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FROZEN BARBIE dresses #S0734 - trim and curved hems

9/3/2014

5 Comments

 
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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.
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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. 
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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.
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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.
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Then stitch along the actual stitch line which will be in between in two rows of gathering.
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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.
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It's best to wait until everything else is finished before removing that last row of gathering stitching that is showing.
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Both of the capes have rounded hems which are tricky even on a human sized garment. This is how I did these hems.
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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.
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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.
5 Comments
justine link
9/4/2014 05:16:51 pm

What wonderful tips. Thank you! Your work is so precise and beautiful.

Reply
Irene Spicola
12/14/2015 06:49:10 pm

Great tips! Some of these things I already knew but some I hadn't thought of doing Thank you!

Reply
Caroline
12/17/2015 08:29:27 am

Hello, your clothes are soo intricate! Would you consider selling some?

Reply
Andrea
12/18/2015 06:02:42 am

Caroline,
I used to make samples for the toy industry for dolls clothes that would then be made in factories. I would get $500 or more for each outfit. So, my handmade clothes would be too expensive to sell.
I wrote a set of tips for sewing doll clothes that is on the Simplicity website. Which I just noticed is grrrr .... no available right now. Simplicity JUST updated their website and many things are missing. I will see if I can find it.

Reply
SD
6/10/2018 06:08:48 pm

Are your set of tips for sewing doll clothes available anywhere else? I work with 16-18 inch ball joint dolls such as the Minifee. I have been unable to find sewing lessons that really address sewing such small clothing, except saying just to hand sew it all. I am looking for tips professional results.

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    From Andrea 

    I am a commercial pattern maker who is now "sewing over 50"!
    I love to sew and hope to encourage others to come back to sewing.
    The water is fine!!

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