Heartstring goodness

One of my favorite ways to make outfits for dolls is to crochet a bodice, then attach a fabric skirt.  Here are three dresses, using a basic crochet bodice.  The fabric skirt is cut 12 inches by 3 3/4 inches.  Narrow zig-zag around all four edges.  Press under 1/4 inch on the short sides and 1/2 inch on one long edge for the hem.  A good trick:  dampen the fabric before pressing and your pressed edges will be nice and sharp.

Sew two rows of gathering stitches on the other long side and pull up to match the bottom edge of the bodice.  Hand stitch the bodice to the skirt using a loose backstitch in the bodice color.  I finish the hem by blanket stitching along the bottom, then crochet a decorative border into the blanket stitches.  This is a nice way to showcase a lovely piece of fabric, and I find crochet bodices a LOT easier to make for a small doll than a sewn one.  In fact, the fabric on the far left was a gift from Victoria, and made up into a lovely princess frock :-)

I very slightly modified my Riley knit cardigan sweater for my Heartstring Mari.  This one is knit from size 10 crochet cotton on size 1 needles; about a small as I want to get :-)

Heartstring knit cardigan

It is a cold and snowy day here; perfect for a bit of knit or crochet; enjoy!