I have a new obsession
Let’s talk hobbies. My neurospicy brain enjoys rotating them – when I go back to a beloved interest after an extended absence, it’s as if I’m rediscovering its joys all anew. There’s dopamine to be had in this sort of novelty and I’m not one to shy away from it (just don’t overdo it if you’re like me).
The past couple of months however, I discovered a new hobby, and I’m not quit sure how to feel about it: sewing miniature clothing.
I like being able to whip up a pair of trousers in an hour, functional pockets included, and getting the satisfaction of a task completed. If I were to put my brain in an MRI scanner afterwards I’m sure it’d be lit up like a USA Christmas home in December.
There’s only so much fun to be had sewing mini clothes if there is no one to wear them, though – so naturally I’ve purchased a few dolls to dress, all of different body proportions to keep things interesting. I’m 45 and never had a particular interest in being an “adult fashion doll collector,” as they are known, and yet here we are. What is going on?
Anyway, meet the posse.
They’re currently residing in an unglamorous IKEA shelf cubicle but, of course, I have plans to make their accommodations nicer. Miniature sewing is morphing into tiny carpentry, help!
Oh, who am I kidding? It’s already happened. I built them a wardrobe with popsicle sticks and balsa wood rods to keep their clothes tidy and cute. I even bought shoebox templates to store their footwear. I’m in deep.
There is definitely something *very* satisfying about tiny pockets…
Like I said, it’s a weird thing for me to have acquired this new taste for dolls. What do you think, is it weird? Let me know your thoughts!
24 thoughts on “I have a new obsession”
Not weird at all – (alternatively it is and me too!)
As you say, making something miniature can mean a finished article in no time and yours do look good. I say “can” because it’s not always the case.
It was making and dressing a doll which got me into serious craftwork. I made an articulated cloth doll intending to dress her in Regency style, but I didn’t want to use bought lace since it wouldn’t be the right scale. That got me started on lace making, and I went off at a tangent into that craft, following it with tatting, crochet and embroidery, spinning, weaving, and eventually arrived at felt making. I still haven’t even finished the doll, let alone dressed her. I have enjoyed the journey however.
I hope you’ll keep us up to date with your posse’s progress.
Ann
OH no Ann nakid doll still?!! you could try a lucette to make the cordage in fine linin thread so its fine enff and yet strong enuff to do the stay lacing. wate till you strart resurching lacing patterns! or have you already found that distraction? then there is the tips and tricks for padding your stays so nothing get poked or decends when you dont want it to. life just has too many squerls to look at to get everything done!
Ann, your side quests are even more fabulous and intricate than mine! I love it 😀 Now I want to see that unfinished (and half-naked doll), haha
The clothes are adorable and far better than the shop-bought variety. You’ve covered so many styles from keep-fit man to ballerina to ‘I’m off out look at me’! The wardrobe is brilliant:)
Thanks! I find I’m improving with every make (miniature sewing is *fiddly!*) The ballerina is commercial, but it’s from the 1980s and quality was so much better then 🙂
My next adventure is lace undergarments, let’s see how many swear words I’ll deploy with that make!
those are well dressed dolls! next they will be requiering a house, i suspect you will have to sneek it into your studio a bit at a time so no one notice. do they also requier jobs and places to do those jobs? frends, familys hobbies…. ok now you will need a second house to put there house, ofices, grocery stores, pubs, rollerdisco rinks, a gym, an entier therater in!!!! Keep having fun and dont let them talk you into too big a wordrobe or they will want an even bigger house!!
Jan, you naughty sausage, don’t talk me into a deeper rabbit hole! I’m already eyeing one of my bookcases and wondering if I can convert it into a room for them to lounge in… Plus of course I’ll have to create backstories for all of them, and more clothes… I’ve started looking into Barbie knitwear I can create, too. Who have I turned into? 😀
What fun! I have never found that smaller things take less time but I’m glad you are enjoying yourself. The pants with pockets are adorable. Watch out for Jan’s suggested rabbit holes 😉
I wish I wasn’t already contemplating some of the rabbit holes Jan’s suggested… I just know a sofa and more clothes storage will have to happen at one point. If you’d told 20-year-old (very goth) me that I’d be dressing up Barbies in pink at the age of 45, I’d likely have had a conniption!
LOL, of course your weird. Normal is so boring. the clothes are so cool. It looks like miniature building and upholstery is in your future. You know you could make your own dolls, either sewing or felting. Can’t wait to see what you nit for them.
Yes, “normal” is definitely overrated (and what is Normal, anyway?) but I genuinely thought dolls were not in my future at middle age 😂
Well, now a confession: dolls are maybe *not* such a far-fetched leap, I have indeed made doll upholstery before, this time for handmade rabbits. So, the move to fashion dolls is perhaps a logical step, considering I am hankering to make more 1/6 scale furniture!
