Book Review
At the beginning of Two-Hour Doll Clothes there is an essential
basics section, which is an introduction as well as an indication
of what you can do with basic sewing skills. It is definitely your
kicking off point before starting a project because it guides you
where you need to go before sewing anything; measuring your doll
and adjusting patterns, tracing and transferring patterns, basic
sewing instructions, stitch guide, and no sew instructions.
The instructions in the basics section link to diagrams (see illustration
7a, etc.) and throughout the book there are references back to page
numbers that are relevant to the particular technique involved.
The chapters of this book are divided into seasonal outfits you
can make for your dolls or teddy bears; Spring and Summer Wear,
Fall Finery and Winter Attire. The outfits are represented in photos
or illustrations either on dolls or teddy bears. The photos are
beautifully taken in settings that reflect the type of outfit being
displayed. The illustrations have a storybook quality to them that
make the outfits and the doll/teddy bear wearing them take on the
appearance of a character in a children’s book. The author
also names each of the doll/teddy bear “characters”
wearing the outfits, which adds to the whimsy already so clearly
present in this book.
At first glance the projects in Two-Hour Doll Clothes seemed a
little daunting because the clothes look so complex. Upon reading
the introduction in the essential basics section I realized one
could make these outfits by reading all the instructions thoroughly
and closely following the directions. The outfits are so beautiful
and inspiring they drive you to do everything necessary to make
them a reality. When you have a bit more experience, you can take
clothes making a bit further and create your own fashions based
on the patterns you have been using. The only thing I didn’t
like is the patterns are hand drawn and not as perfect as those
you might purchase to make clothing for yourself. The instructions
however are very clear and all the information necessary (i.e. references
back to applicable techniques in the essential basics section) to
complete a project is provided for your convenience. |
