My Saige doll arrived...

In my last post, I touched on my American Girl doll collection, and how I'd purchased a Saige 2013 Girl of the Year doll. The doll arrived, after a bit of a snafu with the address, and is probably the one of the cutest GOTY's in the line. Saige does look a lot like the 2007 GOTY, Nicki-- both have "Western themed clothing" and both "girls" in their stories like horses and have a horse as part of their collection. Both have red hair, although Saige's is darker and Nicki's is more of a strawberry blonde. Both also have freckles and are the AG "Classic Face Mold."

My doll collection, on a shelf at my Longview, WA home-- (from left to right): JLY #21, Josefina, Via-E Alexis doll, and Nicki, 2007 GOTY.

Dolls here in Azusa-- TOP (L to R): Kailey, DOTY 2003, wearing Saige's dress; Saige, GOTY 2013, wearing Josefina's Harvest Outfit; Julie, wearing Ivy's Chinese New Year dress. BOTTOM (L to R): JLY #1, and JLY #37. 

The Saige doll has really pretty dark auburn hair, with lighter red highlights. It's probably closest in color to the now-retired Felicity doll, although it is a different shade. Her eyes are a medium aquamarine shade, unlike any I've seen on any other AG doll. Her meet outfit is a dark bluish purple (American Doll Wiki calls it "indigo"), and the "belt", which is separate in the girl sized outfit, is integrated into the dress. Her underwear is a turquoise blue, which is roughly the same shade as the faux turquoise (really plastic) ring. She also has her original earrings, but I plan to get the sets AG still has which so happen to be her accessories and clothing, renamed with generic AG names, no mention of Saige.

Her ring is quite cute, but it's also an accessory that would get lost very easily in routine play. If I, as an adult collector, can manage to lose the ring for a few days when the doll is just being displayed, I can only imagine in a child's hands its play days would be numbered. I guess if parents with kids want the ring to stay around, super gluing it to the doll's finger is always an option!

In addition to purchased clothes (there are many cute options on Etsy), there's Josefina's Pretty Clothes patterns, AG Pattern PDF files, which I can use to sew for my Josefina, Nicki, and Saige dolls, and a plethora of Pixie Faire patterns which would be "Saige approved." Pixie Faire's Trendy Slouch Cardigan, Free 18" Doll Tank Top 18" Doll Leggings,  and 18" Doll Gladiator Sandals are a pretty close approximation of Saige's Sweater Outfit (picture below). This fabric-- Tribal Print Geometric Knit Fabric would be good, as would several others using the simple Etsy search parameter of "geometric knit fabric."

Saige's Sweater Outfit, from AG

 Saige's Sparkle Dress is a little harder to replicate, but this one-- Pixie Faire Monday Morning Dress -- is pretty close, except for the pleats (which could be taken out).

Saige's Sparkle Dress, from AG. 

A couple of her other outfits-- the Tunic Outfit, and her Pajamas, are still available from American Girl, at slightly reduced prices. 

Reflections on collections....

One thing that has been maligned by my "fan club" (really a group of snarky, insecure, and disturbed women) is my collection of dolls. I'm far from the only grown woman in the US who collects dolls, or who enjoys them. I've found, though, that what I do, even if it's a shared hobby, pastime, collection, etc. with other women around the globe, AUTOMATICALLY is abnormal, because I AM DOING IT. And since THEY, in their infinite wisdom, think I'm "off my rocker", anything I do, even if it's completely banal, is automatically wrong. Fuck that reasoning, bitches.

They're Facebook psychologists, by the way, and were relentlessly torturing me at a VERY LOW point in my life. My life was their entertainment. I couldn't do or say anything without it being analyzed to the nth degree. I have definite sympathy for other victims of stalkers; I know what it's like to worry someone's watching and want to withdraw from everything in life due to not knowing who's watching and ready to pounce. I was often nauseated, had bad stress rashes, and my anxiety over it, and worrying what horrible thing would be done next was immense.

