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Fabric & Haberdashery Shopping for DOLLS
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items It's difficult to find Fabrics and haberdashery for making Dolls clothes. The scales are too different to be able to use conventional items. This list gives you everything you need to make realistic looking dolls clothes. Have fun! A note on my curated “sewing Box”: This list contains affiliate links. If you follow a path to a treasure and make a purchase, I may receive a small token of thanks, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend items that I have used personally, that w...
Sections
4
Fabrics
Zippers for Doll Clothes
General Haberdashery
Sewing Patterns
Fabrics
Fabrics for doll clothes are another tricky area. Most fabric shopping is done on line now which makes it very hard to be able to feel and gauge the weight and drape of the fabric. Then there are the patterns, I cant tell you how many times I have or...
There are some really fun fabrics around at the moment to dress your dolls up for Halloween, Do you dress them up for Halloween??
Cotton Happy Halloween Fabric
The truly great thing about making dolls clothes is that you can buy some of the most exclusive fabrics ever made - as you will only use a very small amount of it!
Halloween Purple Silk Brocade
Fat quarters are a great way to shop for fabrics for doll dressmaking. Depending on your pattern, there is usually plenty of fabric in a fat quarter to make a dress or outfit for your doll. The added bonus is, the prints are usually very small and di...
Fat Quarter Bundle
Divine luxury!!!
The silks are a joy to work with, they sew together beautifully and don’t fray themselves to death when working with tiny tiny pieces!
Luxury & Designer Silk Fabrics
Buying fabric is mostly only available on line now. That makes life very difficult when you need to touch the fabric to feel its weight or see the pattern to judge the scale. If you dont know your way around fabric too well, or you just want a handy ...
Minerva Fabric Guide - The Definitive Guide to Fabrics & Fibres - Includes 70 Swatches | Minerva
Not always an easy fabric to work with but natural pure silk always gives good results when it comes to tiny fashions!
Silk Fabrics | Minerva
Pure cotton fabric also makes great dolls clothes
Tilda Creating Memories 100% Cotton Fabric (Value Roll) Blue | Minerva
A joyous collection of luxury silk fabrics in the most incredible colours you have ever seen!
New colours being added regularly.
Silk Baron
Seersucker is a beautiful fabric to work with and is especially lovely for making clothes for the larger dolls such as the Sasha doll.
Seersucker colourful stripes
Cotton Chambray - always a “got to” fabric when you need to make something “denim” for dolls. Much finer than denim but gives you the look you want for your doll.
Cotton Chambray
checked cotton fabric for anything smocked makes life very easy.
Cotton fabric grid check
Use it for everything. Makes a lovely fabric to use as a contract trim for collars and cuffs. An easy basic fabric that presses well to give you those sharp edges and seams.
Polyester Cotton Blend
Any version of millefleurs is a good version for dolls. Millefleurs - million flowers! Almost guaranteed to be a tiny print!
Cotton Poplin millefleurs
Lovely cotton gingham, an easy fabric to work with and very traditional for dolls.
Cotton Gingham
Ok, lets talk chiffon! It is a demon to work with, BUT it gives you a fabulous drape on a fashion doll. Best used with an over-locker machine and lots of patience!
Chiffon
Cotton Chambray a much lighter weight fabric than denim, but gives the samd denim look for dolls, so great for making jeans and jackets.
Denim-Look Cotton Chambray
This fabric is incredible. Wouldnt this just make the most beautiful suit or coat for a fashion doll??
Multicolor Silk Tweed Fabric
Silk brocade make really beautiful dolls clothes. It is easy to work with and gives a really nice finish. Here are three jackets I made with Silk Brocade.
Blue/Gold Silk Brocade
Ohhh how much do I love tartan?? I have used it endless times. It is incredibly versatile and if you are lucky enough to source some SILK tartan then grab it with both hands, it WILL come in handy!
Multicolor Tartan Silk Shantung
Tartan is beautiful for dolls clothes, especially silk tartan, it presses into very sharp pleats. I have used it over and over. Here are some of my outfits. The ballgown I used many many different varieties of tartan. I also use it in my men's wear!
Multicolor Tartan Silk Shantung
Dont shy away from fabrics that have a special finish. This crushed silk was used for this dolls dress and cape that I made. It was embroidered and painted and worked beautifully.
Rich Gold Marble Crushed Silk Dupion Fabric
Zippers for Doll Clothes
Using a regular zip wont work with dolls clothes. To get something that works to an accurate scale can be tricky - but here you go!!
Open ended mini zips
Open Ended Invisible Zipper: Nylon Coil, Jacket & Coat - [Color]
PERFECT little mini Zips, great for pockets!!
Tiny 7cm 2-3/4" size 0 Closed End Zipper, Mini Zippers for Doll, Toy Clothing
ideal for lighter weight garments. Very small and delicate, perfect!
Black Invisible Open Ended Zip: Nylon Zipper for Jackets & Coats
Love these for making anything military, coats etc
YKK Army Green (566) Antique Brass Zipper Doughnut Pull DIY Sewing Metal bag zip Recycled Tape All Sizes
A great quality scaled down zip for dolls
YKK Zips/Zippers 16cm, Metallic Gold Coloured Ball Slider & Teeth
General Haberdashery
Haberdashery for real people is easy enough to find but when it comes to making dolls clothes you need to get the scale right or you will ruin the whole look. I hope you will be able to find what you are looking for right here.
