For the white fabric panel cut a piece of fabric the same length as the skirt and 12 inches (30cm) wide.
Stitch the sides of the white fabric to the sides of the printed fabric along the 2 seams from the waist to the hemline. This forms a tube.
Now, with skirt turned right side out bring each of the 2 edges of printed fabric to meet at center front so the white fabric is folded behind like a pleat on each side of the center front seam.
Baste the white fabric to the print fabric at the waistline. Now you can see you have a ‘kick pleat’ in front.
Make an opening 2 inches long at the top of the center back for ease of dressing. Roll the raw edges of the opening and hem.
The most important part of inserting contrasting panels in the skirt is making a nice sharp crease where the panels meet, and carefully aligning the top edge of the pleat so the underlying panel does not show at the waistline.
Have fun with this project and bring your questions to the Doll Making forum at the foot of this page so we can learn from each other!
Index of Doll Costumes
Tutorials of Special Doll Making Techniques
Photo of Doll Dress with Skirt Panel Inset
Charity Note:
I'd like to suggest that if you spend time making doll clothes, anyway, that you collect a few dolls from friends and neighbors and sew a wardrobe or a complete outfit for each doll. Then donate the doll in the completed outfit to a charity that distributes used dolls and toys to kids that otherwise would not have any.
Article and photo by Susan Kramer