It was bad enough several of them lived close to where I did (and where I'll be moving back (with my husband) to before the end of the year), and had "threatened" to come by the Home Depot store where I worked. When I saw that, I told my front end supervisor (an awesome guy), whose wife worked for the neighboring town's police force. He was concerned enough to bring it up at the next department head meeting, and because we knew what these individuals looked like, due to their photo posts on the forum, there was an informal BOLO on them. They were de facto banned from the store by our then manager. Everyone rallied around me and I'm thankful. I'd thought I was possibly overreacting, that I was somehow to blame for their (illegal) actions. To my knowledge, they never showed up at the Longview, WA Home Depot store. And yes, if they HAD shown up, they would've been arrested.

Cyberstalking is even more troubling in many ways to offline stalking. They share many elements, though offline, in person stalking tends to be someone the victim has known or come into contact with. In my case, I have NEVER met any of the people responsible. Our only contact was via the now-defunct Facebook game Sorority Life. Yes, I was STALKED due to a GAME. I received hundreds of nasty messages on my in-game "message board", I received nasty messages on Facebook, and in what was the most disturbing incident, friends and family received messages from a few of them, warning against having contact with me. There is showing concern for someone, and there is criminal behavior. This crossed that line-- an attempt to isolate me from friends and family?  WHAT THE HELL?!? Who the hell are you that you think that's okay in any way, shape, or form? The harassment has continued since late 2010 on this particular forum. When I married in 2013, my marriage license, with my name and city and my husband's name and city, was published there on the site. Why they think that's okay is beyond me... I'm NOT in the public eye (not a celebrity, politician, etc.), and because of that, I'm entitled to privacy. It serves NO PURPOSE to publish my personal info like that-- except to harass and alarm me. MY LIFE IS NOT THEIR ENTERTAINMENT AND THEY NEED TO STOP MAKING IT SO!

And now, even my collection(s) are subject to ridicule. Yes, I collect American Girl dolls. I have several (ten with my dolls down here and the ones in Washington state), including my most recent purchase, a 2013 Girl of the Year Saige doll (I'm also bidding on a retired Marie-Grace doll, which I don't fully want, so by Murphy's Law as it relates to eBay, I WILL AUTOMATICALLY WIN IT). I also have two "Just Like You #21" dolls (AG JLY #21), a Kailey doll, a Julie doll, a Just Like You #37 (JLY #37), a Just Like You #1 (JLY #1/African American), a Josefina doll, the retired Just Like You #4 (Just Like You #4/Asian), and a Nicki (also a GOTY) doll. The Josefina doll, JLY #4 doll and the Nicki doll were gifts from my Mom, who likewise collects dolls. I also have a non-AG, but very well made Alexis by Via-E doll (see Alexis O'Shay Dollfriend). I must admit to coveting the now-retired Ivy doll, the Jess doll, the McKenna doll, the Sonali doll, and present GOTY Isabelle. I'll no doubt get Isabelle before she's retired.

I enjoy sewing, both for my (growing) doll collection as well as myself. I probably could be considered a collector (or hoarder) of sewing patterns. I have enough patterns that I could sew something new EVERY week until I'm 50 (and I'm 33 presently).

I also collect (mostly) eclectic salt and pepper shakers. My favorite is this one-- Dog and Fire Hydrant. I covet this one-- Toilet and Urinal Salt and Pepper Shaker.

But until I grow my salt and pepper collection, I have my doll collection. Which will no doubt grow. As soon as habibi and I move, or possibly before, I'll be going to AG Place-Seattle with my step-niece (my sister Melissa's stepdaughter). My awesome Mommy has pledged to buy me and her step-granddaughter a doll... it should be fun.

