Can a doll ever have too many cute outfits? I don’t think so, which is why I’m sharing my latest doll outfit with you and reviewing the doll sewing pattern – so you can get more inspiration for your doll sewing adventures. This is my first outfit from the adorable doll sewing book ‘Licca Dolls Miniature Dresses Volume 1 book‘. I’m excited to share it with you as I love how it turned out. If you’re in need of some pretty storage for your doll clothes be sure to check out my Doll Wardrobe pattern review.
The Fabric
The skirt has an underskirt made from cotton and an overskirt made using Tulle.
One of my favourite things to do (when the shops are open!) is to hunt around for children’s clothes in the sales or charity shops which can be upcycled into dolls clothes. I found a pretty pale gold girl’s skirt in the sale in H&M which has a thin cotton overskirt and very fine lemon Tulle underneath. You can get lots of doll outfits from one girls skirt – I’ve already used some for a Barbie ballgown (she featured on day 24 of the Sindy and Friends Advent Calendar 2020).
The top and hoodie are both made from jersey. You can either buy jersey (make sure it is lightweight) or use t-shirts or other jersey tops. If you’re using patterned fabric for your doll sewing, it looks best if the pattern is small, so the scale looks right. The stars on the top are quite small so they worked well.
Sewing the outfit
The Skirt
The Book has photos of each stage for the outfit seen on the front cover, so you can use this to help with the techniques used for the skirt and top. The instructions for all of the other patterns are illustrations, which clearly show each step that you need to take. The Tulle overskirt is gathered more than the underskirt, which gives a nice full effect to the skirt. The skirts attach to a simple ribbon waistband and a popper finishes the skirt. I initially thought that the waist was too big for my Licca doll, as it doesn’t sit on her natural waistline (which is tiny), but when you have the top tucked in, it works fine.
The Jersey Top
The jersey top pattern is simple to follow, and can either be made with short or long sleeves. The neckline uses Tulle on the inside to stabilise and finish around the neck. It’s a neat technique – as it reduces any bulk so that the neckline sits nice and flat against the doll. The back closure is made using hook and loop tape. I’m going to have to find some striped jersey fabric when the shops re-open as I love a Breton style stripy top.
The Hoodie
The Hoodie is super cute and whilst it doesn’t have any fastenings at the front, I still think it works well. You could easily add contrasting hems on the sleeves and waistband for a different style. The sleeves were long on my Licca Doll, so measure on your doll before you add the hem to the sleeves. As jersey can stretch when you use a machine, I found it easier to hand sew. It was quite tricky adding the waistband (as you need to stretch the fabric as you attach it to the main jacket). Pinning carefully helps to stretch it evenly.
Top tip: Apply fray stop to the edge of the fabric before sewing, to stop it fraying.
Claire x
Accessories
To finish the outfit, I made a Tulle bow to match the skirt. I added a few tiny beads in the centre. The bow is sewn onto matching ribbon with a thin piece of elastic underneath.
The finished outfit
Here’s my photoshoot of the finished outfit – I think she likes it!
The verdict?
Skill level: Intermediate – if you’ve not sewn with jersey before, start with the Top as it is simpler than the Hoodie.
Overall – easy to follow patterns with clear instructions to help you sew a very cute outfit.
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Claire x
