Hi Everyone! In part 4 we wrap up this topic with a few sew along tutorials for the Halloween Treat Bags pattern. These darling little bags are the perfect accessory to pretty much any Halloween costume! They are simple to sew and use very few supplies, but have a big impact when finished!

Follow along in the videos below to see how easy it is to create these super cute treat bags! The pattern is available separately on larougetdelisle (great use for your monthly coupon code, if you already used this months watch for the October code to be published next week!)

Pumpkin Treat Bag Sew Along

Pattern featured in the videos:

• Liberty Jane Halloween Treat Bags for All Doll

Week Four Task:

• Let's make cute treat bags and pair them with little costumes for a fun costume party parade post! 
• Jump over the SWC Facebook Group for conversation and project sharing.

Hi Everyone! I'm having a blast reworking some of the costume patterns and ideas that have been out for a while. One of the things I love to do most is bringing new life to designs and give them a fresh new look with minor tweaks and changes! This week is another super cute example :) I've taken the basic LJ Halloween Costume pattern and worked up a new variation - Cotton Candy!

The costume I'll be demonstrating today is modeled on a 14.5" Welliewishers™ doll, but the tutorial and idea will work for any size, the 18" doll pattern as well as a little girl (once you determine the body size). She is dressed in a white tee & leggings paired with the puffy pink costume and coordinating "cone" hat. Pretty adorable, if I do say so myself!

Follow along in the video below to see how easy it is to create this modified version of the Halloween Costumes pattern!

Pattern Overview (designs that can be used to create a princess dress):

• Liberty Jane Slip Dress (no center back seam, slips on easily)
• Liberty Jane Summer In Paris (Strappy Tank Top with center back seam)
• Liberty Jane Free Tank Top
• Liberty Jane Free T-Shirt

Patterns Overview (designs that can be used for Animals, Characters, & More):

• Liberty Jane T-Shirt Variations (all sizes)
• Liberty Jane Leggings (included in UK Holiday Outfit patterns)
• Liberty Jane Piccadilly Sweater or Piccadilly PJ's Top (18", WW, BFC, Ellowyne)
• Liberty Jane Basic Pull-On Pants (included in Yoga Pants or Piccadilly Pj's patterns)
• Liberty Jane Halloween Costumes (Basic bag style body)

Tutorial Notes:

• This costume modification can be made for 14.5 - 18" dolls or any size doll/child once you have the body piece size determined. 
• Supplies Needed:
• Fabric - any lightweight fabric will work for the main body. Knit fabrics drape nicely, but quilting cotton can be used as well. They will have a more pronounced puffy look. Fuzzy, furry or sparkly fabrics can bring a lot of life into this idea as well! If your fabric is too thick to double turn the casings, simply trim off 1/4" and use a single fold.
• Batting - a small amount goes a long way! But you can use as much or as little as you'd like to achieve the look you want.
• Heavyweight paper for the cone. I simply rolled the paper into a cone and trimmed off the bottom to achieve a straight edge to rest on her head.
• Elastic thread, cord, or beading cord - I cut the piece 11" to fit on a Wellie's head. Simply wrap the cord around your dolls face determining the best length. You want a snug fit, but not too tight or it might tear the paper.
• Glue - I used a hot glue gun because I don't have a lot of patience! You can use any type of fabric safe adhesive, or tack the batting down with a few hand stitches if desired.

Week Three Task:

• I'd really love to see some costume projects made from ideas in this course! Try your hand at making a creative costume modification and share it with the group!
• Jump over the SWC Facebook Group for conversation and project sharing.

Next Tuesday - Week 4: Treat Bags - and a new LJ Treat Bag pattern!

Hi Everyone! This week we have a fun, easy to make, and sew project! I love the simplicity of making a costume with the base layers being basic clothing items. Once you begin to layer on accessories and embellishments, the character you're trying to create really comes to life!

The costume I'll be demonstrating today is a darling little flower! With basic green top and bottoms, her body becomes the stem, and with the added petal headpiece, her face becomes the blooming flower! Simple, yet adorable! 

Then go check your fabric stash and see what ideas begin to bloom!

