Friday, June 9, 2017

How to Sew Doll Clothes: Adding Slant Front Pockets



I can't stop myself from doing something else with the patterns that I design. This skirt is the Basic A-line Skirt pattern that you get to download when you join my mailing list. 
Once you sign up you get a link to download the skirt pattern as well as an access link to the Newsletter Patterns and Tutorials folder.
If this sounds good then click the button below to add your email to the list.



Doll clothes look so cute with front slant pockets. They are easy to add to garments that have a waist seam. This skirt has a waist band. You will need the Basic A-line Skirt pattern and the pocket pattern pieces to make this skirt with pockets.

The method works for any low gather skirt or trousers with a waist band as well as a dress with a narrow skirt attached at the waist.




First you have to realise that adding extra bulk to the front as pockets will affect the fit. You need to add more ease to the skirt front or the front of any pattern not sized for front pockets.

Place the centre front of the skirt pattern 1/8" from the fold and cut it out. This doesn't have to be exact. Cut the backs the same as the pattern. 


Cut out the pocket pieces using the same fabric for each or you can use a lighter or cheaper fabric for the pocket lining.

If you want to do piping trim you will need to stitch the piping to the right side of the lining top edge first.
Place the pocket linings on the skirt front, right sides together and matching the side and waist edges.
Stitch along the top edge of the lining 1/4" from the raw edge.



Trim the seam. Clip the curve every 1/4".



Turn the pocket linings to the inside and press. Do top stitching or fancy stitching or add trim at this point.



Place the pocket bag right side down so it matches the edges of the lining and the waist and side edges of the skirt. At this point you can stitch around the curved edge of the pocket to join the lining and bag. Then you pink the seam.


If you are going to use the French seam finish you will need to sew the seam twice.
Flip the pocket bag over and pin the pocket bag to the lining, inside out.




Match and pin the inside edges. They come together easily but you have to distort the skirt to get them together.



Stitch around the inside of the pocket with a 1/8" seam allowance. I didn't find it necessary to clip the curve.




Turn the pocket. The neat edge is on the outside and the raw edge is on the inside.




Stitch around the outside of the pocket so you just enclose the raw edge on the inside.




Finish the skirt as directed in the pattern.


You can get the pocket pattern pieces in the Newsletter Patterns and Tutorial folder. I have created a new Pattern Hack Series folder where you will find folders for different patterns. The first one is the basic A-line Skirt. Future series will be for the patterns in my shop.

If you don't already have access to the patterns you can sign up to my newsletter below.





Happy Sewing,
Val


Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Coming up soon: How to add slant pockets to your doll clothes.


Since I published the free A-Line skirt doll clothes pattern on my Facebook page I have been working on different things you can do with the skirt.
The first thing was the reverse box pleat in the front. So easy to do but such a nice detail. See the Tutorial for Putting in a Box Pleat.

I am in the process of creating a tutorial and pattern for slant pockets on the front of the skirt for the 18" doll.



The slant pockets are one of those details that are not hard to do if you have instructions and they look so cute.


I realised that adding bulk to the front with the pockets made a big difference to the fit so I ended up adding a 1/4" to the centre front to increase the ease and make the skirt fit nicely again. It always surprises me what a difference a few layers of fabric can make.

I discovered that it is also very easy to neaten the edges of the pocket bag on the inside by doing a French seam. I was very excited at how great it looked.


You can download the free 18" A-Line skirt pattern from my Facebook Page. It is the pinned post. make sure you Like my page so you won't miss out on any news or the Free Pocket Tutorial.

Happy sewing,
Val


An A-line Skirt to fit the Australian Girl Doll


I found this draft post while looking at the A-Line skirt pattern and thought I should put up the 20" 
A-Line skirt pattern here because I can't find it on Facebook anymore. The 18" skirt is in the pinned post on my Facebook page.

It is such fun to create. I have published a free pattern for an A-line skirt that fits the 20" Australian Girl Doll. I am not in any way affiliated with Australian Girl Doll®. I just love the dolls.

The 18" A-line skirt was not suitable for the 20" doll because it is quite fitted. Unlike a dress, the skirt waistband has to fit snugly.

I demonstrated how to do a front box pleat by making the 20" skirt so to publish the 20" pattern I had to make it up with no pleats because that is the pattern you get. It is easy to put in your own pleat. See the post Putting in a Box Pleat.



I was feeling a bit patchworky so I decided to applique a pumpkin onto the front of the plain A-line skirt. The cute applique will fit onto the 18" skirt as well.




Happy Sewing,
Val