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Visit the toy department of any large retail store, and you will see how popular the Bratz dolls have become. You may also find that, just as with Barbie and Ken, a nice variety of doll clothes can be hard to find. You may resort to sewing your own. The 10-inch Bratz dolls are petite, making it a challenge to sew clothes for them. But, you love them anyway and want to master this challenge. What will be the result of your clever efforts? A great wardrobe will be yours, of course! Here are a few helpful tips to guide you in your attempts to sew some handmade Bratz doll fashions.
First, let’s clarify the frustrating obstacles you will likely encounter. The 10-inch Bratz dolls are very thin, and have long limbs. This means your waistlines and necklines are going to be quite small. Manipulating the garment pieces without causing frays or messy stitch lines will be difficult as you try to sew small waistbands and collars. And what about patterns? Personally, I have not been able to find any commercial patterns for sale that are designed to fit these 10-inch Bratz dolls. But, fear not! I have some great tips and tricks to share with you as you attempt to conquer these challenges:
- Create your patterns, using muslin and paper. Do not be intimidated by this concept. Instead, consider it as an opportunity: You have the chance to sew for your doll and not be limited by conventional patterns. I use muslin because it is very inexpensive, and paper for tracing the final pattern. Make sure you are in a patient mood for this in order to avoid frustration. Sometimes I can get the pattern right on the first attempt. However, it often takes several or many revisions to get the pattern designed to fit just the way I want it to.
- Study current youth fashions to get ideas for your designs. The 10-inch Bratz dolls resemble teenagers, so I tend to check out the tween and teen clothing departments in stores for inspirations.
- My best tip yet is to glue the seams. Yes, that is right. I glue the seams that I anticipate might fray or give me difficulty as I sew them. I have found that this helps in two ways. For one, it gives the seam added security and substance. More importantly, it reduces the fraying that can occur with many fabrics. Glue the seams, let them dry, and then go over them with a sewing machine. You will be impressed with the results!
- Use small stitches. This will result in a neater and more consistent appearance, giving your finished garment a more professional look.
- Design durable styles, with the idea in mind that kids will be dressing and undressing their dolls many times. Your clothes need to withstand rough handling, or you may find yourself sewing, and sewing, and sewing some more…
I hope these tips motivate you to go ahead and sew some handmade doll clothes for your 10-inch Bratz dolls. Get some muslin, paper, fabric, and of course, glue. Find a calm, quiet room where you can be at peace and also enjoy the creative process. With these basics in hand, you will be equipped to design a great wardrobe! |
