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Page 5g. How to Sew on Sticky Tape Closures &
Press then Sew Doll Clothes

 

Dolls
 
Costume & Clothing
Tutorials
Susan Kramer
susan@susankramer.com

Doll dress designed and made by Susan Kramer

 

 

 

 

5. Attach Lace to Finished Side of Skirt Hems
5. Contrasting Top Stitch
5a. Decorative Edging Stitch
5a. Decorative Stitching on Ribbon Trim
5b. Horizontal Trims
5b. How to Attach Lace and Ribbon to Sleeves
5c. How to Attach Lace to Underside of Skirt Hems
5c. How to Gather Skirts
5d. How to Hand Sew Doll Bodies and Clothes
5d. How to Make a Lined Bodice

5e. How to Make a Ribbon Waistband
5e. How to Make Contrasting Panels in Skirts
5f. How to Make Rolled Hems
5f. How to Sew Skirt to Bodice
5g. How to Sew On Sticky Tape Closures
5g. Press then Sew Doll Clothes
5h. Ribbon and Lace Collars
5h. Stand Up Collars
5i. Vertical Trim
5j. Circle Skirts

 

 

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.
18-inch doll dress; photo credit Susan Kramer
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.
Pressed hems; photo credit Susan Kramer
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

 

Books for teaching toddlers to teens by Susan Kramer - ballet, rhythmic dance, meditation and yoga, kinesthetic lessons, crafts

 

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

 

How to Sew Cloth Dolls and Costumes plus Traceable Patterns
Book by Susan Kramer
How to Sew Cloth Dolls and Costumes by Susan Kramer

Medium Doll Clothes
with Full Size Patterns

Ebook by Susan Kramer
Medium Doll Clothes with Full Size Patterns - ebook by Susan Kramer

 

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page updated March 14, 2009
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