Every girl dreams of her Barbie doll having a large wardrobe. You can buy outfits or try to sew them yourself. Therefore, “how to make a dress for a doll” is an important question for many mothers. To sew a new outfit, you need to follow every step: think through the image, take measurements. There are simple ways for beginners that will help you quickly complete the task and create a masterpiece.
Necessary materials
If you are still interested in the question: “how to sew clothes for Barbie”, its solution must begin with the selection of material. First you need to prepare threads, pins, needles, scissors, cardboard, pencil, measuring tape and fabric. Long-needed old things are suitable for making. It can be:
- old socks;
- baby clothes;
- shirt;
- sundress.
When choosing fabrics, it is better to give preference to those that do not crumble. They are easy to work with without a sewing machine. These include:
- silk;
- wool;
- linen.
If the fabric is rough, the product may not turn out well and will not look aesthetically pleasing.
If mom has a sewing machine, this will make the process much easier. But you can cope without it. To understand how to sew clothes for a doll, you need to follow each step. To decorate your future outfit, you can take lace, beads, beads.
The doll along with the clothes will please the girl more. She will be able to change her clothes, dress her up. Sometimes you want to do something yourself. Moreover, do-it-yourself clothes for dolls will be more durable and your daughter will like them more.
Skirt
To sew a skirt, you will need a rectangular piece of fabric with dimensions of 18x10 cm. You can choose fabrics of a wide variety of colors. You will also need an elastic band for the belt. Its length should be 9 cm. The width of the elastic should not exceed 0.5 cm.
You can sew such a skirt on a sewing machine or by hand. To do this, just make a seam by connecting the narrow parts of the rectangle. The upper and lower parts of the future skirt should be processed with an overlocker. If it is absent, the edges are simply folded and hemmed.
The next step is to sew an elastic band to the waistband. For this purpose, an indent of about a centimeter is made from its edge and an elastic band is applied to the wrong side. It is carefully sewn on by slightly stretching it. If tension is not applied, the elastic will simply not be enough to cover the entire width of the skirt. All that remains is to cover the fabric that remains above and stitch the workpiece again. This way the elastic band is completely hidden.
Sewing clothes for a doll is an incredibly exciting process. If you show your imagination and don’t be afraid to experiment, Barbie’s wardrobe will expand significantly. It will be possible to make many different outfits for her. Naturally, playing with such a doll will be much more interesting and the child will be completely delighted. After all, the girl will have the opportunity not only to dress up her Barbie, but also to create new images on her own.
Patterns + Step by step instructions
Patterning clothes for Barbie is not a difficult task for a woman. If you plan to sew a dress, then you need to know only three measurements:
- chest girth;
- hip and waist circumference;
- the height of the doll's bodice.
After taking simple measurements, you can start cutting. How this will happen depends on the chosen outfit for sewing. In any case, you will need a cardboard pattern template. Draw a vertical line on the sheet and mark the doll’s chest, waist and hips on it.
The size of the pattern may vary depending on the fabric material. If you use knitwear, then you need to take smaller pieces. Thick fabrics must be cut with a margin.
Sometimes you can’t sew an outfit the first time. If there are unnecessary patterns left, do not throw them away. They may be useful for a future product.
Summer dress
The pattern of a dress for a doll begins with measurements:
- chest circumference;
- bodice length;
- skirt length.
After this, you need to cut out two pieces, one for the top of the dress, the second for the skirt. Start processing them, cutting off everything unnecessary. The bodice is put on the doll, the skirt is attached and sewn on. Add straps and Velcro and you're done.
Sundress
It’s not difficult to create things for dolls with your own hands. This is a fun activity for mother and daughter. To sew a sundress together, you need to perform several steps:
- use a knitted piece of fabric;
- the thread is selected to match the product;
- the doll is applied to the fabric and the boundaries of the future product are set;
- then the sketch is cut out with scissors, front and back parts;
- the scraps are applied to each other, secured with pins and stitched on the sides;
- the lower edge of the sundress is folded and stitched.
