Tent

Behind-the-scenes shots of some elements of the Adventure Doll Set I'm slowly conceptualizing, which is the less-princessy-mermaidy-fairy-y complement to the Fairytale Doll Set. 

I'm not calling it the Boy Doll Set, by the way, because girls, if so inclined, do all the things boys do, and then some. Nonetheless, there are Boy Doll patterns in this set, and they are cut out and sitting on my sewing table. I just haven't had the time to actually sew the boy samples yet. I got as far as getting a good pants draft, and an okay raglan top draft, which still needs tweaking, and then advent hit me full in the face. Maybe in the new year.

The tent, though, is ready. This is Muslin #2, which I love. 

Muslin #1 was made to test the dowel channels, the construction sequence and the fabric weight (will the dowels hold it up? Will the sides collapse inwards? Does it need interfacing?). So, I made it in ugly fabric. Muslin #2 corrected all the flaws, so it got to be made in gorgeous fabric.

And no, it has zero interfacing. Just dowels and geometry.

The front flaps open up

and buttons back.

There is a little back window for light,

and an interior roomy enough

for one Fairytale (or Adventure) Doll as is

or in her/his sleeping bag.

I was very tempted to make this tent completely reversible because, as you know, I like poking fun at the current (and somewhat baffling) Reversible!!!!! sewing trend. 

But then I felt guilty about being so flippant and naughty, so I left the tent normal. See? No dowel channels on the inside of the tent. So NOT reversible. Yay. (You're welcome to jump on the Reversible!!!! bandwagon yourself, though. I might be wicked and include brief hints in the pattern on how to do it, just in case it's your thing.)

I hid all the seams, though, since I dislike any kind of exposed seam allowances in craft projects. It's a turn-inside-out several times kind of project, which is my favorite kind. 

See that pointy apex in the photo above? This tent is full of 3-D apices. Now, all you quilting folks can probably do them your sleep, but it made me wonder if I need to be extra careful in the instructions so regular, non-quilting people can sew them just as easily. Must write a note to myself and stick it somewhere. Like my forehead. But not till after Christmas.

All good tents need a Put-Away-System, because who wants to lug a messy tent to and from campgrounds? Ours comes with straps

so you can fold it flat,

tuck the dowels inside, 

roll it

all the way up

and store it, all neat and compact.

More to come! I'm dreaming NASA/SpaceX. Because everybody knows that all girls secretly want to be astronauts and aeronautical engineers (and some boys).