Thursday, April 15, 2021

Bring out your creative passion with doll dressmaking

valspierssews doll clothes patterns


Doll dressmaking is my passion.

3 important core values for me are: 

  • being Artistic; 
  • being Creative, and 
  • being Passionate about what I do

I am happiest when I am creating. I love going to work each day!

Each day there are 3 things that will get my heart pumping:

  1. Yoga
  2. Walking
  3. Doll dressmaking
To get my creative juices flowing I like to walk and think. Watching the sunrise is so inspiring.


I am planning a Summer doll clothes capsule and I have some garment images that I collected from a fashion you tube channel that I follow. She puts links to the items in the online shops so I just take some screen shots.

The first item I want to make is a simple strappy dress.




When I start designing I begin by drawing up the pattern pieces that I need. I usually use existing patterns to create new ones so it doesn't take a long time to get a design ready for sewing.
I am using the 18"dress bodice to draw up the front pieces for my strappy dress.



Not every design works out and sometimes I will stop after I have sewn the first sample. I like this one and will try to make a skirt with the flat front and elastic back similar to the dress. I have another pattern ready to sew up so I will continue with that one.


I tend to use less expensive fabrics for the first samples because I need to check for the look and the fit with the first sample.

This dress was meant to be a floaty summer shift but it turned out too wide under the arms and the skirt didn't float at all. I was hoping to get away from putting proper flaring in. That requires cutting the pattern from hem to neck in several places. My final decision for this dress will be fitted to the waist and an a-line skirt section. I may work on the flared design at a later date. But it's back to the drawing board for now.




Now that the design is well underway I start to look at setting up the instructions. This is the slowest part of creating the pattern and probably the most tiring because you need to spend several hours in front of the computer along with sewing the garment.


It is very satisfying to end up with something that looks fabulous on the doll and fits perfectly and goes together easily.



I am very happy with the final version. Now it is just a matter of finishing the instructions and publishing. You can find this one in the Newsletter pattern folder at no.13.


Look out for this simple dress that I have used as an example for this blog post. It will be in the Newsletter free pattern folder. You can join my mailing list to get monthly updates and access to a folder of free patterns for 18" dolls.



Happy Doll Dressmaking,
Val



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