3 Steps to a Custom Doll Clothes Design for 18" Dolls

1. The cute bodice on 1827 is perfect for using with lots of different skirt styles.
   
2. You need 1827 and you just replace the front bodice with the V-neck one.
   
3. For the skirt I used the 'just below the knee' pattern pieces from 1804. on Etsy .    Read more about the 1804 dress pattern here. 
4. There are several length choices for the gathered skirt in the 1804 design.
   I used the V-neck variation that you can get for free when you join up the to the newsletter. Look for pattern number  24_1827 Vneck bodice front.
5. Read more about the v-neck variation here.

I sewed the braid on after completing the bodice because I wasn't sure if it would look just right. If I do the braid again I will sew it on the main bodice before joining it to the lining. I centred it on a line 3/8" from the seam line.

Other feature that made a huge difference to the overall look were the 3 button down the front and the red top stitching around the neck and armholes. It looked really boring without the buttons and the neck looked too low without the top stitching because the braid seemed to look like the edge of the neckline.

The dress is so fast tp make and using different fabric for the bodice and skirt means you can use smaller pieces left over from other projects.

The belt is a rectangle 1 1/2' wide by 15 1/2".

I folded it in half and creased the fold then turned under 1/4" along each side. I also turned under 1/4" at one end. I stitched it together down both long sides and across the finished end.

I slipped the raw end into the buckle and sewed it together to hold it in place.

You can buy 1827 from my Etsy shop now.
It comes with a gorgeous full circle skirt for the dress and a cute blouse to wear under it as a jumper dress.
Next I am going to use the pencil skirt from 1828 with the original neckline and the blouse to go under.

Happy Sewing,
Val


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Happy Doll Dressmaking,
Val