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5g. How to Sew on Sticky Tape Closures &
Press then Sew Doll Clothes
Dolls |
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5.
Attach Lace to Finished Side of Skirt Hems |
5e.
How to Make a Ribbon Waistband |
5g. How to Sew on Sticky
Tape Closures |
The
invention of VelcroŽ brand sticky tape closures has been a boon in making doll
clothes. No longer do you have to worry about buttons or metal hooks and eyes
or snaps being pulled off and swallowed by your youngest doll clothes
recipients.
What you lose in esthetics is more than made up by safety considerations.
In the photo you can see how I use the sticky tape for closures at the back of
doll dresses. In this example I took a 3 inch long strip and cut it lengthwise.
In this way the narrow closure is more in proportion to the dress back.
After cutting my strip I try the dress on the doll, overlap middle back edges,
left over right. This gives me the spot to lay the strips. I lay the harder
plastic grips on the bottom side and lay the softer side over.
This strip of fastener in the photo has a sticky backing so I can place it on
the material without having to pin it in place. That is a very handy
improvement over the smooth backed kinds - especially for doll clothes.
Then I use a heavy duty hand sewing needle threaded with buttonhole or quilting
thread, and using a small running stitch sew from bottom to top and back down
to attach each of the 2 part strips. If your sewing needle becomes sticky clean
it with nail polish remover.
Alternately to sewing the narrow strips on the back middle seam you could use
the sticky velcro dots
available in craft and hobby stores. Sew them on with a few small stitches
around the outside edge.
When the dress is on the doll it is not even noticeable that you've used this
modern method of closure!
Article and photo credit Susan Kramer
5g. Press Then Sew Doll
Clothes |
The easiest
method I have found to sew doll clothes together as neatly and swiftly as
possible is to press the cut out pieces, then also
iron all edges that will be turned in. Then pin together and sew together.
In the photo you can just see the turned up hem on the bright yellow calico
lower sleeve. It is turned up one quarter inch to the finished side and a row
of pre-gathered lace is sewn over it - also on the finished side.
To the right in the photo is a doll bodice. The shoulder seams are first sewn
together then pressed to the back.
The lower edge of the bodice is turned up one quarter inch and pressed. This
seam will be place over the top edge of a pleated or gathered skirt and
topstitched in place.
I turn in the back center bodice seams one eighth inch twice and press - then
pin and sew.
I also turn up the lower hem of the skirt twice, press and pin in place before
hemming. It makes a nice crisp hem finish.
Overall with doll clothes, because you are working mostly with very small
pieces, do press every seam that will need turning in before sewing the pieces
together.
Then when the dress is complete you won't have to worry about trying to iron
out unwanted creases!
Article and photo credit Susan Kramer
All doll reviews and content
on this site are copyright Susan Kramer
and may not be copied in any manner without express written
permission.
Email: susan@susankramer.com
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page updated March 14, 2009
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