Update: The giveaway winner is Sharon Davenport. Congratulation to Sharon! Also a huge thank you to everyone that left wonderful comments. They are amazing to read!
Last week I shared a few simple holiday memories around homemade gifts. I loved reading through the sweet memories you shared in the comments and the stories you emailed to me. Today I have a couple sweet stories shared by readers.
First we’ll hear from Jo about the special gifts and memories her mother made for her kids. I am tickled by the connection Jo made to play from the experience.
My memories of childhood and dolls is my mother making a brides dress for the birthday girl and the other two girls would get a bridesmaid dress for their dolls.
What I have come to find out years later is that my parents were just making it financially and mum, to give us a treat, would take us by train to the next town, to take us to the church on the hill. A big walk for little legs and we could see the BRIDE. It was so wonderful. Mum made it so special and such a happy time… and the dolls were then part of the games once we got home. -Jo
One story that especially comes to my mind was one year when the mine at Ruth, NV was on strike. For a year or two people were really strapped for money. Our church went around and collected old toys that people could donate. The scouts took the boy toys and painted and fixed them up. A friend and I took the dolls. We cleaned them up and curled their hair. I had them sitting on vents all over the house to get dry. Then we made each of them 3 outfits. We put up a note on the store bulletin board that Santa’s helpers would be at the church on such and such a day. Anyone that wanted to come get toys could come at that time and pick them up. It was a Christmas I will always remember. Thanks for letting me share. -Jeanne
Thank you to everyone that shared! You can read more memories in the comments on the original blog post here. I was so touched by the stories I wanted to do one more week of sharing memories and also give you an opportunity to win my newest pattern that’s out. Leave a comment below to share a memory of a homemade gift that you made or was given to you that touched you. Everyone that shares a memory in the comments below will also be entered in a giveaway to win a PDF sewing pattern from my shop.
-Anna
Here are the giveaway details:
Pattern Giveaway
- Enter to win:
- Comment below and share a memory of a homemade gift that you either made or received that touched you.
- I will notify the winner by email, so enter your email in the appropriate field when submitting your comment. Your email will not be visible to others.
- One entry will be chosen at random.
- This giveaway is for the choice of the Lucy Gown Pattern or the Ruffled Tankini Pattern and the accompanying Sewing Guide. It is a digital PDF pattern and instruction download.
- You must be at least 13 years old to enter. (If you are younger than 13, have a parent enter for you.)
- Giveaway ends on Tuesday December 26, 2017 at Midnight MST.
I have been making homemade gifts for my daycare kids. I do anything from dolls clothes to blankets, pillow cases to capes! I really like to make doll clothes for my great nieces! They don’t live close to me so it always nice to send a special present to them! Hope gifts are the best and mean so much! When I was little I got homemade Barbie clothes and passed them down to my daughter! I enjoyed making American girl doll clothes for when she was a little girl!!
When my granddaughter was 5 years old, she made me a story book written and illustrated by herself. She was already a talented writer at that young age. I treasure it to this day.
Last year my brother & his girlfriend sent me a small bird cage with fresh greenery & all the accessories to put it together – I was very touched by this beautiful gift that arrived on my birthday Dec 13th
This year I got new greenery & redid it – absolutely my favorite gift !!
My friends son made me a finger weaving project. He was 6 years old and he spent a week making an 8” wall hanging with fringe. His little fingers hurt from working so hard!! He chose the most random colors and I just love all the thought and effort that went into it. A gift from a child is special becaose they don’t have money…they have to really put their love into it.
My son spent hours and hours and hours making an armoire and bunkbed for my grand daughter’s AG dolls. I made all the bedding and when she got the gift at Christmas she cried! To this day she treasures these hand made gifts!!!
I like many others make gifts for the people in my life. One year I made a Christmas-themed gift for an elderly neighbor. She liked it so much she left it out for the whole year. I told her that Christmas was over and did she want me to put it in storage for her–but she said, “No, I like it, it makes me happy, so it can just stay out.”
I have 7 grandchildren in age 5 to 11, 6 are girls and all have a version of the 18″ doll that is a copy of the American Girl doll. The girls love when I make clothes for their dolls, I use left-over scraps, outgrown and worn clothes. Seldom have I bought anything new to construct and by now have made over 100 garments. It has been so much fun. The girls love seeing their own clothes transformed into doll clothes.
This brings me back to my own childhood when my grandmother would knit and sew doll clothes for my 2 dolls. Treasured memories of many years ago. Grandmother passed away in 1969 while I was still a teen. Our family immigrated to Canada, we were very limited what we could bring but one of my treasures I brought was the baby doll I received as a Baptism present and all the clothes my grandmother had made – still have it all.
I have always liked to make things and I love giving to others. When my family was small I would stay up after they went to bed and make Xmas ornaments. Later on I changed to make baby quilts and blankets. Now I have granddaughters and this year I bought them a new generation doll and I made doll clothes to go with the dolls. Thxs so much for your patterns. We live in Saskatchewan Canada and sewing in the winter is a great pastime.
My joy in life is sewing for my grandchildren, we have two girls (5 and 2, and a boy that is 3, and a new little baby boy not yet born. I do a little quilting and have made all the babies each a quilt or two when they are born- that is my legacy to them. I also LOVE to sew fancy dresses and school clothes for the two girls – at times matching. My fondest memory is that my 5-year-old granddaughter told her auntie “that is a lovely dress, Tia, who made it for you? ” that shows she knows those nice things are handmade. My joy is that my youngest daughter has taken up sewing in the last two years and is astounding me with her creations. She works mostly in knits and I work mostly in wovens. The two girls have 18 dolls that they will be given when they are a bit older- with a box full of dresses, hats, and accessories. Love my lofe!
I like to make things and I love giving to others. When my family was small I would stay up after they went to bed and make Xmas ornaments. Later on I changed to making baby quilts and blankets. Now I have granddaughters and this year I bought them a new generation doll and I made doll clothes to go with the dolls. Thxs so much for your patterns. We live in Saskatchewan Canada and sewing in the winter is a great pastime.
