Here are sewing directions to make long sleeve and long waist dresses for 6.5 inch (16.25cm) to 8 inch (20cm) mini dolls such as those by American Girl, Tonner Betsy McCall, and similar body types with a chest measurement about 3.75 inches (9.5cm).
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.
For photo of the completed long sleeve dress on 6.5 inch Addy click here or to see 8 inch Betsy McCall click here.
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.
Click here for the page of pattern pieces. The grid is 1 inch (2.5cm) squares. 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!
How to Make Clothes for American Girl, Corolle, Gotz and Similar Dolls - Homepage
Mini Doll Long Sleeve Dress Pattern
Mini Doll Long Sleeve Dress Sewing Instructions
Mini Doll Addy Modeling Long Sleeve Dress
Mini Doll Betsy McCall Modeling Long Sleeve Dress
Mini Dolls Short Sleeve May Day Dress
Doll Accessories
Article, Patterns and Photographs by Susan Kramer
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