Dolls are considered an attribute of any girl's childhood. However, few people know that most dolls not only in Russia but also abroad bring pleasure and income to collectors. Moreover, they value handmade toys more. Undoubtedly, the question arises of how to make all the necessary things for dolls with your own hands. Depending on the type of textile goods, clothes for dolls will vary.
What can you make a dress for a doll from?
Before considering the material used to make such toys, you should learn about all the possible variations of handmade models.
There are several types of dolls:
| Types of dolls | Description |
| Attic and primitive dolls | Characteristic features: simplicity in design, shapes and uneven lines in the image. It is quite easy to sew such toys. They are dolls made from old Soviet things - socks and stockings. You can also make outfits for them from your old clothes. This is the most budget option. |
| Tilda dolls | The range of such toys is represented by a variety of images from immaterial things (house, food) to images of animals and people. They differ from other similar entertainment items by their long and thin limbs. The color palette is represented only by pastel tones. The faces are decorated with rosy cheeks and very small eyes. Sewing of such dolls is based on the use of only natural fabric (for example, cotton, linen and calico). Sintepon is used as stuffing. The final result is decorated with ribbons, beads. |
| Barbie dolls | These are small fashion dolls. It is easy for a novice designer to create clothes and shoes for them. The toys are presented in the images of not only a girl, but also a boy. Here, a variety of outfits is available from oriental to universal classic styles. |
| Dolls | Such a toy represents the image of a small child. Outfits for them can be either sewn or knitted. Moreover, homemade costumes are often crocheted and knitted. |
| Snowball Dolls | The idea of their creation belongs to Tatyana Kornie. The distinctive feature is stable legs in light beautiful shoes. The dolls have a round face with small eyes. What is characteristic, the rest of the face is not painted. |
| Tryapiens | These are toys of Japanese-Korean origin. They are characterized by full face painting, complex lush hairstyles and rich, bright (ballroom and other) outfits. |
| Ball-jointed dolls | Such stylish models are assembled from various small parts and joints. The outfits vary depending on the imagination of the creators. They are more expensive, since such dolls can be made by high-class craftsmen. And their wardrobe is very different from the well-known Barbie dolls. |
Additional information! Most of the outfits can be made by yourself. And the budget is inexpensive, less than paying for the work of a studio.
As for materials, in this regard, dolls' outerwear and underwear are convenient, since the most unexpected simple materials are used:
- Fleece, cotton and corduroy are suitable for everyday wear.
- Dresses for dolls, sweaters, cardigans and trousers can be made from knitted fabrics and velor.
- It is better to sew light doll dresses and elegant ball gowns from satin, taffeta, velvet and guipure.
- Winter outfits are made from faux fur, suede and leather.
Inexpensive alternatives are paper and felt. It is quite easy to make things for small dolls from these materials. However, it is worth remembering that the result is not very durable: the service life is short.
DIY sewing of the simplest outfits for Barbie and similar dolls
Barbie dolls are similar to Blythe, Bona and Lola. They all have a variety of outfits and a country of origin. However, many mothers do not have the opportunity to visit large children's stores and buy Barbie outfits for their children. That is why most women sew clothes for their dolls themselves.
Preparatory stage
Women ask themselves: is it worth using ready-made printouts of the pattern? They can be used if the needlewomen make the patterns themselves on graph paper. Otherwise, it is not worth printing the pattern, since the future project may not correspond to the shapes and sizes of the doll.
Before work, you need to prepare the necessary materials and tools:
- scissors;
- needles;
- awl;
- threads;
- ribbons;
- beads and balls;
- a sketch or pattern template for convenience;
- glue;
- iron and ironing board.
Important! When sewing, there should be good lighting. All actions should be done carefully and accurately, observing safety precautions.
Sewing instructions
Below are several step-by-step diagrams of sewing simple dresses for a universal Barbie doll.
Evening dress:
- Measure the doll.
- Cut out a rectangle from the fabric according to the data obtained.
- Place a piece of fabric on the doll and gather the future skirt along the waistline. The skirt is almost ready.
- The top part is a heart-shaped bodice. It requires another piece of fabric.
- Fold the fabric (with the right side facing inward). Draw a heart with chalk from the fold line and cut it out.
- Measure the length of the skirt at the waist and divide the result in half. This is the length of the segment that needs to be drawn parallel to the fold line.
- Cut off the excess part. Stitch the side halves of the heart and turn the top part to the front side.
- Sew the skirt and top together.
- To finish, all that's left is to make shoulder straps. Satin ribbons will do for them.
- The dress is ready.
Straight casual dress:
- Cut a rectangle out of the fabric. Its length should correspond to the full length of the doll with allowances, and its width should correspond to the hip circumference with allowances.
- Cut the resulting piece in half (shelf and back).
- Fold each small element in half.
- On the shelf, design the neckline and shoulder line with sleeves.
- Make a slit on the back for the fastener and baste the zipper there.
