Do you like the idea of making a doll's dress for your own doll or a friends? Or how about some other articles of clothing like a trouser suit, pyjamas or a night shirt?
If you have never done it before, it is not that hard to create a decent job of making dolls' clothing, but you will have to take measurements, just as in real life.
It is a good idea to know the full length of the doll, but there are no garments that actually cover from head to toe unless you are designing a ghost's fancy dress costume for the doll. Be careful with the chest measurement too.
You cannot estimate it because dolls, both male and female, tend to have larger chests than proportion would suggest that they ought to be. Just look at Barbie and Ken, they could probably hold their breath for ten minutes!
Similarly, the inside leg measurements tend to be exaggerated and the waist way undersized. This is why it is so essential to measure the doll or if the dolls' clothing is to be a surprise, measure one like it. From waist to the hem is enough for a skirt or from neck to the hemline for a dress.
If you are manufacturing trousers, you will require the inside leg and the outside leg to the waist band or hips, depending on the fashion. Then you will also require the waist or the hip measurement and the combined thigh measurement for skirts and dresses or individual thigh measurements for trousers or slacks.
If you are measuring for a top or the top of a dress, you will require the measurements from the sternum to the centre of the armpit and from there to the centre of the other armpit.
In numerous ways, measuring a doll for clothing is similar to measuring humans, but on the other hand, the dimensions can have a great deal more tolerance because seams do not come under stress from movement with dolls. It is fairly easy to just use common sense while measuring dolls for clothing, but practice will make perfect.
One of the best habits that you can get into is making notes and making sketches. When you have become proficient enough at making dolls' clothing, you might be able to sell your produce and perhaps even sell your pattern book as well, if they are all your original ideas.
Tailoring or dressmaking for dolls can be immense fun and children will certainly appreciate a new, unique costume for their doll, but then you will see that for yourself the first time you present your little niece, nephew or friend with one of your latest designs.
Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on a number of subjects, but is now concerned with Silver Cross Dolls Prams. If you want to know more, please visit our website at Doll Prams.
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