Leonor,
When I was growing up, my critics would call me “flitty.” I was criticized for having multiple interests: flitting from one project to another. Now, that I have a healthier view of those individuals (A-hem!) and their opinions, I prefer to think of it as opportunities for further exploration! I applaud you 👏 and say do whatever floats your boat!!
I love that people are going back to making doll clothes again. I have a couple knitting books by Nickie Epstein with Barbie outfits. I knit a few of the easy things for my daughters. But, I remember a school friend’s mother, in the late 1960’s who made incredible Barbie clothes. She had access to beautiful fabrics and had what seemed like racks of clothes to choose from. Now, I’ve noticed people are going back to dressing dolls again! Everything that’s old becomes new again.
I think it’s great that you are doing something you enjoy! Carry on as they say…your outfits look ‘absolutely fabulous’ darling!
Capi
Who are these people who called you flitty? I’ll sort them out, the meanies! 😀 It’s called “discovering your joy,” and what better time to do that then *when we’re alive?* (I used to think it was “when growing up” but I’ve clearly changed my mind for the better, thank goodness)
Dressing up dolls is, for me, a way to create something that doesn’t have much of a carbon footprint… I worry about hurting the planet with my decisions, so being able to make a thing and it being tiny helps me with that. Just another delightful weird quirk of mine 😅
I’d love to see your old Barbie makes! x
Leonor, the doll is bald, blind and naked and has been for getting on for 45 years! With all the inspirational projects the Studio is providing, I think it unlikely that I’ll get round to finishing her. If I can remember which hiding place she’s in I’ll try to remember to photograph her and put it on the community gallery.
(I have to keep repeating to myself “I must not go back down old rabbit holes”.)
Ann
Have you heard that Mattel has created a new style of Barbie dolls that are *gasp* bald? 😀 They have wigs instead. Maybe one day you’ll stumble upon that doll and decide Today Is The Day and she’s magically get dresses and get some hair 😉
(Petition to the Studio to create a challenge that gets Ann to make something for her middle-aged but fabulous unfinished doll!)
Oh wow, L….creating such beautiful clothes is in your DNA. First for yourself, then your rabbits, then your frogs and now your dolls. You are obviously enjoying the journey and the challenges even if the air is ‘blue’ occasionally 😜
Rabbit holes….yep, I can see you disappearing before too long and your rabbit/book shelves will become a dolls home delight worthy of any classy interior designer’s efforts….keep us posted!
Xx
Antje, I replied to your comment below (after the internet deleted my original, longer one…) Sorry!
I replied to you extensively and the internet ate my comment 😅
In sum: I’m also improving the fit of ready-made garments, and may be making a shoe rack soon! Eek!
xx
I find your new hobby very logical for such a creative type as you! It makes perfect sense to want to see a project finished and be able to start another sooner. Plus, I might be partial to your dolls, I admit to trying to make dresses for mines and, later on, for my daughter’s (without her asking or having any interest in it), and it is very satisfactory to finish the job quickly and dress the doll immediately! I also love your miniature furniture adventure, Leonor.
Thanks! I’m slowly coming to terms with this new rabbit hole, although I still catch myself shaking my head once in a while at how I’d never have guessed I’d take such a path.
I’m also delighted to find out there’s a lot more people out there making doll clothes than I ever thought. I hope you saved some of your efforts for the future, your daughter might have a change of heart in her mid-forties 😉
Ok so, you are in deep. No getting out at this stage Leonor. The tiny clothes just remind me of the Ladybird Illustrations in the fairy story ‘The elves and the Shoemaker’. Soo so cute and so perfect. This could be the start of somehthing big!
By the way, offer of the Bratz still stands. Weird body shapes there! (Not to mention spooky faces).
Keep going. Dying to see more.
ps I have a Barbie house somewhere in the attic. Imagine taking that as hand luggage over to you! lol
I’m in deep! Even after telling myself No More Rabbit Holes :p
Love spooky faces, but I must confess the Bratz dolls proportions weird me out 🫣 No idea why! The same goes to Blythe dolls, those gigantic heads and enormous eyes makes me think someone was drinking “special mushroom tea” when they came up with the design for them 😂
I’d laugh at your hand luggage joke, but since I know you a bit – don’t you dare, lady! I’m not ready for that type of commitment 😂😂
Next phase is more clothing storage, and a sofa. Let’s see if this weekend is a crafty one…
Might also have the car. Nice and Barbie pink. Let me just sort the flights. :p
You fiend 😀