And because I'm moving into an AWESOME house, I'll have a "gardening/flower bulb/vegetable/fruit" collection. My yard is big enough for an extensive garden, as well as what I want to do with the flowers in my front and back yards. There's a raised flower bed that I'd love to do a stacked herb garden in, and probably also put seasonal flowers like crocuses, daffodils, tulips, and lilies in (Purchased ONLY from Holland America Bulb Farms). I plan to put an arbor/trellis along the west side of the property, and then have climbing roses covering it (my favorites are the Handel rose, CI Rise and Shine rose, and the virtually impossible to find Cajun Sunrise rose). There's a brick barbecue and a fire pit in the backyard, and I want to build a gazebo over that area so my husband and I can enjoy barbecuing food year round and not have to worry about the rain! I love the vintage, retro 1970's kitchen; we won't be changing that at all (but the wallpaper in the office area off the master bedroom has GOT TO GO-- it's pretty hideous). I'm torn between two mixers, both KitchenAid, one vintage and one modern. The vintage one wins slightly (somewhat due to color), because the older models are known for "being built like tanks" whereas the more modern ones are not noted for the same stability.

And now, a meme, of my two houses...

(From my Facebook page; Images are a screenshot of my present residence in Azusa, CA from Google Earth, and my new house in Longview, WA-- my own iPhone pic, other pics are available here-- My house in Longview). 

 

And yes, my Mom bought the house for my husband and I. Due to some sage real estate holdings (and their sale in the Phoenix, AZ area) of my family, and my late grandparents' extreme penny pinching, let's just say... it was possible.  

About me (in less than 500 words)...

I'm 33, married to a wonderful Lebanese man, no children (yet), have one very spoiled cockatiel, several betta fish, and I live in Southern California.

I love California, and especially our civil tort laws and the CPC's (which may yet serve me well). Specifically, CPC 528.5 and 646.9, and Civil Codes 1708-1725.

I'm NOT a public figure, not a celebrity of any sort, but even if I were so, I'm entitled to privacy in my personal life. Everything I do and say is not a soap opera or movie, although for some, it seems to be. They pick apart and analyze everything I say and do. I'm basically not allowed to do anything without fear of scrutiny. They make fun of things I enjoy doing, or of my collections. They post personal information about me, including my marriage license. They make assumptions about me, psychoanalyze me, and generally defame me. I'm just FED UP. Why is this okay? It's NOT on so many levels I can scarcely begin to count them. Needless to say my list of supporting evidence for any RO is longer than one page. It's about 20 pages-- and that's significantly CONDENSED.

FWIW, I've sewn basically all of my life, from the time I was five or six and would make doll clothes with my Mom's help. I dabble in knitting and crochet, though I've never been very good at crocheting, and I'm a very impatient knitter. Even though I don't list any projects or many of them on my Ravelry profile page, I have several going on at any given time (usually just washcloths and dishcloths). I'm inactive in most of the groups I belong to. My crafting "poison" is mostly sewing. I have a cache of vintage and modern sewing patterns so deep that if I sewed something new every week for the next 30 years, I still wouldn't make it to the bottom. I really need to send some of these off-- mainly the size 14+ patterns I'll never sew, and the ones I have dupes of.

My favorite Ravelry group of the 137 or so I belong to is "RAK", which stands for "Random Acts of Kindness." In this group, members post tangible lists of patterns they like, things they'd like to receive, birthday wish lists, etc. It's always awesome to make someone's day... especially when they're halfway across the world. I try to fulfill at least 4 wishes a month, especially from new members or from people that haven't had a wish fulfilled before. Crafting brings us together as women and men, no matter what form it takes.

I'm travelling to see my family this coming Saturday evening (flying out of LGB on JetBlue, going to PDX; on an Airbus A320-- not my favorite plane-- but non-stop, 1 hour 57 minutes), which will be the first time I've seen BOTH of my parents (except for Dad's quick visit in April) in almost 2 years. 

Alexis (and other 18" dolls) Goes to the Beach

I am in SERIOUS "love" with my Alexis by Via-E doll -- she's probably the finest made doll on the market today. She can get wet, which means her opportunities for play are extremely more broad than most other dolls.

