Its A Wrap

I am like a little kid when it comes to the new American Girl Doll of the year.  When I heard that the new doll was going to be from Hawaii, I knew that my dolls would want something new to wear.  I remember my trip to Hawaii with my Grandma and Mom when I was a little girl.  I had a wonderful wrap dress that I could wear over my bathing suit or just by itself.   I don't remember exactly what my dress looked like so I got out my daughter's hula dance outfit from a few years ago.  Her outfit is a skirt with fringe along the bottom and a little tube top.  So I combined those two ideas for my It's A Wrap.

I started off by drawing a paper pattern and  fitting it to the doll.  When I had somewhat of the shape that I wanted I started making the dress out of a old flannel sheet that I save just for this purpose.

This is the first try.  It's a bit loose and the arm holes don't fit the way I want.  So I made some adjustments and tried again.

the second one fist better around the doll, but it is still too long and the arm holes are not perfect.

After taping up the hem to the length that I want -it's on to number three.

 This time I am a lot closer to what I want, but there are still a few adjustments to make.

I 

I want the neck edge to comedown a bit and the side of the front piece is a bit too wide.

When all of the adjustments are made I try it one more time with a similar fabric to the finished product.  This is some vintage fabric that was given to me. 

Doll Size Soccer

Soccer is over for the Tiger Lilies, but I had the best ever season! My soccer players were the best, and the parents were very supportive. It makes me want to coach again next year!

I made AG soccer outfits using jerseys from a previous season.  Yes I was lucky enough to get that orange/pink color twice!   I even carefully took off the neck ribbing from the girl size uniform.  They turned out so cool...it has made me think about re-purposing all kinds of clothes....

Make a doll Headband

Supplies For headband:

11 1/2" x 2" fabric
one small hair tie
Chopstick
barrel pen taken apart


When I am doing my daughters hair, it is easy for me to break the hair ties. When I do take the one I broke when I get the new one, so I always have the broken one lying around until I remember to throw it away. This is the first time I have ever found a use for them.
Sew the elastic together, the connection will be covered by the headband.

cut the fabric 11 1/2 x 2"


Fold the fabric in half, use a 1/4" seam sew and L tube (the seam goes around the short edge). Use a tube turner or a chopstick and a pen barrel to turn the tube.
Fold back the edge of the fabric and sew it around the elastic.

Tuck in the edge of to open side of the tube and sew to secure the edge. Then sew the edge around the elastic. Make sure both seams are on the same side.