|
Autobiography |
Ballet | Books | Dolls & Costumes
| Gardens | Kinesthetic | Main | Rhythmic Dance | Spirituality |
18 Inch
Amanda Doll Dress Pattern
Designed by Susan
Kramer
|
|
18 inch (45cm) Amanda Cloth Doll Dress and Floppy
15 inch Bitty Baby and 18 inch Amanda Cloth Doll (for size
comparison)
|
|
(intermediate sewing level)
Link to Amanda Doll Body
Pattern
Here is my pattern for dresses for Amanda, an 18 inch (45cm) fabric doll.
I have traced the pattern pieces onto 1 inch (2.5cm) square paper. One quarter
inch seam allowance is included on all pieces.
This pattern is my original design and may not be used commercially.
The pattern pieces are on the following 2 pictures. The first is the bodice.
The second picture is the sleeve; adjust the sleeve length shorter to match the
top photo, if you wish.
Here are sewing instructions to make dresses for Amanda, my 18
inch (45cm) fabric doll.
Dress front- Cut
one on front fold.
Dress back - Cut
two pieces.
Sleeves - Cut two with
sleeve top on fold.
Skirt - Cut a length 30
inches wide and 9 inches long for a finished skirt length of 8 inches as in
this dress.
To make your 1-inch
square (2.5cm) grid graph paper
First, take an 8.5x11 inch piece of plain paper and draw 1
inch squares - I do this by drawing horizontal lines 1 inch apart down the
page, and then vertical lines 1 inch apart across the page.
Next, looking at the .jpg image you want to enlarge, copy
what is in each of my squares into your larger squares.
Seam allowances of 1/4 inch are included.
Also, and this is very important,
the overlap in the center back seam is 1 inch.
Again, if you are going to sew lace to the lower edge of sleeves then cut 3
inches off the lower end of the sleeve pattern.
Hints and tips for making doll clothes and
costumes
- You'll need 10 inches of ribbon and 10 inches of lace for the neckline and 10
inches of ribbon and 10 inches of lace for the sleeves. Follow directions for attaching lace and ribbons to
neckline and sleeve hem.
- Press, pin and sew doll clothes in that order.
- Sew hems on clothing by hand for a fine dressmaker's touch.
- Choose smaller rather than larger prints for dress fabric, keeping in mind
the scale of the doll. I like to use quilting material.
- Make the dresses from cotton and natural fabrics if you'd like to keep to
historical time periods.
- Use washable materials and trims. I use the softest and closest weave cotton
I can find.
- If the clothing is for a child's doll, use velcro closures rather than buttons or hooks and eyes
for safety's sake.
Construction directions
Bodice
With right sides of back and front bodice facing, sew
together at shoulders. Press seam open.
To finish back seam of bodice, turn in twice on each center edge and hand or machine
stitch to make a one-fourth inch hem.
Instructions for attaching ribbon and lace to the neckline and sleeves are here.
Sleeves
Roll in lower edge and hem by hand or machine. (I sew sleeve and skirt hems by
hand.)
Gather along dotted line of sleeve, (I use quilting thread for strength) just
loose enough to slide over doll’s hand and lower arm; about 3.25 inches
(8.5cm).
Along armpit edge gather sleeve with basting stitch just inside the one-quarter
inch line to fit armhole and with right side of sleeve facing right side of
front and back bodice (which are just joined at shoulders and now lay out flat)
stitch together with one-fourth inch seam. Clip curve. Repeat for other sleeve.
With right sides of sleeves and bodice facing, sew together sides of bodice and
underside of sleeves at the same time. Repeat on other side.
Skirt construction
Sew back seam of skirt leaving 2 inches at top open as an extension of the
center back bodice opening for ease in dressing doll. Roll in the raw edges
above top of back skirt seam and blind stitch. When
dress is completed sew a velcro
dot just above waistline and at neckline to overlap bodice back one fourth
inch.
Either gather one fourth inch from top edge of skirt or make small pleats as I
have to fit bodice lower edge.
To make hem, turn up lower edge twice and blind stitch.
How to sew bodice to skirt
I make this a half inch seam for both skirt and bodice,
because of gathered top edge of skirt at waist, and so bodice and skirt do not
pull apart with use.
Fold under one half inch along lower edge of bodice and lay over top of skirt.
Join together with topstitching. This technique forms a nice flat seam.
Have fun making your doll dresses!
Article, patterns and photographs copyright Susan Kramer
|
Email:
susan@susankramer.com |
Charlotte
Doll Body and Dress Full Size Patterns
Inspired by doll of Laura Ingalls Wilder
E-patterns by Susan Kramer
|
How to Sew
Cloth Dolls and Costumes
plus Traceable Patterns |
Medium Doll
Clothes |
|
Baby
Christening Gown |
Royal
Bridesmaid |
~ please visit again soon! ~
page
created April 16, 2012