I have a niece that is almost 12 and she still loves playing with her dolls. Recently when she was playing with a girlfriend and her bedroom with her dolls she said to her my auntie Karen make this my auntie Karen make that auntie Karen makes all my doll clothes, her mama her overheard that conversation. I also have made a bedding set for her doll and a quilt,a knitted blanket. I have made outfits to match my niece and her doll. She love that also since she is too big for the store bought me and doll sets. I know someday she will stop playing with her dolls, but until then I will happily make her clothes and accessories.
Too many at my age, but my favourite memory is getting the Barbie fashion house. I loved to make clothes for Barbie and Ken and it had a runway and a display ‘chest’ for accessories like the store ones.
We always knew we’d have a Christmas even if it wasn’t much, the tree come from our farm and we got some essentials like socks and lunch boxes but that made the doll from grandparents so much more perfect for us.
Every year I search the thrift stores for 18″ dolls that I can clean up and repair. I then make them outfits, shoes and bedding. These dolls and their accessories are then taken to our church to be gifted anonymously to a struggling family with a young daughter or to someone in my small community with a young daughter. One year I gave the doll to one of our pastors and found out later that it had gone to a family with 2 young girls and that they were sharing the doll! So I quickly put together another doll and clothes and told him to give it to that family as well. I have been so blessed to see that these young girls have a gift their family could not otherwise afford.
I love the Ruffled Tankini Pattern. She look gorgious in there. Thank you to you and your team for your hard work and the beautiful pattern you do.
When I was 8 I made clothes for my Ginny doll. My mom let me use her machine and I would spend hours making outfits out of scraps of fabric. When my 3 granddaughters got American Girl dolls for Christmas a few years ago I was transported back to those times while I went to work making clothes for their dolls. Once again I went to the scrap pile or giveaway bag for fabric. Some of the most treasured renewed items were made out of their own baby clothes!
This years memories will be the best. We are all so happy and joyous. We are so grateful for all we have been blessed with. We all tried to stop the commerism and gave what we could. It has been so much fun. We all have different talents. One son does photography, a daughter that bakes, a daughter in law that opens up her home, she excels at hospitality, and little grandchildren that are treating us with pictures. My contribution is in sewing. Made matching pillowcases for all the little ones for the sleep over with us. Made doll clothes for 5 granddaughters and dolls and clothes for 5 foster girls. The whole family chipped in to make 50 gifts bags for our nursing home and 20 more for the memory care unit. Like I said the best year ever. Once we started we could stop finding places to share. Merry Christmas to you and your employees and families. Thank you for promoting the art of making doll clothes.
I’m the crafter in my family and I think my favorite gift I’ve ever made was a ceramic flower pot and lamp shade then I made it into a macrame hanging lamp with the flower pot below for my brother’s wedding gift. They have been married for over 30 years now, and they still have that hanging planter/lamp in their home.
When I was 5 or 6 years old my grandmother knitted an outfit for my baby doll. I had a sweater, skirt, hat and boots. I was so proud that I took her to school for show and tell. I’m 55 now and still have the doll with the beautiful outfit. Now I enjoy making doll clothes – sewn, knitted or crocheted – for friends’ children and grandchildren as well as a local elementary school so other kids can enjoy their dolls as much as I did.
This year a lady my husband knows said she’d have only $20 to spend on her DD for Christmas and could I make her some doll clothes. I sewed several mix & match outfits for her doll, including a leotard, tutu, warm-up sweater and leg warmers. Then I saw a sale for $5 & $10 outfits @ American Girl, so ordered a couple for her as well and gave all of it to her. There was enough that she was going to keep some back for her DD’s birthday in January. Being able to share is the best feeling this time of year!
Oops, typo on website address.
When my daughter was born I had crocheted her a small baby blanket. She carried this thing around throughout her childhood years. I’d sit later at night when she was asleep and fix any parts that were torn or ripped, sometimes replacing whole sections with new squares. She continued to love her “baby” blanket up until she was in her teens… she even still slept with it on her bed (it was over her pillow). The year my daughter was to move out to go to university was pretty sad, but she went off. She then wrote me later asking if I could please send her baby blanket as she’d forgotten to pack it (it had been put into the laundry). She’d also been mentioning she was needing another regular blanket as the room she was renting was cold at night. I took her baby one, added several special grannie squares and added a nice border to make an “adult” sized baby blanket she could use to keep warm. She adored this and to this day still wraps up in this new “baby” blanket!
My grandmother, who ran a successful herb farm and two curious little girls during the Great Depression, taught me the importance of “making do”, using up every scrap, and repurposing whatever could be salvaged from outgrown garments. One Christmas, when I was about five, and had already been an avid sewer for two years, we went to spend Christmas on my gradparent’s farm. My grandmother pulled out her giant paper bag of scraps and tipped it over onto the kitchen table. Her gift to me was to be able to pick any scraps from the bag and help me design and make doll clothes. Her only stipulation was that I needed to make them during the time I was with her — one full week. I had to decide on one thing at a time, make the garment, and then I could pick another. It was an imprortant decision. I’d pull out a piece of fabric and then she’d share what it had originally been used for — a dress for my mom, a blouse for herself, and then tiny scraps became aprons and quilt blocks. I was fascinated by the histories of each beautiful fabric from the Depression through the 1950’s, especially tiny calico prints that started as feed sacks for grandmother’s chickens. I picked my fabric and we made a tiny doll dress. I loved it immediately because it had been used for my mom’s birthday dress over 20 years beforehand. I made lots of doll clothes that week, completely enthralled with sewing and hanging out in my grandmother’s sewing circle with all of the grown-up ladies. Some of the doll outfits we decided should go into a Christmas Basket for a needy family that had a young girl a bit older than me. The quilting ladies put a handmade quilt into the basket and I proudly added some of my doll garments on the very top. It made me feel very useful and I still smile when I think of the wonderful way that my grandmother taught me the joys of community service. Christmas morning came, and my very special present from my grandmother was opened. That wonderful lady had used the remains of my mother’s old dress — that matched my favorite new doll dress — to create a matching dress for me. She tucked a picture of my mom wearing the same fabric in a dress at about 10-years old. such a wonderful Christmas memory.
