Today I'm very pleased to introduce you to a lovely new book called My Rag Doll.* My Rag Doll is written by Corinne Crasbercu. Corinne is author of Everything Patchwork (part of the 'Made in France' series), has a background in dressmaking and worked as a costumer for film and tv. All that experience in sewing and dressmaking, combined with a wonderful attention to detail has come together beautifully in this book.
The photography, the projects and the materials used have a clean and timeless feel to them. I'm particularly partial to the simple, classic look of the materials used throughout the book: dots, gingham, stripes and pretty florals. However I can imagine these projects would look fabulous when made in other styles of fabric as well. One of my favourite items from the book is this Kimono-style dress. I wouldn't mind wearing that myself (in a bigger size obviously)!
As you can tell from the photos the attention to detail is amazing. Each doll is styled and dressed to perfection. There are instructions for bags, wands, tiny cupcakes, hair clips, a tiny teddy and much more. Just look at the outfit and accessories for a 'Little Red' Style doll:
I read through various pattern descriptions in the book and I do think it's an advantage if you have a little sewing experience when you take on projects from the book. There's no separate sewing technique section in the book or added visual 'help' in the instructions. Not that the projects are incredibly complicated but it does help if you know about the grain of fabric, seam allowances, or how to handle notches for example.
There are 11 different 'types' of doll you can make from one basic doll pattern including a ballerina, fairies and the 'outdoor' type you see pictured above. Their faces, hair, clothes and additional items give each doll a different look. Obviously you can choose and mix elements from different dolls to create your own unique doll. It would make a fabulous gift for a small girl (or perhaps a boy although there are no specific boy patterns in the book) especially when you adapt the doll to their style with some serious doll couture. :)
The winner will be chosen at random and announced here on the blog on the 23rd of April. Please make sure to check the announcement and/or leave your e-mail address in your comment (or some kind of trail that leads to it) so I can contact you if you are the lucky winner. If I can't find you I'll choose a new winner. Good luck everyone!
You can find more information about the book here. For previous and future 'hops' with more reviews and giveaways, please visit the following blogs:
April:
Sun 13th - Kestrel Makes
Mon 14th - Dolls and Daydreams
Tue 15th - my blog!
Wed 16th - Whipstitch
Thu 17th - A Spoonful of Sugar
Fri 18th - Feeling Stitchy
Sat 19th - House of Pinheiro
Sun 20th - A Stitching Odyssey
Mon 21st - iCandy Handmade
Tues 22nd - Shimelle
Wed 23rd - Heather Bailey
Thu 24th - Emma Lamb
My Rag Doll is now available for pre-order.
*I received a PDF version of the book for review, as always everything I write here is my own opinion.
I'd make one for my niece for sinterklaas
ReplyDeleteI've have lots of little people that I sew for so I could seeme making plenty of these. My niece would defintiely love one, as would some of my boys' little girl friends, and even my own two boys would enjoy a doll or two to play with and I would be more than happy to make them some if they wanted them.
ReplyDeleteI have a new great niece - I'd love to make her a rag doll!
ReplyDeletethese dolls are so cute. I'd really like to win this book.
ReplyDeleteI'd like the make one for both my niece and my nephew. I love the idea of all the outfits!
ReplyDeleteThe dolls look so cute! I have a six month old niece, and I'm planning on making her a special doll (with different clothes) for her first birthday. So this book would really help out with that! :) Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDelete-Kristin
sewtechnicolor (at) yahoo (dot) com
I would style her with blue hair (like my hair is blue). I'd give her some awesome hand embroidered summer dresses and then send her off to live with my brand new baby niece (who goes by the wonderful name Aimee) so that she can give her all the love and cuddles that I am too dar away to give her.
ReplyDelete(Cleo AT natstat .co.za)
These dollies look beautiful! I would make one for each of my 2 girls and let them choose the hair colour & hairstyle. My eldest has been asking about making dolly dresses recently so I must dig out a dolly dress pattern and set to work with her before she loses interest and asks for an iPad!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a gorgeous looking book. I'd make a doll for my mum, so she could share it with her grandchildren when they visit. It would have to be a tomboy doll, like my girls. Denim dungarees and wellies
ReplyDeleteSo pretty and sweet! I would love to have one copy of those. I would do a doll for my one (or maybe all) of my baby nieces!!!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a fabulous book! I have a few little girls who would love one - my niece and my good friends little girl! thanks!
ReplyDeleteI would like to make a doll for a special little girl, styled in the Japanese outfit! So cute!
ReplyDeleteMy aunt has a doll collection. Maybe it's time for an addition.
ReplyDeleteI would make one for both of my daughters, and would style them like magical fairy princesses. I would make one for myself and make all the cute little accessories in the book for her! Thanks for the giveaway. sarah@forrussia.org
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ReplyDeleteI should have just replied. Oops
DeleteThis book looks awesome!! I'd make a boy one for my nephew.
melissacorivink[at]hotmail[dot]com
What a cute book! I'd like to make a doll for my cousin's first baby girl and one for my friend's daughter. I would like to do the ballerina and the Kimono style. Thanks for the opportunity.
