Crafting for Dolls: Pretty Halloween Witch Dress for a Bjd with Mini Hat

I know Halloween was about a week ago, and I should have shared this earlier. But, things happen.

Never mind that, here is the costume I made for one of my ball jointed dolls, specifically for Hikaru. It is made from the black satin and sparkly black tulle I bought recently (see Craft Haul: Quick Trip to SAS). I shared it on my doll blog as part of a Fashion Show, and yes, it is as cute as it sounds.

Anyway, the bodice is trimmed with purple ribbon in a fake lace up pattern, and there is lace along the neckline. I used tulle to make the puffed sleeves. I think the tulle was actually easier to work with than the satin. 

The skirt is a circle skirt trimmed with lace and has a tulle outer layer.

In the last minute, I decided on a mini hat on a headband instead of a full size witch's hat. It makes it look a little fancier, plus it was actually quicker. It's trimmed with tulle and ribbon to match the dress perfectly.

It was so easy and fun that I made a little tutorial for it too, and posted it to my doll blog here. Give it a try. It should work for all sizes and types of dolls, not just ball jointed dolls.

Now it's time to get started on sewing something more wintery. I am planning on making some sweaters and stuff for my dolls, maybe a few tutorials for them too?

Look forward to it!
 

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Sewing for Dolls: Simple T-shirt and Shorts Outfit for a Bjd

This post may contain affiliate links, please check out my disclosures page for more info.  Thanks!

My latest sewing project is doll clothes.

Yes, more doll clothes. The perfect tiny project for sewing on the go, as long as you don't mind random parents and grandparents asking you questions about who you are making them for, many assume I'm sewing for a kid.

Anyway, I made a simple but cute outfit for one of my ball jointed dolls (or bjds).

I made a little t-shirt, a pair of knit shorts, and a pair of socks.

Of course, I did make patterns and a tutorial as well. You can find it here on my doll blog. They should fit a 8-10 inch doll.

Here they are worn by my lucky little ball jointed doll. His name is Makoto. He is a yosd sized or 1/6 scale doll, about 10 inches tall.

I got him several years ago, but had never gotten around to making clothes for him. Now he isn't running around in his underwear.

I love how the t-shirt came out. Those tiny buttons look so cute. I found them ages ago at SAS Fabrics in a little bag of tiny embellishments. I finally found a use for them.

The shorts gave me some trouble. I accidently made them a too big for this little guy. I adjusted them and the pattern accordingly, so all is well.

The socks were super easy. It's not the first time I've made socks this size, or tights (see Sewing for Dolls: Socks and Lingerie? Plus Tutorial Links).

The shirt closes in the back with Velcro to make changing easier. Some ball jointed doll owners like to take their heads off to change their clothes, that's not for me.

Now all that's needed is a few little accessories. I was thinking maybe a tiny hat and maybe a little backpack. But, that's a project for another day. 

Plus, I still have some other items to finish up, more doll clothes.

I will share them soon. Look forward to it.

Give it a Try:

• VELCRO Brand Sew On Tape
  
• Loops & Threads Start-to-Sew Kit
• 1/4" Knit Elastic by Loops & Threads

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Sewing for Dolls: Some Last Minute Halloween Costumes

This post contains affiliate links, please check out my disclosures page for more info.  Thanks!

I cut it really close for this next craft project, but at least they are finished.  Just in time for Halloween.

Doll sized Halloween costumes.

I got my 1/6 scale ball jointed dolls all ready for Halloween.  Or should I say they got themselves ready?  Check out the doll blog to see, also to learn how to make some of these costumes for your own dolls at home. 

For this one (Yuna), it’s a super easy ghost costume.  Just need to cut some sheer gauzy fabric and slip it on.

My sister thought I should do it like on the Charlie Brown Halloween special, maybe next year.

This little boy is just wearing the cat eared headband I made previously.  Check out my doll headband video tutorial to make one, it works for dolls of all sizes.

