Raggedy Progress

Here are the ones that are just about done, clothes and all. While out garage-sale-ing today, I cut out and sewed three pair of the smaller bloomers--DH drove, of course. The FiberFest is the second weekend in October, and so I need to work hard if I'm going to have a good selection of my wares to sell.

My Little Seamstress, Audrey

Audrey is five now, as of today, and here she is with the shiny little Singer Spartan sewing machine I gave her. She loves to sew, and a Spartan, with its motor removed and a handcrank fitted on, makes the best sewing machine ever for a young child. Please do NOT buy any child a plastic (or metal, for that matter) "child's" sewing machine. Nothing will discourage them more. Find a Singer Spartan and go to TreadleOn and learn how to replace the motor with a handcrank mechanism. It's easy or, believe me, I couldn't do it!! Once you have the spoked handwheel and the crank, all it takes is a screwdriver and about five minutes of your time.

Audrey's machine was made in Kilbowie, Scotland in 1960. I found that out online. Of course, the K in its model number already told me it was made in Kilbowie. That's what the K stands for. Its serial number is what allowed me to find out when its batch was ordered.

Art Fabric Mills Doll, c 1900

This doll was sold as a piece of fabric that the buyer cut out at home and sewed together; my friend Karen generously gifted me with it the other day and I was so glad to have it! Most of these you see on the market are very dirty, holey, and faded from years of loving by children, but this one is very clean and almost new looking. It was sold from about 1900 until the 1920s, I believe. If you copy and print out the front and back of the head on a fabric sheet like Printed Treasures, you can make a doll that looks much like the original, in just about any size you want. The original is about 24" tall and I am making a "clone" the same size, but I will also make some little ones. I will post pictures here as I make this doll.

Gee! Wish I'd wiped down the microwave before taking Mr. Scotty's picture!!! He is made from wool from a pattern whose designer I will credit in a minute. I'll have to track down the pattern, as I downloaded it from a blog a few weeks ago, and I firmly believe in giving credit. The designer made it from felt, but as I mentioned, I made mine from reprised wool and needed to add seam allowances so that it would not turn out emaciated because I was using his girth in seams. I think he's quite the charmer!