My Bleuette, Geneve, wears my version of Robe Paletot or Coat Dress. The pattern illustration shows the wrap dress with a fur collar and fur pompoms at each end the end of the sash, but the pattern pieces gave an option for straight-stitch embroidery in “bright wool” on the collar and cuffs. I chose the embroidery option to go with the fabric I wanted to use. Instead of “bright wool” I used some beautiful vintage (probably rayon type) floss in a gorgeous shade of purple. I chose another lavender/purple shade of DMC cotton floss as a complimentary color. So there are two shades used in the embroidery design on the batiste collar and cuffs to bring out the luscious colors in the fabric.

Instead of pompoms, I chose to put tassels on the sash, made with both flosses combined together for a variegated look, not only in color, but in texture.

Bleuette ~ 1918 Robe Paletot

La Semaine de Suzette ~ 1918 Robe Paletot

1918 Robe Paletot ~ Back Detail ~ Embroidery

1918 Robe Paletot ~ Tassels

Nadine is wearing the Robe de Maison, or “At Home Dress”–the first pattern offered for Bleuette. The doll arrived wearing only a chemise and so was in need of a full wardrobe. The pattern states that since the most important thing is that the new recipient of Bleuette will want to show her to their friends, a dress for “at home” is necessary. This is the reason for the first pattern. The pattern further instructs the child to ask their mother or big sister for the key to the closet that holds the fabric remnants.

My Robe de Maison is made from a lovely piece of vintage checked cotton. The finish is very smooth and fine, just like the cottons from Liberty of London. I found one tiny scrap of beautiful vintage lace that just fit around the neck, and so vintage tatting was used to decorate the sleeve and hem ruffles. Crisp vintage silk taffeta ribbon worked well for the rosettes and sash.

Bleuette ~ 1905 Robe de Maison

1905 Robe de Maison ~ La Semaine de Suzette

1905 Robe de Maison ~ Upper Detail

1905 Robe de Maison ~ Lace Detail

1905 Robe de Maison ~ Lower Detail

My Bleuette, Mae, has her cuddly pillow and bedcover and is ready for slumber in her 1911 Robe de Chambre and 1915 Chemise de Nuit. The pillow and bedcover are from the 1917 Taie D’oreiller (pillowcase) and La Couverture de Berceau (Crochet Bedcover) patterns.

The body of the robe de chambre, or dressing gown, is made from a very soft vintage fabric with a beautiful surface sheen. The vintage contrast fabric has a little more body, but also has a lovely sheen. It was suited to the chain stitch embroidery quite nicely. The pattern suggested the robe be made of flannel since it is a winter dressing gown. Although I had some in my stash, I didn’t use it since it wasn’t the right color to keep within the blue and yellow color scheme. The pattern illustration does not have chain stitching around the neck of the robe, but the pattern piece showed the chain stitch design. I debated whether to make the collar like the pattern or  save myself some time and make it look like the illustration. In the end I spent the extra time and I’m glad I did. The chain stitch around the neck adds just the right detail to the overall look of the robe.

As the pattern states, the chemise de nuit, or nightgown, is ”piece indispensable au trousseau de Bleuette“. In other words, the nightgown is an essential and indispensable part of Bleuette’s trousseau! Every dolly needs a nightgown! Mae’s chemise de nuit is made from new fabric of a very fine cotton/linen blend. It is a basic and simple nightgown, with blue feather-stitching.

The pillowcase is embroidered in hues of the yellow and blue color scheme. The embroidery is a combination of  lazy daisy stitch and french knots that produces a charming design. I used a piece of beautiful vintage lace for the ruffle that my cousin’s wife sent me (thanks, RaNae!!), and made a faux closure on the back of the pillowcase with vintage mother-of-pearl buttons.

The bedcover was crocheted with fine wool yarn leftover from a needlepoint project I did years ago. Vintage ribbon is added for the embellishment.

1911 Robe de Chambre ~ 1915 Chemise de Nuit ~ 1917 Taie D’oreiller and La Couverture de Berceau

1911 Robe de Chambre ~ Front Detail

1911 Robe de Chambre ~ Back Detail

1917 Taie D'oreiller and La Couverture de Berceau

1917 Taie D'oreiller ~ Pillow Back

Sweet Dreams, Mae!