You can complement the item with beads, lace and other elements. Also make straps or sew a piece of fabric so that you can tie the sundress around your neck.
Wedding Dress
If you need not just clothes for Barbie dolls, but a wedding dress, you should find white knitted fabrics. In addition, you will need lace or you can use tulle. Patterns of clothes for dolls require a lot of attention and patience, and then you will definitely like the result.
- Having made the measurements, the patches are cut out and sewn together;
- you need to leave room for your hands;
- the wide lace along the edges of the dress is stitched with a “forward needle” seam and the thread is then pulled together;
- then you need to step back higher and sew lace on the second and third rows;
- the next stage is the decor of the dress on the chest. For this you will need a piece of lace. It is applied to the chest and wrapped so that the product fits well on the figure;
- The lace is fastened with pins and sewn with thread.
You can make a belt from a satin ribbon and add various elements to the dress.
Skirt
Sewing a skirt is much easier than making doll dresses. Here you have the opportunity to show your imagination well, choosing the splendor, length of the item, and decorative elements. You only need to take two measurements:
- waist circumference;
- skirt length.
We cut out two rectangles from the selected fabric: the first for the skirt - processed on three sides, the other for the belt - sewn to the skirt. All that remains is to sew on the Velcro fastener and add decorative elements.
Shorts
DIY shorts and other clothes for Barbie are an opportunity to show your imagination. If you want to update your doll's wardrobe, such a small detail as shorts is a good addition. To create this thing you need to prepare:
- scissors;
- threads;
- elastic band;
- material.
You can use denim. In this format the product will look stylish. If there is no such material, any other will do. Further:
- prepare a drawing;
- fabric is cut;
- the shred must be folded inside out and secured with pins;
- The material is sewn together and an elastic band is sewn to the belt.
Top
There are a lot of options for what you can do for dolls. You can sew a top using patterns or by applying it to the body. The simplest option for a top is to choose a piece of fabric, sew it and add lacing. You can choose any form. The ties are sewn at the top of the top, and there are rings for lacing on the sides.
Clothes for dolls made from socks: pants and a hat
For sewing you will need an unnecessary sock, thread, scissors and a game.
Tracksuit made from socks
To begin with, the overshoe of the sock under the heel is cut off. The cut off part needs to be tried on the doll, and the length of the cut that will be between the legs is determined. Afterwards the parts are sewn together. It is best to process the trouser legs; sometimes they are simply rolled up for convenience.
The sock is cut off from the remaining part, creating a kind of hat without an elastic band. An edging is made along the edge; if desired, you can assemble a small bon-bon.
You can see more details in the picture below.
Clothes made from socks
All you need is a checkered leaf and a piece of chalk to make a pattern. A couple of scraps to get a beautiful product. Even a novice seamstress can make various details and sew beautiful pants. If the craftsman’s hand is not full enough to sew small details, you can always find an alternative and create excellent outfits from unnecessary socks or thieves.
Sewing Tips
Now all mothers know how to sew clothes for dolls. To do this, you don’t need to have any special skills, the main thing is the desire to please your daughter. By following some tips, you will be able to do everything right the first time:
- Small items require more attention. Inaccuracies are more visible on them;
- First, it is better to make patterns for dolls on cardboard. This will help you cut fabrics more accurately;
- It is better to sew clothes by hand, at least the bodice and sleeves. This way things will have a more attractive and neat appearance;
- It is better not to use eyelets and ribbons as decorative elements. They may not fit in scale and ruin the outfits for the dolls.
Swimsuit for Barbie
The desire to constantly update a doll’s wardrobe is understandable - girls love new things and are happy to make them for their Barbies. And in the collection of every fashionista there should be swimsuits - one-piece or separate, with different decorations and without them. Nowadays, finding life-size Barbie patterns to print for free is not a problem. And in every house there are colored scraps, ropes, elastic bands, beads, and ribbons. You should transfer the pattern to the fabric, sew the separate side parts, sew on ribbons so that you can tie the top of the swimsuit at the back. You can decorate it with small bows, flowers, and sparkles.
Sewing new clothes for a doll is not difficult and anyone can do it.
