making in miniature

modflowers: doll with coat-dressWhen I first decided I wanted to make a doll, little did I know what I’d started.

I keep seeing clothes I want to dress dolls in. But mostly, I haven’t the first idea how to go about making them. Let alone in miniature.

Practically, my dressmaking experience consists of knocking up a few skirts and having a go at a couple of frocks (neither of which fit me.)

As half the fun of a doll is being able to dress and style it yourself, I’m determined that the clothes are removable, not stitched in place. (I do seem to like making a job for myself.)

Which means they also have to fit over heads and arms.

modflowers: doll with bloomersAs I am by no means the first person to make either dolls or dolls’ clothes, I turned to t’internet for patterns and tutorials to get me started.

But if there are any, I haven’t been very lucky finding them. And those that do exist aren’t designed for the dolls I’m making.

You can’t make clothes in miniature the same way you do when they’re full-sized. The sewing machine doesn’t like such tiny stuff.

Which means lots of hand sewing, and working out styles and techniques that work on a tiny scale.

modflowers: doll with coat-dressI’m actually loving the challenge!

My latest doll’s coat-dress started from this image:

Photo by F.C. Gundlach, 1960sI wrapped a piece of fabric around the doll and off I went. No pattern. No instructions.

No flippin’ idea, really.

But I rather like it now it’s done.

In fact, I wish I had one. ♥

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17 thoughts on “making in miniature

    • The covered buttons were left over from a bracelet I made yonks ago! They didn’t have shanks, so they are decorative rather than functional (the dress fastens with a concealed press-stud inside.) It’s the style of the dress I like… I’m not sure I have the pizzazz to carry off that print – or giant bobble trim – on a scaled-up version! 🙂

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