Sues Tiny Costumes, Site News!

Buyer BEWARE!!!

Sue — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 03:53:24 +0000

The Sew Essentials Cutting Table you can get at JoAnn’s is a major waste of money. I bought one 3 years ago and the welds gave out on it tonight as I NEEDED it for a project. I bought it because it was at a better height for cutting out projects of which I did cut quite a few out but the longer I had it the more wobbly it became. I kept the screws tight on it but they never held. Finally as the welds have broken it will go out in the yard for the next dump run. It was a WASTE of $60. For that amount I have the supplies I need to build Anna White’s “Sewing Table for Small Spaces” which is for me all wood 3/4″ thick, with large wheels and space to store my machines. It’ll also fold down to about 12″ wide! I can hardly wait to start on it in a week or two as I need it for various projects I plan to attempt to complete by birthday/Christmas this year!

When I complete my new table I’ll be sure to post photos…. it’ll be one of the first projects I do with the new circular saw I now own out of sheer necessity!

Please note that the above is PURE opinion but fully the truth as my former table is in pieces!

Sue Darby
~www.suestinycostumes.com

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Tracking a Project

Sue — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 18:28:55 +0000

There are many ways to track projects. Everything from task lists to online trackers to spreadsheets. I use a combo of various methods based on the project I’m doing and if there’s a deadline to complete it.

For sewing projects I tend to use a hand written list occasionally transcribed to a spreadsheet which lets me add information about where I am in each project. I’ve also created custom project sheets that give me more detail right on the project. These project sheets or in the fashion industry are also known as spec sheets. Each page includes a design description, list of supplies along with yardage, a drawing of the design and an area for notes such as construction techniques or rough instructions. Sometimes there is a photo of a muslin sample or even a first try or similar design.

Below I’ve included a free download for one of mine in a MS Word format.

Specification Sheet Form (one from my college years geared towards figuring the costs and general supply list of a design)

Pattern & Samples Planner (revision with two to a page for my Circa Notebook geared towards writing more instructions than a cost analysis of the design)

Sue Darby
~www.suestinycostumes.com

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Places to find fine fabrics

Sue — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 04:36:17 +0000

Miniatures and small scale sewing requires fine fabrics and even a small amount of fabric can get expensive. You can recycle various common items into wonderful doll costumes. A linen handkerchief or napkin come with rolled hems usually done by hand or machine. If you can find one that would no longer be useful for daily use those finely crafted hems can become the hem of your doll’s new dress or sleeves!

Silk blouses are also a common item that get worn spots rendering them unwearable but the rest of your former blouse can be used for your next project!

Personally I like to purposefully get blouses and such at thrift stores and second hand shops. I tend to buy items that are too small for me and usually on a sale rack. Once in a while I find a blouse for myself, wear it for a while and when it wears out use it for a doll outfit.

I keep my nice fabric in totes by color so I can find what I need or want.

Sue Darby
~www.suestinycostumes.com

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Dolllfie patterns…

Sue — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 03:17:55 +0000

A pair of my favorite dolls are the Dollfies. I have three of them one is the Elegant Collection smooth body poseable doll and the other is the Beauty B with the many points of articulation. The last is the Goh Guy whom, I still have to finish outfits for so and I will post photos of him later.

I love these dolls because I can move them like a human would be able to move. They are more like an adult doll than Barbie or other fashion dolls who are not as flexible. I do have to admit to loving the Urban Vita for the same reason but that’s another story!

The Dollfies were my first articulate dolls and came without face painting or even hair, along with having to install eyes! This allowed me to customize the dolls a bit more. When I got them I didn’t do much customizing though and it was several years later that my sweet heart actually did the painting for me. In the meantime however, I did manage to make patterns for them shown below.

Elegant Collection Halter Dress	Elegant Collection Strapless Gown
Pattern $5.00	Pattern $5.00
Strapless Beauty B Dress $5.00	Halter Top Dress for Beauty B Dollfie $5.00

V7n Blog Challenge with a Twist

Sue Darby
~www.suestinycostumes.com

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Pattern Drafting for Dolls

Sue — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 21:34:52 +0000

Have you ever wanted to create an outfit that YOU had in mind but couldn’t find a pattern for? One that was your own individual creation? Or you could find the pattern but it’s for the wrong doll or the wrong size doll? Would you like to learn to draft your own patterns instead of purchasing patterns that may or may not fit your doll right? The Pattern Drafting Crash Course is an easy to follow tutorial that lets you learn to draft for a child doll. I developed it and have used it to draft for dolls as small as 1/2″ tall all the way up to a toddler size outfit for my daughter when she was 2! (she’s 11 now!)

If you find it useful, and I think you will the full book is available at my main site, Sue’s Tiny Costumes. Please let me know what you think or if you find it helpful! I’d also LOVE to see patterns you’ve created just drop me a note I’m more than happy to show off what you’ve done!

Sue Darby
~www.suestinycostumes.com

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How do you sew that small….

Sue — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 21:19:10 +0000

I’m amused I post a 16″ pattern and am asked how can I see to sew that small? The answer is lots of light, magnifying glass and zoom on the computer along with strained 20/20 and mild glasses! Honestly I work even smaller than Brends Starr, I work in 1/2″ scale too. This means my smallest doll I’ve sewn for is a whopping 1/2″ tall!

