RTW copy, Easy baby doll top/dress - in DL

This is a sew along/ tutorial for a dress/top inspired by this one (mine is made in a knit, not a woven:
http://www.bodenusa.com/en-us/Girls-...?orcid=-72#cs2

First, how I got the measurments.
Measure right under your "model's" armpits. Because I used a knit, and I wanted it slightly fitted I didn't add any seam allowance or or easing and it ended up fitting well. If you use a woven, the way I sewed this might not work for your fabric, just warning you. I want to make this in a woven but don't have any (don't want to buy any during stash game, lol).
Anyway, right under my DD's armpits I got 24 inches. I then measured the strap length (from where I wanted the top of the "bodice" to be in front, to the spot I wanted it to be in the back). My daughters strap length was nine inches. Then I measured from the top of the bodice, to the place that I wanted the skirt part to end (I made mine dress length, it hits just below her knees)

The peices that I cut:
Straps: 2 pcs that are your length by 3inches (example: 3x9 inches)
Bodice: 2 pcs that are 6 inches wide by your chest measurment (6x24 inches)
Skirt: 2 pcs that are your chest measurement by the desired skirt length (24x24)

Here are my cut pieces:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...K/DSC01471.jpg
Next I serged along one the long side (9inch side) of EACH strap. Turn and press so that the seam is in the middle. It's the middle two pcs of fabric in this picture.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...K/DSC01484.jpg
For the bodice part:
Serge the short sides of each bodice pc to make two loops. Turn one right side out and press both of them. Make sure that you press the quarters so that it makes aligning them easier when go to sew it all together.
It's the far right set of fabric strips when you look at the above picture.
Gather each end of each strap so that it is approximatly half of it's original width, here are pictures of that.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...K/DSC01488.jpg
Bodice:
Sandwich the straps between the bodice peices, right sides together. I put the front of the straps 1 1/2 inches in from the sides (this is where the quarter pressing helps out as well). In the back, I put the straps in 2 inches in from the sides. Here it is all pinned together. Serge it all together.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...K/DSC01489.jpg
When it's serged, turn and press. I didn't top stitch this because it's a knit and I don't care for it on knits, you can if thats a look you like. Here it is turned and pressed.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...K/DSC01494.jpg
Now you attatch the skirt part, it's pretty easy, just make sure you get the front part of the straps in the front and the back in the back. Sew gathering stitches on the skirt and gather to fit the bodice. Matching the side seams to the sides of the bodice (where pressing helps), pin and serge the bodice to the skirt. Here it is pinned together. I like to put the gathered piece onto the ungathered piece so I can make sure that the skirt is evenly attatched.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...K/DSC01496.jpg
Turn it right side out, press well and top stitch if you'd like. I chose not to because I don't like that look on knits, atleast not on knit skirts. I would topstitch if this was in a woven instead of a knit. Here is the finished product.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...K/DSC01499.jpg

Hopefully this was easy for you girls and guys to understand. I see many more of these in my future. I think this would look super cute in a shorter tunic length to be worn over leggings or shorts, or even jeans and over a sweater. Hope this helps and you like it! Enjoy!
Jayme

That's a great idea. Thanks for the tute!

Great tute! Thanks!!!

How fun, thanks for sharing!!!

You explained it very well. Thanks for sharing.

No problem guys, I'm glad its easy to read, it's the first one I've ever done. I'm planning on a few more but I'm going to make them a bit bigger. I figured if they're a little big, they can last a little while, through the fall if I put a t-shirt or somethiing under it with some tights or leggings or jeans.

You could make the bodice a little bigger and then shir the back so it would 'grow' with your child for a while. Great tute though - I will give this a go next spring.

Love this! Lexi will be getting one tomorrow!

I love that dress. I am actually going to use this to make oldest dd one out of the hannah montana fabric I have for her. That will be in her easter basket so I am sure she will be pleased. Have to at least get something that I enjoy as well out of that fabric because HM is not my fave thing!

Wish I had these fabrics.

Were did you get the print fabric, it is just darling. Thanks for the wonderful tutorial I am going to give this a try.

thank you!

Great idea! And it will help me use up some of the larger "scraps" of knits that I have!! Oh and an excuse to buy some coordinating prints!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by vamdep

Great idea! And it will help me use up some of the larger "scraps" of knits that I have!! Oh and an excuse to buy some coordinating prints!!

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Dd loves them. And most of the prints that I've made them out of, I had from a mixed box that I bought from here. Dd's small for her age so I can get a lot of stuff out of a bit of fabric. At nearly 10, she only has a 25" chest.

What a great idea. Love it!