Making costumes is one of my favorite parts of doll making. Seeing how the doll comes alive with the right garment is incredibly rewarding. When I have an idea for a particular doll, it’s the costume that unveils the concept for the viewer. In this article, I’ll walk you through the steps I take to create costumes for my dolls. Maybe it’ll be helpful if you don’t know where to start!

Making costumes for your dolls | by Adele Po.

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Idea

As with anything, the first step is an idea. What this doll will represent? Is it based on a fairytale or some historical period? Is it a character from a legend or completely made up by you? Usually, I already have a rough concept in my mind before starting to make a doll.

When the idea is set, I start to seek inspiration. Books and Pinterest are my favorite places for that. I have a few costume history books that I flick through occasionally. Period costumes can be incredibly inspirational. I recommend these books:

You can flip through my Pinterest board as well.

Searching for patterns

Especially with historical costumes, the right sewing pattern is the only way to create accurate garments. If you don’t have a lot of sewing experience choose the simpler ones first. I mostly find sewing patterns online, occasionally I search for specific ones in books. Here’s a great source for historical patterns.

When you find the pattern you like, it’s time to adapt it for your doll. I print or copy the pattern on a piece of paper, cut out individual pieces and check how it fits the doll. It’s easier to make adjustments when you see everything in one place.

If you don’t mind another step in this process, you can even use some cheaper fabric and make a mock costume. This helps to see how the costume will drape, lets you see what can be done differently before the final version.

Sewing

Now that you have a pattern that fits correctly, cut the pieces out of the fabric. If you have access to a sewing machine, use it! I still like to sew with my hands, but a sewing machine helps a lot. Especially to achieve tidier seams. You can see my sewing process in one of the free tutorials here.

Decorating

Ok, here’s the best part - decorating the costume! Let your imagination run wild. I love to use lace, beads and other embellishments for it. Embroidery is a huge part as well.

I find that decorating the costume really helps to highlight your concept of the doll. Small additional details can bring the whole idea together! Tell me about your process when making costumes. Do you like it as much as sculpting the doll?

I hope this article helped you in any way. Don’t forget to check out my doll making classes for more information about doll making!