"Here," I handed her the cut fabric and a needle and thread. I knotted one end and demonstrated, "Poke in like this and back through on the same side. Sew all along this line, then we'll knot and cut it."
In no time, and with only 1 error needing help, Madi stitched the two shoulder seams and two side seams. I made a slit in the center back, buttonhole-stitched the bottom for strength and sewed the folded edges. Madi showed me which snap she felt was the right size, and I added that at the neck.
To keep her entertained while I worked on her dress, I handed her my doll costuming book. Big mistake!
"These dolls all have collars," Madi informed me.
Hmmm, I wondered, how can she make a collar? Then I remembered some gathered eyelet lace. I cut the correct length, she sewed that on for a perfect collar, and we added more at the hem.
"And hair." Madi smoothed her hand over the molded, painted, rubbing-off lines that passed for hair. I knew I didn't have any wigs small enough. I sent Madi to dig through the drawer with the synthetic mohair, figuring we'd glue on some rows for a passable look. She came back with a giant furball of blond, which I had combed out of my first wig effort. I hadn't been brave enough to try combing through the mess to see if this was still useable.
I took the ball, smoothed, pulled, combed -- yuck! But, by folding and wrapping, came up with what I thought could pass for a wig. We glued it on.
"They also have hats and purses!"
Now, I had just made my own first doll hat, with wiring in the brim and gathered satin lining. I had a hard time making pieces fit, even with a pattern! How could Madi do that? I started with a purse, folding a length of fabric, showing her where to sew. Then I cheated a bit, gathered one end of another length. pulling it tight to form a bonnet, to which Madi added some lace for a brim.
I added ribbon for bonnet ties and a purse handle. Voila! I thought, we are done!
"Her dress is kind of plain," Madi said, when we'd dressed the doll. "These others are prettier." That darn book again! In a flash of inspiration, I grabbed some colored markers, and Madi drew butterflies and flowers on the plain, white dress.
Daddy had long since gone home, called once and told we weren't ready, and run to the grocery store, and when he arrived to pick up Madi, we were just sitting back to admire her work. "I am going to give her to Sarah," she told me. I new how thrilled her sister would be.
I watched Madi walk out to the car, anxious to see Sarah's expression when she saw her new doll. I didn't get the chance. Sarah, age 3, was asleep in her car seat!
I couldn't resist, and had to call later that evening, to hear how impressed Mommy, Grandma and Sarah had all been. And they were! The grown-ups praised Madi's work. Sarah was given the doll. "Thank you," she said. "I'm going to brush her hair," she announced, heading toward the stairs.
"No!" yelled all the adults, reaching to save the doll's hair.
Last I heard, the doll hasn't had to face the brush test, so still has her hair. The dress has survived being taken off and put on.
And every time I see her, Madi asks, "Can I come over and make another doll?
