Spring Sewing Swap

I recently participated in an American Girl spring sewing swap on AGPlaythings (a forum for us crazy AG doll lovers.) About a month ago, I signed up for the sewing swap by filling out a questionnaire about what dolls we have and what our "dream outfit" would be. After sending that in, I was sent another forum member's same questionnaire. The person assigned to me wanted a party dress for her daughter's dolls. So I spent some time thinking and planning. I bought the supplies and a pair of matching shoes. And then I got to work.

This is what I made:


I used pink taffeta, which I love. Taffeta is so crisp and swishy. I also added a layer of tulle to the underskirt and a sash of grosgrain ribbon. I was going to glue the little flowers to hair clips, but decided they looked pretty on the sash.

The fun thing is that the person I was making this dress for also has a Julie doll. I think Julie looks good in pink. In fact, Abby was just a little sad to see this dress go--I guess I'll have to make another.

So after the outfit was finished, I mailed it off. I was a little nervous, but excited too. I was especially excited for our package to come from another secret forum member. On my questionnaire I had said that my dream outfit was a Civil War-era dress--Abby and I were dying (okay, mostly I was dying) to see what we would get.

On Friday afternoon we spied the mailman putting a large envelope in our mailbox. We ran out into the rain in our bare feet--we might have even skipped. The excitement was pretty high--even Cameron started to jump up and down while clapping his hands. Inside the envelope was this:


My dream Civil War-era dress! I think it is so pretty. The person who sewed for me also included the sweetest handwritten note (on Kirsten stationary no less), matching hair ribbons, and a cute bouquet of flowers. But what really impresses me is that I happen to know that this person is a teenager--wow, she is already such a talented seamstress. I don't even want to talk about the bad stuff I was sewing at that age . . .

I have to say that signing up for this sewing swap was so much fun--I would totally sign up for another one in a heartbeat. Even Graciella thought it was fun:


I mean, doesn't she look like she's having so much fun? Whatever, she's ugly.

So that's the exciting doll news around here. Abby keeps telling me that Julie wants to try this purple dress on. She says that Ivy will look good in it too. But Kirsten is a little reluctant to take it off. I better get going on some more taffeta party dresses . . .