Vintage Barbie RED KNIT DRESS

Forget the LBD (little black dress)

... its time for the RKD! 

The Red Knit Dress!!

This is my original Barbie - an early 1966 American Girl Barbie.


The butt markings on the American Girl Barbies differ and because mine has both raised and indented markings she is an early 1966.

She was nice enough to agree to model this dress I received many many years ago ... probably shortly after I received her!

And then I found this pattern book!  and it has the instructions for making this Red Knit Dress!!

I was very excited because I knew I could use photos of my Barbie in her Red Knit Dress in the listing when I sell this booklet in my Etsy shop, Vintage And Such.

Do you still have a toy from your childhood?  Leave a comment and tell me what it is!

For this or other vintage patterns, visit my Vintage And Such shop - your place for vintage military, housewares, collectibles and treasures.

Thinking Day 2011

February 22nd

Thinking Day for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts worldwide.

To all my sisters in Guiding,

Happy Thinking Day

the above photo was taken at Casa Loma and shows the Girl Guide display

Tutorial - Sewing a headband

I made some of these headbands for my Etsy shop ennadoolf.

My friend Maria chose some fabrics for me to make some more so I thought I'd document the process as a tutorial.

Here goes!

Sewing a Headband

Supplies Needed: fabric (approx. 4"x20" or 10cm x 52cm) and a hair elastic.

I cut my piece of fabric approximately 4 inches wide by 20 inches long. That is approximately 10 cm wide by 52 cm long.

Fold in half lengthwise with right sides together.

Sew along the long edge (see photo) with about a 1/4 inch (1 cm) seam allowance.

Now we are going to turn the fabric right side out.

You can do this however you like - this is how I did it.

Take a piece of string - a shoe lace works great - and tie a loop at each end.

Add a safety pin to each end.

Pin one safety pin to the edge of your fabric - in the seam allowance - about 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the end.

Take the other safety pin at the other end and insert it into the fabric.

Pull that safety pin through the tube to the other opening.

Now keep pulling that safety pin through.  The end of the fabric where the safety pin is pinned ... guide it so that it begins to turn into the inside so that it is being pulled through.

See photos to see how this is happening ... and keep pulling until your item is right side out!

It's much simpler to do than it is to describe!  :)  Just trust me on that one!

Now you want to add your hair elastic.

Place the elastic at the end and fold the fabric over it. 

Pin it in place with a safety pin. Now fold the other end of the fabric over it, being careful not to twist the fabric. Pin it in place with a safety pin. 

Try on the headband.  Adjust your folds for the perfect fit prior to sewing.  I didn't do these pinning steps - so my batch of headbands were too small for Maria.   * oops. *  

Don't make my mistake.  That is why there is no photo for this step.  :)

Now, sew the ends. 

I simply zig-zagged each end that was folded over.  

See photos.

And there you go! 

A beautiful fabric headband!

If you think I missed a step, or if you have questions, please leave a comment.

In my "too-small-for-Maria" headbands, I cut them 19" long so that's why I've adjusted to 20" for this tutorial.

I have to admit, too, that the dollar store elastics had better stretch then the name-brand ones that cost more and actually snapped when they were stretched.

Learn to Crochet - Check

Yes, the first of my New Year's Resolutions can be checked off.

Thankfully my New Year's resolution wasn't to become proficient at crochet! but just to learn it.  :)  And I did that.

I do plan to practice and try a pattern other than a dishcloth so that I can try the Single Crochet and Double Crochet as well as be able to follow a pattern.  I did start a small piece and I know I made some mistakes so I'd like to be able to learn how to identify what I've crocheted so I know how many Double Crochets I've completed.

And so I have lots to learn!

Here you can see the first piece where I learned how to get started and the sc (single crochet) and dc (double crochet) and hdc (half double crochet) so that we could try a pattern for a "Mile a Minute" afghan sampler.

Next we started a dishcloth out of cotton and I think I got the hang of that. I did a few rows and then started my afghan sampler.  No photos of either of those, sorry.  :)  Maybe next time.

Thanks so much to the Crochet Club of London for this workshop!  I know I have a friend who'd love to attend if you hold another, and I know Maureen has a friend who'd love to come too!  Please, book another Learn To Crochet workshop date!

Wednesday Wonder - Waiting Song

Waiting Song

Theresa Sokyrka

Another one of my favourite songs by this wonderful artist.

Day Tripping: Muscedere Vineyards - A Wine Tasting Experience

Muscedere Vineyards

A Wine Tasting Experience

We started with the 2008 Sauvignon Blanc on the right.

Second from the right is the 2007 Unoaked Chardonnay.

In the centre is the 2009 Rose.

Second from the left is the 2008 Pinot Noir.

The far left is the 2008 Baco Noir Reserve.

Click here for more information on Muscedere Vineyards.

Giveaway at JenniferSquires.com - WIN Lake Erie #9

Click the photo for details!

Jennifer Squires launched her newest photograph - Lake Erie #9 - this month.