- Sweep the pieces together and sew.
- Accentuate the waist with a ribbon belt.
- The dress is ready.
Please note! You can use Burda drawings to create clothes. In addition, the resulting product cannot be immediately put on the doll. The craft must be ironed.
How to sew a skirt
What outfit does a girl have without a skirt? Costumes for any dolls cannot do without this wardrobe item. Sewing a skirt is quite simple if you follow the instructions.
The easiest way:
- Take two pieces of different fabric. Place them with their right sides together and sew.
- Overcast the seam allowance edges with a zigzag stitch.
- Iron the seam.
- Neaten all edges. Turn the bottom one under and stitch.
- Sew the elastic to the top edge at a distance of 0.15 cm from the cut.
- Turn the top edge up, close the elastic and stitch. You have a belt.
- Fold the skirt in half (wrong side up).
- Baste the edges.
- Sew at a distance of 0.15 cm from the edge and overcast the cuts.
- Iron the seam. The skirt is ready.
Clothes for little dolls
It can be not only sewn, but also knitted. The advantages of the latter type of clothing are durability and variety of styles, as well as safety for children. The disadvantages of knitted items are the complexity and duration of the manufacturing process.
Before making crafts, you need to decide on the choice of style. Then, when working with small forms, it is better to use patterns.
Sewing is similar to the previous options:
- Transferring the pattern onto the fabric, sketching out seam allowances.
- Cutting out the necessary parts and overcasting them.
- Stitching seams and overcasting edges.
- Decor crafts.
Finished clothes must be ironed thoroughly before use.
Please note! Special attention should be paid to decorating the finished craft. Children can also be involved in this process - as a result, a good time and a varied wardrobe of dolls.
Clothes for dolls
Clothes for girls' favorite dolls are mostly knitted rather than sewn.
Moreover, you don’t need to know how to knit to create it; you can use old things (socks):
- The toes can be used to make bonnets. Just cut off the excess and attach the ties.
- The part with elastic can be used to make pants.
- For example, it’s easy to make rompers: split the sock lengthwise to the heel and sew the edges of the cut and the bottom.
- The romper is made similarly from the leftovers. The neck and sleeves are cut out. The elements are sewn together.
You can sew or knit the doll's clothes yourself. So the kit for the first process will be similar to the previous ones, and for knitting you will need a hook or knitting needles and old unnecessary sweaters.
Beautiful DIY Doll Dresses
This section presents a sewing tutorial for 2 versions of a classic fluffy outfit for a doll.
First option
Materials and tools:
- centimeter thread;
- pencil;
- sewing buttons and pins;
- 2 types of fabric;
- sheet of paper;
- scissors and threads;
- buttons;
- ties;
- needle.
Sewing:
- Make a pattern. Fold a sheet of paper and place the doll on the center line: mark the neckline, waist and hip line, shoulder location, sleeve length and the dress itself.
- Fold the pattern in half and cut out.
- Place the pattern on the doll, secure with pins and cut off the excess.
- Cut out two pieces of different fabrics with allowances, fold them inside out and stitch.
- Turn the product inside out.
- Iron the craft.
- Sew buttons and ties on the back.
Second option
Materials:
- fabric (satin or silk);
- scissors;
- needle and thread;
- Velcro fastener.
Instructions:
- You need to cut out rectangles from the fabric measuring 19 by 30.5, 6 by 21 and 6.5 by 16 cm.
- The first rectangle needs to be trimmed a little. It will become a skirt.
- Use a zigzag stitch to finish the edges of the skirt and bodice.
- Try on the bodice and the bottom of the future dress. Mark the darts and stitch them from the inside.
- Gather the skirt and sew it to the bodice.
- Attach the fastening tape along the entire back of the dress.
If desired, the product can be decorated with beads, lace ribbons and bows.
How to sew an outfit for an interior doll
Interior dolls are distinguished by a special style of creation. There are a great many of them. It is this option that is valued by collectors.
Materials for sewing:
- knitwear:
- cotton;
- felt or leather;
- wig;
- sewing accessories.
Manufacturing:
- Flesh-colored knitwear is used. Cut out the pattern, attach to the fabric. Cut out the necessary parts with allowances. Sew the pants. Turn up the bottom edges and process them. Leave an opening in the waistband for the elastic. Thread the elastic through, secure and sew up the opening.
- Make shoes from felt.
- Sew a dress for a doll. Cut out a pattern from fabric, sew the pieces together. Fold the hem of the dress and stitch, decorating it with lace. Sew the remaining edges. Make folds and stitch the neckline, decorating it with a ribbon.
Other sets differ only in decor.
Making clothes for your children's favorite dolls with your own hands is a fascinating activity. In addition, it helps to find a common language with children and develops their creative skills. The family budget will remain almost the same, since many materials can be found at home. However, in order for this hobby to bring pleasure and the desired result, you need to accurately follow the sewing instructions and observe safety precautions when working with sharp piercing and cutting tools.
