April 1, 2021
Now available in the Lee & Pearl® Etsy shop — Pattern 1038: The Gift Bow Front Dress for 18 Inch, 16 Inch and 14 1/2 Inch Dolls!
We are thrilled to welcome back this lovely pattern — our previous subscriber-exclusive — which is now available for purchase in the Lee & Pearl Etsy shop in all three separate sizes, and as a multi-size pattern at a reduced bundle price.
CLICK HERE to go to Pattern 1038: The Gift Bow Front Dress for 18 Inch, 16 Inch and 14 1/2 Inch Dolls in the L&P Etsy shop
CLICK HERE to go to Pattern 1038: The Gift Bow Front Dress for 18 Inch American Girl® Dolls in the L&P Etsy shop
CLICK HERE to go to Pattern 1038: The Gift Bow Front Dress for 16 Inch A Girl for All Time® Dolls in the L&P Etsy shop
CLICK HERE to go to Pattern 1038: The Gift Bow Front Dress for 14 1/2 Inch WellieWishers™ and similar dolls in the L&P Etsy shop
While scouting the fashion pages and runway reports for doll dress inspirations, pattern designer "Pearl" was struck by a lovely trend — outfits featuring trims that are built into the garment, and often made out of the same fabrics.
Think of all those self-fabric ruffles and gathers, pleats and bows — it's an organic kind of ornamentation, that allows over-the-top frills while still retaining the elegant restraint of a formal gown.
All those beautiful pleats, ruffles and bows made Pearl think of another of her favorite design inspirations — the Japanese design books she has collected for years. Nobody does beautifully cut and structured fabric embellishments like the inventors of origami.
In those design books, there is one dress that Pearl has wanted to re-imagine as doll fashion since she first saw it — an tunic dress with a draped front panel in the shape of a bow, that merges with pleated and gathered raglan sleeves to give the impression of a flattering, high-waisted bodice, without any actual bodice seams.
Pattern 1038: The Gift Bow Front Dress is Pearl's loving re-interpretation of that softly feminine Japanese design.
To further emulate the look of a ribbon bow, Pearl added nested inverted pleats which hang gracefully from the bow "knot" in front. She also added rows of tailored pleats in back, stitched neatly down from a square neckline to maintain the high-waisted look, while hiding the easy Velcro™ closure.
Best of all, Pearl designed this dress in three perfect sizes, to be made from a single quarter yard or fat quarter of woven fabric.
Make your dress from a single piece of cotton, linen or silk — or mix and match those fun piles of fat quarters to make a two-tone dress with contrasting bow front and sleeves. A dress designed around the use of pretty fabrics should allow you to use a wide variety of pretty fabrics!
Our The Gift Bow Front Dress is rated EASY/INTERMEDIATE for careful pleating and topstitching, and a few hand basting stitches and tacks.
As always, Lee & Pearl's photo-illustrated directions and computer-drafted, guaranteed-to-fit-together pattern pieces make each step as easy as possible.
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See you next time!
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