The Doll Book

I started sewing people clothes when I was eight. I made a simple dress for my six year old sister. She did wear the dress but I don't recall how much coercion was involved. Later I moved on to doll clothes and then I received this book--The Doll Book.

I was obsessed. I made many of the dolls and clothes from this book.  The dolls are Barbie sized. When I was little I did not like the way Barbies were mixed in the photos with the cloth stuffed dolls, but now I am charmed by it.

The book includes patterns for a family of dolls. She gave you faces, directions for dozens hair styles and even a baby.

The clothing section spans 200 years of fashion for the entire family. The book had information about each period of clothing, patterns (pages upon pages of patterns) and directions on making clothing details.

I made many of the dolls and clothing, and tried to set up historic scenes like the author. I then photographed them. They were blurry and often on my front steps because of the better lighting and stairs were useful to prop the dolls up.

This book has followed me into adulthood and every time I pull it off the shelf I am reinspired and completely charmed.

The book is available used on Amazon.