The Doll Dressmaking Series: Tips for adjusting a pattern's size

I love Waldorf dolls, but I do not own any.

Yet.

So when I started the Doll Dressmaking Series, I designed the 16 inch Waldorf Doll patterns from the measurements of a local dollmaker who makes lovely Waldorfs. But doll sizes vary, even in mass produced plastic dolls, but especially in Waldorfs.

The good news is with a soft doll, arms, heads and waists can be squeezed in a bit to make things work. But if things are too big they drape or worse still, fall off.

So I asked for feedback from those sewing for Waldorf dolls and I was grateful to here from Andrea, all of the way over in Germany.

She had been using my patterns to sew dresses for her beautiful Waldorf dolls and yes, she had made a few adjustments.

Here's what she said she did:

1. Overall she made the bodice/dress more narrow at the side seams of both the front and back.

2. She also moved the front center foldline in a bit to make the front narrower.

3. She added a bit to the back center edge to make more of an overlap where the dress snaps closed.

4. She made the neckline a bit larger.

Andrea's Adjustments

Above I have drawn on the original pattern to show you approximately what Andrea did. These type of adjustments can be done to any bodice/dress pattern to make it fit a specific doll better. Some times it takes a few tries on how far to take in before you get the exact right fit. When you find it, be sure to draw on your pattern or a copy of your pattern, so you can repeat what you did.

Thank you Andrea!

I will include a link to the PDF pattern for Andrea's adjustment in next week's newsletter.

You can sign up here, and receive all future pattern pieces, plus tips, tutorials, finds and inspiration.

Subscribe to our newsletter

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name *

Things I Love: Crosshatch Fabric

I have a collection of crosshatch fabric.

Maybe it's my fine arts background, or maybe it's my love of good basics, or probably both, but either way, I love this fabric.

I often prefer to us these almost solid fabrics, instead of a true solid. To keep things lively, but not too busy. I use it for PeterPan collars, lining, hair flowers, pockets and waist bands. 

There are several lines of crosshatch fabric. My pile happens to be from the Alexander Henry Heath Collection, which is discontinued but still available at Cias Palette, Fabric. com, and on Etsy.

But there are other lines of similar crosshatch fabric.

Architextures by Carolyn Friedlander for Robert Kaufman is also crosshatch, but on the diagonal, which is lovely. Right now a half yard set is on sale at Fabricworm. 

Timeless Treasures makes a line called Sketch that is similar. They also make a diagonal version called Hatch.

The best way to find lots is to do a search for crosshatch fabric on Etsy.

Having a small collection of this on hand is useful for doll clothing, quilting or sewing gifts. Below you can see a few ways I have used it just in the past week.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

The Beloved Handmade Doll Dress Contest

When I was about six or seven my mother made Barbie wardrobes for my sister and me.  I loved every stitch of that gift, but I absolutely cherished Barbie's ice-skating dress, which was made out of flannel to mimic velvet and had a swirly skirt.

So many of us have "beloved" handmade doll dresses. We love them for different reasons.

Maybe the dress is loved for who made it,

or how we acquired it.

Or maybe it was a first attempt at sewing.

Maybe it reminds us of a child, now too old to play with dolls.

Or is connected with a memory of our own childhood.

Or maybe it is just the very essence of cute.

I am hoping you will share that dress and why you love it with us.  When all the dresses are in, I will put them on the blog and we can all vote on the cutest, sweetest reason, most amazing craftsmanship and best photo.

Everyone who enters gets a 10% discount in my Etsy shop and the three winners will get fabric and trim to use to carry on the tradition of handmade doll dresses.

Here's how to enter:

1. Snap a photo of JUST the dress, in other words not on a doll. Maybe on a piece of fabric, a quilt, a plain background. Whatever you think looks best.

2. Write 1-3 sentences why you love this handmade doll dress.

3. Email the photo and reason to me at phoebeandegg at gmail.com OR

4. Submit on Instagram with the hashtag #beloveddolldress and #phoebeandegg

5. Let me know whether you do or don't want your name to appear with the photo.

6. You can enter more than once. The more beloved-ness the better.

I can't wait to see all of these beloved doll dresses! And please please please share this post.

Contest will run until August 5, 2014.

Five New Dress Sets

Phoebe needs some spring clothes. These five dress sets along with a few dolls should be up on Etsy by the end of the week, hopefully by the end of tomorrow.