It's amazing!

As are ALL of her photos.

This is your chance to own one - free! - by taking part in her blog giveaway.

Wednesday Wonder - Sandy Eyes

Sandy Eyes

Theresa Sokyrka

One of my favourite artists and one of my favourite songs.

Beams of Sunshine

My Girl Guides of Canada Trefoil Cup Cozy pattern

My Girl Guides of Canada Trefoil Cup Cozy pattern was included in the Winter 2011 issue of the Canadian Guider magazine!

I am sure I suggested that my email address be included in case anyone knitting the pattern had any questions, but it wasn't published. 

So, if you're knitting the pattern, and you have questions, contact me here or through my etsy shop!

New Year's Resolutions

I used to make such noble New Year's resolutions!
At the end of each year, I'd plan ahead and that plan included miraculous make-overs to my body that would be accomplished with minimal effort. And each new year those plans failed.

So now I make New Year's resolutions to do things I want to do! Sometimes I include "need" to do items as well, but I try to keep those to a minimum.

Please leave a comment and let me know if you make New Year's resolutions.

My 2011 New Year's Resolutions

1. Learn to crochet.

I learned new knitting techniques as my New Year's resolutions for the past few years so this year it is time to learn to crochet. There are so many beautiful patterns out there that call for crochet instead of knitting so it's high time I learned. I've had several people offer to help me and I know there must be a gazillion YouTube videos as well - and I already have crochet hooks! I'll have to check their sizes, but they came with knitting needles I picked up at yard sales and they are in lovely metallic colours so they must be fun to work with! Please leave a comment if you have a great project that is perfect for newbies to learn to crochet.

2. Continue organizing.

The book Organizing from the Inside Out was a godsend. I think I will have to take it out of the library again so that I can review several tips and refresh my memory. I just skipped on over the the library website and reserved a copy so I'm on the way to making some progress on this resolution already! 

3. Knitting UFO's.

UFO = Un-Finished Object. I don't have many unfinished knitting projects, but I do have a few and I know I love knitting those particular patterns so I'd like to get back to them. I know there is a beautiful shawl waiting for me to dive back in and continue working with that soft Patons Divine yarn, and there is a soft white scarf partially knit out of a very soft cotton yarn that wants me to pick it back up and finish it, too.

4. Sewing UFO's

Hm, I'm not sure if I want to add this one ... I know I have a box of Barbie gowns and Barbie faux fur coats that are all cut and waiting to be sewn, but I'm not sure I want to commit to actually buckling down to finish them all. If I add it here then I will resolve to make the attempt. I really do want to sew up those items and now that I've typed it out, it feels good to know that I may see some progress on reducing the UFOs in that box.

I think that's enough.

I certainly don't want to set the bar so high that I don't accomplish anything at all.  [grin]

Please feel free to leave a comment and let me know about your 2011 New Year's Resolutions.

Top 10 List

Hm, the radio said today that this is the time of year that Top 10 Lists are popular. 

So I thought I'd do one too!

My Top 10 List for 2010.

10.  Finished the pair of socks where I learned to knit the pair using circular needles - I used the book Knitting Circles Around Socks and it was a great teaching tool!  I loved the step-by-step instructions and the helpful photos.  I love the colour of the socks - it was hard to tell looking at the yarn that they'd turn out to look so camouflage!

9.  I started organizing my house in a more organized fashion!  Reading Organizing from the Inside Out was most helpful.

8.  Girl Guides in Canada celebrated 100 years in 2010! And I was blessed to be able to take part in events throughout the year!

7.  The Vancouver Olympics!  And those fantastic red maple leaf mittens that were seen internationally.  And those beautiful sweaters the Canadian Olympic team wore at the closing ceremonies.

6.  Visiting the Caribbean.  [sigh]

5.  The world helped Haiti, and continues to help.

4.  I took part in the Great Ride 'n' Stride against Cancer - it was my 29th year and the last one to be held in my city. Luckily I've located another town nearby where I'll be able to take part in 2011.

3.  My sister and I each donated a Barbie to the Pretty In Pink charity auction at a local art gallery.

2.  I learned to golf.  I joined a golf league and even saw improvement.

1.  My Work Sock Cup Cozy was featured on the Trendwatch page of the December issue of Canadian House & Home Magazine.

These are in no particular order.

Hm, looking back, it was a good year.

Next:  Resolutions!

Peace and Goodwill

In 1943, Lady Baden-Powell said,

"Thus do we Guides, of all kinds and all ages and of all nations, go with the highest and the best towards the spreading of true peace and goodwill on earth.

Winter Solstice

Today is Winter Solstice.

We've had so much snow already that it's hard to believe that winter didn't officially start 2-3 weeks ago!

For an economical way to purchase some beautiful photos, consider bookmarks from my etsy shop ennadoolf.

My Baci quote

I received a Baci chocolate today.  My quote is:

Learning not to love others leads to not loving oneself any longer.

May you all experience love in this holiday season.