Pattern Overview (designs that can be used to create a princess dress):

• Liberty Jane Slip Dress (no center back seam, slips on easily)
• Liberty Jane Summer In Paris (Strappy Tank Top with center back seam)
• Liberty Jane Free Tank Top
• Liberty Jane Free T-Shirt

Patterns Overview (designs that can be used for Animals, Characters, & More):

• Liberty Jane T-Shirt Variations
• Liberty Jane Leggings
• Liberty Jane Piccadilly Sweater or Piccadilly PJ's Top
• Liberty Jane Basic Pull-On Pants
• Liberty Jane Halloween Costumes (Basic bag style body)

Tutorial Notes:

• Petal Pattern Pieces - To get a download version of the petal shapes, click HERE (It's in the Free Patterns section)

• The Piccadilly Pj's top and basic leggings were used to create the flower body.

Week One task:

• Search your fabric stash and see what fun flower headpieces you can come up with!
• Jump over the SWC Facebook Group for conversation and project sharing.

Next Tuesday - Week 3: Fun add-ons to the basic "bag style" Halloween Costume.

Hi Everyone! Let's talk about - Sewing Costumes! With Halloween right around the corner, I thought it would be fun to explore the fun and creative ways to make a variety of costumes using basic sewing patterns. Throughout this course, we will touch on sewing with different fabric types and explore a variety of sewing techniques. It will be a hands-on way to learn new things and to put into practice some of the things demonstrated in other SWC topics.

My hope is that we have fun together creating unique and creative costumes! As with all my courses, I also hope that the things taught inspire you to try something new, or simply refine your skills by practicing what's being taught. Together we can inspire and motivate each other!

I'll be demonstrating these techniques while walking you through a variety of video tutorials. This first week we jump right in with a basic Princess Dress Costume. This can be the base of your costume and will really come once paired with all the added accessories and embellishments. 

There are so many options to explore. It's going to be a fun month!

Are you ready? Let's go...

In the videos posted below, I share with you an overview of the month-long topic and then take a deep dive into our first tutorial - The Quick and Easy Princess Dress. I encourage you to follow along and then go check your fabric stash and see what magical ideas you can come up with!

Pattern Overview (designs that can be used to create a princess dress):

• Liberty Jane Slip Dress
• Liberty Jane Summer In Paris (Strappy Tank Top)
• Liberty Jane Free Tank Top
• Liberty Jane Free T-Shirt

Patterns Overview (designs that we will use in the following weeks)

• Liberty Jane T-Shirt Variations
• Liberty Jane Leggings

Video Timeline:

• 0:00 - 1:25 Overview
• 1:25 - 6:40 Fabric, Patterns, Design plans
• 6:40 - 7:40 Slip or Tank Top Modification Note
• 7:40 - 16:00 Blue Princess Dress
• 16:00 - End Pink Princess Dress

Tutorial Notes:

• Skirt Measurements - Tulle or mesh fabrics 5.5" by 56" or the width of your fabric. Lining fabric (if cut from a knit or heavier weight fabric) 5.5" by 24" wide.
• Modified cut lines for the Slip Dress pieces (pictured in pink, no center back seam) - Measure down from the CB and CF neckline at the FOLD 3-3/4". This is the length used in the video demonstration.

Week One task:

• Get your pattern (or find a tank top or tee to work with), find your fabric and supplies, and follow along with the princess tutorial! I'd love to see the princess or fairy dresses that you create using this simple method.
• Jump over the SWC Facebook Group for conversation and project sharing.

Next Tuesday - Week 2: Leggings, Tees, and Accessories - Oh My!

Hi Everyone! We round out this topic with a look at creating both performance costumes and princess dresses. The great thing about many of these designs is that they are simple in construction but the choices in fabrics and embellishments really set them apart! Whether your creating costumes to match little girls or a dress inspired by her favorite princess, the delight and joy you'll be giving to the recipient is priceless!

I love this topic! Making matching costumes for my daughter Liberty is how I got started in this crazy world of doll clothes design! I'm excited to share what I've learned and hope that this inspires you to create beautiful pieces that in turn create lasting memories!

I'm also including the video from our knits topic - Sewing With Specialty Knit Fabrics.  

In this video I'll show you some examples of sewing on swim knit and sewing on a sequined fabric. I've found that sewing with these delicate types of fabrics just requires a bit of patience, and testing to get it right. Be sure to use a new sharp stretch needle (or a ball point needle), I find that this works best. I've used a regular twin needle on the FOE and it works great. If you can find a stretch twin needle, that works well too! For the swim knit, a stretch twin needle is a must, a regular twin needle tends to skip stitches. Download Video HERE