I hadn't realized I hadn't sewn in such a long time - not since last summer, apparently. I have to get reacquainted with my sewing machine ; when I stitched the first gathering line on the skirt, I forgot to change the tension and of course it was impossible to pull on the thread and gather, so I had to stitch another line next to it after lowering the tension. It turned out to be a good thing I made this mistake, as the fabric frayed a lot and the first line of normal stitches prevented the edge from disintegrating.
I crocheted rather a lot last year, but it's quite obvious that crocheted clothes aren't in Chandrakala's style. She needs fabric dresses, and at first I thought of adapting Takara Jenny patterns, but soon gave up the idea as it was apparent that the result would probably be ill-fitting, like someone's hand-me-down. So I decided to try and make my own pattern, though I never did and was always convinced such a feat was out of the realm of my meager talents.
But the muse is calling, so I laboriously fiddled with kitchen wipe and chako pen, and somehow managed to produce simple pattern pieces, using which I made the toile pictured below. I remember when I was taking doll classes in Tokyo, one lady had made for our joint exhibition a pair of dolls wearing "robes à la française" and before sewing the dresses in the final fabric, had made toiles in unbleached cotton. I had thought, good grief, twice the work, just to check the fit! But now I kind of understand. If you're going to make something and put effort into it to make it look good, just as well go the extra mile to make sure it will look its best.
It's still not the bee's knees, I will make a couple of small adjustments to the pattern before starting on the real dress, and the fit won't be excellent, but I guess for someone with two left hands like me, it's an achievement. Good timing, yesterday received straw bundles I had ordered from Gildebrief, so last night I made a hat for Chandrakala. Somehow I don't picture her in pastel colored hats, so I chose mustard-colored straw.
And after the dress is finished she'll need at least a petticoat and maybe some kind of crinoline...I should have started there but I was eager to see her dressed.
