Sewing Clothes for 18" Dolls

Joan Hinds' books are beloved the world over, not only because they’re filled with adorable designs, but because her techniques reveal how easy it is to create a wardrobe of miniature clothes any doll lover will cherish. Here, Joan takes fans through the process of sewing “little.” Two workshops are included: Sewing Secrets for Doll Clothes, where Joan shares all kinds of techniques with you, and The Perfect Party Dress for Your 18" Doll, where she guides you through the simple process of making a party dress for an 18-inch doll and matching shoes.
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Joan Hinds' magical doll clothes books are beloved the world over — not only because they’re filled with adorable designs, but because Joan’s techniques reveal how easy it is to create a wardrobe of miniature clothes any doll lover will cherish. 

In Sewing Secrets for Doll Clothing, Joan takes fans step-by-step through the process of sewing “little.” Did you know that cloth-bodied 18-inch dolls are not identical in size? Joan shows you how easy it is to measure your doll, create a paper towel pattern, match it to patterns in a pattern book and adjust if necessary. While you’ll need basic sewing supplies, certain tools and materials will help ensure your success: tiny irons and press boards can be most helpful, and plastic template sheets cut with special scissors create basic pattern pieces you can use again and again. Joan’s tips for choosing and combining fabrics reveal the importance of scale. She unravels the concept of “flat construction” and why linings are a better choice than facings when finishing small edges. She's developed magic techniques for pressing, gathering and elastic application and makes it easy to fashion tiny waistbands and cuffs. Among the finishing touches that will set your doll clothes apart from the ordinary are Joan’s double ruffle or contrast hems and tiny piping detail.

NOTE: This was originally released as a DVD workshop. Video run time: One hour and 2 minutes
Next, the doll dress designer extraordinaire guides you through the simple process of making a party dress for an 18-inch doll complete with matching shoes. Downloadable pattern PDFs for making both the dress and the shoes are included.

With their little cloth bodies, 18-inch dolls aren’t a standard size, so, first things first, Joan shows you how to measure the body in a unique way to achieve a perfect fit. From the tools needed to help you sew and press on a small scale to stitching a pair of coordinating shoes, you’ll have fun learning the tricks for creating these miniature masterpieces. 

The featured dress is a to-the-waist lined yoke design with a gathered skirt, puffed sleeves and double-ruffle hem. Joan’s featured method is her concept of open construction, which is essential for making most doll clothes. Her steps for finishing the bodice include lining instructions and a perfect neckline edge, since there are no facings in this small garment. Gathering and inserting tiny doll sleeves are a snap once you’ve watched her technique for applying them just right, and the elastic insertion method at the sleeve ruffle assures a perfect fit every time. 

Doll clothes beg for detailing, and Joan shows you how to dress up this design at the waistband with a miniature yo-yo and button. As a bonus project, her doll shoes let you complete this precious ensemble and present your little doll-lover with a gift she’ll cherish forever.

NOTE: This was originally released as a DVD workshop. Video run time: One hour and 12 minutes

Course Lessons