My favorite memory is this year I knitted my friends and family shawls for Christmas and I really hope they like them
Cool giveaway!
When I was about 5 I had a big doll with a very fancy dress. She was so pretty that I didn’t want to play with her so I put her on my Grandma’s bed every day. My aunt made her another dress that was very special. I changed dresses on my doll periodically, but she always laid on Grandma’s bed so that she stayed nice. When I was about 8, my aunt showed me how to sew, and I have been sewing ever since. I love making American Girl doll clothes for my great-granddaughters and think of my aunt who showed me the love of sewing many years ago.
I remember my mother making my sister and I identical dresses every year.
she also made crafts that would be given as gifts.
when my children came along she would buy crafting supplies and have the children make thing for the tree and one year my Christmas tree was decorated with all of the crafts that they made (no bought baubles).
My story is a little convoluted, and it started with a wish. The the true gift was more profound than any I ever received.
As I young child, I wanted a sewing machine very badly. The Christmas I was nine, I woke up to a light blue Holly Hobby sewing machine. It ran on 4 D batteries. I was thrilled! I immediately began making doll clothes out of anything I could find.
A few months later, about my 10th birthday, my grandmother came to me and said she had a very special gift for me. She had a simple wooden box in her hand and she said to me, “This jewelry box belonged to MY grandmother. It was hand made and dose not have any nails or metal except for the hinges and the locking mechanism. It is very special. It’s yours but you must give me your solemn oath that you will take good care of it. Or i will take it back.” I gave my promise. And I made good on my word ever since. That was nearly forty years ago.
Over the years, my mother would talk to me about her great-grandmother, Lenora (the same one who was the original owner of my jewelry box) and about what a wonderful person she was. Apparently, she and I shared many of the same traits and interests and those conversations revolved around that. Mom tells me often how much I remind her of Lenora.
Over the years, I have come back to sewing and enjoying making clothes for my grandchildren as well as quilting and (of course) doll clothes. It is one of the few things I can do.
Last year, I was staying with my mother while waiting for my daughter to have her miracle child. I was finishing up a quilt I was making for him, when our conversation once again, returned to Lenora. But this time the conversation was different. Mom began telling me that Lenora worked at a high end clothier and was a skilled “sewer”.
I sat their with my chin hanging down to my knees and had to stop my mother’s story. “Mom! Are you telling me that Lenora was a “SEAMSTRESS?!” All of a sudden, her eyes went wide, as it dawned on her what she was saying.
Apparently, I had received much more than that priceless jewelry box. I had inherited the gift of making gifts for others. Every time I see that box on my dresser, I am reminded of a woman that I have never met, but that I received so much from. I pray that I live a life that would make her proud.
I’ve loved dolls since I was little. One day my Mom handed me a box and I was puzzled. It wasn’t Christmas or my birthday. I have 3 brothers and 4 sisters so random sole gifts we’re rare. I was thrilled when I opened it and found several Barbie outfits! She bought them from a friend who made them. I could tell the quality was so much better than what you bought in a store, and it was so cool that there was a western outfit made out of Bandana print. Unfortunately, my brother “accidentally” threw them in the trash burning barrel. I had them in a paper bag at one point so it could have been an accident, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t. Shortly after that I learned how to sew and I made doll clothes for my younger sisters, since I was too old to play with dolls then. Today I make all kinds of things, sewn or crocheted, but right now I’m having a blast making American Girl doll clothes. I’m making a stash so I can sell them some day. My husband is beginning to think it’s a ruse, that I won’t let them go. (I do love every piece). My fondest memory is when my son was early teens and wanted me to buy him a Transformer. I told him he was getting too old for them. He looked me straight in the eye and said “aren’t you too old to be buying dolls?” He’s 33 now and I don’t know who has more- his room full of Transformers or mine of dolls! Thanks for letting me tell my story!
For my 66th birthday this month, my daughter Sarah gave me a gift she made herself. I don’t remember her ever doing so before. She made a tiara out of wire, beads and an amethyst stone because she heard me say earlier this year (to one of her little boys) that I would like a crown with an amethyst on it. She’s one of the busiest people I know – because she has 10 children ages 1 to 19. She homeschools the children, runs 5 miles 6 days a week, and cooks everything possible from scratch. So it meant a lot to me that she would take the time to learn how to do this.
Such wonderful stories that have been previously posted. I was one of 9 children – 7 girls. I started hand sewing doll clothes when I was about 6 and am still at it although I switched to using a machine and serger many years ago. I have been making 18″ doll clothes for the past 20 years and donating them to various charities for Christmas gifts. This is my payback for all that has been given to me over my lifetime so far.
These are beautiful dresses the long reminds me of the doll dress for my 24#” dress my mom made me for Christmas out of my sisters old graduation dress when i was about 8, 67 years ago. I still have it on the doll and would not take anything for it along with many other doll and dresses Mom made for me. I have had the opportunity to teach my granddaughter to sew using her 18″ Amer Girl Doll and from some of the clothes that were hers when she was little. She is 17 now and only makes them occasionally for a gift for one of the little girls she baby sits. Precious memories are still made every day with sewing! Thanks!
One of my most vivid memories is a time when my parents were struggling to get food on the table, I was 7, and did not expect anything for Christ or anything From Santa. I was very surprised on Christmas morning when I woke up and Santa had left me a stuffed Frog. My mother had made a simple frog out of recycled fabric and stuffed it with rags. I treasured that frog. I even took it to university.
