Make Doll Clothes without Sewing
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Children Learn a Lot Making Doll Clothes
Save money by making doll clothes with your child or grandchild. They learn some valuable lessons at the same time, while you have fun together.
Making outfits for a doll provides some teachable moments. The child learns some sewing skills, how to improvise, recycling/repurposing, and fashion design. Making doll clothes is a good opportunity to slip in some history, cultural and literary lessons too, as you make doll clothing from different eras or get inspirations from clothing around the world or from books and movies.
(photo by Virginia Allain)
Making outfits for a doll provides some teachable moments. The child learns some sewing skills, how to improvise, recycling/repurposing, and fashion design. Making doll clothes is a good opportunity to slip in some history, cultural and literary lessons too, as you make doll clothing from different eras or get inspirations from clothing around the world or from books and movies.
(photo by Virginia Allain)
Make a Sweater Dress from a Sock
Repurpose a sock for this no-sew dress
This doll dress makes use of an orphan sock or one with a hole in the toe. I've used a white one, but other colors would look great too.
Decide the length of the sweater dress. The top of the sock will be the neck of the dress. Cut off the foot part of the sock. Use the tube part for the dress.
Decide how much of the top to fold over for the collar of the sweater dress. Cut small slits (one on each side) for the doll's arms to go through. Remember the sock stretches, so keep the slits small.
Fold the excess length up inside the dress (no need to sew a hem). You can glue the folded under part if you want. Add a bracelet for a belt for the dress.
(photos by Virginia Allain)
Decide the length of the sweater dress. The top of the sock will be the neck of the dress. Cut off the foot part of the sock. Use the tube part for the dress.
Decide how much of the top to fold over for the collar of the sweater dress. Cut small slits (one on each side) for the doll's arms to go through. Remember the sock stretches, so keep the slits small.
Fold the excess length up inside the dress (no need to sew a hem). You can glue the folded under part if you want. Add a bracelet for a belt for the dress.
(photos by Virginia Allain)
More No-Sew Doll Clothes to Make
A tutu and sheath dresses from scarves
curated content from YouTube
A Child's Sewing Machine
if you want to sew doll clothes
This makes a great gift to start a child learning to sew. Making dresses for the doll provides the incentive to learn sewing techniques.
One reviewer noted that it worked fine for her 9 year old daughter to make American Girl doll clothes.
Here's a simple doll's vest that makes a good sewing project for a beginner.
One reviewer noted that it worked fine for her 9 year old daughter to make American Girl doll clothes.
Here's a simple doll's vest that makes a good sewing project for a beginner.
Michley LSS-505 Lil' Sew & Sew Multi-Purpose Sewing Machine with Built-In Stitches
Amazon Price: $40.51 (as of 06/02/2012)
Think how much you will save over buying new outfits for the doll.
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Turn Scarves into Doll Clothes
No sew techniques for doll outfits from scarves
Use a long, narrow scarf to wrap the doll's torso and tie the ends at the waist.
Choose a scarf for the skirt. Fold it over a rubber band that will fit around the doll's waist.
Slip the rubber band with the scarf folded over it around the doll's waist.
Spread the scarf at the waist to completely encircle the doll. Overlap it slightly in the back. Drape the ties from the first scarf over the skirt. This skirt is a little too long for the doll.
(photos by Virginia Allain)
Have You Made Doll Clothes?
Vintage Girl Sewing by H. Willebeek Le Mair by vintage_illustration
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More about Dolls and Doll Clothes
and sewing for children
Books about Making Doll Clothes
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Vintage Child Doing Laundry by YesterdayCafe
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lestroischenes May 10, 2012 @ 4:34 am | delete
- Do children still make doll's clothers? Nice lens, Virginia - takes me back!
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Mary Ann
Feb 27, 2012 @ 9:20 pm | delete
- Very stylish. Your doll is on the best dressed list.
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vallain Feb 27, 2012 @ 9:29 pm | delete
- Soon she will have a better wardrobe than I do.
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hntrssthmpsn
Feb 18, 2012 @ 11:23 pm | delete
- Your doll dress made from a sock rocks! That's my kind of clothing creation... I've owned my sewing machine for seven years, and I semi-successfully hemmed something with it... once.
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tokyonights7
Feb 17, 2012 @ 5:15 pm | delete
- So cute! I wish I had your talent!
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Helene-Malmsio
Feb 16, 2012 @ 11:42 pm | delete
- The sock dress looks simply brilliant! You can make one for a doll today and the kids will think you are a genius!
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BevsPaper
Feb 15, 2012 @ 10:54 pm | delete
- Oh I just love the idea of a sweater dress from a sock! And the scarf for a skirt is really cleaver!
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KarenTBTEN
Feb 14, 2012 @ 1:03 am | delete
- Who would have thought socks and scarves could look so good on a doll?
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queenofduvetcovers
Feb 12, 2012 @ 2:39 pm | delete
- Very clever! =D
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Pastiche
Feb 8, 2012 @ 12:25 pm | delete
- Oh, you brought back so many wonderful sewing memories. I started making doll clothes as a wee tyke (like the cuties in your vintage poster art) and continued through making clothes for my little girls and their dolls, teaching them to sew as well, and more recently making matching outfits for my granddaughters and their dolls. The creative reuse of socks and scarves is so much fun, and saves lots of money and time! You've inspired me to make a new doll and outfit for one special little girl for Easter this year.
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scarlettohairy Feb 8, 2012 @ 1:12 am | delete
- Ahh, this is so sweet! We had some of those kinds of dolls. I love how creative you are! That sock dress is great and the scarf looks fabulous!! Love the bracelet belt too.
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I Found My Doll on eBay
People usually get dolls for little girls, but I wanted the doll I remembered from childhood. She's a Toni Doll by Ideal and I found the one I wanted on eBay. Now I have my very own doll to make clothes for. I'm naming her Sabrina (no, not after the witch in Bewitched), after the character in Elswyth Thane's book, Tryst.
by vallain
You may think I'm a bit old to be playing with dolls, but I just got this 1950s doll and she needed some dresses.
I'm Virginia Allain, a retired librarian....
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A Doll Trunk to Keep the Doll Clothes in
that you make
Vintage Map Doll Steamer Trunk for American Girl 18" Dolls
Amazon Price: $56.69 (as of 06/02/2012)
Stand for Displaying a Doll
White Metal Doll Stand, Sized for 18 Inch Dolls & American Girl Dolls, Doll Accessories
Amazon Price: $6.95 (as of 06/02/2012)
Hangers for Doll Clothes
American Girl Set of 12 Clothes Hangers for Doll
Amazon Price: $14.40 (as of 06/02/2012)
