More Shirts, More Dolls -- Wow!

OK, was I like, not supposed to post this fabulous photo recently uploaded to the Men's Sew-Along Flickr group just because it can already be seen on the blog of Canadian sew-alongette and Mom-of-adorable-boy-model, Sony?

Let Sony have her attorneys contact my attorneys.

Sony is one of those annoyingly creative sewers who don't only have superb skills but also exquisite taste.  When Sony finds a spare moment in her busy day raising her own children, she whips up things like this for her friends' kids.

And -- as if you couldn't guess -- she knits too, inventively.

Naturally, Sony also writes, cooks, and does photography, all beautifully archived on her charming blog, Sewing Roots.  Friends, what are we going to do about the Sony's of the world?

I wasn't much happier to see this exquisite creation in our Sew-Along Flickr group, which looks like it was ripped out of a Barney's window display created by Simon Doonan.  What's up with that? 



To his credit, at least talented Edsel doesn't have a blog -- yet.

Moving on, the Vinyls were all set to play tennis today.



But it's raining hard, so no go.  New outfits for nothing!



Earlier, I'd dug out my Sterilite plastic toy box and look what I found:  Skooter, shoeless and still dressed for a party she attended -- at the Dream House, no doubt -- forty-five years ago.  There's something slightly Miss Havisham-esque about this pre-teen.



A Malibu Barbie I picked up who knows where, who could use a bath.



And this lovely brunette Sixties Barbie my dear departed friend and Barbie collector Kurt gave me many years ago.





It may be time to get Barbie a Sixties mod dress (no Seventies fringe, Lauriana -- promise!) and some shoes.

Meanwhile, two new Kens will be joining the family later this week.  I think this a Malibu Ken -- or Melanoma Ken -- I'm not sure.  What a tan!



And also a Live Action Ken (without his bandstand, alas).  I don't have a good pic of him yet but who couldn't use a little live action in their lives?  (see video  below)

That's it, kids!  I have a lot of sewing and net gathering to do this week as well as continued Men's Shirt Sew-Along nagging.   Busy, busy, busy!

Happy Monday, everybody!
 

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Doll talk + Cathy's Comeback muslin!

The darts need work, of course, but I think you'll agree that Vogue 4018 looks promising if a little Cinderelly at the moment.



It may be time to channel my inner fairy godmother.

Can I be real with you for a moment?  The dilemma is -- as always -- boobage.  I'm thinking of maybe sewing in a couple of these, or nothing at all.  Cathy's more Francoise Hardy than Mamie Van Doren, after all, and I don't think she needs dramatic enhancing, do you?  She badly wants to be a positive role model for other young women considering a career in modeling or hostessing, and young men too.

But enough about Cathy's attributes and lack thereof.  You're undoubtedly wondering about how Ken and Allan are getting along.  Friends, they argue constantly, mainly over clothes.

Yesterday, another package arrived in the mail.  It contained...

MORE cute Ken and Allan outfits!



How Negroni are these marvelous print shirts?  We were all very excited.



Yesterday evening the boys wanted to go out on their own and explore the neighborhood.  Ken wore his new red quilted ski jacket with mustard knit dickie, while Allan opted for green retro-print shirt and mod suede vest.



This did not sit right with uptight Ken, however, who refused to go out if Allan wore that fringe vest, especially with those two-toned shoes.



Allan -- who's clearly the conciliator, relented finally, opting instead for gray suit jacket with pocket square.



But then Allan felt resentful.  Finally, Ken compromised: Allan could wear the mod suede pants, and tone down the outfit with white shoes and coordinating tennis sweater.



And off they went.  



More pics and the full-blown argument below.



Patient readers, Ken and Allan have requested that we no longer refer to them as dolls, a term they find, if not exactly demeaning, confining.  They prefer to be called fashion figures.  Please make a note of it in future comments.

You may have noticed their new sturdy black metal stands, proudly made in the USA and a steal at $2.50 each on eBay.  If you have dolls, er --fashion figures, and I know many of you do, do give them the gift of true vertical posing.  How would you like to lean all day or lie flat on your back with your feet stiff in the air?

On Facebook yesterday, MPB reader Mikel admitted to owning "at least 2000+ vintage & repro Barbie's."  In light of this, I ask you, would it be so terrible if I picked up another Ken or two?  I find the flock hair Kens ugly but I wouldn't mind a painted hair brunette or maybe even a hard-to-find Brad or Curtis.   It's easier to have one doll per outfit and not have to dress and undress them all the time and I do think they're a good investment, especially as petroleum by-products become more costly.

In Sew-Along news, we have many new contributions in our Flickr group, including Ken and Allan-worthy garments by Mainely Dad, Very Purple Person, Edsel, and others! 
 
Collect them all Check them out!

I know many of you are still working on your shirts.  Remember, March is just around the corner and then your mid-term evaluations.  Please keep plugging away!

See you bright and early on the morrow!

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When Ken Met Allan or "Guys and Dolls"

He's here.  After yesterday's rant about my eBay seller, how embarrassed I was when the mail delivery person dropped off a big Priority Mail box not an hour later.  Oh, Joy!

I sliced the box open.



I removed its contents.



I opened the lid...



After a near fifty-year slumber, there was my Mattel Allan, looking fresh as a daisy -- the miracle of injection-molded vinyl.  Even his breath was minty.



I left the room and gave Allan and Ken a few minutes to get acquainted.



They seemed to like each other.

Next, we had to put some street clothes on Allan and get Ken out of the suit he'd been wearing since 1964. So many choices!

Tennis whites?



Dinner clothes?



I opted for casuals.





Readers, I am so happy.  Metal stands should arrive any day now, so they won't have to lean.  Should I splurge for acrylic display boxes too?