Looking back, I must have been very excited when Santa brought me a doll for Christmas. It was so long ago that I don’t remember what kind she was, but only that she was tall and I had a hard time holding her. I took my doll to school to show her off, which I wasn’t supposed to do. It was cold, snowy, and slippery outside and I dropped my new doll and broke her little finger off. I don’t know if I was upset because I broke her finger or because I knew I would be in trouble for taking her to school. After that my doll disappeared and I could never find her. The next Christmas there she was under the tree once again and grandma had made her a whole new wardrobe. I don’t know what ever happened to her but I know she was around for a long time as my sisters and I called my doll “long legged Suzy.”
When I was about 6 my aunt crocheted a pink dress and bonnet with little flowers on the side. The doll is an inexpensive plastic storybook type from the dime store. I loved that little doll and now, 75 years later, it is right on my dresser. Tattered, faded,doll arms tied back together,I still love her.
when I was about 7 my aunt who had crippling arthritis made me a doll and many clothes for her. She sewed it all by hand,I have,no idea how she made it with her hands so deformed. I really wish I still had her.
Beautiful patterns.. Would love to win any of them Thank you for the chance.
When I was 10 years old (55 years ago!) my Mother made each of my dolls (I had 9 – one for each previous Christmas). They each got a gown, dress with matching panties and a snow suit. I still have almost all of the dolls and outfits. Of course they are well worn. But each time I look at them I remember that Christmas and remember my Mother with all the love in my heart! I will never forget that year.
My grandma had 27 grandkids which gets expensive at Christmas time. She would give every one of us a $2 bill in a card. This way everyone got an even amount. My family lived in Oregon while the rest lived in Wisconsin. Since we were so far away she would send us a box of gifts. She always embroidered our names and a design on a fresh pillow case. Her embroidery work was so amazing you
couldn’t tell the front from the back. And she would pick up items from the church bazaar. Which was usually hand made Barbie clothes and crocheted slippers. We really looked forward to our Christmas Box from grandma Cecil
My daughter gave me a gift of something that had been stolen in a house break in. She contacted Betty Crocker and explained about me being Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow my senior year of high school in 1971. My prize was a sterling and pewter necklace heart. She explained about it being stolen. They sent a lovely letter and a necklace for me and one for my daughter. I cried when I opened the gift.
Every year my daycare children get new hats and mittens they pick the color or colors some times they match. they tink its special and I love doing it. I also make doll clothes every girl as an 18″ doll.
I love sewing so much!! It’s my passion. A few years ago, a lady very dear to me got me a sewing machine and I have loved it ever since. I love to sew doll clothes and clothes for myself. I love making them for my baby cousisn’s doll. She loves them!
Chloe
A cherished Christmas memory was the year my Mom told us girls that we would not be getting a doll for Christmas this year. We just couldn’t afford it. A while later I couldn’t find my Suzy doll. I looked everywhere. Christmas morning when we opened presents, I unwrapped a beautiful doll. I looked at my Mother and said I thought we weren’t getting a doll. Then my sister opened her package and said Betty there you are. I looked at my beautiful new doll and realized that Mom had cleaned Suzy and given here a new hairdo and made here new clothes. It was the love that she put into that present that makes it so memorable.
My Mom taught all 3 of us girls how to sew. We didn’t have much. The mice got into the doll (hidden in the machine shed) for my sister and ruined the dress, so Mom stayed up most of the night designing and sewing a new dress for the doll. It was beautiful. My brother destroyed the dress my bride doll, Mom made a new dress, and years later, my sister made a new wedding dress for her. I treasure these memories and now enjoy creating clothes for 18 inch dolls.
My memories center around my gramma. She was a true seamstress. She enjoyed sewing and any yarn work. She made all my clothes and my doll clothes…..which I still have. Gramma and I became close friends as the years went by…She has since passed and I miss her terribly.
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity. I come from a very large family so have a lot of wonderful Christmas memories of homemade gifts. I now try to give my granddaughters a special homemade gift each year. hopefully can they will continue this tradition to their kids. Thanks again.
One of my school friends knit me a very, very long scarf: burgundy and white. It was so long that I could wrap it several times around my neck and it would still hit the floor. I was never cold with that scarf!
When I was about 3 or 4 my aunt Carol hand made me a Raggedy Anne doll. She worked in the local fabric store which is now long gone sadly and my favorite thing in the world as a child was to go see my grandma because IF I was good mom would take me to see if Aunt Carol was working that day which I suspect she already knew as they talked daily. I loved being there more than anywhere else in the world. Sadly she passed when I was 12 and I have missed her terribly since.
Anne holds a place of honor in my living room glass cabinet with porcelain dolls and other treasures. She inspired my love for sewing and for sewing for dolls in particular. Later in my 20s I worked for a while in the same shop she did. I was able to touch the same fixtures she did day to day and remember the wonderful woman that got excited the day I called yardage as she rolled it off the bolt at 5 years old like a proud teacher who had the best student ever.
Anne and I smile at each other every time I take a customer into my formal area to look at designs.
My youngest daughter love making things! She wanted to learn to knit and so I taught her. The very first thing she made was a scarf and gave it to her dad for Christmas. Being her first project it was not very “pretty” but he still wears that scarf every winter. Whenever I see it it warms my heart because she worked so hard on it and because he wears it.
Another cute little story about her creativity: she made a doll out of an old glow bracelet, plastic wrap and markers. It was actually really cute and she played with it all the time.
My Dad’s cousin, whom I called Aunt Eileen, made me a lovely cloth doll with yellow yarn braids, when I was very young. I dragged her everywhere until she really looked like a rag doll. Mom told Eileen that I had worn out my doll so she lovingly made me another one. That doll wore an apron that tied in back. I learned to tie a bow by using that apron.
I enjoy being able to sew for my granddaughters and their dolls. It is such a blessing to see the joy on their faces. It is also fun to see them want to make clothes for their dolls and to share their sewing skills with others.
