How to Make Sleeveless Doll Dresses
With warm weather soon approaching, at least in the Northern Hemisphere, we all like to have sleeveless clothes, and your dolls do, as well. With this technique you can use almost any doll dress pattern and turn it into a Summer, sleeveless dress. This will also work for overalls or blouses.
If you want to use a pattern that is already a sleeveless pattern there are some available here on the Doll Making Site. For a pattern, photo and ideas to make a sleeveless dress Click Here. For a pattern, photo and ideas to make a pair of overalls Click Here.
As I said, above, any pattern will do. Simply leave the sleeves off and cut two of the back and front bodice pieces, where you would normally only cut one. This works for dresses with a waistband and blouses. For dresses that do not have a waist, such as A-line or straight dresses, you will line the entire dress so you still cut two of the dress front and back pieces.
To assemble the dress, sew the front and back of the dress, or bodice, and the lining together, with right sides together, at the shoulder seams. Do not sew the lining to the dress, yet. Once the shoulder seams are sewn, put the lining and dress together, right sides facing, and sew around all edges, except the bottom edges. Clip all the curves, being careful not to cut through the stitching. Then turn the dress right side out. Sew the side seams together with a blind stitch or Ladder Stitch. Be sure to line up the sides so that the front and back match at the sides.
If this is the bodice of a dress with a waist, continue with the sewing instructions for the rest of the dress. If the dress is a straight dress, hem the bottom of the lining and the dress by turning both to the wrong side 1/4 inch, twice, and hem stitch in place.
Enjoy!
Making and Dressing Cloth Dolls
Ebook with patterns and instructions to make 5 cloth dolls as well as chapters on general doll making techniques.The book includes 21 inch Lalena Doll, 21 inch David Doll, Bear Dolls, 9 inch Destiny Doll and 15 inch Annie Doll, all together in one handy book. 53 pages.Making and Dressing Cloth Dolls
If you want to use a pattern that is already a sleeveless pattern there are some available here on the Doll Making Site. For a pattern, photo and ideas to make a sleeveless dress Click Here. For a pattern, photo and ideas to make a pair of overalls Click Here.
As I said, above, any pattern will do. Simply leave the sleeves off and cut two of the back and front bodice pieces, where you would normally only cut one. This works for dresses with a waistband and blouses. For dresses that do not have a waist, such as A-line or straight dresses, you will line the entire dress so you still cut two of the dress front and back pieces.
To assemble the dress, sew the front and back of the dress, or bodice, and the lining together, with right sides together, at the shoulder seams. Do not sew the lining to the dress, yet. Once the shoulder seams are sewn, put the lining and dress together, right sides facing, and sew around all edges, except the bottom edges. Clip all the curves, being careful not to cut through the stitching. Then turn the dress right side out. Sew the side seams together with a blind stitch or Ladder Stitch. Be sure to line up the sides so that the front and back match at the sides.
If this is the bodice of a dress with a waist, continue with the sewing instructions for the rest of the dress. If the dress is a straight dress, hem the bottom of the lining and the dress by turning both to the wrong side 1/4 inch, twice, and hem stitch in place.
Enjoy!
Making and Dressing Cloth Dolls
Ebook with patterns and instructions to make 5 cloth dolls as well as chapters on general doll making techniques.The book includes 21 inch Lalena Doll, 21 inch David Doll, Bear Dolls, 9 inch Destiny Doll and 15 inch Annie Doll, all together in one handy book. 53 pages.Making and Dressing Cloth Dolls
You Should Also Read:
Special Doll Making Techniques
Contrasting Top Stitching
How to Join Bodice to Skirt
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