General Sewing Tip: | |
Make small clips at the bottom of the dart. Mark the point of the dart with a pin. | |
To find the point of the dart, fold the dart in half matching the clips. | |
Pick up just a few threads of the fabric when marking the dart point. |
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Reposition the pin so it can be used as your stitching guide. | |
Press darts towards side seams. |
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Stitch front to back at shoulder seams. | |
General Sewing Tip: |
General Sewing Tip: | |
Press seams open. | |
Pin bodice to lining. | |
Stitch bodice to lining at back openings and around the neck edge. Make sharp corners. |
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Clip in to corners, trimming clips out at angles. Trim seam ends off at angles. | |
Turn and press. Make sure you get the corners turned sharply. |
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Staystitch the armholes. Clip every 1/4". |
Purchased bias tape can be used for finishing the armhole edges, or you can make your own from the dress fabric by cutting two strips on the bias. | |
Check the 'curl' of the fabric to make sure it will curl over to the inside after stitching. Pin the armhole to the bias strip, starting about a half inch from the end of the strip. Stitch the bias strip to the clipped armhole edge. Leave some extra strip at both ends. | |
Do not trim off the long ends of the strip yet, you will find it easier to roll over if you have some waste fabric to start with. | |
Trim the seam down close to the stitching. |
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Press under 1/8" on the raw edge of the bias strip. Roll it over entirely to the inside and hold with a few pins to get started. | |
Use a small whipstitch to sew the bias strip edge down neatly. |
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Alternate Finishing: | |
Pin side seams and stitch. Trim seam ends and finish with a narrow zig-zag. |
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Alternate finishing method: | |
Roll the raw edge under. |
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Finish with a small whipstitch. |
Cut 2 collars and 2 linings from the dress fabric. Pin collars to linings. | |
Right sides together, stitch collars to linings leaving the rounded end open for turning. Trim corners and seams. | |
Clip the inner curve. | |
Turn and press. | |
Lay the two open ends together. Using a long stitch, make two rows of gathering stitches. | |
Pull the gathering stitches tightly and tie off at each end. |
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Mark the center front of the bodice. | |
Center the collar and stitch. | |
Try the bodice on the doll at this point. There are several ways the collar can be positioned, overlap the back opening, choose where you think the collar looks best and pin it down to the back. | |
Take a few hand stitches to hold the collar in place. |
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Your bodice is finished! |
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