Antique Doll Dresses

Reproduction Clothes for Antique Dolls

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Joann…I feel stupid but I can not tell the grain on material… You said it really matters that it is cut right.. If you get a chance explain to me how to tell.. I appreciate your time.. Looking forward to trying the patterns you just sent me but afraid

Hi Mary, sorry it is confusing for you.  Here is a picture of a bolt of fabric telling how to tell the straight of fabric. In the little drawings on the pattern cutting instructions I show the selvage edge and the fold. This picture of the bolt shows where those things are.

If your fabric is cotton, almost all cotton has the selvage on the straight grain of the fabric. Cotton that is 65% polyester may not– but I have yet to see any that didn’t have the grain running in the same direction as the selvage edge.

Dupioni Silk has the grain running across the width, instead of the length of the fabric, but you can plainly see it and tell by looking. Fabrics like silk and satin and taffeta may also have the grain across instead of the length of the fabric, but I doubt you are using those. 

If you are using a piece of cotton that has no selvage edges, another way to find the straight grain is to tear it– make a cut like you were going to cut off an inch and a half of the fabric– you have to cut it in a couple inches to get a good grip– and try to tear a strip off the fabric. It will tear easily ACROSS the grain ( as though you were tearing from selvage to selvage) but fabric will NOT tear easily  WITH the grain.It will pull threads and look ragged. This does waste fabric and hopefully you won’t have to do it– if you have even one selvage edge left it is easy to find the grain.

If you have something like an old sheet,  try tearing it in two directions– and it will tear smoothly ACROSS the grain,  but NOT on the grain of the fabric. You can then use the old sheet to make a prototype of the dress. You don’t need to finish anything when you make a prototype! Just cut out the  bodice pieces, sleeves and skirt. Sew up the should seams, don’t finish the neck or anything, set the sleeve in for practice ( don’t finish the bottoms either) then cut the skirt and gather it to fit– no need to finish the back or hem it to then see how the prototype works. This will take the fear out of using the pattern!  Sometimes when I am making a new pattern, I will make 4-5 prototypes before it is perfected!  Old sheets are GREAT for this!

If you need more help, Mary, do feel free to call me!

I have an antique doll by Lena Schwartz. How do I sell it?

I am sorry, I have been out of the doll business for almost 20 years and all the dealers I knew have either retired or died. I don’t have any idea where anyone can sell dolls, so I don’t give any advice about it. Sorry I can’t be of more help!

Questions about buying or selling dolls will not be posted in the future. Thank you for understanding.This blog is about sewing, not marketing dolls. 

What Makes a Doll Antique or Vintage

Before eBay set their own ideas for what is antique or vintage, a doll to be considered vintage had to be 75 years old and to be antique had to be at least 100 years old. eBay decided an item could be called vintage if it is no longer made— even if production stopped last week— and anything older than they are must to be antique.  So for the sake of clarity in my blog, a doll has to be made BEFORE 1960 to be vintage, and at least 100 years old to be referred to as “antique”. Dolls made  between 1960 and 1980 are considered to be  “modern collectible dolls” and those made after 1980, such as Cabbage Patch, “My Double”, “American Girl”  and others, including  “limited edition” dolls, are not considered, on my blog, to be any of the above. They are just used dolls. For information about one of them, run a Google search.

 

Do you buy dolls?

I am sorry, but NO, I DO NOT BUY DOLLS, and I regret to say I don’t know anyone who does at this time. The booming doll market of 25 years ago is no longer there. With the advent of the internet, the market was and is flooded with dolls for sale at all times, so dealers are no longer buying them– instead they are trying to sell off their inventory themselves. I suggest if you have dolls you don’t want that you sell them at auction or donate them to a charity and take a tax write off.

Do you make clothes for dolls other than those Seen on your website?

Some clothes will fit dolls other than those specifically named. For example if you see a dress for a 14″ Toni that you would like for a 14″ composition doll but are not sure it will fit, please email and ask me. Sometimes if I know what your doll is I can help you select the correct size even though the dress may not be made specifically for your doll.

Leave questions or comments below. You will NOT be spammed or get a bunch of emails!

Do you do clothes on special order?

Only if they are items I regularly make that I am out of stock on or don’t have enough in stock for your needs.  For example, if I only have one Toni slip in stock and you need three, you may email me and ask if I can make more for you. I don’t do special orders for dresses for dolls that I don’t usually sew for, such as modern fashion dolls or currently popular newer dolls.

If you are interested in a custom dress for an antique doll ( Pre 1940) I refer to Rubie Schroeder at http://forgetmenotdollrepair.com

If you need a custom dress such as a copy of your wedding dress in doll size, I also now refer to Rubie Schroeder at http://forgetmenotdollrepair.com

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New Items!

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  • Fabric, Organdy, Vintage Embroidered one yard by 44" $4.00

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Frequently Asked Questions

Joann…I feel stupid but I can not tell the grain on material… You said it really matters that it is cut right.. If you get a chance explain to me how to tell.. I appreciate your time.. Looking forward to trying the patterns you just sent me but afraid

Hi Mary, sorry it is confusing for you.  Here is a picture of a bolt of fabric telling how to tell … [Read More...]

I have an antique doll by Lena Schwartz. How do I sell it?

I am sorry, I have been out of the doll business for almost 20 years and all the dealers I knew have … [Read More...]

What Makes a Doll Antique or Vintage

Before eBay set their own ideas for what is antique or vintage, a doll to be considered vintage had … [Read More...]

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