JJ shoes from Finn and Ginger

In 2011 I sent some gifts to the USA for Finn who belongs to Ginger for the Secret Santa Swap, I subsequently sent two pairs of socks to complete the outfit.  Finn and Ginger were very pleased with the surprise addition to their present, and sent me a gift to say thank you - a wonderful pair of shoes by Jean Jenson.  The shoes arrived ages ago, and I planned an outfit to match, however everyday life busy stuff and room decorating got in the way of me sewing for a while, so the project was delayed.  However during November at last I found some time and used the section in the 2012 Festival booklet about smocking for inspiration as well as an ancient book on smocking and my Readers Digest sewing dictionary and played around with fabrics, decided on a scheme, and got sewing.  I had to stop the project for a while when the actual smocking was finished because I needed to make gifts for Christmas, however during this past week I've resumed and completed the outfit.

Jean Jenson shoes from Finn and Ginger

This outfit was my first attempt at smocking for a Sasha doll, previously I had only done very basic miniature smocking for 1:12 scale dolls, which doesn't allow much scope for stitch and colour combinations.  My smocking is quite tight (though I think this makes it look 'in scale') and I used several different stitches and about 4 different colours.  Despite these beginner shortcomings, I am really pleased with the result.  I now want to smock for my Lexie and Jenny dolls (Heather Maciak).

Florence in the JJ inspired lime green and blue outfit

Florence is very happy to model the new lime green and blue outfit.  Miranda says it will also suit her, but for the moment Florence gets to wear it first.  And Laura is asking for a smocked top and crop trousers too!

The fabric for this outfit was from two different packs of fat quarters from Hobbycraft.  The spotted fabric is lovely, soft and pliable, the other two fabrics are much stiffer and a little thicker.  They are more suitable for patchwork.

Smock and head band

close up of the smocking

My younger daughter helped me make the headband: I showed her how to measure and design the band, and she helped stitch it on the machine.  She has asked for a design amendment to the headband for Laura's outfit.