Doll Costuming Tips and Tricks

Answer 1

When it comes to creating costumes for dolls, the key is to keep everything in scale. Even the most skilled seamstress can encounter challenges when trying to apply normal sewing techniques on a diminutive scale. A few tips and "tricks" can ensure success.

In regular clothing, the weight of a fabric helps it to drape properly. On a doll, the same fabric will stick out at odd angles, spoiling the look. Surprisingly, it is not the tightness of the weave of the fabric that makes the difference as much as it is the fiber itself. Avoid synthetic fibers, as they have far less "give" than natural fibers, such as cotton, silk, muslin and linen. Felt can be a good option. When used sparingly, felt can provide effective detailing.

When using a sewing machine to sew doll costumes, extending the seams of the pattern can make sewing seams easier. Seams can be trimmed down to size afterwards. Hand sewing is often the best method when sewing doll costumes. A simple backstitch works best. Fabric glue can be used for attaching the tiniest details.

Color choices for doll costumes should be adjusted for scale as well. Paler colors are generally a safer choice than are rich, saturated hues. A contrasting color accent that can give regular clothing an effective pop of color is lost on a smaller scale. Analogous colors, colors next to each other on the color wheel, such as blue/green and purple/blue are good color scheme choices, as are varying shades of the same hue. An exception is the combination of black and white, which is as striking on a doll's costumer as it is in regular clothing.

Establishing a theme when creating a doll's costume can help pull the small details of a design together. A bride doll costume is instantly recognizable, as are outfits for a formal affair, business function, poolside party and sports-related events. When creating themed doll costumes, details make all the difference. Give the bride her bouquet, the swimmer her bathing cap or beach ball and the tennis player her racket.