till we have faces: Funny Little Projects and UFO's

I have always wanted to make doll clothes and accessories. I am even more interested in doll-making -even though my Mother in Law warned me that sewing doll things isn't that fun (especially for Barbie).

The problems is I haven't really had much of a chance to sew doll stuff. Yes, I have two daughters, but neither one of them have been too interested in dolls. This is a bit strange too, for Allison, since she is especially "girly".

For one of my sons I made a doll diaper (it had trucks on it), a sleeper and a fleece sweater for when he was expecting a new baby sibling (he was a preschooler then). He played with the doll as we prepared for the new baby. I thought it would be a good transition for him. He did outgrow it though. By school age the doll was history.

I made this pattern ~ Butterick 4027 (out of print)

It turned out okay. Nothing spectacular - but I never really found out if the child enjoyed it - it was made for a gift. I never saw anyone playing with it. If memory serves me, I chose to make a backpack with a changing pad attached, like a diaper bag, rather than the case. I don't think I made two dolls either.

However, that was years ago - at least 9. I can barely remember the whole thing. What does remind me once in awhile is when I open up my sewing supplies and start going through them. There is the doll pattern piece from the above pinned to a flesh-coloured bit of broadcloth - must have been waiting since way back when I intended to make a similar set for someone or other. This leads me to my next issue. UFO's (unfinished objects). My stash is full of 'um.

For example:

I have a bag with cut out pieces for a couple of puppets from yet another out-of-print pattern.

Since I started it, Kwik Sew came out with a newer, pretty pattern. Which I just had to have. Unfortunately, my kids are almost too old for puppets.

I have plenty of other UFO's kicking around in boxes and bags. Among these include:

1. Baby Quilt - my granddaughter is now 3! - needs only one side of binding finished :(

2. Queen Sized bed quilt - for my bed - squares are pieced (simple star) but not put together into a quilt top

3. McCall Blouse with flounce neckline and bell sleeves (also out of print) - only cut out, nothing is together!

4. Pirate Ship fort - ties onto bunk bed to make lower part the fort (needs ties, more decorations)

5. Kwik Sew Skirt for me (needs hemmed)

6. Loomed shawl/scarf - for me (needs to be about 2' longer!)

7. Loomed dish towel - for someone (needs a few more inches)

and the worst of all....

8. Log Cabin quilt for my son (now 10!) for his crib/toddler bed.

This one warrants an explanation. It is large enough to TUCK in on a toddler bed. The top is done - but I got stuck on the actual quilting part. I tried machine quilting it (free motion) and it didn't move very well under the foot so that the stitches are really small. Nearly impossible to pull out. I recently found and rescued this - I worked on stitch ripping for awhile, but there is so much more to go. I have the chance now to give it to my granddaughter who will be born in February.

No kidding. It is completely true. A number of projects above need about 30 minutes of time and attention. Some need hours. This isn't a complete list - I have no idea what is all there really. Especially when you consider all the fabric and patterns I have that aren't cut.

Despite what it looks like - I do finish projects too. Plenty. But it appears I also have a short attention span. It something takes too long, or there is too long between working sessions on a project, I lose momentum.

Back to the FUNNY LITTLE PROJECTS. My newest are these little doll diapers:

I think dolls can be great, but I am not a fan of dolls that DO things. Or take batteries. However, for Christmas my granddaughter got a Baby Alive. Baby Alive isn't new - I remember Baby Alive when I was a kid. Baby Alive now days not only drinks, eats, wets but it takes batteries. But that isn't the best part. Baby Alive disposable diapers cost $10 for 6!!!!!

That is not a misprint. My granddaughter and daughter played with this doll on Christmas and they used 2. Now, I am pretty sure that if they are only wet, you can hang them up to dry and reuse them (at least a few times). However at some point they will need replaced, so I decided to make some out of cloth scraps by stretching out and tracing one of the wet diapers (after drying out of course). Since I made lots of real cloth diapers, I used familiar methods. The blue and yellow ones are exactly the same size as the original disposable diaper. The two white prints I shaped a bit by rounding out the corners and bound with white fold-over elastic. All of these should be functional and have soakers since Baby Alive wets. If you are thinking of making diapers for a regular doll (that doesn't wet) they you can skip that part. I hope Baby Alive doesn't we SO much that a waterproof cover is needed, but if so, I could make a couple of those too. If you plan on making a diaper for a Baby Alive doll and you aren't planning on taking any chances, you could make an "AIO" (All in One) style diaper right off the bat. This would just require a waterproof layer for the outside, such as rain coat fabric or PUL (polyurethane-laminate used in covers diaper covers) Better yet, make a cover out of a scratchy unused wool sweater - add lanolin and your done! I am sure the doll won't mind.