Only one small regret.  Allan was looking a little dusty so, after some online research, I took a little diluted rubbing alcohol to his youthful visage and gently wiped it with an old rag.  He looked better than ever!



Then I took the rag to Ken.  Now Ken, who looked absolutely pristine when he arrived, may have been touched up over the years.   Look what happened:

Before:



After:



Folks, it seems Ken had been penciling his brows for years.  Or maybe not.  In any case, I think you'll agree that if you didn't know his brows were supposed to be six shades darker than his hair, you wouldn't think he looked unusual.



Allan prefers that Ken's brows match his hair.  Thank goodness!

Much of Allan's wardrobe is pristine, and given what a PITA it is to get them dressed and undressed, I wouldn't be surprised if Allan had hardly been played with at all.  They don't bend at the elbows or knees.  Try putting socks on without bending your ankles -- and then shoes.

Friends, I think that's all we have time for today.  I'm taking Ken and Allan out for brunch and then maybe a movie.  If you'd like to see more photos of the boys and their clothes, you can find them here.

In closing, if you had to date a 12" vinyl doll, whom would you choose, Ken or Allan? 

Skin diving, anyone? 



Have a great day, everybody!

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How Much For A Vintage Pattern or "10 bucks -- for THIS?"

Readers, have you ever purchased a pattern online that when you received it you realized you could have drafted it yourself in about twenty minutes and saved yourself some dough?

Yesterday my vintage Vogue Comeback dress pattern arrived in the mail.



Now I think most of you know that I am not a pattern collector.  I pretty much buy only what I think I am going to either a) make myself, or b) give away to you guys.  As long as the pattern pieces are intact I don't really care about the condition of the envelope or whether the pattern is yellowed or smells like mothballs.

I do like to see how patterns are drafted and it's fun to be able to say, I made Vogue/McCall's/Butterick/Simplicity number whatever and Voila!  I also have a blog to write and these kind of things keep it interesting.  When I read about other people's self-drafted projects, my mind wanders.

So this brings us to yesterday.  I was anxiously awaiting the arrival of my Allan doll complete with wardrobe and vinyl carrying case, which failed to arrive, though I did receive an email confirmation that it had been sent -- sent yesterday, when I'd paid for it five days previous, immediately after winning it on eBay.  Don't you think that's a little late if, admittedly, not in violation of the rules?  I do.

But I digress.  I got the pattern.



The envelope is a little beat up but the pattern itself was unused and uncut.  But look at it:



Version C is a two-piece bodice and a sleeve and a really wide skirt.  That's it.

Since I have already drafted a bodice for myself last summer -- twice -- and I am fully capable of cutting a huge rectangle, what exactly am I getting for my $10?  There wasn't even a toy surprise.







I guess I am starting to realize that a lot of these patterns are identical to each other, more or less.  Unless I'm making something complicated, I can probably do it myself and get something that fits from the get-go, or very nearly.

Remember this Ann-Margret-in-The-Pleasure-Seekers-inspired number from last June? 



But enough venting.  I am happy to have the pattern if only to it share with you, but that might not last forever.

Look at the size of the skirt. That's like seven feet and it's cut on the fold, so double it.  Huge!





In closing, wise readers, do you buy commercial patterns, new or old, in hopes that you'll uncover some precious secret to dressmaking only to discover it's the same old thing and you really don't need a pattern to draft a well fitting bodice, let alone a waistband, pocket, or collar facing?

Would you pay $174.99 for this on Etsy, even with the "protective plastic self-seal bag" it comes in?

How much is too much to spend on a vintage pattern, do you think?  And are you buying it for the artwork or the pattern or something else?

I know some vintage pattern sellers are going to take offense, but honestly, don't you think this money could be better spent on doll clothes?

Jump in!

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BREAKING -- We interrupt this crinoline...

Readers, I can't explain it.  Ever since formally ending the Men's Shirt Sew-Along on Monday, shirt photos have been pouring in over at our Flickr group.  Obviously reverse psychology, emotional manipulation, and veiled threats work!

Pictured above is Taylor, a young Sew-Along participant from Nashville, TN.  Do you see Taylor's muslin?  He drafted it himself.  No Negroni, Butterick, or vintage McCall's for him, oh no!

But that's not all.  Do you see his jeans?  He drafted THOSE himself too!



So awesome did his jeans turn out, in fact, that in January they were featured on the popular men's fashion blog, Put This On.  You can read more about Taylor, his jeans, and his other too-good-to-be-true projects on his blog, TaylorTailor.

But I certainly didn't want to make this all about Taylor.  In fact, if I weren't so non-competitive, generous-spirited, and loving a person, I wouldn't have mentioned him at all.  (Taylor who?)  I need another drag...

But back to our Sew-Along...

OK, readers, this is not a still from Night of the Living Tablecloths, but an incredible muslin produced by participant Kamilee.  Wow and pass the ketchup.



And speaking of picnics, I'm very fond of this lovely gingham Negroni produced by SewRedHot.  I could swear my Allan doll -- which I am hoping to receive today -- has the exact same shirt though his facings are terrycloth.  And he doesn't have that sexy salt and pepper beard...



But there's more!

Put on your 3-D glasses and feast your eyes on this fabulous creation by Sewsister, which apparently represents the actual conception of Lindsay Lohan as seen under an electron microscope.



I am so proud of all the Sew-Alongers, and the many courageous men who braved the unforgiving glare of the flash cube so that these unique creations could be recorded for posterity -- albeit without heads.  And remember, folks: these are just the muslins!

I'll be posting more shirts in the coming weeks, you can be sure.

A big hug to you all!



(photo courtesy of swreflection).

And now, back to The Tulle That Ate My Living Room, already in progress.



Have a great day, everybody!

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