How about a book review and a blog tour post?
My online sewing friend Erin Hentzel has just released
her third book of patterns for 18″ dolls,
Doll Dress Boutique
(can’t wait to get it? here’s a link to the book on Amazon)
Erin is the owner, designer, blogger and sewist
at Avery Lane Designs.
She sells individual patterns and offers tutorials on her website at
http://www.averylanesewing.com
(while you’re there check out her tips on piping)
Erin’s first book was ‘Sew in Style’.
That volume included a full complement of simple projects
all for 18″ dolls. The focus was on helping youngsters learn to sew.
You may recall my review of her second volume, ‘Doll Days’.
Billed as ‘Modern Designs inspired by vintage looks’
this book included a variety of garments for a bit more skill.
Read the original post here: Doll Days Book Review and Blog Tour
What about the new book?
Wow!
The NEW book, Doll Dress Boutique
shines Erin’s spotlight exclusively on dresses.
Twenty-eight complete patterns, plus bonus combinations
to make over 40 different dresses.
Did I say ‘Wow’ already?
Let’s just say that again.
Wow!
This one will really inspire your secret ‘inner designer’!
There are sleeveless and short-sleeved offerings,
several necklines, skirt style variations, design appliques.
It just goes on and on.
The format of the book has the feel of a workbook,
in the best possible way.
Clear instructions abound, with all the photographs you need
to make everything easy to understand.
Patterns are attached in the back of the book, printed on both sides
and meant for tracing.
There is also a link included for purchasers to download the patterns
directly to their own computer for easy printing and cutting.
This is the method I chose and it was simple to do.
Prefer to do all your reading on a laptop or tablet?
There’s an e-book version available, too.
(read to the end, you could win the e-book version!)
Erin has really covered all the bases for us!
Now to dive into the book itself…
Please don’t skip chapter One!
It’s chock full of general sewing tips and product advice.
This is followed with instructions for sewing individual components,
such as the bodice, skirt or sleeves.
Subsequent chapters zero in on a specific style,
such as ‘Chapter Three: Classic Sleeveless Dresses’
You’ll find excellent photographs
of several dresses in each chapter based on the same basic shape.
Each example showcases one or more of the pattern options.
You’ll find this inspirational to your inner dress designer!
So many wonderful ideas here!
My greatest difficulty was in deciding what to make first!
here’s what I finally decided on.
For those with a bit more sewing experience, you’ll quickly realize that there
are far more than 40 style combinations here!
Can you tell I really loved this book?
I make many of my own patterns,
some of which are for sale in my Etsy shop.
This tends to make me very picky about fit,
pattern instructions, and the like.
I find many faults with lots of commercial patterns I’ve purchased.
Not so with this book!
Erin’s garments fit.
They are simple to sew and the instructions are clear.
Here’s the second dress I made. Fit is perfection here, too.
Want some details on my sample dresses?
The first dress, this one –
is a quilting type cotton print based on Chapter 7: Princess-seamed Dresses.
I didn’t feel this print needed princess seaming so I chose to cut my bodice fabric
using the lining pieces, #38 and #39 for both fashion fabric & lining.
The center front overlay #35 is the pink dot.
Skirt #23 from the Tuxedo Twirl section was cut on the shortest length.
I added a crochet lace to the hemline.
first serging the lace to the lower edge of the skirt, right sides together.
Use your different feed to make this easier on a curved edge.
Press the lace down and topstitch to keep things neat.
If you have an edge-stitching foot now is a great time to use it!
I do like to cut any waistline sashes on the bias, whenever possible.
It makes the sash more flexible and ties a prettier bow!
I added a rolled edge to my sash to reduce bulk.
(watch for a future blog post with a tutorial for tying a pretty sash bow like this one!)
For my second dress I opted to go with something fancy!
This gorgeous soft-pink stretch taffeta called to me!
Make me a party dress, it said.
I knew just the pattern!
The Classic sleeveless dress with the gathered skirt!
Don’t you just love the sheen of that fabric? So lush!
What did I do differently here?
Not much. As stated before, the fit of these patterns is perfect!
This lets me focus all my energies on design plans!
I lined the bodice in off-white batiste.
This is lighter in weight than the taffeta and reduces bulk.
I like to serge the lower edge of my skirts first,
even completing the hand-stitched hemline before attaching
the skirt to the dress.
The bodice was constructed and skirt attached before the
pretty waistline ribbon was stitched in place.
This glittery sheer 1 1/2″ ribbon was found
on the holiday aisle at JoAnn Fabrics.
I pinned and topstitched the lower edge in place,
leaving the upper edge free.
I also stitched ‘in the ditch’ of the side seams,
through the ribbon, to further secure.
The short raw ends of the ribbon are hidden under the hook and loop tape closure.
The bow in back is pre-made, using a template method that I include
in my pattern, the Candy Shoppe,
which you can find here:
the bow is simply hand stitched in place after the garment is complete.
You could certainly hand tie your own bow or simply
make a great sash, as Erin details on page 18 of her book.
