gift idea {doll clothing repost}

There is nothing like getting a doll for Christmas.  One of my favorite activities this year with Em was making these adorable (and easy) doll clothes using vintage fabrics.  Just go to an antique store and buy a bunch of fun fabrics and have fun creating a doll wardrobe.  Stick it in a little suitcase and you have an easy gift! 

REPOST FROM APRIL:

Yesterday Em and I decided to make a few new outfits for our new "best-loved doll." I had bought some vintage material and old feed sacks at an antique store when we were in Pennsylvania visiting my parents. I used a very easy "pattern" to sew a few triangle dresses. I also made a few aprons and scarfs for the doll, as well as an easy pom-pom necklace. (Directions are below... although I apologize in advance if they are a bit confusing.)

Em made a "birthday" hat for her doll while I was sewing.

She simply glued pompoms and stickers onto a paper cone.

STEP ONE

The first step involves cutting out a basic boxy triangle shape like the one above. I used another doll dress as a pattern by simply placing the dress on top of the folded fabric (so I could cut two matching pieces) and cutting about 1/2 inch around the dress. I left the bottom part frayed.

Next you are going to create "arm" holes for the dress. Fold twice at the top portion of the boxy triangle and iron each time you fold. Then sew the folded sections down. Repeat on both pieces of fabric.

STEP TWO

Now you are going to create a neckline for the dress.

After you sew the "arm" holes, fold down twice the top part of the dress.

Iron as you fold.

(In the picture below, I flipped it upside down, but you are folding the top part of the dress)

Sew the neckline of the dress.

However, sew on the bottom EDGE of the fold.

This will make sure you have a neck hole opening to weave ribbon through later.

Repeat on the second side of dress

STEP THREE

Place the two pieces of fabric together placing the "good" sides together.

Pin together to hold... Sew down the sides of the dress starting at the bottom of the arm holes to the very bottom of the hem. You do not want to sew the arm holes shut. Therefore, the top part of your dress will not be attached.

Flip inside out and iron again

STEP FOUR

Attach a safety pin to the one side of a ribbon.

Weave the ribbon through the opening of the neck hole.

Repeat on the other side

STEP FIVE

Dress the doll by tying the ribbons together front to back on each side.

If the dress is still too loose, simply thread a needle with embroidery thread and stitch back and forth pulling the dress into a bunch to tighten. I would do this on the back part of the dress. Knot finish.

STEP SIX

To make an apron, I took an antique (never used) dishcloth and cut in half.

Fold down twice / Iron each time

Sew along the edge to create a hem / keeping a tube opening in hem like neck hole

STEP SEVEN

Attach a safety pin onto a piece of scrap fabric

Weave into the hem tube of apron

Tie around doll

I also used vintage handkerchiefs for aprons too.

I repeated this process for four different dresses and three aprons. I also created a pom-pom necklaces by threading them onto embroidery thread and tying them together. Very easy.

Since I had made so many dresses, Em and I decided that it should be Miss Plum's birthday tomorrow.

So stay tuned for her celebration...

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