Anne Gets Her Puffed Sleeves

One of the highlights of 2020 for me was my daughter discovering Anne of Green Gables. I had worried that she was a little too young still, but she devoured the first book and begged for the second. She's now about to start Anne of Ingleside - I didn't get that far until high school!

We have completely isolated through the entirety of the pandemic as my youngest is a whip-smart, funny little 3-year-old with severe lung disease, so I think Avonlea made her feel safe and homey while also making it a bit romantic to be confined to our backyard. 

She saved up chore money, allowance and birthday money for much of the year to buy a new doll this fall, and instead of choosing one with pink hair (an initial impulse) or that looked just like her, she decided to choose one that looked most like Anne Shirley.

She came in a hot pink nylon windbreaker and miniskirt, so it didn't do much to summon Edwardian Prince Edward Island, but she was christened Anne and immediately adored.

As a lifelong kindred spirit, I couldn't let this child have a miniskirt Anne for long, so I scoured Etsy for patterns and my stash for fabric - namely a pretty Moda lawn that I had enough for both doll and girl to have a dress.

There are not a lot of reasons I will willingly make pintucks and box pleats, but this little girl and her Anne doll are sure worth it. 

I was so grateful for my Bernina and its straight stitch plate when doing all of these little finicky details on tiny finicky doll pieces - not a once did I have to dig pieces out having been eaten by the stitch plate, which had been a big problem for me in pieces like this before.

Next up the girl-sized dress, but I couldn't help but share this sweet creation with you - I think it makes me feel safe and homey to be sewing for Anne, and it does feel a bit romantic to be creating something beautiful for a little girl who dreams of Prince Edward Island. 

I loved every little detail, but most of all the puffed sleeves. Kindred spirits will remember this was a BIG DEAL, and I couldn't help but put a little extra puff in the pattern. 

Next time I hope to show you both gals together in their matching dresses and aprons!  

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