Doll Project
Jeannie Rucker was enlisted to purchase a period correct antique doll and design a dress pattern for it. The doll is a 1952 reproduction of an 1860 doll. The cost to purchase an authentic doll of the 1860s in the condition we needed for this project was cost prohibitive. The 1952 reproduction is in beautiful condition and where it is not one hundred and fifty years old, it does have fifty years of age on it. Jeannie Rucker has made a pattern, which is available thru Roseanne, for a simple day dress. Mrs. Rucker has also shown that the pattern can be modified to make other dresses such as the green evening dress shown in the photo of Roseanne above. This modification of the pattern was simply reversing the bodice to open in the back and redrawing the sleeve shape. If you have any questions regarding modifying the pattern, please drop Jeannie Rucker an email and she will help you with it. Mrs. Rucker has also included a day dress, chemise, petticoat, pair drawers, lace pelerine and a lace day cap with the doll.
The idea for the doll comes from the fact that a beautiful doll was one of the items raffled off at a fundraiser during the Civil War in Charleston. The doll was in very high demand as the blockade had prevented the import of such a luxuries for a long time. The doll went for an unheard of sum then of over $250.!!! Since we are trying to replicate the feel of a period fund raiser we thought a doll would be a very fitting item that we all contributed toward.
The idea of our doll is that we, the members of the PSRS, will all contribute something to the doll or to her trunk of treasures. Please feel free to make anything with the pattern available, and venture out for other ideas. Use what you can do well to make something for the doll. If you knit, make her a shawl. Can you make bonnets? She needs one. Is your husband good with wood? How about a little bed made by your husband and a quilt from the scrapes of cloth left from your period sewing projects. Lets see how creative we can be. The doll has a travel trunk included already that will hold all of her accessory items. When you complete your item if you send Jeannie Rucker a photo she will include it on this site.
The doll will be auctioned off at the May event. We will have approxy bidding started closer to the event if you or a friend would like to bid on her, but will not be able to attend the event.
Here are some ideas of things to make for the doll
bonnet, fan, hankies, shawl, quilt, dolly, toys, jewelery, fur muff and matching cuffs and collar,
coat, ball gown, a pet, bed, chair, basket, gloves...