Flowered Outfit. In the Ensemble Fleuri pattern Suzanne Rivière tells us that Bleuette wants this outfit for her wardrobe simply because of the “delicious name”. I supplied the outfit for my Bleuette, Violetta, by incorporating a flowered print from the 20s/30s fabric I found at an estate sale of a former neighbor.

I’m not a big fan of the brown/tan/orange color combination of the vintage fabric. But I DO love certain shades of orange and burgundy together. The brown in the print fabric had enough red in it that I was able to combine it with the solid burgundy cotton. So in the end, I love the color scheme of the outfit.

The hem of the dress is trimmed with the burgundy bolero fabric. The belt is made from the bolero fabric as well, and the buckle was saved from a pair of sandals I wore years ago! Being a pack rat pays off sometimes!

Suzanne Rivière also comments at the end of the pattern that Bleuette is so spoiled and knows what she wants.
Violetta was clear that she also wanted a chapeau and shoes along with her new ensemble! In the 1927 Chapeau de Chenille pattern it states that hats of chenille are all the fashion and Bleuette has seen them and thinks they are very beautiful! So I again complied with her wishes by crocheting her the chenille hat. Her new shoes were then cobbled from the 1921 Petits Souliers en Peau de Gants (little shoes from glove leather) pattern from matching leather – but not from a glove.

The Chapeau de Chenille is a very fun hat to make. I’m sure I’ll be making more of these for my spoiled Bleuette!

Bleuette ~ 1929 Ensemble Fleuri

1929 Ensemble Fleuri ~ La Semaine de Suzette

1927 Chapeau de Chenille

1929 Ensemble Fleuri ~ Detail

1921 Petits Souliers en Peau de Gants

Bleuette ~ 1908 Costume de Mariée

My premiere Bleuette, Nadine, wears the Costume de Mariée. I actually finished it at the end of 2005, but had never done the jupon or slip that went with it, nor had I ever gotten the right pair of shoes to go with the dress. Now, 2½ years later, it is finally a complete ensemble. I worked on the embroidery off and on over an 18-month period. I think my eyesight got worse during that time! LOL

The wedding dress is made from silk shantung embroidered with silk floss that is a shade or two lighter than the fabric. The silk floss was a joy to work with and it has a beautiful sheen to it!

The guimpe is made from some lace that someone gave to me so I’m not totally sure if its vintage, but if not, it sure does pass for it! The little piece used for the collar is vintage.

The jupon that I just completed is made from the same tissue-thin silk that I lined the wedding dress with. I used a piece of a favorite vintage lace that I have been saving for some time. It is rather wide for Bleuette, but worked just right for the slip since it can be wider there, and I didn’t want to cut it up. Perfect!

A disintegrating antique headpiece and a piece of vintage tulle found new life as Nadine’s headpiece and bouquet. As always, the entire ensemble was sewn by hand.

1908 Costume de Mariée ~ La Semaine de Suzette

1908 Costume de Mariée ~ Upper Detail

1908 Costume de Mariée ~ Bouquet from antique headpiece

1908 Costume de Mariée ~ Embroidery Detail

1908 Costume de Mariée ~ Jupon

My Bleuette, Violetta, is wearing another outfit made from the 20s/30s fabric I found at an estate sale of a former neighbor.

The pattern instructions call for a silk voile fabric to make a “dressy dress” or “robe habillée” for a formal occasion. The instructions go on to recommend using a printed muslin voile or cotton fabric for a simpler costume, since the outfit really “gets its elegance from the colors you select and from its becoming shape”. And finally it is suggested the fabric should be covered in flowers on a brightly colored background, such as pistachio green, one of the colors in vogue at the time. Now you know why my estate sale “find” was perfect for this pattern!

I gave the ribbon treatment a little twist. Instead of using one color, I combined two colors to compliment the shades in the fabric print.
The outfit is 100% hand sewn. Along with her new dress, she is wearing hand made silk knit stockings and brown suede shoes.

Bleuette ~ 1926 Robe Habillée

1926 Robe Habillée ~ La Semaine de Suzette

1926 Robe Habillée ~ Upper Detail

1926 Robe Habillée ~ Lower Detail