And lets start with a little summer scroll progress – a mini daily practice. It’s another place to try things, another opportunity for ideas to show up.
the finished 2026 stitch book
Don’t see the video above? Click here to watch. Also, the accompanying music is more drama than I would like. Options are limited.
The stitch book assembly completes the cycle. I’m already thinking about next year’s stitch book… I broke my own rule and used way too much heavy fabric this year. Snipping the tab pages a little deeper helped to accommodate the thick fabrics.
I love the thready bulky feel of it. It’s bursting with ideas. It feels alive. Alive matters so much. I’ll take heart over perfection any day.
doll dress progress
Drafting, testing and refining. Making a sewing pattern is a long messy process I love. I know I’m getting close when I start to dream about it. I wake up with solutions to problems. It feels like magic. What are the problems? Needing it to work with basic cotton fabrics and still have elegant drape. Finding a balance between effort and result. Boiling the pattern pieces and process down to the essentials and making sure it delivers a consistent result.
The goal is something regency-ish but not complicated to make. The dress design is done and the pattern is expanding into a capsule wardrobe for the elegant rag doll. There will be bloomers that can also be pants and the dress can be a top and vary in sleeve length so her outfits can span seasons and centuries. Maybe a bag too.
the garden report
After a slow start things are really starting to cook. The big news is tarragon. I’ve been failing at tarragon for 5 years. And this year it just turned up all on it’s own and it’s huge. In other news I’m currently building a pole bean trellis from twigs – stay tuned.
Have to get my stitch book done! It will happen. Must be the year for tarragon- mine came back and is huge too! What do you do with yours?
It will happen! I guess tarragon needs some time to establish itself – I was amazed to see it this spring. I love it and use it in sauces, with fish and salad dressing.
I have just been ecstatic since the announcement of the dress came out! I know my dying patience will be well and truly repaid with your beautiful results!
Can’t wait!!
Lucy 🙂
I’m so glad you’re excited Lucy! She really needs a wardrobe.
Oh, Ann, your stitch book is gorgeous! And I love the new cards; I will probably be ordering soon. Best of all for me is the summer scroll – something I might actually be able to try myself. Thank you for sharing your beautiful work, and especially inspiration.
Thank you Ginny! And yes- the scroll is a good project to try. I’m pretty lazy and low key in the summer and it’s just the right speed for me.
The Stitch Book is just beautiful! Love the scroll too.
Thank Sheryl!
I absolutely love this concept! A timeless capsule wardrobe for an elegant rag doll is such a beautiful idea. Your patterns are always so inspiring, with the perfect balance of simplicity and elegance.
I’m just finishing my last Soldier Dolls, and then I can’t wait to make some tiny rag dolls, coats, and Little Mushroom using your beautiful patterns. I have so many exciting creative projects ahead—I can’t wait to get started!
Your stitch book is BURSTING like your garden love love love it all!
I’ve noodled the idea of making Regency dolls using your tiny doll pattern. I write historical books and wanted to craft my characters in cloth. But using this pattern would work too!
I love the idea of stitching your characters!
I’ve made about 25 sweet little sewing kits as gifts embellished with stones, shells, feathers and beads. Charms also related to the new owners hobbies, pets, etc. so love doing them in different colors and themes. Batik fabrics are my favorites!! Tarragon, yum!! I use in chicken, lamb, salad dressings etc.
Your little kits sound lovely!
The stitchbook is lovely, and such a clever way you put it together! Thank you . I do enjoy your posts. X
Thanks so much Loraine – I’m so glad you enjoy the posts!
I’m very interested in your twig bean trellis. I used old privet branches to support my tomatoes one year. Because the branches were a year old, I guess, they attracted a lot of wasps that were munching the old wood to make their paper nests. Result was relatively pest-free tomatoes as the wasps must have paused for lunch on aphids and caterpillars. I am trying the same experiment on my okra this time.
Hi Rhissanna- I’m intrigued by your tomato privets. I was going to use wire cages but I might try the twigs for that too. I’ll post picturesd of the pole bean trellis soon- I’m about to go stick hunting for more.
Capsule wardrobe!!!! Cannot wait
Right!?!? She needs outfits.
So inspiring!!!
Thanks Katelyn!
your Stitch Book is super !
great craftsmanship, unusual color combinations and fabric choice.
I especially love the turnip page !
Thanks so much Marcy! I loved making it.
WHAT SORCERY IS THIS???!!! The stitchbook is totally magical! I am terrible with thinking through the patterns to make each facing page go together like you’ve managed. I’m sure you’ve explained it somewhere but somehow I missed it. Do you use a hoop when you do your stitchbooks and the scrolls or are you just so adept now that you don’t pull the threads too tight? Thanks for sharing your beautiful work.
I haven’t made the elegant rag doll yet, despite having the pattern and having made many, many tiny rag dolls. I don’t see how I can resist making one if she has a capsule wardrobe pattern. I can’t resist a doll capsule wardrobe.
Ahh, tarragon! Using tarragon in a chickpea salad is a game changer – try it!
Yum yum yummy!