One memory I enjoy is after I taught one of my granddaughters to sew on buttons, her older brother brought one of his shirts and ask if she could sew a button on it for him. Seeing and hearing this brought me great joy!
I have so many sweet memories of past Christmas! My parents were far from rich but my mother was a talented seamstress and with remains of materials, left over ribbons and lace she used to sew our dolls dresses, pants, nightgowns, aprons, coats everything well behaved-dolls needed. The dolls were bought naked as they were cheaper but stood, next to the xmas tree, beautifully dressed when first seen by the three little girls we used to be, on Christmas morning. The magic of Christmas was such that it took me years before I realised how many long hours such work involved in the small hours of night when the children we were, were fast asleep.
I have used your lovely doll patterns to create dolls clothes for my Australian grandchildren who I have never met but see on Skype .Their joy at receiving them as Christmas gifts makes it so worthwhile .I was born after world war 2 and I remember my parents made me a dolls rocking cradle out of a wooden box for Christmas, as money and toys were scarce
We have something in our area we call a giving tree. You draw an ornament from the tree that says boy or girl and it also has there age listed on the ornament. You buy a gift for that person, put the gift in a gift bag and return it to the giving tree. The organization sponsoring the giving tree collects the gifts under the tree and distributes them to families in the area who need a little help at Christmas. We never know who the children are and they never know who buys the gifts. I love to buy a doll for a girl and then make doll outfits to give with the doll. I hope the little girl has as much fun playing with her new doll as I do making the doll clothes that go with her. I think it’s a win-win situation.
On my seventh Christmas, our family was particularly strapped for money. I had received a Revlon doll from one of my brother’s girlfriend the previous year. She was lovely but had no clothes. My Mother truly hated sewing, although she was quite good.While I was away at school and after my bedtime my Mother must have worked tirelessly to create the most beautiful wardrobe for the doll. I loved all of them and played them for years. I still have this true gift of love.
When you do something you would prefer not to do… that is a TRUE LABOR OF LOVE.
Hi Anna
Firstly, thank you for your free Dolman top pattern.
I grew up thinking everyone could sew, crochet, knit, etc as all the woman in my family could do so. It was only when my future mom-in-law (that was in 1980) had an appreciation for my handwork and pointed out that I was talented that I began to realize that crafting was in fact a gift. One year our daughters and I made angels to hang on the Christmas tree using safety pins and beads for the skirt and two different sized crystal beads for the torso and head. Needless to say Oumie treasured her decoration and it stayed up throughout the year. She passed away in 2004 and her treasured angel now hangs on our Christmas tree.
The most favorite gift I received at Christmas was a bicycle my dad built just for me. I had been asking for a bike for a long time. I didn’t realize at the time that my parents were just getting by, raising 5 kids, both of them working. We lived on a small farm and all of us pitched in to do chores. There were no boy or girl jobs, just chores.
That Christmas, my dad secretly worked on rebuilding an old bike he bought, repainting it and lovingly restoring it to better than its original glory. Imagine my surprise on Christmas morning when I woke up and saw my new gift in the living room. My excitement made me cry from happiness.
I’ll always remember my dad’s love and caring for all of us kids, even after we grew up.
I was the recipient of a Secret Santa gift this year. The person who made it obviously put a lot of time into it. Everything was for dolls! There was a gorgeous dress, complete with a full set of underclothes and a crinoline. There was also a bonnet, a wallet, boots, a sewing kit, and knitting set. Everything was very professionally done. It touched my heart that this amazing seamstress put so much time and thought into a special gift for someone like me, someone she didn’t even know!
My favorite homemade Christmas gift was an overflowing box of crocheted and knitted ornaments created by my Aunt Dot. After her passing, when my cousin was cleaning out the house, he and his wife discovered a treasure trove of her handiwork. There was an abundance, as I remember her always working on something, especially for her bridge club. I was a lucky recipient of some (many) of the ornaments. Although they are not as trendy as the newer crochet designs out today, I treasure them because they bring back memories of her tree when I was young, and all the times she was crocheting or knitting when I visited. An added bonus – because they are yarn, they are cat proof!
I love giving handmade gifts. Every year, as a scrapbooker, I give the grandparents and the aunts and uncles a mini book, small enough to easily fit in a purse, that diplays the pictures of each grandchild. It is always appreciated.
When I was nine years old, one of my school assignments was to share something that I have learned about colonial people. I was very sad because I couldn’t think of anything and Time was running short. When my grandmother found out about it, she suggested clothes. She used an old Singer sewing machine with a foot pedal and hand stitched undergarments, dress, coat, and hat. She did this in two days, all while doing her chores.
My grandmother was Polish and spoke very little English. Without much education, she was a great example of success in our beautiful America. Her family adored her, especially me. I got an A for that assignment. My grandmother beamed! I still miss her.
One Christmas I made a doll and doll clothes for my first daughter. I stayed up late Christmas Eve to finish it for her. She was thrilled with it and still has it 15 years later.
For the past few Christmases several friends and I have been making doll clothes and accessories for girls in foster care. We buy dolls and each gets at least 3 outfits plus jewelry, hair accessories, shoes, and a pillow and blanket. Although we never get to see who receives these dolls, we know that the ones receiving them will love them as much as we love making these wonderful clothes and accessories.
One Christmas I made Christmas dresses as presents for each of my granddaughter’s dolls. She liked the idea of them having their own tree and ornaments. We had great fun. It reminded me of when I was and my grandmother helped me to make a boy doll that could wear size 2 children’s clothing. We sewed everything on a treadle machine. She taught me how to sew, now I am helping my granddaughter along that path. This year she gave me an appliqued sewing stash bag that she made. Life is full of memories and these are some of my best.
I received a complete wardrobe for my revlon doll.all hand sewn by my aunt katy.she had no chikdren of her own so the neices and neohews(16 of us)were her adopted kids.