I live in Southern California, home of year round sunshine, beaches with water warm enough to wade (or swim, or surf) in without freezing something off (unlike my "native climate" of Washington state, which I'll be visiting from August 2nd to the 19th), and a system of freeways with traffic that can only be described as "amusingly confusing."

I absolutely adore Pixie Faire, a pattern company featuring extremely chic fashions for 18" dolls. Every week, they put four patterns up for voting for their "Friday Freebie", and they also have a wide selection of freebies available every day.

One of these is this Free 18" Doll Swimsuit and a few weeks ago, the Friday Freebie was this adorable 18" Doll Rash Guard and Shorts Set -- either of which are PERFECT for Alexis and will be joining her wardrobe soon.

I'm going to turn these-- Swimsuit and Sarong/Maxi Dress for Alexis -- that I had previously planned to turn into a hijab and abaya, into the Swimsuit and a Maxi Dress/Swim Coverup for Alexis. Or perhaps this, Potential fabric #2 for Alexis' Swimsuit -- I'll have to do a fabric "draping" and see which one is better for my beautiful doll. 

When I visit the Northwest next month, I'm taking Alexis with me. The day before I leave, my Mom and I will likely go to the Washington State International Kite Festival held in Long Beach, WA... and Alexis will come with us. 

THE Most Awesome Doll in the World

Since 1986, American Girl (now owned by Mattel) has dominated the 18" doll market. Other dolls haven't had the same staying power, or the intense marketing, that American Girl dolls have had since the beginning. While Mattel has the immense ability to market their products, the quality and durability of their dolls isn't always ideal. One BIG pitfall of AG dolls is their entirely cloth body. Not only do they look less than cool when wearing chic fashions like their owners may wear, as the cloth body shows when anything bares the shoulders, they can't get wet. If they get wet, their eyes can rust and lead to the dreaded silver eye, and if the torso gets wet, both the cloth body and internal stuffing could mold or mildew.

Girls NEED dolls-- they allow them to "play" at being adults, and just retaining the innocence of being a girl. The best type of doll is sturdy, yet inviting, and something that girls can easily relate to, because she (the doll) has qualities that her owner/Mommy has. She can get wet, she can wear the latest fashions, she has realistic adventures, and here's the "sneaky" part-- she also teaches the girl important lessons about life and the world around her.

Through the amazingly talented Selena Esparza (FB page here-- Custom American Girl Dolls by Selena Esparza ; YouTube channel here-- Selena Esparza YouTube channel ; and eBay store here-- Selena Esparza eBay store), who repaints AG and other like-dolls to look more "mature" and modern, or to look like characters from popular culture, I discovered Via-E's Alexis O'Shay doll, Via-E Dollfriends/Alexis O'Shay.

She's 19" tall, a little skinnier than an AG doll, but with a definite sturdy feel to her. Her delicate nails are "painted" in a "French manicure", and her hands are able to hold objects with ease. I found a super cute thing for her-- MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS-- most of which are sized "appropriately" for an 18" doll... Musical Instruments for AG Type Dolls.

Alexis' hair is rooted nylon, very soft and silky, and much more manageable than other dolls' hair. It's a beautiful caramel blonde/light brown color, one I've never seen on a doll before. Her eyes are a lovely blue green that somehow look more "lifelike" than other dolls of mine. Her nose is a little more pronounced than other dolls, but I like that feature. It adds to her "real girl" appeal. Her wide smile makes her very approachable, and perpetually cheerful. I've always thought the AG "two tooth" smile that's standard on all dolls except Kaya, was sort of, well, rabbit like. Alexis' smile looks like a real smile, even if the white "teeth" are not marked into individual teeth.

