What a Wonderful Weekend in Ohio!
Before we dive into this month's fabulous patterns, we have to share a little bit about the wonderful time we had in Ohio earlier this month!
The VDC team attended the Ohio National Doll Show and Robert Tonner's 20th Anniversary Ellowyne Wilde Convention, and what an incredible weekend it was! We were especially thrilled to have our very own Tamara Casey of Designs by Jude join us for the festivities!
One of the best parts of the weekend was watching Tamara spend time with so many of her wonderful customers, fellow collectors, and longtime friends. There were lots of hugs, laughter, doll talk, and beautiful creations to admire. It was such a treat to have everyone together in person!
And we have to mention one of the cutest moments of the entire convention! Tamara and Holland Diane both joined in the "Plaid to Meet You" costume contest, and they couldn't have looked more adorable! Seeing the two of them dressed up and enjoying the fun was a highlight of the weekend.
We came home with full hearts, wonderful memories, and so much appreciation for this amazing doll community. What a joy it was to share such a special weekend with Tamara and so many of you!
Now, let's talk about what Tamara has been creating for us this month!
Club Grace: September & October Patterns
Tamara has been busy creating two beautiful patterns for Club Grace, and we are so excited to share them with you! From glamorous evening wear to tailored wartime fashion, these two designs showcase her wonderful attention to detail and love of historical style.
September Pattern: Show Stopper
September's pattern, Show Stopper, certainly lives up to its name! This glamorous evening ensemble features a figure-hugging gown with elegant princess seams, a striking cat-eye bodice, and a dramatic bubble hem that creates beautiful volume and movement.
The gown can be made with graceful off-the-shoulder draped sleeves and is accompanied by a fabulous bolero-style jacket with a wide collar and dramatic balloon sleeves. With its fully lined construction and zipper-back closure, this sophisticated design is a wonderful opportunity to create something truly spectacular for Grace's wardrobe!
October Pattern: Salute to Style
For October, Tamara takes us back to the fashionable 1940s with Salute to Style, a beautifully tailored ensemble inspired by the military uniforms that influenced women's wartime fashions.
This smart outfit features a fitted, button-front jacket with a conservative rounded collar, decorative breast pockets, and flattering tailored seams. A coordinating knee-length pencil skirt completes the polished silhouette, while a charming matching hat adds the perfect finishing touch.
We especially love how this design captures the resourcefulness and elegance of 1940s fashion, when women embraced practical, military-inspired clothing without sacrificing their personal sense of style.
Both patterns are designed for the 16.5-inch RTB101 Grace body, and we can't wait to see the beautiful creations our talented sewing community makes with them!
Melancholy Monday: A Fabulous Start to Ellowyne Wilde Season 4!
We're celebrating 20 wonderful years of Ellowyne Wilde with the launch of our fourth season of the VDC Ellowyne Wilde Subscription, and we're so excited that Tamara Casey is joining us for another fabulous year of sewing patterns!
To kick off this special anniversary season, Tamara has created Melancholy Monday, a wonderfully chic ensemble with a little Parisian flair, a touch of vintage charm, and just the right amount of Ellowyne's signature ennui!
This darling design features a high-collared, short-sleeved dress with crisp tailoring and a flirty, full skirt created with three-quarter-circle insets at each hip. A curved capelet, striped sleevelets, and a jaunty beret complete the look. We love the black-and-white styling, which feels perfectly suited for a melancholy afternoon spent daydreaming at a Parisian café!
Melancholy Monday is the first exclusive sewing pattern of Season 4, and it's available as a digital download for our Ellowyne Wilde subscribers.
We can't wait to see everyone's interpretations of this wonderfully Wilde design!
After the Applause: A Show-Stopping New Pattern!
If you love a little drama in your doll's wardrobe, Tamara's newest pattern, After the Applause, is going to steal the show!
This fabulous design features a beautifully fitted, strapless bodice accented with a charming bow, paired with an extravagant high-low skirt full of gorgeous gathers, billowing volume, and theatrical flair! It's the kind of dress that deserves a standing ovation!
Best of all, Tamara has created four versions of After the Applause, specially sized for Grace, Lacie Churchill, Tyler Wentworth, and the 22-inch American Model. We absolutely love seeing how this dramatic silhouette translates across different doll sizes!
And speaking of the American Model, just LOOK at that fabric! Tamara shared a wonderful behind-the-scenes photo showing the enormous amount of material needed to create that spectacular skirt. It's practically a dress in itself! But as Tamara says, the results are worth it! We couldn't agree more.
For those ready to tackle this fabulous sewing project, Tamara has also shared a tutorial on her YouTube channel, with helpful guidance to bring this dramatic creation to life.
Whether you choose a rich jewel tone, a romantic pastel, or something completely unexpected, After the Applause is a wonderful opportunity to let your creativity take center stage!
Find all four versions at Fletcher Pattern Company, and be sure to visit Tamara's YouTube channel for the accompanying tutorial!
Until Next Time, Happy Sewing!
What a wonderful couple of months it's been! From fabulous new patterns to unforgettable memories in Ohio, we're so grateful for the creativity, friendships, and fun that make this doll community so special.
A huge thank you to Tamara for continuing to inspire us with her beautiful designs, and to all of you for supporting Designs by Jude and sharing your love of sewing and doll collecting!
We can't wait to see what you're creating next. Keep those sewing machines humming, and remember to have fun along the way!
Happy sewing, and we'll see you next month!
