Guest Author - Susan Kramer

Here are sewing directions to make short sleeve special occasion 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).

In the photo below and at the left is a new hound, Spud, joining Floppy. Addy feels well guarded with these companions by her side!



Sewing 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.)

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.)

If you are using 2 layers as I have in the photo, layer the top layer over the under layer, each good side facing up, and baste together just inside 1/4 inch seam at top. For the rest of sewing these 2 layers are treated as one layer. When the dress is completed tease the layers apart as I have in the photo.

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. For this special dress I used white satin ribbon on waistline and a see-through nylon ribbon for waistline bow. I firmly sewed bow in place so it will not come undone.

Time from start to finish - 3 hours! Do have fun with your doll dress creations!

Article and Photograph by Susan Kramer