Do you fancy 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 make a decent job of manufacturing dolls' clothing, but you will have to take measurements, the same 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 as well.
You cannot guess 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 necessary 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 making trousers, you will need the inside leg and the outside leg to the waist band or hips, depending on the style. Then you will also require the waist or the hip measurement and the combined thigh measurement for skirts and dresses or individual thigh dimensions for trousers or slacks.
If you are measuring for a top or the top of a dress, you will need the measurements from the sternum to the centre of the armpit and from there to the centre of the other armpit.
In many ways, measuring a doll for clothing is equivalent 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 merely use common sense when measuring dolls for clothing, but practice will make perfect.
One of the best habits that you can get into is keeping notes and drawing sketches. After you have become proficient enough at making dolls' clothing, you may be able to sell your produce and perhaps even sell your pattern book as well, if they are all your original concepts.
Tailoring or dressmaking for dolls can be great fun and children will definitely 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 most recent creations.
If you have never done it before, it is not that hard to make a decent job of manufacturing dolls' clothing, but you will have to take measurements, the same 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 as well.
You cannot guess 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 necessary 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 making trousers, you will need the inside leg and the outside leg to the waist band or hips, depending on the style. Then you will also require the waist or the hip measurement and the combined thigh measurement for skirts and dresses or individual thigh dimensions for trousers or slacks.
If you are measuring for a top or the top of a dress, you will need the measurements from the sternum to the centre of the armpit and from there to the centre of the other armpit.
In many ways, measuring a doll for clothing is equivalent 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 merely use common sense when measuring dolls for clothing, but practice will make perfect.
One of the best habits that you can get into is keeping notes and drawing sketches. After you have become proficient enough at making dolls' clothing, you may be able to sell your produce and perhaps even sell your pattern book as well, if they are all your original concepts.
Tailoring or dressmaking for dolls can be great fun and children will definitely 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 most recent creations.
About the Author:
Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on a variety of subjects, but is now concerned with Silver Cross Dolls Prams. If you want to know more, please visit our website at Doll Prams.