Guest Author - Susan Kramer

Here are sewing directions to make the bodice of short sleeve dresses for special occasions 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.

My 8 inch Betsy McCall Tosca mini doll is in photo below:

For a picture of Mini Doll Addy wearing the same dress 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 each layer of skirt, (I used 2 layers for this dress) cut fabric 15 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

The pattern piece is for long sleeves. To make the short sleeve version shown in both photos above, cut 1/4 inch off length of sleeves before hemming.

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.)

Now it's time to go to the page of skirt construction

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Mini Dolls
Mini Doll 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 Dress
Betsy McCall Mini Doll in Short Sleeve Dress - Bodice Construction
Betsy McCall Mini Doll in Short Sleeve Dress - Skirt Construction

Doll Accessories

Article and Photograph by Susan Kramer