Jumper and Blouse for 14-15 in. Vintage and Modern Dolls

I decided since my last post was a jumper dress, it was time to make a real jumper and blouse. Here is how.

Jumper

Download the jumper and blouse patterns.

Place Jumper pattern pieces on fabric and cut them out.

Use some sort of anti-fray product on the edges of the pattern pieces. It really does help fraying.

Sew the darts in the bodice pieces.

Join the bodice front and backs with a 1/8^th inch seem. Finger press the seams open.

Sew the neck and armhole facings to the right side of the bodice. Use a 1/8^th inch seam. (For me it is almost easier to sew them on by hand.)

Clip the fabric and fold over to the wrong side of bodice. Press the facings down and it helps to tack the facings down with an occasional stitch.

Sew the sides of the bodice together.

This is what it should look like once the sides are sewn together.

Sew the sides of the skirt together and sew a gathering stitch 1/8th inch from the top. This is also a good time to fold the hem and sew it. (I like to hand sew my hems.)

Pin the skirt to the bodice right side to right side and sew with a 1/4th inch seam. 

SeIt should look like this.

Sew the bottom of the back of the skirt together using a 1/4^th in seam.
Fold the 1/4^th inch seam over up the back of the dress. Pin and sew the fold down. (I use a hem stitch and sew it by hand, but you can sew it on the machine.

Sew on the fasteners of your choice. (I like snaps better than Velcro because they don’t get caught in the dolls hair as easily.)

Bloomers

Fold one edge of the long side of the bloomers 1/8^th inch and then fold again ½ inch and pin and sew in place. (We will call this the waist side.) On the opposite side (the leg side), fold the bloomers 1/8^th of an inch and then fold again to 3/4^th of an inch.  Pin and sew the edge.  Then, sew another row of stitches 1/4^th of an inch from the bottom. This will form a ruffle on the leg side. You should now have created a tubes to run the elastic through.

Cut one piece of elastic the length of the waist of the doll. Then, cut a second piece that will fit around the legs.

Thread the elastic into the end of each tube. As soon as the tail end of the elastic reaches the edge of the cloth, put a few stitches in to hold the elastic in place. Finish threading the elastic through and when the elastic reaches the end, put a few stitches there to hold the elastic.

It should look something like this.

Sew the two ends of the bloomers together.

Turn the bloomers right side out. Next, make sure the cloth is evenly distributed around the elastic.

Sew a ½ inch seam in the middle of the bottom where the ruffles are. This forms the legs of the bloomers.

Blouse

Cut out the pattern pieces.

Use some form of anti-fray product to help keep the fabric from fraying.

Sew the shoulder pieces together with a 1/8^th inch seam.

Next, sew the neck facing onto the bodice right side to right side using a 1/8^th inch seam.

Clip the seam and fold over the facing. You might want to press the facing down and put in a few stitches to tack the facing in place.

Run a gathering stitch across the top edge of the sleeves. It should be no more than 1/8^th inch below the top. If you are sewing on a machine, use the largest stitch you can.

Fold the bottom of the sleeve 1/8^th inch. Then, fold again ½ inch and pin in place. Next, sew the bottom of the sleeve capturing the 1/8^th inch fold and then run a stitch 1/4^th inch below that. This creates a tube to run the elastic through to gather the sleeves.

Wrap a piece of elastic around your dolls arm and cut.

Thread the elastic into the end of each tube. As soon as the tail end of the elastic reaches the edge of the cloth, put a few stitches in to hold the elastic in place. Finish threading the elastic through the sleeve and when the elastic reaches the end, put a few stitches there to hold the elastic. It should look something like this.

Gather the top of the sleeves and pin to the arm holes on the bodice. Sew the sleeves to the bodice just below the gathering stitch.

Clip the seams to prevent bunching.

Fold the bodice and sew up the sides and clip the underarm area. Make sure you don’t clip the stitches.

Fold the bottom of the blouse up 1/8^th inch and then fold it 1/8^th inch again. Sew the folds in place. (I like to use a hem stitch.)

Fold the back edges of the bodice 1/4^th inch and sew in place.

Sew on the fasteners of your choice.

This jumper fits Sweet Sue, Toni, Honey Walkers, Nannettes, Wellie Wishers and Glitter Girls.

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