For the next costume, you can see here how the doll (Sakura) “made it herself”.

It started as a simple robe, that could work for a wizard.  Don’t forget to check out my doll blog to see how to make it.

But, flip it around and throw on a hat, and it’s a classic witch costume.

The next costume (for Momoko) started as a doll swimsuit with a tutu, instant ballerina.

The tutu is made from a long piece of tulle folded in half with some elastic. 

But, take one of these butterflies from Dollartree and glue on a clip…

…Then clip it on my doll’s clothes for wings…

…And now it’s a fairy costume.

All the dolls dressed and ready for trick or treating, but one more thing.

These little buckets.  I was lucky enough to find them at Goodwill, but they actually sell them at Party City.

You can find the pumpkin buckets here and the Cauldrons here.

They are just the right size for my dolls, and add just the right touch to my doll sized Halloween.

Here’s the updated list:

• Costume
• Case
• Doll and Kitty
• Little Halloween
• 3 Skirts
• Accessories
• Socks
• Overalls
• Ornaments
• More Cases

Two down, eight more to go.  Happy Halloween everybody.

Give it a try:

• Singer Sewing Kit Beginner's
• 9" x 12" Basic Felt by Creatology
• ArtMinds® Fashion Mini Glue Gun
• Floral Garden Sheer Butterflies and Flowers
• Pumpkin Trick or Treat Candy Pails 12ct
• Black Candy Cauldrons 12ct

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Crafting for Dolls: Straw Hats to Half Bonnets

This post may contain affiliate links, please check out my disclosures page for more info.  Thanks!

Later than planned, but here is the last project on my craft list.  Finally.

Some time ago, I found a package of small bonnet style straw hats at Bookman’s.  They were only 50 cents!

I bought them thinking I could make pretty bonnets for my ball jointed dolls, until I tried them on them.  They were too small, even for my smallest dolls!

What do you do with too small doll straw hats?

You make half bonnets.

Years ago, I came across a tutorial for taking a child size straw hat and turning it into a half bonnet.  Surprisingly I still remembered it, so I thought “why not try that for a doll?”

So I made three ball jointed doll sized half bonnets.  They came out so cute!

They are trimmed on the outside with flowers and bows with ribbons for tying.

On the inside, I added ruffled lace to frame the doll’s face.  And it’s a great way to use up lace scraps.

See, doesn’t it look so pretty on Yuna?

Not that they don’t also look lovely on Hikaru here, I mostly intended to make the bonnets for her anyway.

If you are interested in making some of these half bonnets for your dolls, I whipped up a quick tutorial on my doll blog.

Here’s the updated list:

• Dress makeover
• Doll undies
• Cameo and Hearts
• Blouse makeover
• Phone case
• Outfit
• Mother’s Day
• Costume fix
• Jammies
• Bonnet

Ten down and out.  Finally finished this list! 

So now to start up on the next one.  I will have it posted by Sunday.  Look forward to it!

Give it a try:

• Straw Hat - Round Top - Natural - 8 inches
• 6" Round Top Straw Hat | Hobby Lobby | 28771
• Wrights Double Fold Bias Tape- 1/4'' x 4yds | Jo-Ann
• Victoria Lynn™ Ribbon Roses Bunch, Red

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Sewing for Dolls: Faux Button Down Tank and Half Circle Skirt for Bjds

This post may contain affiliate links, please check out my disclosures page for more info.  Thanks!

I said this post was going to be “a little” late, then it ended up being super late.  I finished the project then got distracted by a few things, but that’s for another post.

Anyway, I got another ball jointed doll several months ago from a Black Friday sale, and I hadn’t gotten around to actually making some clothes for her, until now.

Using a few scraps of fabric and such, I whipped up this cute outfit.  A white button down tank top, a floral skirt, a hair clip and a pearl necklace with bracelet.  It’s perfect for a nice Spring/Summer day.

