How to Sew a Button

I saw How to Sew a Button: And Other Nifty Things Your Grandmother Knew on Amazon and decided to put it on my reserve list at the library. I have become much more frugal about purchasing books. I like to preview if possible prior to purchasing. My younger self donated many impulse book purchases. My new library habit has saved me lots of money.

The range of advice in this book made it difficult to appreciate in one library loan period. However, it did convince me to put it on my buy list. The price is reasonable. It is a book I will go back to for reference purposes.

Specifically I liked the cooking and cleaning tips. The topics do literally range from any topic you could expect to sit down and have a conversation with a grandparent who had lived through the Great Depression. The author references her panel of grandparents who helped her with advice on these topics. In the opening of the book, she discusses her own quest to discover the lost arts after failing to recognize rhubarb and making a horrible tasting pie.

Our library system has the grandfather book that I also want to preview. The book reviews seem to indicate the skills are less specific and more general "life advice." The value in purchasing the Grandma book is that I will return because I will not remember if it was baking soda and vinegar for the dog pee removal or something else. I will want to be able to pull up the information. My own grandparents never had dogs so while they passed on many useful life lessons that is not one I suspect they had much of a need to learn.

This is also going to be part of a few gifts this year. I am not the only one I know who can benefit from some wise advice. This is a great book for young people starting out.

Buttons

As I continue to make doll clothes, I have been experimenting with ways to join the clothes. So far, I have used a variety of snaps and buttons. I recently purchased hooks and eyes to use, but have not yet had the opportunity to try them out. I had wondered about the availability of small buttons for Barbie sized clothing but had not seen any.

Buttons are a rather interesting subject with doll clothes. I know some people who will buy button cards picking out specific buttons for each outfit. The buttons really do add something special to the outfits. While I admire the look these buttons provide the expense can be prohibitive. I tend to be a more practical in my button selection. I like to find the large selection of buttons, which while not as pretty as some, are functional. I recently found the Favorite Findings brand at Jo-Ann Fabrics. I have been pleased with the color selection and price. A recent trip to Jo-Ann Fabrics located the tiny Favorite Finding's buttons pictured above. I was not sure if they would be functional or just for decoration. I bought the selection in the container. My theory was if they were not useful for dressmaking, I would use them on amigurumi projects. I was able to use one on a Skipper dress where a snap was not useful.

I do not have an affiliation agreement with Jo-Ann's, though I do mention them quite often. Around here, they are the store with the best selection of sewing notions. I find AC Moore often has better yarn prices unless I am buying online. When I started working on amigurumi and doll projects, I found it helpful when people shared where they found their supplies. I do not always have access to the same stores, but sometimes I find new resources. While there is no Hobby Lobby for several states, I did find I could order items online because someone discussed where she bought her supplies. My Mom found out there is one in her state and now has a cheaper alternative for her yarn and crafts. Sometimes people just assume everyone knows where to find supplies. I know I had all but given up on finding anything but button cards when I found the Favorite Findings brand. I am still looking for other options, but for now, I have an affordable choice.

Skipper Party Dress

This picture does not quite do the dress justice. It is much fuller and prettier in person. This is another dress I adapted from Annie's Attic Fashion Doll Little Sister, Pattern Number 87D22 published 1986. This pattern used fingering yarn and it was so much fun working on the skirt. The formation of the skirt creates the illusion of an underskirt. The pattern creates the style with layers of crochet skirt instead of an actual underskirt. This was a new style of skirt pattern for me. I am anxious to make a few in different colors. The top of the dress has been simplified. I also added an elastic waist as I explained in previous blog posts. I also experimented with using buttons instead of snaps for closures in the back this time.

It has been fun experimenting with the Skipper patterns. With these patterns, I hope to be able to adapt them and make more styles for the doll. I have not found many free Skipper patterns so being able to adapt the few vintage books that are available is an advantage. For those that are interested, I have been using a three- inch elastic for her waist and crocheting over the waist band before working on the skirt and then the top. Barbie's outfits have used a four-inch elastic sewed together and then crocheted over for her outfits.

Barbie and American Girl Doll Free Patterns are listed on my blog at these locations:

Barbie Crochet and Sewing Page

Barbie Knitting Page

Ken Page

Kelly/Skipper Page

American Girl Doll Crochet and Sewing

American Girl Doll Knitting

Additional Doll Patterns also Available on the Holiday Blogs:

Valentines

Easter

Graduation

Patriotic

Halloween Page

Thanksgiving

Christmas

Pictures may not be used without written permission.