FROZEN BARBIE dresses #S0734 - trim and curved hems

This will be my last blog about these Barbie FROZEN costumes. Here is my sample of Elsa's snowflake dress before the snowflakes were added. There was such a tight schedule to get this project finished I sent this in without the snowflakes and that part was done in the New York offices. They found snowflake shaped sequins and glued them on.

So, first I want to show you how I use my pointy tweezers while sewing. I can't tell you how much easier it is to sew small things if you have a pair of these. 

The next thing I want to show is how I use a seam sealer to prevent fraying. Any kind of glue will work, but something like Fray Check was developed to keep the fabric edge soft.

When you are working with only 1/4" seam allowances, it is easier to run gathering stitches on either side of the actual stitching line. Otherwise there really isn't enough space for two rows of gathering stitches which is really needed to help the gathers lie flat.

Then stitch along the actual stitch line which will be in between in two rows of gathering.

Since this gathered fabric is being stitched on top of the finished item, trim off the excess along the top and cover the cut edge with trim.

It's best to wait until everything else is finished before removing that last row of gathering stitching that is showing.

Both of the capes have rounded hems which are tricky even on a human sized garment. This is how I did these hems.

After sealing off the raw edge with Fray Check, I ran a gathering stitch 1/8" from the edge. Pull up the stitching until it make a flat 1/4" hem.

Press the hem and then it can be stitched down. You can see I did the hemming before stitching the shoulder darts or any other part of the cape.


Follow this link to read the general doll clothes sewing tips I wrote for Simplicity's website.


I hope you make some little girl very happy with these gowns.