Let's Sew Doll Clothes part 7

 

Watch the video here.

 

 

This week we have a rather short video I'm just showing one of the options for decorating the s-shirt we have been making the last few weeks. I had so much trouble deciding how I was going to decorate this shirt that I have decided I am going to do a much longer video (or possibly a couple of videos) dedicated to ways to decorate your doll clothes. So far I have at least 8 ways on my list and I keep coming up with more. I'm not sure when it will be up since I will need to do a bit of off camera sewing to prep for it.

So this week I decided to show you how to use a paper backed fusible web that won't need any sewing to decorate your shirt. I used the Heat 'n Bond Ultrahold product. This one is to be used in cases where you don't want to do any sewing on the applique after you bond it. In the later video I will show you another alternative that is similar. There are several brands of paper backed fusible web on the market, Heat 'n Bond is just my favorite. I have had the best luck with it for many years. If you want to do the same technique with a different brand look for one that says it is “ultra hold” (or similar words) and/or says it is no-sew.

Whenever you are using a fusible sewing product temperature will make or break your project. Specifically using too high of a heat on your iron will make the glue just go away. Always check the instructions for the correct temperature.

Unless the instructions tell me otherwise I always use a dry iron. On my iron that simply means to move the lever from steam to no steam. Some brands will tell you to use a press cloth on top of your applique. This can be as simple as a scrap of solid color lightweight fabric (white or other pale color is best) and I have even used a sheet of clean printer paper in a pinch.

Your paper backed fusible web has two sides a rough side that is the glue and a smooth side that is the paper backing. I like to draw my design on the paper side and cut then cut it out before applying it to the back side of my applique fabric. You can also apply a piece of the fusible webbing and then cut out your design. I will go into more details in the future video.

I hope you are enjoying the sewing series so far. Be sure to share links to the videos and the blog posts to your friends that might enjoy them.

As for those of you that are asking about doll food videos, I will be doing some of those soon too. I want to get further into the sewing series first then we can dig into the clay again too.

Let's Sew Doll Clothes part 6

 

Watch the video here.

 

 

This week on our sewing doll clothes tutorial we are finishing the t-shirt. I go over how to hem the sleeves as well as the bottom of the top. I also show you how to insert the sleeve into the top using a flat construction method, meaning we sew the sleeve on before we sew the side seam. This is normally the way doll clothes are sewn since the area would be really tight to try to sew the sleeve in after sewing those seams. And the final step is to put in the Velcro closure on the back. 

I do know that some people love Velcro and some hate it, I am using it this week simply because it is probably the easiest option. Just be sure that the Velcro you purchase is the sew in kind, it works so much better. I always split my Velcro into 3 strips for doll clothes to keep it more in scale and not so stiff. It also means that the Velcro goes further since in some stores it can be fairly expensive. 

On later garments in this series I will show you some other ways to close the back of the garment so you will have more options.

I love how this top turned out and I think I will be making a couple more of them using more than one color. Let me know if you would like me to film some of those too. I am thinking of doing one that could be done in school colors for a sports uniform look.

Next week we will be decorating the front of the top. I just have to decide which method I want to show you this time. I have multiple ideas kicking around in my head right now.

I hope you are enjoying this series as much as I am enjoying filming it. Be sure to share the links with your friends that would benefit from my videos.

Let's Sew Doll Clothes part 5

 

Watch the video here.

 

This week we start sewing our doll t-shirt. I picked this pattern because although it looks complicated if you take your time and work carefully this is really an easy pattern. I do walk you through all the steps and if you have questions be sure to ask me.

When you are cutting out your pattern you need to make sure that you have the greatest amount of stretch going around the doll's body. If you are doing like me and using a t-shirt for your fabric it is really easy just cut you pattern the same direction as the shirt is. If you are using fabric from the store most likely the most stretch goes across the fabric width.

Now let's talk about sewing machine needles. You will need to use a needle that is for stretch fabric, on the package it will either say “for stretch fabric' or it will be labeled as a “ball point” needle. We are working with a medium weight fabric so you will need about a size 11 or so.

When you are sewing stretch fabric you will need a stitch that has a bit of give to it. If your machine has a “stretch stitch” use that otherwise use a narrow zig-zag stitch.

Since neither the zig-zag stitch or the stretch stitch can be moved from the center of the foot I like to make myself a guide for my fabric at the correct place. I just use a piece of masking tape. As long as you remove it as soon as you are done with it no harm will come to your machine. (if left for a long time it can leave a sticky residue) I know that there are magnetic guides that you can purchase for this but I have been using the tape method for so long and it works well for me. I would rather spend the money on something more useful.

Whenever I am working with delicate fabric, especially with a narrow seam allowance I like to sew off of a scrap of fabric rather than start at the edge of my seam. Sewing machines have a bad habit of “eating” fabric (meaning they drag the fabric down into the feed dogs and make a mess) so if you start from another piece of fabric it helps a lot.

Remember to ask any questions you have and I will do my best to answer then as soon as I can.