Alexis, next to AG DPTY 2003-2004 Kailey

Alexis O'Shay doll,  image copyright of Via-E

I think the best feature of Alexis is her all vinyl body... it means she can wear lower cut clothing, shirts or dresses that show shoulders, and other fashions without looking somewhat awkward or "lame", like AG dolls do. And because of this vinyl body, she's able to get wet-- able to swim, able to go to the beach (and maybe splash in the surf!), and able to do things other dolls can't without being ruined. While her "after swim" care is perhaps a little bit time intensive for a girl to do on her own (knowing what I do of children and their attention spans!), it's not very difficult, and is something that parents could use as an important lesson on hygiene for their daughters.

Alexis O'Shay, as a character, is originally from the Southern California beach town of San Clemente, who now lives with her travel writer father and fashion designer mother in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The next doll in the Via-E line will be the Tatiana Nayara Oliveira doll, who is described as being Afro-Indian, so she has darker skin and features more in line with that heritage. Her "theme song" is here-- Tatiana Theme Intro-- Via-E Tatiana Doll and Alexis' own theme is here-- Alexis O'Shay theme song -- Via-E Alexis doll.

One thing that excites me is Alexis has the POTENTIAL to have an abaya in her line. Dubai is listed as a place she has visited with her fashion designer mother, and since the UAE's "national dress" for women (see UAE National Dress for Men and Women) is an abaya, it's very possible we may see this addition to the line. And I couldn't be happier. If Via-E is the first line to feature an abaya/hijab for dolls, they could very well increase their popularity around the world. It would definitely sell in one of the planned "toy store expansions" in Michigan, due to the high number of Muslims near Dearborn, MI. There is literally NO company out there that makes an abaya or hijab for dolls and sells it commercially. Even on Etsy. Until then, I'll make my own abaya and hijab for her (see previous entries). And probably (mentally), on the way, write a hypothetical "Alexis at Dubai Fashion Week" story.

Another cool thing about Alexis is her "injury guarantee". If at any point during the year after her purchase she suffers an "injury", the company will fix her, free of charge. Also, any purchases made through the website are applied towards a "healthcare plan", and when $140 of purchases is made, another free hospital visit is included. Or, if not enough points have been accumulated, a low fee (considering AG's hospital visits) of $40 can be substituted for the accumulated point system. With AG, if a doll suffered an extreme misadventure and had a detached head and arm or leg, it'd be $64 to reattach it ($32 for a head, $32 for a limb... it's unclear if more than one limb was detached if it'd be a separate $32 charge or just one). A "well visit" is $28 (skin cleaned, hair brushed, hospital gown, but no major "injuries", which is a total ripoff considering you can buy baby wipes for $1, a hair brush for MAYBE $5, and the material to make a hospital gown for $2, so essentially, less than $10 if you DIY), ear piercing is $14 (I find it ironic it's as much to pierce a doll's ears as it is a human's when all they do is literally take a Dremel drill and put two holes in! Okay, so doll earrings are included, but they're NOT WORTH $14), a new head or new body/limbs are both $44, so Via-E is very reasonable, should a doll suffer a misadventure and find herself in need of TLC. But with as sturdily as I find my Alexis doll to be, I doubt that'd be an issue with most girls-- or even most boys who may not be gentle with their sisters' dolls.

Alexis can wear American Doll clothes, although depending on the clothing items, it may be a loose fit, since she's skinnier and a little taller. Because her big toe is separated from her other toes, she can more easily wear "flip flop" style shoes. I am VERY tempted by these Pixie Faire patterns (for all 18" doll lovers, be sure and check out their Friday Freebie/Pixie Faire. Every week, this company generously gives away one of their patterns from 12:00 am Friday to 11:59 pm Friday)-- Flip Flop Sandals/Pixie Faire and Flower Sandals/Pixie Faire. Either one would look ADORABLE with Alexis' "Loving Sao Paulo outfit" and the very similar (minus the vest and kerchief, which are easy enough to sew)-- Carpatina Fleur Blanc dress. As Carpatina-branded 18" slim bodied dolls are very similar in size to Alexis, most of Alexis' clothes are made by Carpatina-- 18" Dolls and Doll Clothes. I also really like DreamWorld Collections clothes, of which a Princess Kate-style wedding dress is included. Since Alexis' fashions from Via-E are somewhat limited presently (but always growing!), other companies can be used until Via-E's clothing line is more developed.