The skirt is a half circle skirt made based on this tutorial for a little girl’s skirt.  I used scraps of fabric leftover from this dress I made years ago.

The tank top is made from a cut up t-shirt, t-shirts are the best for doll clothes and other fun crafts!

It opens on the back with Velcro, it only looks like it buttons in front.  Those “buttons” are actually flat back pearls glued in place with Aleene’s Jewel-it.

Both the top and and skirt look so pretty on my doll (her name is Misako and she is a 1/4 scale doll).

And like most of the clothes I’ve been making for my bjds, I made patterns and a tutorial for these pieces here on my doll blog.  Check it out if you have dolls about this size, or if you just want to know how I made the fake button front on that tank top.

Now for the accessories.  I whipped up this hair clip in less than 10 minutes.  It’s just a scrap of pretty lace that I gathered to size and glued on to a barrette.  Then I added some pearls.

The barrette is a little larger than 1/2 an inch (about 1 cm.), I bought it as SAS.  There are about the right sized to make large-ish hair clips for dolls.

It does looks nice in my doll’s hair.  Makes me want to make tons more of them, but that will be for another day.

Throw in the pearl necklace and bracelet (which were just made by stringing faux pearls on elastic) and the outfit is complete and adorable.

Here’s the updated list:

• Dress makeover
• Doll undies
• Cameo and Hearts
• Blouse makeover
• Phone case
• Outfit
• Mother’s Day
• Costume fix
• Jammies
• Bonnet

Eight down, just two more to go.  The next one will be up in a couple of days.  Look forward to it!

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Sewing for Dolls: Late-ish Doll Coats for Christmas

This post may contain affiliate links, please check out my disclosures page for more info.  Thanks!

The final project on my Christmas was actually finished right in time for Christmas.  Yay!  But I’m still extremely late posting it here.  :(

Anyway, for the final project I made (let’s see if you can guess it)…

Doll Clothes!

Okay, who saw that one coming.  Last year I made cute little felt coats for some of my ball jointed dolls, and I decided to make some for the rest.  Four more to be exact.

For these two, I used a creamy beige colored felt.

This one (for Hikaru) is trimmed with lace along the pockets and collar for cute girly touch.

And on the tiny coat (for Momoko) I added little felt bows to the pocket.

Almost all the coats have a strap on the back to cinch in the waist a little with little “buttons”.  Like last year’s coats, I used faux pearls for buttons.

This blue coat was made for my newest ball jointed doll.  Being so new she doesn’t have a name or hair, but she is still pretty in blue

Her coat is fairly simply embellished with a tiny felt flower by the collar.

For the only boy doll (Yuki), I made a simple coat with black felt.

No snaps or buttons necessary since he will only wear it open anyway.  It still needed a little something.

So I whipped up a quick scarf with some plaid scraps left over from the pouches I made.

Just cut the fabric in a rectangle, zig-zag stitch along the edge and about half an inch each end, fray the ends for fringe, and trim off the excess fabric.  Super easy.

And the result is super cute.  A tiny yet stylish scarf to complete this doll sized winter ensemble.

And I couldn’t stop at one scarf, so I made more tiny scarves for some animal friends.  Now everyone can be warm this winter.

Update 1/12/18: Now everyone really can be warm, I posted a sort of tutorial with patterns for these coats on my doll blog.  So if you or someone you know has 1/6 or 1/4 scale ball jointed dolls, check it out.

Here’s the updated list:

• Snowmen
• Elf
• pouches
• Coats

Four down and out.  Now I can finally relax and sort of enjoy the season.

Give it a try:

• 4mm Round Pearl Beads, White, 240pcs.
• 4mm Round Pearl Beads, Cream Colored, 240pcs.
• Dritz® Sew-On Snaps Nickel-Asst Size 1/0 2/0 4/0
• 9" x 12" Basic Felt by Creatology™

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