

30.  Easy Doll Hospital Gown go HERE

I think that'll be enough for now. That should keep you busy for a while. Which of all these tutorials is your favorite?  Would love to hear!  

xoxo Grandma

Linked to: Nap Time Creations, Crafty Allie/Gina's Craft Corner

Easy Doll Hospital Gown - a FREE Pattern

Last March, I participated in a service activity and as part of that activity, we made simple medical dolls and hospital gowns to fit those dolls.  As I was making them, I realized they are the perfect size for an American Girl doll. HERE is the link to that pattern; go to "Items to make" then to "Medical Play Dolls" and then to "Doll Gown Pattern".  This is a super easy sewing project and can be made in around 15 minutes.  

Supplies needed: 

• scrap of fabric about 9 inches wide x 20 inches long (I used flannel)
• coordinating thread 
• a package of double folded bias seam tape 

1. Cut out the pattern.
2. Sew the shoulder seams together.
3. Sew seam tape to the sleeves.
4. Sew side seams together.
5. Sew seam tape to the back around to the hem.
6. Sew seam tape to the neck leaving around 7 inches to tie the gown closed.

That's it. You're finished - you could also make one of THESE clipboards and then add a few medical charts to that clipboard.  You can download some perfectly sized charts HERE.

Happy Sewing!  xoxo Grandma

Linked to:  Gina's Craft Corner/Crafty Allie

Pants Refashioned into a Doll Teepee - a Tutorial

A few weeks ago, I made an American Indian costume for an American Girl doll.  After making it, I decided it would be fun to make the doll a teepee because play time is so much more fun with accessories, right?  This doll-sized teepee is perfect for a doll 18" or smaller. The best part about making this is that it can be made from a pair of pants that you no longer wear, making this another totally inexpensive project. Following too many Christmas expenditures, this inexpensive project is the best kind of project!  

Supplies Needed:
One pair of pants - the wider the pant legs the better.
1 package of extra wide double found bias tape
Thread 
Scissors
7 - 3/8" dowels

1. Start with a pair of pants.  Cut both legs off - from the hem up needs to be at least 25 inches.  Unpick any seams and cut off the hem.  
2. Cut the pant legs into even triangles.
3. Sew the triangles together per this diagram: 
   
4. 

   After you cut an opening in the top of your teepee, round off the corners of the bottom of the fabric circle by cutting as needed. 
5. If you want a design on your teepee, cut the design from a contrasting fabric.  HERE is the deer design, if you want to copy the design I used.  I drew the antlers onto the deer with a washable fabric marker and then sewed the antler design with a tight, narrow zig zag stitch.  You'll need to cut out two deer from  this pattern.  Place the deer onto the lower portion of each flap.  One will be reversed so that your deer are facing each other and the opening of the teepee. 
   

   
6. Next stitch the "do not sew" edge or flap opening by folding over the unfinished edge and stitching close to that edge (see top right photo). 
7. Sew brown seam tape around the bottom of the circle, starting and stopping at the flap opening.
8. For the ties, take the remainder of the seam tape and cut in half.
9. Sew that seam tape together finishing off one end of each piece of seam tape.
10. Sew this seam tape at 9" from the bottom of the tee pee.
11. Follow as described in this diagram:
12. Fold in half 1" of 1/8" wide elastic and sew this to the top and bottom of each seam. This elastic will be used to hold your poles to the teepee.

13.  I next added a little white jumbo rick rack onto the bottom of the teepee by sewing at the top and bottom of the trim.  The white from this trim added a little punch of contrasting color.

14.  Thread the dowels through the elastic.

15.  Tie the dowels together right above the opening. I used a piece of leather cut into a 1/4" wide x 12" long stripe and wrapped the leather around the dowels a couple of times. This will hold your dowels together.

16.  Spread the "poles" apart and let a child have fun pretending.

xoxo Grandma