Meet Kirsten

So Abby isn't the only one around here with an American Girl doll. That's right, I have one too. I got her for Christmas in 2009--the year she was rudely "retired" into the American Girl archives. I always wanted her when I was a kid because she is a pioneer doll and has cute braids. Here's an old-fashioned picture of her in 1854:

Actually, this doll wasn't really around in 1854, so here's a better picture of her:

She's cute.

Abby loves to play with Kirsten (although she is forbidden to take out Kirsten's perfectly smooth braids.) But since Kirsten was archived, we can't get any of the little pioneer clothes that go along with the Kirsten books. So I was pretty excited when I ran across an online collection of the dress patterns that were published by American Girl years ago. Kirsten's set includes her flannel underwear, nightgown, birthday dress and apron, school dress, and accessories. Here is the nightgown I made:

I'm pretty pleased with the way it turned out. Now Kirsten can get cozy with Abby and the other dolls while we read Kirsten's stories. But if Kirsten spends too many nights with Abby, she'll end up looking like this:

This is Julie and Ivy every morning. Every morning Abby drags them upstairs with her blankets to watch cartoons before school. And every morning I take them back downstairs to put on Abby's bed. And I brush their hair.

I also made Kirsten's birthday dress and apron:

The baby rick-rack was kind of a pain to sew, but it turned out well. Abby loved it, probably because it's pink. This is the dress that Kirsten gets for her birthday, which is June 8th. And yes, Abby has marked her calendar with each of her dolls' birthdays.

Next I'll make either the flannel underclothes or the school dress. Maybe a sunbonnet. I'd really love to sew all these old AG patterns for Abby for Christmas. I think it would be fun to find a little trunk, fill it with these old-fashioned clothes, and have it be Julie and Ivy's dress-up trunk.

That would be so fun for Abby (and me).