ReplyDeleteatgbooks@q.com
My niece has just got to the doll age and it would be great to sew one for her. I think the "outdoorsy" doll would be just up her street. Thanks for hosting this giveaway :)
ReplyDeletewhat a lovely book! The dolls and accessories are so cute, really, makes me dream about making a doll for my three years old daughter and dress it in her favorite style: a princess dress (a stylish one ofcourse) with red mary-janes, a crochet cardigan and two buns in her hair with bows. And then sew the same outfit for her too ;)
ReplyDeleteanna(at)annabundance(dot)nl
I would make a doll dressed in the kimono style dress. I don't have anyone in particular to make it for but I'm sure it would be appreciated by my friend's daughters.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous book! I'd make one for my baby niece, dressed in dresses to match the ones I've made her.
ReplyDeleteHow fun! The dolls are cute but the clothes are wonderful! I have 2 granddaughters I'd make them for, and I'd use yarn to match their hair color. Thanks so much for the chance. Rcoyle at olemiss dot edu
ReplyDeleteI'd make a beautiful red haired Princess one for my niece who is a beautiful red haired princess :)
ReplyDeleteI love these dolls! I would make one for my toddler. As for styling, I'm not sure - i think i'd give it a matching outfit to one of her own outfits!
ReplyDeleteI would love to make one for my daughter. I would start with the "outdoor" style type.
ReplyDeletebluefin711(at)yahoo(dot)com
I'd make one for each of my nieces! One of them looks just like the one on the cover of the book, she has red hair and looks super cute in pigtails so I'll be making that one for her!
ReplyDeleteI would love to make this adorable doll for my granddaughter, Nellie. I would make the outfits in modern bright colors.
ReplyDeletekdavis1@centurytel.net
I'd make a couple, for my two granddaughters. Probably style one as a real girly-girl, and the other maybe in little overalls. Two different personalities!
ReplyDeleteSo cute! I'd love to make dolls for a few of my friends daughters.... I have a son, and he's not into dolls or stuffed toys much. I would keep the styling simple and classic, I love the way the timeless fabrics look!
ReplyDeleteI would love to make a doll for my little grand-daughter. I would style her like Anne of Green Gables, as she loves the porcelain Anne I have (and of course, she is too young yet to play with her).
ReplyDeleteI NEED this book! I want to make a doll for my daughter's first birthday so bad. This is exactly the style of doll I've been looking for and the styling on the pages you posted is just gorgeous. I will probably make the ballerina and then as many different dresses as I can sneak in. Just as long as it's purple for my favorite little lady.
ReplyDeleteOooooh!! Adorable dolls!!! Will make one for my Grangirlie, with blonde hair & blue eyes like her. Would make lots of lil dresses & shoes...and some would be from leftover fabrics from things I have made for her too. : )
ReplyDeleteI would make a rag doll for myself :) and style it with little gardener vintage clothes.
ReplyDeleteAgain, like myself and style her with my hair and some cute flannel PJs. I love flannel PJs !
ReplyDeleteSuch sweet dolls! I would make one for my niece and I'd style it on her own wardrobe style. I think I would probably find it difficult to just make one though so I can see all of the little girls I know getting a doll of their own!
ReplyDeleteI have a friend with daughter who is getting old enough for dolls. I'd make it prairie style since she lives in the Midwest.
ReplyDeleteI would make the first doll for my friend who has two boys and is expecting a girl! I would style with her with lots of pink, ruffles, and bows! We are so looking forward to this little girl!
ReplyDeleteI have little nieces who's parents are mid divorce. They would love a pretty handmade doll. I'd make one with lots of pink and the other with lots of purple.
ReplyDeleteI would make one looking like Pippi Longstocking for my 2-year old daughter.
ReplyDeleteI would make one for my niece. Her birthday is coming up. I would make her some pajama party clothes and some party dresses, along with some casual clothes, so she can go everywhere with her new mom.
ReplyDeleteI would make one for my 3years old daughter. I would ask her to choose the one that she likes the most. Thanks for the chance of winning this beautiful book.
ReplyDeleteLaura
I'd make one for myself, dressed for the outdoors like she was going for a hike.
ReplyDeleteI would make a doll for my mum, with a purple dress, a cute little raincoat and a bunch of pansies to hold.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to sew one of the dolls for my niece. I live in rain country so I'd sew the raincoat outfit!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this opportunity!
ReplyDeleteI would actually really like to sew one of these dolls for myself, since I had one as a child which eventually surrendered to mould after a flood. I would style it with a pretty pink dress (of course) and a lovely braided hairstyle. I might then make a bundle more as gifts. I know many little girls who would appreciate their own! ( I might just make myself a whole wardrobe first though.)
What a gorgeous doll, would love to win the book so I can make one for my Grandaughter
ReplyDeleteMy daughter would beg me to make all of them, and I would definitely make one with brown hair and blue eyes and a little chub to look just like her.
ReplyDeleteThere are no little girls in my family, so I'd sew one for my best friend's little girl. It would have to have red hair, just like her, and I'd probably make jeans, a jazzy anorak, and a little matching back-pack, as she's very outdoors-y :)
ReplyDeleteI have a newborn granddaughter so this book would be just right! Thanks for sharing!
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