Elastic for making straps, waistbands etc makes life SO much easier!
Coloured Flat Elastic - 10mm - Lots of Colours!
Great fasteners but make sure you get the right setting tools
8mm Brass S-Spring Press Studs Popper Snap Fasteners Buttons Sets For DIY Doll Clothes Choice of 4 Colours
Love these but they are TINY, look great on smaller scale clothing!
Mini BUCKLES Overalls 10-20 Set Doll Clothes Making Sewing supply Craft clip Dungarees DIY Metal fit for 1/6 12" inch Mini girl Accessories
TINY hooks and eyes are essential
Doll Clothes DIY Sewing Supplies Size #0 Brass 6x11mm ...
So may uses for these tiny buckles. Perfect for making rucksacks too!
8mm Mini BLACK Doll Bags Buckles 8mm X 16mm ...
A very useful place to buy everything you need.
CharleneluDesign - Etsy UK
Finding the perfect buttons for the perfect doll can be a challenge. But for Sasha these are perfectly to scale and suit any garment you care to make!
Sasha Dolls Little Buttons For Homemade Outfits - The Doll Works
Always always use the smallest buttons you can find when making dolls clothes. Scale and detail is everything!
Tiny Round Buttons (Value Pack) Bright Assortment
Sewing Patterns
It is quite hard to find decent doll patterns whether that be for sewing or knitting. I need my dolls to look real and the scale of the clothing to look right and I certainly dont want her to look like Barbie in a Nanna's knit!! So here are some patt...
A great book for doll sewing, very easy to follow instructions and full size patterns provided.
The Doll Dressmaker Venus A Dodge Complete Doll Clothes Makers Guide Patterns
A MUST HAVE for making beautiful clothes. Easy to follow and all full size patterns included for various size dolls.
Dressing Dolls with Rosemarie Ionker by Rosemarie Ionker
Worth every penny! EASY step by step instructions, fully illustrated, guides you through the whole process. All patterns included.
The Art of Making Beautiful Fashion Doll Shoes
All you need for creating historical Fashions for your doll. Doll sized patterns that are easy to use. Full patterns and instructions.
Patterns of Fashion: 1660-1860
This book gives you all the pattern pieces for you to print out and use with full instructions. It gives instructions about how to scale up your pattern to human sizes but we dont want to do that do we?
Patterns of Fashion 2
A very useful source of patterns, it doesn't take much to alter these for modern fashion dolls.
French Fashion Doll's Wardrobe by Louise Hedrick
An easy place to start with some gentle sewing.
Clothes To Sew For 11 1/2" Fashion Dolls, Volume 1 by Linda Wright
I have this book, right here on my shelf. It is an absolute delight. It crosses the border between story books and making your own clothes. The way it has been written is so unique. All the sewing patterns are included.
The Mary Frances Sewing Book by Jane Eayre Fryer ...
Perfect!! Everything you need to dress Sasha.
Head to Toe: Doll Patterns for 16" Sasha Dolls
A inspirational book that I have on my shelf. Easy instructions for knitted flowers that make wonderful embellishments to your doll clothes.
100 Flowers to Knit & Crochet (new edition) by Lesley Stanfield | Waterstones
A very useful book that I keep to hand. Great instructions, easy to follow. Make all kinds of lace edgings for your dolls clothes. Really finished off a hand made garment.
Tessa Lorant's Knitted Lace Edgings Vol 2
I swear I have knitted every single one of these at some point. OK I know they are not strictly fashion dolls, but they are fun to knit, I thoroughly recommend having a go at knitting these.
Jean Greenhowe Designs Official Website - Knitting patterns, knitted dolls, toys
Free patterns! What's not to love? Get started and give it a go!!
16-inch doll clothes patterns - Free Doll Clothes Patterns
This isn't meant to be patronising, I truly want to cater for everyone when it comes to starting sewing and I urge you if you have never tried, please start with something simple, just have a go!
I Can Make Dolls' Clothes
FREE sewing patterns that will fir the Smart doll!
Ready To Print – (1/4) MSD Doll Patterns
FREE Smart Doll Sewing patterns - I have tried all of these and they are great!!
Free Apparel Patterns for Smart Dolls
Ok, now you can go crazy! Seriously though, this book is an excellent guide to making serious hats for your fashion dolls!
The Art of Making Miniature Millinery
Doris Mixon is a genuine powerhouse of information when it comes to fashion dolls. I met her in California after I won the Project Dollway Competition, she is a lovely lady and I would recommend all her work.
Miniature Mannequins: ID & Price Guide
Designs by Jude - the best place for up to date modern doll fashions, lovely patterns for most dolls
designsbyjude - Etsy
A MUST HAVE for making beautiful clothes. Easy to follow and all full size patterns included for various size dolls.
Dressing Dolls with Rosemarie Ionker by Rosemarie Ionker
More patterns for clothes! Easy to follow and great fun!
All About Sasha Pattern Booklet Volume II - PDF Format
A beautiful Sasha doll pattern book. I urge you to give it a try. Just have a go at making the clothes yourself.
Head to Toe: Doll Patterns for 16" Sasha Dolls
Make your own shoes with this handy powerpoint slide show!
Make your own shoes!
A great book for doll sewing, very easy to follow instructions and full size patterns provided.
The Doll Dressmaker Venus A Dodge Complete Doll Clothes Makers Guide Patterns