Trends to Sew: Jacket and Coat Patterns I Think People Should Use More

Yeah, that's right. I said it.

I think y'alls should be sewing more of these and offering them for sale, haha.

Or start sewing them.

As some of them I've never even seen for sale.

Unless they just sold that quickly.

But I'll tell y'alls what to do 

because I like telling y'alls what to do.

;-)

The Shinjuku Starlet jacket pattern was recently released, 

so I'll forgive you guys for not sewing it and sending it to me for free.

I mean...for not sewing it yet.

But hey!

It's released now, so go show it some love!

http://www.pixiefaire.com/collections/18-inch-doll-jacket-patterns/products/shinjuku-starlet-jacket-18-doll-clothes

The same goes for the Ginza Girl Coat and Capelet.

http://www.pixiefaire.com/collections/18-inch-doll-jacket-patterns/products/ginza-girl-coat-and-capelet-18-doll-clothes

I haven't seen this for sale yet.

Though it will involve skilz and time.

And obviously, being a coat, it will cost more in a listing.

But really, this thing is fabulous!

F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S

And up next, the Stratford Swing Coat.

http://www.pixiefaire.com/collections/18-inch-doll-jacket-patterns/products/stratford-swing-coat-18-doll-clothes

I have yet to see someone sew this and sell it.

Maybe you are hiding from me.

You saucy minx, you.

But this is a beautiful design and I think it is perfect for the upcoming 1960s Melody Ellison doll from American Girl, as well as modern dolls that like vintage styles.

Shoutout back to 2014, but people just don't make this jacket!

The Peleton Jacket from the Euro Libby line.

http://www.pixiefaire.com/collections/18-inch-doll-jacket-patterns/products/peleton-jacket-18-doll-clothes

Why?

What's wrong with this pattern?

Is it a huge PITA?

I'm not sure, as I don't sew.

But man, it's a gorgeous jacket.

I want one so bad...after my money tree blossoms, that is. :-/

Well, maybe I gave someone a little bit of inspiration today.

I hope so.

And just in case anyone wants to make me these and 

send them to me for free, please do, please do.

But if not, at least sew them and sell them my friends!!

Thanks for visiting us today!!!

Trends to Sew: Signature Jackets, Part One

I'm gonna go against my own new policy of 

only trying to put in one item per Trends to Sew post, haha.

I've already broken it in the past, derp.

But hey, I am still trying to learn my new system!

Today we introduce the idea of signature jackets.

We have been talking about signature tops -- 

making your top offerings stand out, make them unique, make them more buyable.

Jackets are a great item to sell as a separate.

Some people include them in whole outfits, 

but then that often makes that outfit very, very expensive.

If it were me, I'd just sell the jacket.

And yes, it can be an expensive listing.

Not like $100.

Yes, some people will still buy it.

But I'm not gonna lay down $100 for just a jacket, jfyi.

I would try to make your jackets priced at $50 or less.

And of course, the pricing should be determined 

by the costs of your supplies and your labor time.

Some people will complain if your jacket costs $50 -- but those in the know, will know that jackets take a lot of work and a lot of precise patterning for a good shape and fit.

These aren't the leggings I half-sewed from baby pants.

(See my Instagram account for those: 

https://www.instagram.com/thedollwardrobeblog/)

And many sellers just don't do jackets 

because they are too much of a pain in the butt to sew.

But that means, if you do make great jackets -- 

you have less competition out there from other shops.

Liberty Jane and Pixie Faire offer a lot of jacket patterns.

The company knows that jackets really help pull outfits together 

and make them look more realistic and human.

There is a reason why most of the collectible Liberty Jane outfits 

are based around a signature jacket style.

And jackets work for all seasons, and many different kinds of outfits -- casual, fancy, skirts, dresses, shorts, pants, girl outfits, boy outfits, etc. etc.

So think jackets!!!

GUESS is always a good place to start for jacket ideas.

Here are three.

Elena Suede Chain Jacket

Bohemian glamour at its best, this cropped jacket belongs in your new-season wardrobe. The luxurious suede design features woven details and gold-tone chain fringe for statement-making allure.

• Cropped suede jacket. Collarless. Long sleeves.
• Braided hem with gold-tone chain trim. Chain fringe at bottom hem.
• Open front. Lined.

If you make something like this ^^^ actually out of suede, leather, or even fake leathers, make sure you fully line the jacket so that the suede or leather/pleather is not touching the doll's vinyl on her arms, wrists or neck.

No touchy the vinyl anywhere!!!

That type of fabric has a 500% chance of staining the vinyl,

especially if someone leaves it on their doll for a long time, and the darker the fabric color, the quicker the stain will take.

VANESSA DENIM JACKET IN DARK VINTAGE WASH

Update your denim jacket with this fashion-forward layering piece. High-shine hardware adds a statement-making yet easy-to-wear look.

• Denim jacket. Pointed collar. Long sleeves with zippered cuffs.
• Pieced front and back yoke. Two front zipper pockets.
• Front snap-button closures

The color of this jacket ^^^ is fantastic and trendy.

And the cropped styling is something that is back in style 

that doll clothing makers seem to not always pay attention to.

If you don't want to make a cropped jacket, 

but you want to go the denim route in a "new-old" way....

VINTAGE DENIM ZIP-SLEEVE JACKET IN ACID WASH

GUESS Originals Collection channel the season's laid-back vintage vibe with this convertible denim jacket. The medium blue shade and relaxed fit give you that most-wanted '80s look while retro buttons and labels add a nod to our sexy blue jean heritage. 

• Denim jacket. Pointed collar. Detachable long sleeves.
• Zipper details at sleeves. Allover acid-wash effect. Darting at front. Self-tie belt at waist.

Yes, the 80s are now vintage.

That has happened.

And apparently in the 80s we tasted our own fingers a lot, who knows why.

Acid wash is back.

Has been for awhile.

And today's youth wants to once again look like we did back in the 80s.

And you can make it work for the dolls, despite 

your possible knee-jerk reaction to cower in fear from all things 80s.

For example, this jacket ^^^ - I think it's actually quite cute and fits pretty well. 

(Unlike most of what people were wearing in the 80s -- it was balloon sleeves, balloon parachute pants, balloon bosoms, balloon hair, balloon leg-warmers, stuff puffing out all over the place).

I think if it was designed in the right way, that jacket ^^^ could be 

very flattering and look very edgy and trendy for the dolls.

(But it probably won't be very easy to accomplish, haha.

It could very easily be a beautiful disaster. D'oh!

There's a challenge for y'alls. ;-)  )

So that's all the signature jackets suggestions for today.

If you want to cheat, feel free to check out GUESS's jacket offerings 

and their general spring 2016 collection for inspiration.

They have adult lines and kids lines, jfyi.

http://shop.guess.com/en

(And yes, GUESS for some odd reason mostly features models 

with their mouths hanging open -- and it bugs us too. Sigh.)

I will post some more GUESS jackets in Part Two....

Thank you for visiting us today!!!

Trends to Sew: Conquering the Romper, Part One

Well, I was doing those "A Better ______ for GOTY Lea Clark,"

but that seemed to have a backlash.

Blergh.

So I will just secretly post about a 

better romper for Lea here in this post, haha.

When I saw the leaked pics of this...

...I was like dear God of the Parrots I hope those are pajamas.

And luckily, they were.

And as far as garish pajamas, they work well.

I can't see myself buying them.

But I have thought about it, because they are really fun.

But the issue I have with rompers is this - 

even the ones that aren't made to be pajamas, often look like pajamas.

Like this one:

It's beautiful.

I would wear this.

I would want one for my dolls.

I want one for my Lea.

But it screams "loungewear" to me.

I'm not gonna wear this out grocery shopping or out to the movies.

I am going to sit on my couch in this.

So yes -- make this, sew it, sell it -- but I would advertise it as loungewear.

And I think it will do very well.

The secret / key to a going-out romper?

Higher end drapey, silken fabric.

And darker colors.

Dark blues.

Navy.

Black.

Deep reds, burnt oranges.

These things ^^^ make the romper look more sophisticated 

and for going outside into the world of people.

For example:

And...

That one ^^^ could have easily 

become a bathrobe-pajama combo -- 

but the choices of colors, overlapping shawl neckline, 

drapey polyester fabric, and slanted pockets, sells this as going-out attire.

In different colors...

A patterned fabric...

Even a thicker fabric...

And all I would be thinking is - spa day bathrobe outfit.

Alrighty then...

Again, I am trying to make my posts shorter so 

that I can actually produce more than one of them a week.

So this is all for today.

But I will be posting more on the "Conquering the Romper" theme though!

So stay tuned my fashion-forward friends!!!

Trends to Sew: Lace-Up Ornate Lace Peplum Top

So I am trying to post more frequently, 

and in order to do that I have to avoid crafting 30-page-long posts, haha.

I end up spending all my free time during one week trying to write one post.

Derp.

Not working!

So for these Trends to Sew posts I am going to post one thing per post.

This may not be incredibly useful to everyone.

But hopefully it is in some fashion.

(Get it? Fashion! Pun!)

Well, anyways -- we won't know until we try!!!

So in the earlier post I was talking about making "signature" tops that stand out.

And one of the things I'd love to see more of is peplum tops that aren't just tank tops.

That aren't just from that one Liberty Jane pattern.

(Which I love - but remember, I advocate out-of-the-box thinking!)

So think peplum -- but with varying sleeve lengths and in different fabrics 

and stylings than what we have been seeing in the past.

For example, this Lace-Up Ornate Lace Top.

Peasant top styling with the lace-up neckline.

3/4 length bell sleeves.

Fancy lace fabric in cream and rose colors.

(Rose is very in this late winter/early spring.)

And that drapey peplum waistline.

If you make it -- please sell it with a coordinating cami for underneath it.

Not that many people own doll camis.

And then finding one that "goes with" the top is almost impossible.

It doesn't have to match in colors -- 

just not clash with the lace top!

And don't build the cami into the top.

Then your buyer can't use that cami with their other clothing items.

Derp.

You want versatility people!

Caption from Forever21: 

"In ornate-patterned knit lace, this semi-sheer top is complete with a tasseled lace-up neckline, 3/4 trumpet sleeves, a subtle peplum waist, and a cami underlayer with adjustable straps."

This will look great with distressed denim shorts -- like on the model here -- just not so short in the legs, haha. We don't need to see doll underwear...

Or a mini skirt with button-down styling.

Okay, that was my one item per Trends to Sew post post.

You guys like it?

Haha.

We try, we try.

Thank you for visiting us today and 

stay tuned for more posts!!!

Trends to Sew: Etsy Shop Shoutouts, Tees and Twists

One of the things that happens when you have been collecting 

for American Girl dolls for awhile is that you have a bizzillion tee shirts.

Now I love a good tee shirt.

As one could tell from my collection.

I have plain tees, graphic tees, tees with contrast stitching.

Short sleeve.

Tank tops.

3/4 length sleeves.

Full length sleeves.

Crop tops.

Tunic tops.

American Girl tees.

Etsy tees.

Homemade tees from my mother.

Etc. etc.

The list could go on forever.

But I'm kinda saturated on normal short-sleeve, regular-length tee shirts.

Sure - make them, and still sell them peeps! 

There are a lot of people out there who still need short-sleeve tee shirts!

And trendy ones to boot!

But also think outside the box!

Here are some trendy tees that are far from 

boring and are very worth creating and selling:

From Closet 4 Chloe...

https://www.etsy.com/shop/Closet4Chloe

Crop tops are in style.

They ain't going anywhere.

So keep those in mind.

Note the contrasting sleeves of the top example.

And the trendy graphic on the bottom tank top.

And she recently sold some stretch velvet shirts -- a good example of a 

"signature" piece that only she is offering.

Peruse Closet 4 Chloe's for sale and sold items for more inspiration!

Lori Liz Girls and Dolls does a great job on making trendy, modern tanks and shirts.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/LoriLizGirlsandDolls

I prefer her styles with the lower necklines, such as these.

Sparrow and Wren Mercantile is also a great place for tops.

(They used to be Etsy's Janie Jumps.)

https://www.etsy.com/shop/SparrowAndWrenMerc

They provide distinct fabric styles. 

As well as creative alternatives to just the normal tee pattern.

3/4 length sleeves.

Scoop necklines.

V-neck.

Deep V-necks.

Pocket Tees.

Tank tops.

Long sleeves.

Thinking beyond the short sleeve tee is awesome!!!

...

So in some upcoming posts we are going to analyze 

the "tee shirt" and give you some human examples 

as alternative stylings to the basic design.

We are calling them "Tee Shirt Twists."

That way, if you are sewing up some shirts you have ideas 

for how to make your shirts more "signature," more unique.

To let them stand out from the crowd.

First Tee Shirt Twist: Ringer Tees!

Yes, some people have been making these all along -- 

but here note the current colors, how they are being styled with the rest of the outfit, 

and how the neckline isn't choking the person to death.

It has a gentle scoop.

And the sleeves are just a little fuller than cap styling.

(But you could go wild and do whatever you want with the sleeves man!

3/4 length, full, tank, whatevs man!!!

Just make sure the sleeve cuff is a contrasting fabric.)

They are fitted tees, but not claustrophobic.

And you can go loose or skintight, 

depending on how you want to sew them.

Of course the key to these tees is the very thin, lightweight jersey-esque fabric,

-- (these are rayon and spandex) -- 

too thick and you look like you are wearing baby clothes.

Dun dun dunnn!

These ringer tees are from Urban Outfitter's...

Project Social T

Made with love in the USA, Project Social T creates elevated basics that we wear every day: deep-v tee shirts, strappy tanks and cozy pullovers.

We will be featuring more 

Urban Outfitters examples in upcoming "Tee Shirt Twists!"

Stay Tuned and 

Thank You for Visiting Everyone!!!