Teach a child to sew with Mary Frances and her friends. This 100th anniversary edition of a delightful book introduces hand-sewing skills in story-instruction format through making a complete wardrobe for American Girl and other 18" dolls. Discover a treasure trove of timeless doll clothes patterns that can also be adapted for machine sewing by experienced sewists. You will meet Sewing Bird, Tommy Pin Cushion, Scissors Shears and others as they lead the reader through a series of lessons and a great adventure to Thimble Land. The student begins by making basic hand-sewing stitches on 11-count Aida cloth with a blunt tapestry needle. The perfectly square weave of this fabric makes it easy to create neat and regular stitches.
Beginning skills are taught with simple projects including a doll's laundry bag, apron and handkerchief. The student will learn about needles, thread and fabric; how to fold fabric for cutting; and how to store their pattern pieces.
The Mary Frances Sewing Book 100th Anniversary Edition includes full-size patterns for doll clothes to fit an 18" doll. The patterns are placed at the back of the book on 8.5" x 11" sheets that can be removed for use or reproduced with a copy machine.
Scroll down to Videos to see doll clothes made from this book.Features:- A unique quarter-fold cutting method for fewer pattern pieces, less seaming and an easier learning curve for beginners
- 400 charming black & white illustrations
- 4 color photos (back cover)
- 20th century sampler
- 23 new black & white photos of American Girl dolls wearing garments made from patterns in the book
Stitches taught include:Even and uneven basting, running stitch, back stitching, overcasting, overhanding, catch stitching, hem stitching, slip stitching, cross stitching, buttonhole stitch and blanket stitch.
Techniques taught include: Hand sewing, gathering, hemming, felled seams, French seams, casings and drawstrings, attaching closures and ribbon rosettes.
24 full-size doll clothes patterns include:- Nightgown, Bathrobe and Kimono
- Morning Dress, Afternoon Dress, Sun Dress, Party Dress and Wedding Dress
- Pinafore, Blouse, Skirt, Shorts and Romper
- Winter Coat, Rain Coat, Cape, Stole and Shrug
- Hats, Muff and Gaiters
The Mary Frances Sewing Book 100th Anniversary Edition has been restored, updated, and expanded for the 21st century to include a new introduction, addendum, larger format, enhanced graphics, general directions, a fabric and notion list for each project, 23 new photos and resized patterns for doll clothes that fit American Girl and other 18-inch dolls.
Sewing is an important skill that can be learned at a young age. Every project teaches skills that can be mastered in a short while—and practiced for a lifetime.
Order your copy today to create a one-of-a-kind wardrobe for a doll.
This delightful book is a unique treasure for its endearing story, charming illustrations, comical characters, abundance of nostalgia, and practical instruction that introduces children to the world of sewing in a gentle and encouraging way while preserving a valuable collection of doll clothing patterns from the Edwardian and Titanic fashion era. Join Mary Frances as each item in the sewing basket comes to life, ready and eager to teach her how to sew. You will meet Sewing Bird, Tommy Pin Cushion, Scissors Shears and their friends as they lead you through a series of lessons, and a great adventure to Thimble Land, in a book that’s at its best when read aloud. Children will love the quaint language and captivating storyline alone, and by following along with the projects, they will be rewarded with hand-sewing skills and a lovely wardrobe of doll clothing. The author’s unique quarter-fold cutting method provides fewer pattern pieces, less seaming, and an easy learning curve for beginners. The projects are simple, fast, and fun. Adults and experienced seamstresses will appreciate the authentic early 1900’s patterns, and can easily adapt the instructions for machine stitchery. Modern girls can make the vintage styles look fresh through the use of up-to-date fabrics and colors. Vintage clothing pieces combined with trendy accessories will give any 21st century doll a fashionable style that is retro chic! The twenty-nine full-size doll clothing patterns include nightwear, daywear, swimwear, playwear, outerwear, fancywear, and a wedding dress. The Mary Frances Sewing Book 100th Anniversary Edition also serves as a valuable ongoing reference for fifteen basic hand-sewing and embroidery stitches that are showcased on a 20th century sampler. Black and white illustrations are included on every page, and color illustrations on the front and back covers. Woven through the sewing lessons are moral lessons that teach the importance of practice, perseverance, courtesy, sharing, and kindness while the quirky cast of characters offers plenty of comic relief. The Mary Frances Sewing Book 100th Anniversary Edition has been restored, updated, and expanded for the 21st century to include a new introduction, larger format, enhanced graphics, general directions, a fabric and notion list for each project, and resized patterns for doll clothes that fit American Girl and other 18-inch dolls. Sewing is an important skill that can be learned at a young age. Every project teaches new stitches and techniques that can be mastered in a short while, and practiced for a lifetime.