Tiny 1/2" tall Baby, the dress is computer drafted and *machine* sewn!

I started in 1″ scale making patterns for my lady doll Katherine, from there I made a smocked dress pattern for a 1″ baby I named after my then 1yr now 11yr old daughter Seraphine.

Baby Seraphine 1 1/2" Tall

I was hooked on drafting in miniature! I have even written a book on it and taught online & face to face classes locally.I branched out to larger dolls that my daughter could play with such as Madeline and Tiny Betsy both of which are in great condition despite being played with!

Various Dolls who Fit Tiny Betsy Patterns

Beyond that I’ve don some things for various fashion dolls from Tiny Kitty to Kitty Collier and several dolls in between.

I love drafting for the various size dolls and once in a while I get to play with them more. This summer I hope to get into my backyard and start taking photos of the dresses that will improve the look and feel of the main site along with allow me to share what I’ve created over the years more clearly. The smallest dolls are the hardest for me to photograph but I have a better camera and should be able to get better photos. Beyond that I’ll share some of the patterns that I’ve completed.

How do I do all this…. very carefully, patiently and with a lot of trial and error on the sewing construction end of things. The hardest part is writing up how to put the outfits together so someone else can make the outfit.

Enjoy what I’ve shared!

Sue Darby
~www.suestinycostumes.com

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Brenda Starr’s New Pattern

Sue — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 05:12:54 +0000

Brenda Starr has a beautiful oriental style dress pattern. This pattern is a halter top style with double French darts that can be made as pictured in a full length style or cut off for shorter styles. I hope to add a Kimono or some other lovely oriental style item to go with this pattern soon. The dress pictured is made of a recycled polyester blouse that is a black on black texture to simulate a brocade which would be difficult to find in a light enough weight to sew in a small scale such as this.

Oriental Inspired Halter Top Dress for Brenda Starr

$5.00 Pattern Only

V7n Blog Challenge with a Twist

Sue Darby
~www.suestinycostumes.com

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If you write it will they come?

Sue — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:43:29 +0000

Is it still true that if you write and add to a wonderful site or blog that you can attract random readers and then a loyal following? I believe it’s true but with the caveat that you also have to participate in one or more other marketing activities. I started Sue’s Tiny Costumes waaay back… in fact if you plug in the URL you can see how badly my designs for websites were and over time can see the progression and improvements.

What I’m about to say is in no way paid it is purely in gratitude for what she has done to pay it forward, share her vast knowledge and INSPIRE others to be better.

If it were not for Cricket I would not be where I am today. Ok she is one of many many individuals but they are for other posts as appropriate. I started Cricket’s SEO class in 2003 with a toddler and a pre-schooler in the house. I had a dream of making some money with designing and drafting doll patterns of all things. If you go to the Wayback Machine you can see my early attempt at webdesign… pretty dismal with scanned dresses laid on a scanner, no digital camera, computer drawn designs and more flaws than I care to count.

Over time, with many nudges and encouragement my site improved visually and the business expanded. Then in 2005 just as it was starting to roll my personal life blew up. My knee went out and I went through a separation and moving and many other problems and my site had to go to the bottom of the heap of things to worry about. From 2005 until NOW I have done NOTHING to market the business or if I did it has been very inconsistent and sporadic. Yet, despite it all what Cricket taught held the site in good standing and it STILL made money without me… well minor technical issues had to be addressed but those were very seldom since I’d done a LOT of work leading to the life blow out. I am to this day a member of her classes and the Coffee Shop. I’ve followed her on the V7n and Facebook and even Twitter. Cricket is an inspirational teacher and mentor and I look forward to learning more from her.

Thank you Cricket for everything you do to help people build up businesses. The Blog Challenge has been the kick in the pants I’ve needed to get back on the writing and business bandwagon for 2011 and hopefully I’ll achieve some of my next round of dreams because of the jump start you’ve give me this year. I look forward to more Challenges in the coming months too! If you need something just drop me a note and I’ll do what I can to repay you!

So really, if you write, follow Cricket’s tips and do so consistently, I do believe readers will come!

Sue Darby
~www.suestinycostumes.com

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Find the errors for me….

Sue — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 20:00:29 +0000

If you happen to find an error while ordering a pattern from Sue’s Tiny Costumes, simply e-mail me with the page URL and the item’s description and not only will you get to keep the oops pattern but you will get the correct pattern as well!

I appreciate anyone who can point out the errors on a hand coded site and can take the time to tell me!

Sue Darby
~www.suestinycostumes.com

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New Patterns! Little Bo Peep & Her Sheep

Sue — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 22:05:06 +0000

Little Bo Peep (Kitty Collier) and her Sheep (Tiny Betsy McCall) patterns, are finally, after 5 years, available for sale. Kitty & Betsy went to the Alaska State Fair in 2005 placing First in their category and then in International Doll as a feature pattern.

It has taken me a while but I am now happily adding completed patterns to the site. If you have any suggestions for what you’d like to see or dolls I should be drafting for please drop me a comment!

Sue Darby
~www.suestinycostumes.com

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