Diana’s Patch - Doll Blog - Sewing Patterns and Doll Supplies

I had so much fun with this one!  I had been looking for a pattern to make a dress like Blaire's, but couldn't find anything exactly like it.  There are many similar, but none that I could find that was exact.  So I drafted one myself, using her very own dress as inspiration. The elastic in the sides of the her bodice were the most unique and it took some practice getting it just right.  Once I figured out how best to stitch the elastic, I was on my way!  I made a video and posted on YouTube . About the Pattern This pattern is inspired by Blaire's charming bumblebee sundress from the American Girl collection. This knee-length sundress features a bodice with a sweetheart neckline, narrow shoulder straps, a gathered upper overlay accented with a bow, and elastic-gathered side panels framing a plain center panel. The skirt features a center front placket with four tiny two-hole buttons. The dress closes in the back with Velcro. Pattern available at cpkdiana.etsy.co...

  I have so many doll shoes! 😮  I only have about 5 pairs of my own shoes, but when it comes to dolls, I gotta have multiples of each style with lots of different colors. I was tired of rummaging through boxes, trying to find one to go with a certain outfit, so I decided to try this shoe organizer. It was just under $9 at Walmart . I fit 80 pairs of shoes in there.  It’s so much easier to find what I’m looking for. But I must say, I think I’ll have to thin through them. This is a bit much.  #Shoes #DollShoes #DollShoeOrganizer #ShoeOrganizer

  Here are my two Samantha's. The first one with the curly hair is Beforever Sam that I got on eBay for $30. She was released in 2014 and retired in 2024. I'm obsessed with her right now. She has the sweetest face and I love her curls. The second Sam is the latest one that was released. I don't like her as much because her face coloring is so pale. Even her teeth don't really look white to me.

I know I haven't been posting much lately, but I wanted to stop by with a little update. My leg is doing much better! Although I still can't turn or twist it without pain, I'm making progress and feeling more like myself. I'm still working on patterns and will also begin taking one or two sewing orders at a time. I'm looking forward to getting back to doing a little more! After the overwhelming response on Facebook to keep American Girl dolls with Cabbage Patch Kids dolls, I am happy to announce that I will be combining the two instead of having a separate page. This makes it so much easier on me. I also have a new pattern to share--Tops & Tees! This pattern is perfect for anyone missing the shirt that originally came with some of their doll outfits! It includes three styles of blouses, perfect for Ruffled Overalls or Sunsuits, plus two styles of T-shirts perfect for overalls or the Elephant Romper. Available now in my Etsy shop: cpkdiana.etsy.com Thank you for ...

After designing my Retro Holiday Dress pattern , I thought it would be a great idea to curl Samantha's hair like Courtney's, combining their eras. I found a tutorial on Pixie Faire  that explains exactly how to do it, using perm rods, hot water heated to 165 degrees, and an ice water rinse. I used perm rods from Walmart , size 15.3mm (pink). I found a preowned BeForever Samantha doll on eBay for $30. What a deal! While I was waiting for her arrival, I decided to practice on Blaire. I had straightened  her hair before because it was dry and frizzy. Since then, I had wanted to restore her curls, but wasn't sure how. So I followed the same instructions. Here’s Blaire’s straight hair: I sprayed her hair as I went.  I cut napkins to size and wrapped them around the ends of the hair to keep them straight. I rolled the hair from the bottom up, turning it under. Once in a while, I had to redo it and the curl was already starting to set. I could have just left them in unt...

I am super excited about my latest pattern. I wanted to make something that combined both eras—Samantha from 1904, and Courtney from 1986. I’ve already had some photo shoots that I posted and had many people asking about the pattern.  I wasn’t quite finished with it, as I had a marvelous plan to get another Samantha doll and curl her hair like Courtney’s.  More on that in a separate post. I found the fabric at Hobby Lobby.  It’s homespun fabric, so it already has that vintage charm.   About the dress: Bring two iconic eras together with this charming vintage-inspired dress for your 18-inch doll! Blending the timeless elegance of Samantha's Edwardian era with the bold nostalgia of Courtney's 1980s world, this festive design features a fitted bodice with a delicate white lace collar, long sleeves finished with pretty lace trim, and a full gathered skirt accented with white lace trim. A luxurious black velvet sash with an oversized bow adds a touch of old-fashioned soph...