I have wonderful ideas for more of the styles in this book!
I really cannot recommend this book strongly enough.
There is truly a dress here for everyone.
The book is available through many outlets.
Find it online through Amazon or from the publisher, C&T publishing.
You can also purchase directly from Erin at Avery Lane Sewing,
or find with the quilting or sewing books at JoAnn fabrics.
Lastly, you can buy, or order, wherever books are sold.
Excited?
Want to win an e-copy of the book?
Comment here and tell me which of my sample dresses you prefer!
I’ll select a random winner on November 21, 2018.
That’s the day before Thanksgiving so one of you will have
a little something extra to be thankful for!
Join the blog tour to see what others have to say
about Erin’s wonderful new book.
Here’s the schedule:
Monday, November 12: C&T Publishing: Erin
Tuesday, November 13: Jane Wilkes
http://www.
Wednesday, November 14: Sulky
Thursday, November 15: Teri Lucas
Friday, November 16: Riley Blake Designs
https://imaginewithrileyblake.
Monday, November 19: Cherry Guidry
http://www.
Tuesday, November 20: Tammy Silvers
Wednesday, November 21: Erin
http://averylanesewing.com/
Great review! Your cupcake patterned dress is totally adorable! Thanks for the tip about not using the princess seamed bodice if the fabric is patterned like yours. I haven’t sewn anything from the book yet, but I’m loving all the great ideas people are posting.
You’re very welcome! I’m SEW glad that was helpful to you!
Love your review. I love Erin’s books and can’t wait to get this one. The dresses you made are cute as usual! Good job!
thanks, Debbie! Glad to see you here!
I love the classic sleeveless dress with gathered skirt. That fabric and trim spoke to me when I saw the dress for the first time on FB. The dress does seem to have a fabulous fit. I like to make “fancy/party” dresses for the 18″ doll. You can use such luxurious fabric or something simple with fantastic trim. I don’t have any of Erin’s books but would love to have the newest one to get me started with her patterns. Thank you.
I think you’ll love the book! So many choices!
Hi Jane, I love all of your dresses, but I think the cupcake dress is my absolute favourite. Just like Tricia, I’m learning a lot from everyone’s ideas. I’m looking forward to my holidays starting in 3 weeks so I can get stuck into making some of the dresses.
ooh, I hope you find time for lots of sewing! Learning from sewing friends is one of the best things about the internet, in my opinion!
It’s so hard to pick a favorite, I think I love both for different reasons, but I guess the shiny one would win out if I could pick only one. I just love that ribbon!
I should have taken a ‘before ribbon’ photo! LOL. The dress was beautiful in its simplicity but the addition of the ribbon changed the entire look!
I have to pick the glamorous pink party dress w/it’s sheen & sparkly ribbon trim & bow as my favorite. However, your cupcake dress is very sweet also! I’ll definitely be looking for Erin’s pattern books!
I really like both your samples but I prefer to sew with cotton.
It’s hard to beat cotton for ease, isn’t it? I think one ‘secret’ to sewing with fancy fabrics is to choose good quality. Avoid cheapy ‘costume satin’ as it is a shifty, ravel-prone mess to stitch. The pink dress is a stretch taffeta, mostly polyester with a bit Lycra in the blend. It stitched up beautifully. Another fabric I’ve had ease with is a matte polyester satin. One still has to watch for raveling but it is definitely easier to handle!
The dresses are adorable, I love them both, and would make both dresses. The ribbon and lace just add the finishing touch.
Thanks for giveaway, love to sew for my granddaughters doll wardrobe.
I am hopeful I’ll have a granddaughter someday! Two of my adult children are married now but I guess I need to give them some time!
Jane, I really enjoyed your Blog. While I loved both dresses, the fancy dress would get my vote since I never sew anything like that.
Cindy, I would encourage you to give it a go! Making something fancier every now and again is good for the soul, I think!
Both of the dresses are beautiful. The taffeta dress is my favorite; the ribbon accent and bow are an elegant element that elevates this dress. I look forward to getting this book and making many of the dresses. Thank you for a wonderful review and the many tips.
I think the taffeta might be my favorite, too. At the same time, whatever I’ve just finished often feels like my favorite – until the next project is completed! lol.
Your dresses are adorable. This book may be a must have for my granddaughter’s many AG dolls!
Both are fabulous but I really like the first one with the cupcake print. Love the big bow and lace too.
slrdowney at hotmail dot com
I like the cupcake fabric dress best. Just the thing for a play birthday party!
I like the princess seam cupcake cotton dress a little bit more than the pink taffeta one, but both dresses are beautiful.
Both dresses are beautifully done. My favorite is the taffeta party dress.
I love dolls and have been making doll clothes for years (4 daughters and 2 granddaughters have kept me busy sewing). Both of theses dresses are beautiful, but the pink one is my favorite because I appreciate how difficult these fabrics can be sometimes! I need to put this book on my wish list for Christmas!