Making Doll Clothing

One day while my niece was visiting, she brought over one of her dolls. The doll's dress was white with a lovely pattern of light pink little blossoms. My niece looked through the trims that I keep in a tin and when she found some light pink lace trim, she asked if I could sew the pretty lace trim to the edge of her doll's dress. In no time at all I hand sewed (using a straight stitch) the pretty pink lace to the bottom edge of her doll's dress, as well as to the sleeves. My niece was so delighted and it only took a total of 15 minutes.

On another occasion, my niece brought over another doll. Her doll's dress was white with a light blue sash around the waist. I hand sewed some light blue glass beads in a flower-shaped design near the front neckline, and several more beads near the outer edge of each sleeve.

Although most doll dresses are very beautiful, there may be some that over time for a different look could be enhanced by simply adding an embellishment or two.

I truly enjoy sewing, including light hand sewing embellishments on a doll's dress, skirt, blouse or jacket. It's one of my favorite hobbies.

Doll dresses are fun to make. First, however you must learn the rules for beginners to make quality designs. To start you will need to consider fabric. Some people like multi-colored clothing, however the clothes must harmonize to deliver quality dresses.

To make sure that you accomplish quality doll dresses, you will need the right equipment and tools. You will need a sewing machine, cleansers, universal needles, including stretch needles, pins, olfaa panel, and a rotary or gyratory cutter. You will also need hand-sew needles, dressmaker scissors, sewing scissors, fabric glue and pen, greaseproof paper for tracing, pencil, measuring tape, lace, ribbons, fasteners, elastic, paper scissors, etc.

Before you get started, you will need to clean your sewing machine. Use "Dust Away," to spray your machine near the bobbin region. You will also need to clean the bar where the needles are installed, as well as the "tension" discs at the top. Once you clear the machine of dust, use a drop of oil.

Now you are prepared to make doll dresses. Before I forget, make sure you have thread, specifically DMC broder if you intend to make French dresses.

When pin tucking skirts make sure you leave some space.
Pin tuck sleeves and/or bodice:
Take a square of your fabric and pin tuck it. You can cut out the upper section of the dress and/or sleeves after. Keep in mind when you start pin tucking for sleeves and bodice, the fabric size is modified, or reduced.

If you are not familiar with pin tucks, you can tuck your doll dress. To tuck you merely consider the size and width of your garment. To start you press down, pressing the folded center. Along the fold and edge of your fabric, stitch the width precisely. As long as you stay consistent within your stitching lines, you will do fine. You should always start sewing at the grain after pulling a single thread.

After you complete your dress, or near the finish, you may want to consider bows, tassels, smock, or hand sewn objects. Hand embroidering is ideally used in finishing. Use a range of DMC embroidery to make finish your dress.

Smocking is the added finishing whereas you use patterns to complete your dress. Silk ribbons, satin single and double ribbons make up a great pinafore, or back dressing.

Tassels are easy to make, yet you will, need crochet threads and/or embroidery thread to complete your mission. You will also need cardboard in which you will need to cut out a part a length longer than your tassel. Use your thread, wound it around the cut part, and continue until you have achieved the thickness you desire. At one end of the part, use the same thread and channel it through the thickness. Next, tie the thread so that it knots and at the opposite end of your part, cut. Do not cut your thread. Now you are ready to make your tassel.

To finish, at the knotted region, convey your thread so that it meets with your tassel. Next, wound another part of thread about the finish of your tassel a few times. Knot the area so that it is taut. At the finish of your tassel, skid the thread in to fasten your finished work. If the finish necessitate cutting to make sure it is constant, do so now.

Vintage Doll Poster

If you intend to design a doll dress, you will need to measure your doll. To start you will need to measure the doll from the crown and down to the toes. If you have a baby doll, you will need to measure the chest region. Usually, the dolls have wider chests. The leg measurements should include the internal and external areas, especially if you are designing trousers.

If you are creating a bodice, you want to measure the doll, starting at the center front, and at the baseline of the neck. Continue measure to the waistline. If you are creating yokes you want to start measuring the front center and to the equidistant of the armholes from the back of the neck.

How to design longer dresses:
You may have a doll that requires a longer dress at the waistline. Use your measuring tape lengthening it so that it meets with the bodice region where the armholes meet the body region between the ribs and the hips.

How to design wrist and shoulders:
You can add additional length to dolls with bent arms. Merely use your measuring tape and begin measuring at the elbow. Measure the sleeve length also.

How to design skirts:
If you intend to design a skirt measure the doll, starting at the waistline and continuing to the hips. Make room for hemming. When measuring your pattern always verify the length with the body of your doll. If the skirt does not fit properly, you can add insertions, using lace to create sides or edges farther apart. Use your inclusion lace, begin stitching panels of your tucked region, and insert into the lace. If you are stitching yoke fashions, party dress, christen, etc, use your fabric length to its entirety. You can hem the skirt also. If the right angle does not require hemming, you can hand sew. You can use the edges of your lace to stretch the length to the desired measure. If you are stitching, the round skirts use your inclusion lace and stitch along the edges while turning up the smaller area of your fabric. Pull up your yarn at the top of the lace until the hem is fitted.