All around, the Alexis O'Shay Via-E doll is definitely a doll I can recommend. I've already told my Mom about her, and have told several friends with daughters. I know girls will love Alexis for the play opportunities, and Moms/parents will love her for her durability, reliability, the educational lessons, and the joy their daughter has when playing with her new Playfriend.

INTERESTING FACT ABOUT MY DOLL: She's #498 out of 550 of the original, first run dolls. There will only be about 1,500 of this "generation". I bought her off of Craigslist for a VERY reasonable price. The one I got her from was the original singer of Alexis' theme song, before they decided to go with the present version, sung by a 16 year old. During the focus group, mothers/parents preferred the original singer's version, but girls preferred the 16 year old. Considering this doll is marketed towards children, the company, Via-E, decided to listen to the girls and go with the second version. Since most companies market towards adults (even toy companies, since it's adults that buy toys and not kids) and not kids, I think that's pretty cool.

My Favorite Place(s) in the World...

I live in Metro LA, which means I'm a half hour's drive from the second largest city in the United States and all that brings with it.

I'd been wanting to make a trek into the Fashion District for some time, and a week ago Saturday, I did so. It was an easy drive down the 210 to the 605 to the 60, and then closer to Los Angeles the 60 is marked as three other numbered freeways simultaneously -- the 10, the 101, and the 5 (yes, it can be confusing-- you're on four freeways at the same time. That's why overthinking in LA traffic is never recommended although for some, thinking at all is a definite struggle based on the way they drive!). A short distance later, and literally three blocks off the freeway is the Fashion District. Parking is $3 for fifteen minutes, with a cap of $5 a day, so it's not especially expensive, and it's quite plentiful (I was pleasantly surprised, considering I went on a Saturday afternoon).

It is a mecca of sorts for those who live, love, breathe, or otherwise enjoy fashion. Small shops and vendor stands line the streets, and there's too much to literally see in one trip. Which is why I'll no doubt go back again and again and again.

But for this first trip, my destination was Michael Levine's The Loft store, which is across the street from the main Michael Levine store (web URL: http://lowpricefabric.com/). In that part of the store (which is above the home decor area), ALL fabrics are $2.49 a pound. They're rather jumbled into bins, but that's part of the fun. It's like digging for treasure. You don't know what you're going to find, from the cheapest of knits to perhaps something that was originally $60 a yard.

The fabric pictured here (on my Instagram)-- http://instagram.com/p/pBHUd3FbkO/-- will eventually be turned into a doll abaya. I believe it's the size of a fat quarter (see here for a great explanation-- What's a Fat Quarter of Fabric?), but it may be slightly larger. I picked up roughly 7.5 more pounds of fabric, mostly (if not all) knit. There's a navy and teal striped fabric I can see turning into a nice, nautical inspired version of Butterick 5606 (again, see my Instagram-- The Most Awesome Pattern in the World!), there's a slightly funkier and heavier matte jersey, there's a lilac sparkly knit that's also "begging" to be turned into a doll abaya. For what's the most redundant linking, once again, see my Instagram-- Shades of Purple.

Purple/lilac and shades thereof happen to be my favorite color(s), for the record. Followed by deep, rich jewel tones, and "colors found in nature", most especially those of a California sunrise or sunset.

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I do intend to conduct a "sweepstakes" of sorts once I have a few doll abayas sewn up. Not sure of specifics yet, but it'll likely be one a week during the month of Ramadan (which begins on June 28th). I will have some guidelines, but not many. And it'll be open to the whole world, not just the United States. 

Hijab & Abaya for 18" Dolls

One thing I've wanted to do for awhile is create an Islamic outfit for 18"-20" dolls like American Girl (http://www.americangirl.com), Maplelea (http://www.maplelea.com), Australian Girl (http://www.australiangirldoll.com.au/), among others.

