The sleepover dolls

O is beside herself with hysteria very excited to be going away for her first sleepover with a friend this half term.  I do hope her friend's mum knows what she's letting herself in for - the girls have already told us that 'the last thing you do on a sleepover is sleep'.

So to mark this important childhood milestone I decided to make the Sleepover Pals from Hillary Lang's beautiful Wee Wonderfuls book.  The pattern is for three cute, squashy dolls in a triple sleeping bag.  I decided that as O's friend has a younger sister, I'd make the three dolls for the three girls, but make three separate quilts rather than the triple sleeping bag - that way they each have a doll and quilt to keep afterwards.

I am ridiculously, insanely pleased with how they've turned out.  They look just like the ones in Hillary's book, which is very gratifying, and the matching quilts make me very happy indeed.

The pattern came together very quickly and easily.  Each doll took me about an hour to make from start to finish - including the embroidered faces.  Each quilt took me about the same amount of time.  The quilts are made from twelve 4" squares layered with batting and a flannel back, sewn around the edge, turned right way out and top stitched all the way round to close the gap.  I did them this way because I just couldn't find the enthusiasm to bind them - this is a much simpler solution.

I love this book so much - Hillary's writing is really clear and funny.  Her enthusiasm shines through on every page, and each project has full sized pattern pieces and delicious, crisp photos.  I can't wait to make more from it.

O is enchanted, and I am enchanted that she and her friend and her friend's little sister, are still young enough to be enthusiastic about this sort of sewing.  Long may it continue, because I love sewing dolls.  After I'd taken the photos I wanted, O set up a tea party for the three sleepover girls.

I don't know about you, but I think these sleepover dolls don't look like the sort of girls to tuck themselves up nice and early and get straight to sleep.  They look more like the sort of girls who will stay up late chatting, nibbling chocolate, reading magazines and books to each other, giggling and doing each other's hair.  I'm sure they'll all have plenty of fun.