Cinderella Paper Doll

Above the vintage Cinderella paper doll dressed as a bride by Hallmark.

Description of Cinderella Paper Doll Card: flounces, ruffles, pink sash, blue-forget-me-nots, braided hair, giant pink feathers, and bridal gown and veil

The Story of Cinderella

       "Little Cinderella was a stepchild, and they say, that all her wicked family always treated her that way. And when the Prince decided it was time he had a bride, and give a ball for all the girls throughout the countryside, poor Cinderella didn't have a single dress to wear--and so she stayed at home and cried and wished she could be there. But then a magic fairy said, "Now there, child don't you cry. I'll wave my wand and change things in the twinkling of an eye!" So Cinderella's rags became the grandest dress she'd seen, her slippers turned to lovely glass and she looked like a queen! "Be back by twelve," the fairy said, "the spell is broken then, and all your pretty clothes, my child, will turn to rags again!" And when the Prince first saw her there he asked if she would dance, and after that no other girl had even half a chance. But when she fled at 12 o'clock the Prince was in despair--until he found her slipper that she'd lost upon the stair. And then he summoned all his men and told them what to do-"Search all the kingdom--find the girl whose foot will fit this shoe."And when he found his "Princess," they were married right away, and lived "happy ever after" so the fairy stories say!"

More About Cinderella:

• Cinderella by Disney from 1950 her morning routine
• From Rags to Riches: The Making of Cinderella (Documentary)
• Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful? - from Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella

Back To The Index...

Belle From Beauty and The Beast Redressed

Belle redressed in silks and tulle.

The merchant, anxious to procure a rose --
(The trifling gift sweet Beauty did propose),
Gather'd some in the garden of the Beast,
Not thinking he was erring in the least:
"Ingrate! thou'st robb'd me of my darling store!"
The monster, springing from the shrubs, did roar;
"Prepare to die! or quick the flow'rs restore!"

        My version of Belle's ball gown is in yellow, gold and shades of green. I felt these color choices would compliment the deep walnut color of her hair. I maintained the low, large turned down collar that Disney frequently includes with this fairy tale princess in order that she may be identified at a glance. However, the silk skirts: one in a green arabesque design and the second a pale buff yellow with an even lighter shade of yellow ruffle are quite a departure from her iconic Disney ball gown. The gold tulle about the shoulders and neck lends this gown modest flair better suited to young princesses. (I used pattern number 5673 by Simplicity to sew her gown.)

       Below are a few alternative interpretations of Beauty's ball gown that visitors may like to reproduce for their next sewing project; I am particularly fond of Goble's idea. I have seen something like it before in the newsprint archives on a paper doll. Once I restore it I will link to that Beauty and The Beast paper doll from here.

• Akameru Kawaii makes a Disney Belle inspired dress
• Barbie Ball Gown Tutorial from Craftiness is not Optional
• Disney Princess Belle Dress for American Girl Dolls 
• Disney Beauty & the Beast Belle original costumes 
  

Left, details of skirt, ruffles and gathers. Right, details of Beauty's bodice.

Illustration by Eleanor Vere Boyle.

Illustration by Warwick Goble

Illustration by Nancy Barnhart

The Pussycat Princess Paper Doll

        Edward Anthony had so many requests for a paper doll cut-out of the little heroine from his weekly comic page "The Pussycat Princess," that he prevailed upon the artist, Miss Ruth Carroll, to present these beautiful drawings to children through the newspapers in 1937.

• To read Pussycat Princess comics go here and also at Ausreprints here

       Cut out the Pussycat Princess paper doll and paste her on a thin cardboard, then cut out her clothes so that you can dress and undress her. It will be lots of fun to color her two costumes!

Snow White Redressed...

Snow White kicks off the first posting of our "Disney Doll Redress" series! She is one of
many princess dolls that I have collected over the past few years. Because this doll's
 face mold is designed by Disney, I have given her a Disney-like dress using pattern
number 5673 by Simplicity. These patterns are for Disney dolls with Barbie bodies;
 they do not fit the Hasbro Disney doll body versions.

       My minor sewing challenges are often the direct result of purchasing of dolls from resale for the lowest possible price. At auction or resale the value of a doll is greatly determined by the condition of the doll and her wardrobe. So, if her body is in good shape but she comes without her original clothing, the doll will sell at a much lower price point. So, I must invariably redress whatever doll that I manage to acquire through this frugal consumerism. I guess this means I haven't the soul of a true collector but more the soul of a grandmother.

       Readers here might not believe there to be much of a savings given the cost of fabric today.  If I didn't possess the fabrics and notions needed for doll wardrobe maintenance this might be the case. But I have quite a bit of sewing stuff in storage and in addition to this stash I also like to flatter myself when it comes to the added quality and durability of handmade pieces. If this is at all the case, I have only my dear old granny to thank for teaching me how to sew in my youth. That plus a stubborn belief that any doll clothing worthy of making must also include snaps, buttons, or lining!

       My grandmother also taught me how to draft patterns, beginning with doll patterns and eventually life-size patterns for my own clothes. For this blog I will either identify patterns that I have already purchased or make these as I go and upload them to the sewing index page above.

       I don't think that it is necessary for most modern people to sew their own clothes anymore, but there are so many wonderful lessons that benefit young people when experimenting with the craft. Students can learn about simple math through measuring. They may also learn about aesthetics and design principles and most certainly, they will pick up valuable lessons in patience and self confidence. 

• What Should A Beginner's Sewing Kit Look Like?
• Age Appropriate Sewing Lessons
• 11 Things to include inside a young student's first sewing kit

       Additionally, every mom knows that little girls are compulsive about undressing and redressing their vinyl, childhood companions, resulting in the loss or damage of tens of thousands of doll princess gowns! At some point one must teach such silly little people to replace whatever they have discarded in order to redeem whatever virtue is left in the dressing of such pervasive Barbie doll nakedness!

• Christmas Gifts and Naked Barbies
• Teaching Barbie To Act Ladylike...
• My Tiny Ferret . . . Gatherer of Stuff

Snow White Costumes for Kids:

• DIY Snow White Costume for Kids: tutorial by Paige Handmade
• Snow White Costume by Whitney Sews
• How To Sew a Princess Dress for Snow White by Ellie and Mac Patterns
• Snow White Princess Apron dress up for young girls by creative Sewing
• zavardy official makes baby Snow White slippers...

Doll Dress for Snow White Tutorials:

• Ojoodoll's tutorial for a Snow White Dress - pattern making process
• FunX Creation - Disney inspired dress craft for Snow White 11" doll
• Dolls Channel makes Snow White costume for Barbie

How to Crochet or Knit a Snow White Doll Dress/Costume:

• Crochet Snow White Dress Tutorial 1 and 2 by Lovable Loops
• Ruthie and Stitch crochet a baby Snow White outfit 
• A dress for a standard or playscale 11" doll by Vivi Crochet