My favorite homemade gifts are those that come from my Gkids. They take the time to remember me and that is a treasure in itself. The most recent one was an ornament of painted snowmen done by using his fingers. So sweet.
One of my favorite memories was getting doll clothes that “Mrs. Santa” made, and later, that my mother made. Then, as a girl of about 8, I started sewing for my doll. Some outfits were a bit crude, but that’s where I developed my love of sewing and crafting. Now I make clothing for my granddaughter’s AG dolls. It’s so fun and rewarding, and she loves everything I make for her dolls!
When I was in grade school,I came home from school one day to find my mom had made me a toddler sized cloth doll…something I had dreamed of! I loved that doll, but now, looking back and realizing how much work went into it,I appreciate it even more!
Each year I have sewn Christmas dresses for my daughter’s dolls & dress them and put them
Out on Christmas Eve for her to wake up to. It has created a lively tradition for both of us.
When my son was a Cub Scout (he’s 38 years old now), he and I made a Nativity set by using sections of 2″ X 4″ pieces of wood and a wood burning pen. I have kept that set through all the years. Each year, as I set it up in my living room, it brings tears to my eyes as I remember the joy I had helping my son create this work of art. I have collected Nativity sets from all over the world, but this is one of my very favorite!
One of the receptionists in my podiatrist’s office retired after more than twenty five years. When I learned of her retirement, I knew a perfect gift for her would be a gift card from Michael’s. She is an outstanding crocheter and purchases much of her yarn there. There was a special card which I bought as well. Six weeks or so later another receptionist called to tell me Ellie had brought in something for me. When I arrived, the something was a blanket which Ellie had made for me. The pattern is from one of Vanna White’s books. The yarns Ellie used were two shades of blue. Every night I pull u p the afghan and mentally thank Ellie each time.
I had been away from sewing for about 25 years except for the occasional repair or doll making for gifts until November 2013; when my sister purchased 3 red Christmas dresses for her granddaughters and asked me to remake one into 2 American Girl doll dresses. I had lost my corporate job of 15 years the previous March and was looking for something to fill my time as I had decided to retire from the corporate world. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed sewing (and playing with dolls) and Diva Kitty Dolls was born.
What great stories! My grandmother was a seamstress and my mother was too though she did not have the time or eyesight for it. I cannot commit to a craft! My grandmother made me a gift of Barbie clothes one Christmas…a pink quilted bathrobe just like mine! I have often wondered what became of the whole set. This year a friend who I owed a dear favor asked me to sew a dress and a coat for her niece for Christmas for her AG doll. I was addicted! No doll around but I found as many patterns as I could and ended up making her 25 items before I just had to mail it so she would get it in time. So much fun for me to ‘play with dolls’ again!!!
phoning my sister in uk and having a laugh at all our sewing disaster off the year. with the promise to do better in new year
My favorite handmade gift I got was something my grandma made me when I was a little girl. It was a place to keep my pajamas. It had a hanger with a girls head (with yellow yarn hair) and a furry onsie pajamas with a zipper. It’s kinda hard to explain. She passed away a long time ago and I think it’s the only thing I have that my grandma made me. I still have it.
I fondly remember my mother and I making raggedy Anne dolls for her dancing students for Christmas. I was in my early teens and she taught me how to use her sewing machine. The looks on the little kids faces when they came to their class and we handed them the dolls. I will never forget it.
Coming back home after having spent 8 months helping to take care of my sister my husband surprised me with my favorite makeup and perfume.
I love to make this sized doll clothes because of the arthritic fingers.
My memory is when I was about 6 or so Mrs. Pickelman, a friend of my mother’s, made me a wardrobe for my Barbie doll which my children and grandchildren still have (doll and wardrobe). I was so astonished and I treasured that wardrobe! That was the inspiration for me to sew for my children’s dolls which they in turn passed down to their children. I am so grateful for these patterns to make it possible. I think I own most of them! Thank you and many blessings to all.
Hello my name is Elaine,
My earliest memory of dolls and dolls clothes was when I about 3 or 4. We weren’t well off financially, but Mum and Dad were from the depression era and always made as much as they could themselves. Dad could turn his hand to almost anything, and Mum made all of my clothes. One Christmas she made a lot of clothes for my doll and Dad got hold of an old dolls pram from somewhere and painted it pink for me, I think he got some new tyres go it and put a new hood on the the top. It was one of those ones made of pressed tin. I loved it! Before I used to pushed my old pram around with my dolls in it, or sometimes I dressed up the cat in my dolls clothes and pushed her around. I use to also make my version of dolls clothes from scraps. When I grew up and married I made my children clothes but not doll clothes. I only got into that just recently when I was asked to make some for my friend’s granddaughter, but I really enjoyed making them.
A couple of years ago, I made a back-drop out of foam board of the sky, snow and the stable for the manger…the animals, shepherds, the three kings, Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus were done individually and were used they as an advent calendar. Made out of felt, fur, beads, and all sorts of trims. Happy to say it has survived thru the years and enjoyed by everyone.
Thank-you so much!
I love making gifts for my grandchildren. Especially 18″ doll clothes and accessories.
My mom always made my sister and I matching outfit for Christmas. Always extra special when our Chatty Cathy girls shared in our new dresses. Thank you Mom!
My favorite memory was a gift made by my husband. Our first Christmas was very slim and we did not have much. My husband took his army pants and made me a Christmas stocking. He hand sewed it together with big stitches and embroidered, “To my wife, From Mr. Clause.” It warms my heart every Christmas when we hang it up. It is still holding together after 41 Christmases.
When I was a very young girl there was no money for Christmas presents so my Dad made me a doll bed from some scrap wood and my Mom made me some doll clothes. Best Christmas ever!
I’ve been sewing clothes for both my granddaughters’ AG dolls and they love long dresses for their dolls, pretending that they are princesses. i love being able to change up fabrics for the botices and the skirt layers.
