How you handle the edges of a doll dress can change the look of the dress. I am going to cover several basic ways to finish edges on a doll dress beyond the basic fold over a quarter inch and machine hem, otherwise known as a single fold hem. Very basic, (a word my older daughter uses as an insult). So what else can you do?
Single fold hem, not my first choice for edging a doll dress.
Today, I will show you how to make a simple facing for our basic dress using the basic doll dress pattern (if you don't have one use the link at the end). The illustration below shows how to make the front facing.
In pink, the front facing for the basic dress.
Below shows you how to draw the back facing for the basic doll dress.
You now should have four pattern pieces, the front facing, the back facing, the dress front pattern piece, and the dress back pattern piece.
1. Use Figure 1 as a guide for laying them out. If you are using a half of the front for your pattern piece be sure to place it on the fold, likewise for the front facing. I used contrasting fabrics, which adds an unexpected element of fun, but the facing can be the same as the dress fabric.
2. Sew should seams of the facing and the dress, as shown.
3. Press should seams.
4. Machine hem the bottoms of the facing, as shown.
Click to enlarge this image.
Pin and sew facing to dress body for neckline and the armholes RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER.
Sew from 1 to 2,
from 3 to 4, and
from 5 to 6.
Sew neckline and armholes.
Turn right side out.
Facing turned Right Side Out.
Sew back edges down as a single fold hem. In another lesson we will cover doublefold hem and serging.
Single edge hems for the edge of the back.
Press and your basic dress has a basic facing. You can sew up the side seams and you have a simple dress with a simple facing.