How to measure shorts, trousers, underwear, etc.
To measure trousers, shorts and under garments start at the area where the legs join with the body (Crotch) and continue up to the front center.

How to adjust underwear:
If the dolls panties are tight, slash the side downward and add to your pattern.

Sometimes sewers must adjust their patterns so that the doll dress fits. To adjust patterns you will need to shape the fabric so that it matches your dolls figure. If you are adjusting baby doll dresses leave space, since the chest region is often broader.

How to lengthen patterns for bodice:
When you need to lengthen the fabric to fit your bodice, verify the areas before you start lengthening. For instance, if the waistline demands added space review the area to match a fit.

How to design sleeves:
If you need a full opening, add breadth, as well as altitude. Starting at the top of your pattern, shape your sleeves by slashing downward and working to the edge, while spreading your design to the preferred pattern.

If you need to adjust the sleeves, start by slashing downward toward the center sleeve and continue. You will need paper to stack the sleeve parts. Starting at the center, measure the desired length and opening, measuring the area side by side. Make sure that your top opening is consistent with the edge of your sleeves. Now add your altitude.

In 1983, educator, writer and entrepreneur, Pleasant T. Rowland was looking for dolls to give her nieces for Christmas and found only baby dolls and teen/adult dolls. There were no preteen dolls. That shopping experience, coupled with a visit to Colonial Williamsburg, inspired her to create the American Girl line of historical dolls and books.

In 1986 the first catalogs were sent out for Samantha Parkington, Kirsten Larson, and Molly McIntire. These catalogs featured only the first three stories of each character's eventual six-book series, as well as their pajamas, beds and trunks. The stories were originally written by author Danielle Steele. The first dolls were designed by Gotz in Germany; older dolls have tags that say "Made in West Germany." In the 1990s production was moved to Hungary for a year and then to China.

The company subsequently added three more historical characters: Felicity Merriman in 1991, Addy Walker in 1993, and Josefina Montoya in 1997; as well as a contemporary magazine American Girl, followed by a line of contemporary 18-inch 'American Girl of Today' dolls and the 'Bitty Baby' collection for younger girls. In 1998, Pleasant Company became a subsidiary of Mattel, Inc.

(Article Source)

Barbie Doll Collection

Barbie is a best-selling fashion doll launched in 1959. The doll is produced by Mattel, Inc., and is a major source of revenue for the company. The American businesswoman Ruth Handler (1916-2002) is regarded as the creator of Barbie, and the doll's design was inspired by a German doll called Bild Lilli.

Ruth Handler watched her daughter Barbara at play with paper dolls, and noticed that she often enjoyed giving them adult roles. At the time, most children's toy dolls were representations of infants. Realizing that there could be a gap in the market, Handler suggested the idea of an adult-bodied doll to her husband Elliot, a co-founder of the Mattel toy company. He was unenthusiastic about the idea, as were Mattel's directors.

During a trip to Europe in 1956 with her children Barbara and Kenneth, Ruth Handler came across German toy doll called Bild Lilli. The adult-figured Lilli doll was exactly what Handler had in mind, so she purchased three of them. She gave one to her daughter and took the others back to Mattel. The Lilli doll was based on a popular character appearing in a comic strip drawn by Reinhard Beuthin for the newspaper Die Bild-Zeitung. Lilli was a working girl who knew what she wanted and was not above using men to get it. The Lilli doll was first sold in Germany in 1955, and although it was initially sold to adults, it became popular with children who enjoyed dressing her up in outfits that were available separately.

Upon her return to the United States, Handler reworked the design of the doll (with help from engineer Jack Ryan) and the doll was given a new name, Barbie, after Handler's daughter Barbara. The doll made its debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York on March 9, 1959. This date is also used as Barbie's official birthday. Mattel acquired the rights to the Bild Lilli doll in 1964 and production of Lilli was stopped. The first Barbie doll wore a black and white zebra striped swimsuit and signature topknot ponytail, and was available as either a blonde or brunette. The doll was marketed as a "Teen-age Fashion Model," with her clothes created by Mattel fashion designer Charlotte Johnson. The first Barbie dolls were manufactured in Japan, with their clothes hand-stitched by Japanese homeworkers. Around 350,000 Barbie dolls were sold during the first year of production.

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Bratz- Rock Angels at AllPostesr

Bratz was created by toy designer Carter Bryant. In 2000, he met with Isaac Larian the CEO of Micro-Games America Entertainment (MGA Entertainment). There, Mr. Bryant presented his pictures to Mr. Larian, who found that the concept sketches enthralled his daughter, Jasmin, who was visiting the office at the time.

In June 1, 2001, the first four Bratz dolls, Yasmin, Cloe, Jade, and Sasha, were released to market, each attired in urban-styled fashions. The Bratz quickly gained strong popularity, becoming the number one doll brand in several countries like France, Spain, Israel and Italy, and the number two doll in the United Kingdom. The dolls won Family Fun's Toy of the Year award and TIA People's Choice Toy of the Year Award for 2001.

The 254mm (10 inch) dolls are characterized by large heads with wide eyes, full lips, very small noses, short torsos, and shoes that can be snapped on and off. The popularity of the four primary dolls - Cloe, Yasmin, Sasha and Jade - eventually encouraged development of additional friends, spin offs, feature films, games, and music albums.

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