BID Girl's Coveralls
This pattern was designed to fit an Iplehouse BID. It may fit other small dolls with similar measurements
*To download the pdf with full size patterns, just click on pattern page below
When Fabric has a 'Nap'
I used fine corduroy for my doll's dress, and corduroy has a nap, so all the seams were basted (hand-sewn with a running stitch) before stitching on the sewing machine.
What is a 'nap' you ask? Fabrics with 'naps' include velvets, velours, and corduroy. They all have a raised pile - or nap - like a 'miniature carpet'. When sewing with any fabric with a nap, it is very important to pin and hand-baste all seams before sewing on the machine. I've tried to show why in the drawing to the left. When two fabrics with naps press down on each other, the fibres in the nap have nowhere to go but to one side, and when they bend to one side, the fabric goes with it. So unless you first carefully hand-stitch the layers together, you will find that the clothing pieces you ran through the sewing machine no longer align neatly on top of each other. The fabrics will have shifted, and your pattern pieces won't match up at all anymore. |
Instructions
1. Click on pattern image to download pattern pdf. Print and cut out patterns. Please note that the bodice piece is a template and it does not include the seam allowances. You will have to add those when cutting out the fabric. Trace bodice template pattern onto wrong side of dress fabric and onto lining fabric. Cut out adding seam allowances. Apply Fraycheck around bodice edges. The entire bodice is cut in one piece, so the back is on the 'bias' and those are prone to stretch, so applying Fraycheck makes the edges stiffer, and less stretchy.
2. Hem the edges of the shoulder ruffles. *Note - you can leave the ruffles off if you prefer.
2. Hem the edges of the shoulder ruffles. *Note - you can leave the ruffles off if you prefer.
3. Pin ruffles into arm holes of bodice, and baste gathering into place.
4. Pin lining right side to right side onto bodice, being careful to roll up the ruffles so they won't get caught in the neckline seam.
5. Baste around neckline and sleeve openings. Machine sew.
6. Trim seam allowances down to 3/16" and clip all curves. Turn right side out by pulling bodice backs through shoulder to front. Press
7. Fold bodice along shoulders, and with right rides together, pin the bodice underarms and the lining. Baste.
8. Machine stitch underarm seams, press open, fold lining down inside bodice, and press again.
9. Baste, then sew centre front seam of pants. Zig-zag back seam edges. Baste pants bottom onto cuffs, gathering to fit.
10. Machine stitch pant legs to cuffs. Fold cuffs under to inside. Pin in place, and hand sew.
11. Top stitch cuffs on right side
12. Baste, then machine sew lower back seam. Press seam allowances open, then top stitch around opening.
13. Pin crotch seams together, then baste.
14. Machine stitch crotch seam. Clip crotch and trim cuff corners. Zig-zag raw edges.
15. Hand gather pants to bodice with right sides together. Machine sew.
16. Fold lining under on inside, and neatly hand sew into place.
17. Top stitch around bodice edges
18. You can embellish with tiny buttons if desired. Fit on doll to measure for snaps, then sew on snap fasteners.
*Note - T-Shirt pattern & instructions can be found in 'Long-Sleeve T-Shirt for BIDs & KIDs'
Variations
Overalls pants legs can be lengthened or shortened depending on the season, and the shoulder ruffle can be left off.
Copyright © 2015 Martha Boers
All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved