5 Ways to Make Doll Clothes Collars that WORK (Tip #5) @ ChellyWood.com #SewingTips #DollClothesPatterns

Please visit ChellyWood.com for free printable PDF sewing patterns and tutorial videos for making doll clothes to fit dolls of many shapes and all different sizes.

Collar Tip #5: Use Bias Tape

This is my final segment offering my five tips for creating doll clothes collars that really work, and it’s the one I truly use most.

I’ve been using bias tape for collars since I was in high school. It’s such an easy solution to the collar conundrum, and most sewists have a plethora of bias tape in their collection, which makes the bias tape method very accessible.

For 12 inch dolls and smaller, I recommend using 1/4 inch folded bias tape, like the bias tape you see here:

The image shows how to apply bias tape to a doll's shirt collar in four easy steps: one, begin with a piece of bias tape that's still attached to the spool; two, open the bias tape; three, wrap the bias tape around the collar, incorporating the single-fold hem; four, stitch the bias tape to the garment. — Please visit ChellyWood.com for free printable PDF sewing patterns and tutorial videos for making doll clothes to fit dolls of many shapes and all different sizes.

For 12 inch to 17 inch dolls, you might want to use 1/2 inch bias tape. For 18 inch dolls and bigger, a full inch or 5/8 inch bias tape may work best, depending on the look you’re going for.

Be wary of using bias tape that’s too big for your doll. Instead of a garment that looks like it has a nice, finished edge, like the pajama top you see below:

In this photograph, a Made to Move Barbie models a pair of handmade "booty shorts" with a short-sleeved shirt that's trimmed in white bias tape. She stands in a bedroom with her quilted bed beside her, some pillows, a stuffed animal, and a dresser gracing the diorama.

you’ll end up with a garment that looks terribly uncomfortable on your doll:

Image shows Mattel's Made to Move Barbie wearing a hand-made felt shirt with bias tape trim. She also wears a pair of capri pants that are hand-made and little plastic sneakers (trainers). Overlay says, "ChellyWood.com: Free doll clothes patterns and tutorials." — Visit ChellyWood.com for free, printable sewing patterns for dolls of many shapes and sizes.

Ugh! Who wants to sleep in that funky space suit? Not my Barbies!

But with bigger dolls, a bigger bias tape is acceptable.

If you’re not sure how to apply bias tape to a doll’s garment, I recommend that you revisit one or both of the following videos:

My “How to Sew Bias Tape” video
My “Make a Dress for Lottie Dolls” video

The methods used in the Lottie Doll dress video can be applied to lots of shirts and dresses for every size doll. But this could be tricky if you’re new to doll clothes alterations.

Please visit ChellyWood.com for free printable PDF sewing patterns and tutorial videos for making doll clothes to fit dolls of many shapes and all different sizes.

Of course my Creative Spark class, “How to Alter Doll Clothes Patterns” which is now live on the Creative Spark platform would give you all the background information you would need to adapt and alter your shirts and dresses.

Maybe you’re hesitant to invest in a course that you fear you may not have time to finish. If that’s the case, don’t worry! For any class on Creative Spark, once you’re signed up, you can take as long as you want to finish it. You’re not under pressure or a time constraint to finish your lessons. It’s all about YOU, and the amount of time you spend on your lessons is totally up to you.

You can just take your time and learn at the pace that suits you without ever having to pay a subscription fee or a secondary “late fee” because there’s no such thing on Creative Spark.

If you enjoyed today’s sewing tip for making doll clothes collars, and you’d like to see what other helpful doll clothes sewing tips I have offered on this website, please visit the “Helpful Tips” page.

And I have one more piece of advice to offer regarding doll clothes patterns… Most of the commercial patterns I display and talk about here on ChellyWood.com are also available for sale on eBay. However, if you’ve never purchased a pattern on eBay before, it’s a good idea to read the article I wrote called, “Tips for Buying Used Doll Clothes Patterns on eBay.” It will save you time, money, and will likely prevent buyer’s remorse.

And by the way, if you use the links I’ve provided to make your eBay purchase, this website will receive a small commission, which helps fund the ChellyWood.com website, so I can continue to provide you with all the free patterns and tutorial videos offered here.

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*ChellyWood.com earns money by linking to JoAnn Fabrics, Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and other online affiliate programs. Links provided above may be affiliate links. For a full list of my affiliate programs, and to understand how cookies are used to help this website earn money, please see my “Privacy Policy” page.

Chelly Wood and the ChellyWood.com website are not affiliated with the pattern company or companies mentioned in this blog post, but Chelly finds inspiration in the doll clothes designed by these pattern companies. To purchase patterns from Simplicity, McCall’s, Butterick, Vogue, or other pattern companies shown and discussed in this blog post, please click on the links provided here. These links below the “Disclaimer” section do not help raise money for this free pattern website; they are only offered to give credit to the company that made these patterns.