Spotlight on Lynne's Homemade American Girl/Jouney Girl/Our Generation/Maplelea Doll Clothes

Lynne's Homemade Doll Clothes can be viewed by clicking any of the highlighted words in this post.

 Today I am so thrilled to bring you an interview with Lynne of Lynne's Homemade American Girl/Journey/Our Generation/Maplelea Doll Clothes Fame.

Lynne's work comes recommended to us today from one of our readers and blog followers Deena.

 

Here now is the interview questions Lynne was kind enough to answer for us today. I love getting a behind the scene look at the what motivates and inspires doll clothes makers. I hope you will enjoy getting to know Lynne as much as I have.

Q: How long have you been sewing?

A: I have been sewing since Iwas 8 years old, making some clothes for myself since I was 12.  I have been sewing doll clothes for the 18inch dolls for a year and a half.  Thishobby is starting to take me over as I would rather sew than eat now!  It is so much fun to watch each outfit cometogether when they are finished.

Q:What motivated you to create items for 18 inch dolls?

A:My granddaughter Chloe has a Mapelea doll, 3 American Girl Dolls. . Chloe’s mother, my daughter Karen, also has 3 AG dolls now.  (Who better to play dolls with when your friends are busy than your mom?)  Sewing for their dolls just came naturally - the right thing to do, so to speak  Of course it was way too much fun to stop at just a few and before anyone knew what was happening, I had a business set up, taking over an entire room in our home. Since I am constantly sewing, I need dolls to try on the clothes as well as to display clothes at craft sales and in photographs for my Facebook page.  So, I have 3 as well as a bitty girl twin .  And I wish I had one more.  A variety of skin and hair colour keeps my site interesting. Whenever Chloe helps with the modelling, she selects on item for herself.  She has quite a large wardrobe now for her ‘girls’.

Q:Which dolls do you have and how many?

A: My doll collection includesKit and Saige plus a shoulder length brown haired girl.  My daughter has blondes and my granddaughterhas Caroline, a long brown haired doll, and a lovely curly black haired dollplus one Maplelea.  So that gives me 10dolls to use.  Plus occasionally, some ofChloe’s friends join in with their Mapelea’s for modelling time and they get topick an ooutfit as well.

Q:Do you design all your own patterns or do you use patterns by other designers?

A:I use a variety of patterns -many mainstream patterns from Pleasant company (the original AG  doll company) McCalls, Simplicity andButterick, Many from Liberty Jane and some from Etsy.  Often I combine patterns to create newfashions by changing the sleeves, the length and adjusting the fit onmany.  The last dress pattern is aLiberty Jane design.  And it is extremelypopular.  Often I only make 3 or 4 of anyone pattern, but not this one.  I try tosew seasonally, changing fabrics and colours to suit the season.  

Q:What is your favorite thing to make for dolls?

A:My favourite outfit?  That is hard. I loved making fur coats from a McCalls pattern last winter. They wereexactly what I wanted to see little girls wearing at the time.  I am looking forward to making more thiswinter (well, I may start sewing them in June to have them ready bywinter).  I adore the spring dresses andcannot wait to see each one completed. In a week I will be starting spring pants and tops.  I have made one and sold it before it waseven completed by someone who hadn’t even seen it.  I just described the fabrics and she knew itwould be right for her granddaughter.  Ialso loved sewing jeans with four pockets. My granddaughter had the first jean and jacket set made from a McCallspattern and when I see it, I cannot believe it was made by me.  Maybe I will get back to it in the fall.

Q:What is your top seller?

A:Top seller, that is a hard question as it changes seasonally as well.  Swim suits in the summer, coats and jackets in the fall, and these spring dresses and skirts now, selling almost as fast as I can produce them.  I just bought 5 more Mcalls etc patterns including aprons, and have started making purses that I think will sell.  Some folks bring their children regularly to my ‘in home’ store to choose outfits themselves.  It is never easy for them.  Like when choosing their own clothes, decisions are hard.  Settling on one item ‘MAKING CHOICES’ is a very hard, but very important lesson for little girls to learn.  It is a skill they will need their entire lives.

Q:What is your busiest time of year?

A:Well, that is also a hardquestion.  Christmas, of course, is verybusy with home sales and 2 craft sales this past Christmas.  However, parents are getting doll clothes in a rush now for Easter.  This summer, I am going to try a weekly craftsale here in Manitoba.  As this is stillthe beginning of my business and a lot of people are just beginning to find myFacebook site, I really have no idea what will happen this summer.  I do not know how popular these dolls arehere in Manitoba, though I often drive into Winnipeg taking items to meetparents that want to buy, as well as having my home store and I have beensending clothes across Canada and into the USA. (For purchases over $70.00, I pay the shipping and folks seem to likethat - feel free to edit this out if it is not acceptable in this interview).

Other things:

"I must admit that having a daughter who is a professional photographer of  babies and children has been a huge benefit.  It is obvious that a perfect picture helps sell these outfits as people can really see what the garment looks like.  I really call my business - Playmates Doll Clothes - but it hadn’t been chosen when the Facebook website was started.  Now it is too hard to change without confusing people as well as myself.  The name just seems to fit so well so I use it at craft sales"

 

Thank you Lynne! It is always wonderful to interview a fellow Canadian Doll lover and doll clothes maker. I believe that the doll clothes makers love of her dolls is reflected in her work. Check out Lynne's Facebook Shop by clicking here or any of the blue highlighted words in today's posts. Doll Clothing and accessories offered from $1.50-$18 Canadian.

As with all my posts I would love to hear form you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com