I spent the whole lovely weekend concentrating on SAGA projects.  I recently joined the Keystone Smart Smockers chapter of SAGA and their annual fundraiser is coming up on April 8, 2017.  It consists of an 18″ doll complete with a wardrobe piece contributed by each member.  It will be raffled off at the Mercer Museum’s Doll’s Day Out.  Here is the dress I made.  A red and white gingham dress with scalloped red belt and short puffy sleeves.

 

 

I used a doll sloper I’ve had for years from a class I took at a local heirloom shop.  It was taught by an lovely woman named Doris who had many granddaughters, and she knew EXACTLY how those lovely doll dresses were “handled” lol.  And remembering how my own daughters would dress their dolls, I was in total agreement.

 

Doris developed techniques to strenghten the weak spots and reduce the ripped seams that seem to pop up on so many purchased doll clothes.  Little girls will jam those dolly arms into sleeves and those little dolly fingers end up going right through underarm seams, cuffs, and sometimes they rip the whole sleeve off.

 

So Doris taught us how to line the dress bodice and totally enclose the armhole seams.  This creates a very strong armhole/underarm seam and adds another line of defense against those dolly fingers.  Even the collars are totally enclosed and protected.  And my own personal experience proves that she was right.

 

None of the dresses I made with this method ever ripped whereas dresses I bought at doll shows and fundraisers with serged armhole seams always came apart and I would have a tearful little girl asking me to fix it.  I have to admit that making this dress brought back some bittersweet memories of all those American Girl dolls and accessories all over the living room.  I have to apologize for the poor lighting and lack of model though.  I took the picture at the last minute and it was dark outside.

 

I’m going to make another one because I’ve decided to publish it as a pattern on my etsy shop.  Along with the baby clothes I’m developing, I will have a doll section.  I already have the models and props upstairs in my daughters’ rooms! lol.  Might as well put them to work!  So look for it soon as well as other designs.

 

Next, I finished a WeeCare gown and I photographed it on my smocking board so you can get a better idea of how tiny it is.  One part of SAGA’s mission is participation in the WeeCare program and donating preemie clothing to NICUs all across the country.  Chapters can donate directly to their local hospitals, and some chapters will bring donations to our national convention once a year for distribution.  This is the smallest size for a one pound baby.

 

 

Here are all the lovely things created by our members at our convention in Hampton, Virginia last September.  It is really a touching thing to see up close.  All the love and perfect stitching that goes into these gowns.  And all the parents and hospital nurses that are comforted knowing that these tiny babies can have some dignity.

 

 

We make all different sizes from one to five pound babies.  Of course the littlest ones are used for Bereavement Gowns, so these beautiful little dresses are the only piece of clothing that this little person will ever own.  And it is a huge comfort to Mom and Dad, who are grieving over their loss, to see their baby presented in a beautiful little outfit.

 

Some parents will take these, along with other mementos from the hospital, home in Bereavement Envelopes made by us. These are padded folio type of envelopes, made from pretty fabric and decorated with lace or embroidery, tied with a pretty ribbon.

 

The larger sizes are used for the preemies that are going home.  Often, parents are suddenly faced with an early delivery and they are caught with nothing in which to dress their little angel.  So the NICU nurses can dress the baby in these little pictures and the parents have one less thing to worry about.  Some hospitals even use them as graduation gowns when the baby moves up from the NICU to the regular nursery.  Here is a picture of the different sizes.

 

 

 

I always try to make every stitch perfect out of respect for the parents and the baby.  It is such a tough time and anything I can do to help is a blessing.  It’s a ministry that I am proud to participate in.  If you are interested in learning more go the the SAGA website at www.smocking.org.  There are many members who are eager to teach you how to make these gowns, so join us!  You will not regret it.