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Friday, December 31, 2010

Rag Doll Tutorial - Clothes

aThe final installment of the Quaint and Quirky rag doll pattern - dress.  I made this pattern up loosely based on the Leila and Ben Sweet Dress pattern (highly recommended), so you can make matching dresses!  :D

Materials:
Large scraps for the dress
Any embellishments you want to add
Dress pattern - go here to get it:  Quaint and Quirky rag doll dress pattern
Very thin elastic - approximately 1/8"
Sewing machine, thread, needle
Small safety pin

This is a rough pattern and uses very small seam allowances, so seams are not finished, but you could finish seams with a very small zig zag stitch if you want!

1.  Cut out the pattern, then use the pattern to cut 2 dress pieces and 2 sleeve pieces.  Make sure you cut the sleeve pieces on the fold!
2.  Right sides together, using a 1/4" seam, sew one sleeve to one dress piece, matching curves.
3.  Sew the other sleeve to the dress (right sides together).
4.  Now, right sides together, sew the other dress piece to one of the sleeves, then the other.  When you are finished, you will have the dress connected at the sleeves, but not down the sides.
5.  Flip the dress so it is inside out and match sides and sleeve seams.  Starting at the sleeves, sew using a 1/4" seam.  Pivot, and sew down the side of the dress.
6.  Okay, this is the tricky part.  I always warn you at the tricky parts, so you know when you need a little more patience!  I needed a little more patience, for sure!  You are going to iron the neck, sleeves, and hem.  I take a pointy stick with me to iron so I don't burn my fingers.  Start with the neck and iron under 1/4" toward the wrong side of the neck.  Then iron down another 3/8 to 1/2".  These are approximate measurements, so don't go crazy trying to make it perfect.
(showing the ironed folds)
7.  Save yourself some time and iron the sleeves at the same time.  Press under 1/4" of the end of the sleeve, then fold it again on itself so that you enclose the raw edge. Press. Repeat for the other sleeve.

8.  While you are still at the iron, do the same for the hem of the dress.  Press under 1/4" of the hem.  Fold under another 1/4" and press. 

9.  Back at the sewing machine, sew the neck, close to the edge of the fold.  Leave a 1 to 2 inch gap so you can thread the elastic through later.

10.  Sew the sleeves close to the fold too.  For these you can sew all the way around, since you are not threading an elastic through.  You can try to elasticize the sleeves for a different look, but I find they are too small for this.  The first doll I made, I tried to throw it through the window when I tried to thread the elastic through the sleeves.  Except that it was soft and it just bounced.  Moral of the story?  Bell sleeves!

11.  Sew the hem of the dress all the way around close to the fold.

Everything sewn and ready for the next step!
12.  Attach around a 6" piece of thin elastic to a safety pin.  Thread it through the opening in the neck and back out the other side.  Hand sew the elastic together, then machine sew the opening closed.

13.  Add any embellishments you want.  I folded over the raw short edges on some lace and stitched it to the bottom of the dress.  Then I tied a ribbon around the waist. I gathered the long edge of a piece of lace and tacked the bottom so that it formed a rosette for the hair.  Mademoiselle is finished!

8 comments:

  1. Keri - thanks for this latest installment! I finished my dolls face, it did not turn out too bad, though a little lopsided (but then again, it matches her lopsided little head). Now to go through my small fabric stash and see what jumps out at me for her dress!

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  2. This doll is adorable! I've been looking for a decent doll pattern, and this one is fantastic!

    Thank you so much! I am definitely going to have to make this! :)

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  3. Thank you so much! I made my very first doll this week and just finished the dress. It will be a present for my little girl for Christmas! If the real person dress is as easy as the doll dress then they just might end up with matching dresses too!

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  4. I have just finished a doll for my little girl's first birthday tomorrow. (last minute, I know!) I have made the dress from one of her tiny babygros. It has been a real labour of love so thank you for your inspiration.

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  5. Thank you for taking the time to post such a great tutorial! I made a doll for my little girl due in March.

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  6. You make it all look so easy...fantastical tutorials..that's it I am going to have a go..I have always wondered how to do hair and face..just brilliant.. Thank you x

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  7. I love this pattern! I've been having lots of fun making dolls for the girls I babysit!

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