Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Paper Doll "Mini" Scene: Sewing with Mercy

The expectant mother-to-be and her cousin, Victoria have been busy making some very cute new baby clothes.

While Victoria has been using her embroidery skills on one sweet little bonnet, Mercy has been adding ruffles and ribbons to a second one.

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In a sunlit corner of one upstairs room in the new home belonging to Tom and Mercy, a screen (for the blocking of stray drafts) has been positioned over a nice rug. This cosy spot is a temporary one, as the room into which it has been placed is to be redecorated in time for the baby's arrival.

Our cat, lovingly named Miss Beatrix Potter (after the famous author and illustrator of the same name) or "Missy" for short, has taken an interest in all of the to-doings today. No doubt she has tried more than once to play with the skein of yarn which has been laid on the chair.
:)

The treadle style sewing machine has been put to much good use today near one window. Notice the pretty christening gown with its many ruffles and bows. It was customary during the 1800's for babies to be baptized as soon as was thought healthy for both the baby and its mother. Sometimes, a lavish outfit was worn by the new child just for that occasion. We'll see more of this charming gown very soon. Atop it rests a third stylish bonnet, while off to one side rest two pairs of beribboned booties, one pair in blue and one pair in pink. As nobody knows yet whether Tom and Mercy's little bundle of joy is either a girl or a boy, Mercy plans to be prepared for both. There are a few sewing notions alongside the lavender trimmed bonnet. The berry red pincushion holds some of Mercy's sewing pins. A few of her needles are holding her thimble in place, so that these are hidden from view.

Mercy's new outfit is one that she and her very clever grandmother stitched together one week. This is based on a favorite sewing pattern of Mercy's, but this time it was given a discreet new look by being altered to fit her tummy. This sort of maternity wear was really quite common during the 1890's. The sleeves and upper bodice were generally fashionable, while the rest draped rather loosely, fitting as a sort of smock. Her matching purple skirt, likewise, was been altered for an adjustable waistline. Grandmother Lacey is really quite a clever seamstress, so both came out looking pretty as a picture. Both clothing items are also really very comfortable. Don't you think that Mercy looks pretty in them?

Her apron is a handmade gift from her cousin and best friend, Victoria. It is a simple cotton wrapper gathered to a short yoke. This will keep any dust or thread clippings off her nice maternity outfit. For her it is a lovely reminder of her close ties with Victoria. The whole household speaks to her of the love of her family members. Many things were either passed down or otherwise purchased newly in order to help the young couple to make their first home together a pleasant place in which to live.

As for Victoria's outfit, you may recognize its beginnings in the Kitchen Set which I posted fairly recently. This time, instead of a rolling pin, she has her charming embroidery project in one hand. A special gadget called a "sewing chatelaine" is clipped to the waistband of her crisp apron. Notice the little embroidery scissors? And can you spot the splendid needle case? Such gadgets are still a joy for me to handle and use. Though practical, they look almost like special jewelry to me.

Below is a series of 4 Downloads. The Standard did not turn out quite as I had wanted. Of course, this pattern could be altered for use with this project by you. It should fit just enough to hold the little scene upright - that is, as long as card stock or stiff backing is used for the scene and the standard both. Cardboard from a leftover cereal box might do very nicely for this project as well, but you decide. All white background needs to be snipped away from the scene first, of course. From there, your glue stick with some careful positioning should do the trick.

Happy Playtime (or needlework) Creativity!

PPSPlaytime™: Sewing with Mercy
A Mini Scene with Outfits

Download the Scene HERE
Display (with doll)
(lower quality than the downloads)


Download Mercy's Maternity Sewing Outfit HERE

Download Victoria's Sewing Outfit HERE
Display version
(lower quality than the Download)



Download Pattern for Standard HERE
(May require a few small adjustments. You decide)
Display version
(lower quality than the Download)

You are free to:
play with, give or trade
any of the items in this Playtime Set.
You are not free to:
ever sell any of said items
in any form for any reason, even if you alter them.
Thank you
for helping me to
keep free things free!




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