The maker of American Girl has had two Jewish themed products, the first "Doll of the Year", Lindsey Bergman, as well as historical character Rebecca Rubin. Not completely a surprise, since the owner of American Girl is Mattel, which was originally founded by Ruth (creator of Barbie as well as a successful line of mastectomy products) and Elliot Handler, a Jewish couple. The Christian religion is heavily implied, with many Christmas themed outfits.

Yet Islam is completely ignored by this and most other mainstream doll companies. Only ONE major doll line/toy company in the US, the Hearts for Hearts dolls made by Playmates Toys, (http://playmatestoys.com/brands/hearts-for-hearts-girls), have had a "Muslim" doll. That being their current Shola doll, who is marketed as being from Afghanistan. See About Hearts for Hearts Dolls for more info. You can find some Islamic style clothing on eBay, like this listing (which links to others)-- Afghan Doll Dress Project -- but for the most part, it's an ignored market.

Islam is one of the fastest growing religions around the world. There are over a billion Muslims throughout the world, and roughly 3 million Muslims in the United States. Only a very small percentage of this faith is engaged in terrorist acts against the West, yet they are the ones that get most of the attention.

I can only imagine how difficult it must be for Muslim American Girls. They don't see Muslimah role models portrayed in any (positive) media, there isn't much in the realm of play (outside of the Fulla doll) that shows them "proper" Islamic dress while allowing them to explore it in their own lives, and they're no doubt bombarded with more negative aspects of American culture that discourage them from wearing hijab or following their faith in other ways.

I'm in the process of creating a hijab scarf and abaya for 18" dolls. The hijab part of it is easy; there's an awesome pattern from Frugal Abundance here-- Hijab Pattern for 18" dolls-- and I have in the past created a version of it that doesn't use that pattern that also works. A 6" by 8" or 8" by 10" rectangle folded in half, then sewn along the edges works as an "underscarf", or half of a two piece Al Amira-style hijab. The abaya is a bit harder, but I've been using Urban Hijab's Aaisha abaya as a pictorial starting point-- Urban Hijab's Aaisha abaya-- then using my own original attempt (picture below). Yes, that's me hiding behind my "model" doll (Kailey, Doll of the Year from 2003-2004)

In this attempt, I used a fat quarter, with the following layout (see below illustration). 

See correction below...

Making the hijab is easier; there's the aforementioned Frugal Abundance pattern, and making a one-piece Al Amira style hijab is also pretty easy. A rectangular piece of knit fabric, approximately 4 inches by 18 inches, sewn together with a piece 8 inches by 18 inches, then folded in half and sewn with a very slim, 1/5 inch margin seam, and voila, an Al Amira hijab. 

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For the record, I'm Catholic. I've been married to a wonderful (Maronite) Catholic man for a little over a year now (our anniversary is April 20, 2013). But one thing I firmly believe in is interfaith cooperation, interfaith dialogue, and diversity in play. 

Since there's literally nothing out there in mainstream toy land to represent Islam, I've been determined to come up with something... anything... that accomplishes that. Hopefully this does it. I'm sure I'll be tweaking the pattern from time to time, and won't ever be fully satisfied, but such is life when you're Type A and creative. 

CORRECTION TO LAYOUT: A standard quarter yard of fabric is wayyyyyyyy too "skinny". It would create a tunic, or basically half of a salwar kameez set.  So to create the "fat quarter", buy a half yard of fabric, and have them cut it in half for you (most places will). A great place to start is Joann Fabrics' Red-Tag Clearance fabrics, or watch their sales-- they routinely have knit fabrics on sale 40% off (or more).

Here in Los Angeles, one "must go" is LA's Fashion District. There are a plethora of shops with fabric as cheap as $1 a yard, but my favorite place there is Michael Levine and their related Loft store (across the street from the main store). Everything in the Loft store is $2.49 a pound... on my last trip, I came home with nearly eight pounds of fabric.