My favourite home made gift were the very warm mittens my grandmother sent to us every Christmas. She made them for all the grandkids every year. The box would arrive with our mittens and some homemade baked goods too. A real treat back then.
Thank you for the contest. I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas and wish you well in the New Year!
Doll clothes! My granddaughter loves the ones I make. She changed her doll into every outfit. I was sooo proud.
My favorite doll memory is a Christmas at my aunts house. My parents had move into my grandparents house to help take care of my grandfather who had cancer. My father was supporting both families working and going to night school. We didn’t have money for toys. My aunt had us over for Christmas Eve dinner. Then the sound of sleigh bells was heard outside. I ran outside to see Santa. Of course I missed seeing him. But when I went inside There were all the gifts including a doll and a wardrobe my aunt had made for the doll. I still have that doll and wardrobe and remember my aunts kindness
I was raised in an orphanage many years ago. I never had a doll. When my grandchildren got old enough, I started collecting American Girl Dolls and my grandchildren & I have lots of fun playing with the dolls. This was my best gift ever.
My favorite memory of a handmade gift took place just a few days ago. Our 11 year old granddaughter made her grandpa and I hand tied fleece throws to cuddle up with in the evenings. Over the last few years she has developed an interest in sewing, crafting and the arts and I like to think that I have had a small part in this.
I crocheted an afghan for my first grandchild. Now I am making one for each one when they are born. I have pictures with all of them.
My favorite home made gift I received for Christmas was a crocheted Afghan from my mother-in-law. She was such a beautiful, kind, women that enjoyed sewing and crochet. She made my son one that he took with him when he left home. I put mine on the back of the couch every winter. I just love thinking of her.
My favorite home made gift I received for Christmas was a crocheted Afghan from my mother-in-law. She was such a beautiful, kind, women that enjoyed sewing and crochet. She made my son one that he took with him when he left home. I put mine on the back of the couch every winter. I just love thinking of her.
My favorite memory comes from an old photo–so it’s not really a memory. There were 6 of us–ages 1-7. We were all wearing flannel shirts and jeans and have little cap guns and holsters standing in front of a pretty spindly Christmas tree. I love that photo.
My favourite memory is a lap quilt I made for my mother. She loves blue so I used a lot of blue prints and backed it with fireside so it would soft, cosy and keep her warm.
The first summer I was married, my ten-year-old sister-in-law became sick and requited bed rest for a month. We lived a half a block from my in-laws so I would go sew Barbie clothes on my mother-in-law’s sewing machine. I made at least one garment daily. When she grew up, married, and had a little girl, those clothes were handed down to her and her dolls. Years later, the next generation also played with them along with new ones I made for each girl.
My dtr got an AG doll for Christmas. She was so eager for us to make her & the doll matching outfits 🙂 This will be a memory for a lifetime 🙂
Last Christmas I made doll clothes for our three grand daughters for their Christmas gifts. The all have American girl dolls and have so much fun with the clothes I made for them. Thank you for the opportunity to have a chance to receive your free dress pattern. I really like your patterns.
Darlene
My favorite memory is a gift made by my mother. For our first Christmas after our wedding, she made us a queen sized quit from blocks she had embroidered while in college. She did all the quilting by hand. We still have it and use it occasionally, although we do not use it as much as we used to — it is starting to show some wear after 30 years!
My favorite memory has nothing to do with making doll clothes, but rather, the love a Mom and Dad had for their 5 children. My Mom was a full time Registered Nurse and Dad worked at a plant that made airplane parts.Money was always tight but they wanted to give us the best Christmas they could. One year we all received new sleds. They were wooden with iron runners and were the best looking sleds in the neighborhood. We learned later that they were old sleds Dad found that had been thrown away. He painstakingly sanded each and every one of them from the wooden top to the runners. Everything was repainted or stained with a fresh coat of varnish. They were the best and faster sleds in the neighborhood!
In this age of technology, throw away society, this is a gift that you never could buy!
My favorite memory was just a few years ago when I made a slew of outfits for my grand daughter’s AG doll and seeing her eyes light up and immediately running for her doll to change her over and over again and saying how This is my favorite over and over again too!
When I was eight we moved to a new town where as neighbors there were two nine year old girls living nearby. They attended the parochial school; I did not, but we all became friends who played with our Barbie dolls together after school. At Christmas we decided to make gifts for each of our dolls that we would then exchange after church and gift giving with our families, on Christmas afternoon. I have no memory of what I made for the dolls except that I’m pretty certain it was a hand knit item; it was my newly learned skill in 1962. One of the girls made something equally unmemorable, but the third child made hand sewn, bright pink, half slips with embroidered monograms (a cursive letter “B”). Tricot knit fabric was as yet unavailable to the home seamstress, so she probably repurposed some outgrown clothing of her own. For whatever reason, that was the coolest gift possible. I still have mine. It’s a bittersweet memory, because instead of becoming an annual tradition, these two “older” girls matured faster than I and put away their dolls the following year, and we grew apart. I never really did get rid of my dolls; I actively played with them for another three years.
During my very young years we rarely visited mother’s extended family. I was the second youngest of many cousins and found it difficult to be among all these people because although they were relatives, I really didn’t know them. One particular visit a teenage cousin started knitting when I arrived, and kept knitting until close to the time we left to go home again. When she was done she gave me an adorable little teddy bear. She told me it had magical powers and would help me feel comfortable regardless of where I was or who I was with.
Now, 63 years later this little teddy bear is still with me, I have travelled and lived in a number of countries. I have married, had children and have 7 grandchildren – still this teddy follows me, the magical powers have never worn off.
I have over the years used the same technique for many children who have entered my life and who have had the need for a little magical power.
This has also led to most gifts for children being home made. The invasion first of the Cabbage Patch doll clothes and now the next generation love getting AG doll clothes including matching girl and doll outfits.
I have always sewn and crafted for my family and friends from when I was a child so I was touched when my best friend crocheted me a lap blanket after we were adults.
I will always remember my mom making me whatever the latest trends were when I was in middle school. My favorites were wrap around skirts and gouchos. The memories inspired me to see much later in life. I have been teaching myself through videos and websites like doll it up.
Doll clothes for my granddaughter and teaching her to sew!
Sewing doll clothes for my granddaughters AM doll and teaching her to sew
I made 6 outfits for my granddaughter’s American Girl doll and attached them to cardboard to show them off nicely, and when she opened them she went crazy with excitement and joy – it was lovely to see her to happy with my hand made gift.
I make something for all the associates that I work with for their new born babies and when I made one for a very young mother she came and asked me what did I do to the blanket? She said the baby who is a toddler now stands at wash machine then the dryer waiting for it to come out. She said she can give her one of the other zebra printed blankets and she will cry until she gets the one I made. I seen her husband pull up in parking lot and walked over to car and the baby was sitting in car sit holding on to blanket. I told him that was the best present I could every get was to see my gift being used.
I taught myself to sew when my oldest daughter was one year old. The first items that I made were baby summer outfits, which are easy to learn on. After that, I always made most of the Christmas presents that I gave. It has always been so much fun.
All of these stories are so touching. My favorite Christmas memory was when I was about 8 years old and my brother was about 6 years old. My dad was military and stationed in France. That year I had figured out that Santa was not real. On Christmas Eve, we went to visit some French friends that lived about 30 miles away. We spent several hours there, having dinner and visiting. When we returned home, Santa had come and we had presents under the tree. My brother got a red wagon and I got exquisite handmade doll furniture. We also got matching cowboy outfits (made by my mother). It was a wondrous Christmas and for another year, maybe two, I believed. I knew my parents could not have put the presents under the tree since we were far away from home, so Santa had to be real. In later years, I realized the neighbors put out all the gifts while we were away. Just to think that our parents went to the trouble to enlisting the help of neighbors to keep the belief alive. Wonderful wonderful parents!
When my oldest daughter was about 2, I made her a stuffed kitten out of knit fabric. It was so cute and she loved it!
When my children were in grade school they made me a plaster of their hand for Christmas from clay. They were wonderful and I still have them. This was about 35 years ago too.
Making a teddy bear for my daughter was a pleasure
Because we were a farm family, it was a struggle financially. Every Christmas until I was in middle school, my mom sewed a new nightgown for me and a matching one for my doll. It was such a treat to go to bed on Christmas Day with my doll in matching nighties. In retrospect, I think Mom must have made her own doll patterns, as I never saw any patterns for dolls at home.
Now I am sewing doll clothes for my granddaughter’s AG doll, I find a beautiful kinship with my mom who sewed at night after everyone else was in bed. I miss Mom a lot, especially at Christmas!
I love making handmade items for my girls! I grew up with a crafty grandma, who passed that down to me. I’m hoping to do the same
I love to sew for my grandchildren. One of my favourite memories is of my oldest 3 (all under 3) riding their new hobbyhorses around and around while my sister played Camptown Races on her piano on Christmas Eve nine years ago.
I was ten years old…the only reason I remember my age was that my grandfather died that year, otherwise my grandmother would not have been at our home on Christmas Eve. I was a serious and thoughtful child, so I knew that Santa was not a real, live being, but I was content to let the myth live on another year or two. Nonetheless, I could not resist sneaking out of my bedroom to see what was going on in the living room. My sister and I received one – more often two – dolls with complete wardrobes every Christmas. My mother sewed and knit the wardrobes, frankly working herself into a frazzle to get everything done in time for “Santa” to deliver. Watching my mother and grandmother arrange everything under the tree was magical and a memory I shall always cherish.
I just received a handmade doll outfit from my mother for Christmas. It is a treasure. I am 55 and my mom is 80!! Amemory to cherish forever.
My mom used to make my clothing when I was little. As I got older she started making clothing for my Barbie and cabbage patch kids. I love dolls so i make clothing for my own dolls in my collection.
My 4 yr old grandson is really interested in Sea creatures, especially sharks and whales. For his last birthday I made a stuffed shark. The pattern was much larger than I imagined and it turned out to be nearly 5 ft long (no, the pattern envelope didn’t have dimensions and In my excitement of making this unique item for him I blithely just cut away without measuring the pattern pieces!). It was so fun to think about his reaction when he first saw it.
He was so excited at how large it was and the shark was a hit with all the kids attending the party. He loves dragging it along, “riding” it and laying on it while watching TV and so does his little brother. It was probably the most fun I ever had sewing something!
When I was 10 years old I remember getting a white box for xmas, when I opened it, oh my! Wrapped in tissue, Barbie clothes my mom made me so many outfits and dresses, a memory I will cherish forever.
I found a free pattern to knit a Christmas Pudding tree ornament. As soon as I saw it I knew I had to make one for my son,.He is a christmas Pudding addict. I had all the wool needed in mt stash so I began knitting the pudding. My husband said ‘What are you knitting now,’ I am always knitting something,! I told him it was a Christmas Pudding for our son. ‘I like that can you make me one too.’
So I eneded up making two,one went on our tree and my son really loved his on Christmas morning.he said it was spwcial becaouse I had made it.
When I was a kid my mom would let me go and stay for a week or 2 with her sister, my aunt. We would sew clothes for me and other special projects. My mom didn’t sew. So what I know I learned from my aunt.
I just made my first baby quilt for my great grandson. I worked on the quilt on & off for 5 months. I designed the quilt myself and the design changed at least five times. The quilt was a woodland animal design and was made using popcorn fleece and flannel print. I used the machine for the top and hand quilted it to the backing. This was the first quilt I ever made. It was a great hit at the baby shower.
I love making doll clothes for my great granddaughters. Their eyes just sparkle when they see what can be made. My next project is to find something easy for them to make.