When I was seven I made this dress by hand for my most favorite doll, Bethleann. In the picture I have turned it inside out to show all the stitching. At the time I thought it was a pretty sad attempt at sewing. But I made it myself and I was proud of that. Later when I was twelve I made a LOT of clothes my beloved 8" Muffie dolls, but this time I got to use the sewing machine. Sometimes I look at those clothes and wonder how tedious each tiny seam must have been, but my dolls needed clothes and sewing was the answer.
I found the first sewing attempt today when I finally got into the last box of things that have been packed up for almost a year while our house revisions were going on. The box mostly held my dolls and their clothes. Bethelann, the doll I made the dress for, looked as sweet as ever but when I picked her up her head fell off. Ah, I sighed, probably time to really pack my dolls away and not just have them on display.
I got a vintage suitcase, took everyone's picture, nestled them in a comfortable arrangement so that they could giggle and chat, closed the lid and put the suitcase on our new crown shelving right next to the Muffie collection. I am sure I will check on them from time to time and surely introduce Lydia to my oldest friends.
There is Bethleann, Sue, the German doll who never had a name, and my two Storybook dolls. I had a few other like Betsy Wetsy and Tiny Tears but they did not survive the transition from childhood. It is a small collection but very, very loved.
