Doll
Dresses - Pattern and Sewing Instructions for
Mini Dolls 6.5 to 8 Inches
like American Girl Mini Dolls and Tonner Betsy McCall
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Same pattern made up
differently below:
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Dolls
& Costumes Website
Susan Kramer
susan@susankramer.com
This
long sleeve dress is a very easy pattern to sew and a nice addition to
your mini doll's wardrobe.
The long sleeve dresses will fit 6.5 inch (16.25cm) Mini American Girl, 8 inch
(20cm) Tonner Betsy McCall and similar size dolls with an approximately 3.75
inch (9.5cm) chest.
My American Girl, 6.5 inch mini doll, Addy, is modeling the dress in this
photo.
Our Cyber Doll House pet dog, Floppy, always enjoys
getting in the picture!
Here are pattern pieces:
You may use the pattern for yourself or gifts but not commercially.
Bodice Pattern
To make your 1 inch square (2.5cm) grid graph paper
First, take an 8.5x11 inch or letter size piece of plain paper and draw 1 inch
(2.5cm) 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.
Skirt Pattern
Cut fabric 12 inches (30cm) (or 15 inches (37.5cm) for full skirt) wide and 4
inches (10cm) long for skirt to fall between knee and ankle length. After trying on doll dress fold up hem to desired length.
This is a very easy to make dress pattern with just 3 pieces - bodice
front, bodice back and skirt. The sleeves are part of the bodice.
You’ll need one eighth yard (one eighth meter) of material for the skirt.
For the front and back bodice, you'll need just a small scrap of contrasting
material.
Pattern pieces include 1/4 inch seam allowances.
For the skirt, cut fabric 12 inches (30cm) wide and 4 inches (10cm) long for
skirt to fall just below knee to ankle length. Adjust length of hem after
trying on doll. The finished skirt length in the photos is 2.5 inches (7cm).
Construction directions
Bodice including Sleeves
With right sides of back and front bodice facing, sew
together at shoulders. Press seam open.
At neckline roll edge in and blind stitch to inside.
To finish back seam of bodice, turn in 1/4 inch twice on each center edge and
hand or machine stitch.
Stitch front to back underarm seam on each side.
Roll in lower edge of sleeves and hem by hand or machine. (I sew sleeve and
skirt hems by hand.)
Skirt construction
How to sew bodice to skirt
Sew back seam leaving 1/2 inch (1cm) open at top of seam to match back seam of
bodice. Roll in raw edges and blind stitch hem. (This is for ease of dressing
doll.)
Gather the waist seam to match the bodice lower edge and sew skirt to bodice. I
make this a 1/4 inch seam for both skirt and bodice. Top stitch waist seam on
bodice lower edge.
When dress is completed sew a velcro
dot just above waistline and at neckline to overlap bodice back one quarter
inch.
Finishing
Sew 1/4 inch or 1/8 inch wide satin ribbon on bodice at waistline.
To make neckline decoration as in photo above, take a 6 inch (15cm) length of
satin ribbon and roll twice to form 2 circles, tuck ribbon ends to unseen side,
stitch securely together. Then stitch to center front of dress with several
hand stitches, knotted on inside of dress.
Have fun sewing your mini dresses! Time from start to finish - 3
hours!
Hints and Tips
- I like to use calico for dresses because the smaller scaled prints suit the
dolls well.
- Make the bodice/sleeve in a lighter solid color. This gives the dress a
layered appearance - like a skirt and blouse combination.
- Use washable materials and trims. Use velcro
closures rather than buttons or hooks and eyes for safety's sake.
- Use contrasting materials and trims - they show off best.
- This mini doll dress makes up in just 3 hours!
Article and photo credits Susan Kramer
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Email:
susan@susankramer.com |
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Raggedy
Andy Doll Clothes Pattern For 15 to
18 Inch Dolls E-pattern
by Susan Kramer
Charlotte Doll Body and Dress
Full Size Patterns Inspired
by doll of Laura Ingalls Wilder E-patterns
by Susan Kramer
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Dolls sitemap with many
patterns
page created August 12, 2009; updated January 12, 2013