December 20, 2018

Who else is mesmerized by the Great British Baking Show on Netflix this holiday season?

All this week, we'll help you amaze and delight the doll lovers in your life with beautiful and unique last-minute gifts — made with Lee & Pearl™ patterns and tutorials, of course.

Today, we're presenting a pair of baking-themed patterns for dolls, perfect for gifts, holiday scenes, sewing along to your favorite new TV competition show — and for Blaire Wilson™, the COMING SOON 2019 American Girl® Girl of the Year™!

First up, here's L&P Pattern 1022: "Cookie Time" Apron, Pinafore and Oven Mitt for 18 Inch Dolls.

We had so much fun working on this confection of a pattern for a bibbed-and-banded apron, ruffly pinafore and crazy easy doll sized oven mitt.

Bibbed-and-banded aprons — and pinafore variants with shoulder ruffles and full skirts — have been popular for baking, cooking and just being pretty around the house from the early Victorian era, through the 19th and 20th centuries, and right on up to today.

Nineteenth century girls like American Girl Addy or Kirsten might have worn calico versions, while an early 20th century girl like Samantha would have worn a crisp white pinafore.

Depression era Kit likely had an apron cut from cheerfully printed flour sack fabric, while Molly could accessorize her WWII rationed outfits with patriotic prints.

And of course, 1970s Julie would wear her country plaid pinafore while watching that hot new Wednesday night show, Little House On The Prairie.

For contemporary girls, the shoulder bands and pocket on our apron and pinafore allow for fun modern color-blocking and trim embellishment.

Accessorize your apron or pinafore with our super easy oven mitt. We've designed it with a unique construction technique that finishes the edge and creates a realistic-looking faux binding in one easy step.

If you sell at craft fairs, you are going to love this pattern as even non-doll people will want these adorable mitts as stocking stuffers and Christmas tree ornaments.

Our pinafore also features a unique construction technique — a slash-and-gather ruffle. This is a neat vintage technique in which the shoulder band and ruffle are cut in one piece, slashed part way, and then gathered and seamed back together.

Once you learn how to create such a ruffle, you may find yourself adding this feature to other patterns where an organic, graceful fullness is preferable to the hard edge of a seamed-in ruffle.

CLICK HERE to see Pattern 1022: "Cookie Time" Apron, Pinafore and Oven Mitt for 18 Inch Dolls in the Lee & Pearl Etsy store.

Remember Girl of the Year Grace Thomas™ and her French bakery collection? We were inspired by Grace — and by the chic, retro-gamine styles seen in high-end French children's collections — to create Pattern 1033: "Bonjour, Paris" Mini Wardrobe for 18 Inch Dolls.

This multi-purpose pattern includes a pleated top and dress, perfect cuffed or uncuffed shorts, and yes — a CHEF'S APRON that's super useful and super EASY to make!

The classic top, which can also be made in dress length, features neatly stitched front pleats, inverted pleats on the tulip-shaped sleeves, and a ladylike rolled collar embellished with buttons, bows, ribbon flowers or anything else you choose.

We've even included photo-illustrated directions to make your own PERFECT BOWS using a fork.

The tailored, canvas-look shorts feature working hip pockets, optional cuffs and a front fly closure. Best of all, our cleverly drafted waistband curves subtly higher in back than in front for a snug fit on your doll while she is standing — and a safe, no-gap fit when she sits.

As an added bonus, we've included a pattern piece for making a super-quick EASY version of our wonderful shorts without pockets.

The perfect accessory for every 18 inch chef or baker, our chef's apron features a flattering fit, generous double pocket and neat bias tape binding. We've also included directions to make your own color-coordinated bias binding out of ordinary woven fabric.

CLICK HERE to see Pattern 1033: "Bonjour, Paris" Mini Wardrobe for 18 Inch Dolls in the Lee & Pearl Etsy store.

Remember — you can JOIN US on January 1, 2019 as we welcome the 2019 American Girl® Girl of the Year™ Blaire Wilson™ in person.

Both "Lee" and "Pearl" will be at the American Girl store at the Dallas Galleria on January 1, 2019 — and we'd love to meet you!

We'll be on line outside the store from 9:15 AM CST. If you'd like to swing by and join us as we explore the new collection, click on "Contact Us" above and send us a message — or just look for us on line or in the store. The store opens at 10:00 AM and the Girl of the Year festivities last until 1 PM.

NOTE: The American Girl store is in the parking lot of the Dallas Galleria, at 13464 Dallas Pkwy.

See you next time!

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