How to Accessorize Your Homemade Rag Doll

Rag dolls are simple, old-fashioned creations. Keep their accessories simple as well.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cloth Doll Clothing Patterns
• Doll Clothing Patterns
• Sewing Machine
• Sewing Needles
• Threads
• Internet Access
• Doll Clothes
• Rag Dolls

1. Look at pictures or samples of rag dolls. Do you want your rag doll to have any particular style of clothing? Do you want your rag doll to wear a dress or pants and a shirt?

2. Use fabrics like calico and muslin to make clothes for your rag doll. Look for suitable fabrics in your own stash of scrap fabric or in the remnant bin at your local fabric store.

3. Go through your old clothing items before give or throw them away. Even items that are ripped can be used to make doll clothing. You only need a small amount of fabric.

4. Remember your rag doll when you do any home sewing for yourself or your children. When you make an item of clothing, use the scraps to make an identical item for your rag doll.

5. Use carefully placed accessories ' clothing, hats and shoes - to camouflage any flaws that may exist in the homemade doll.

6. Step back in time. Do a little research and dress your rag doll in clothing items from a particular era. Look for information on what the popular adult and children's fashions were and duplicate them for your doll.

7. Measure your rag doll and look for ready-made doll clothing that will fit. If your free time is limited, this is a good alternative to homemade doll clothing.

Tips & Warnings

• You can either machine sew or hand sew doll clothing. The quantity of fabric is usually so small that clothes can be sewn quickly using either method.
• Find patterns for doll clothing and accessories both online and locally.

[callielou]

on 5/26/2007 These are great ideas, and I wish there were more!

on 11/22/2005 I am new here and hope to learn a lot. I have never made clothes for a doll before and tonight began my quest.

I am using tiebacks from curtains for skirts, pinafores, etc.

I choose curtain tiebacks that have about a 2" band on top and the bottom is ruffled. These are instant skirts. I also get the tiebacks at the thrift shop.

Now they will make a little girls (my granddaughters) feel so special.

on 11/22/2005 With a hole punch and a plastic cottage cheese lid, you can punch out tiny buttons for doll's dresses and shirts. To make the holes in a button, place on a soft surface and pierce with a head pin. Nail polish makes buttons match the dress & last longer.