How to Custom Make Crocheted Doll Clothing

With all the different styles of baby dolls out there, it is hard to find a perfect fitting crochet pattern. But don't toss your excess yarn out just yet. There is an easy way to create an entire wardrobe for your little girl's doll. And the best part is that you'll spend much less in the process.

Determining the doll's shape

Some baby dolls have all vinyl bodies, some have cloth bodies, and some are not well jointed. Is the chest smaller than the stomach, as in most vinyl dolls? Or is it an even thickness like American Girl dolls? The cloth bodies give you a greater margin of error without too many problems with the finished outfit. Vinyl bodies are harder, because they don't have any give and the clothing must be tight-fitting to say on at the waist without slipping.

Fasteners

If your doll is not well jointed you will have to decide what the best way to get the clothing on is. The Bratz Baby dolls have huge heads, and short arms that stick out somewhat. This can make them harder to work with. But figure out what the manufacturer does to make clothing for the given doll (i.e. what do the original clothing look like) and decide what the best way is to fasten your clothing.

Velcro can be used for young children that don't have a lot of dexterity. If you have a slightly older child, you can use buttons, making sure you add a little chain loop to the back opposite of each button for the easiest way to close a shirt for a huge-headed doll. Dresses are easiest when made to go on from the legs up. You may or may not need a fastener for dresses; if your doll isn't jointed very well at the arms, than it will be very difficult to get the dress straps long enough to pull over straight arms, but small enough to sit where they are supposed to on the doll's shoulders. Other ideas for fasteners include snaps, ribbon (through stitches), and beads (acting like a circular button).

Designing

If you aren't that creative, you can still come up with great ideas by using written patterns. Study how skirts are made by starting from the waist, adding increases gradually for an A-line skirt or staying even for a pencil skirt. Shirts should be made from the neck down, incorporating sleeves as you go; they should be made as a 'strip' so that you can pull them on over the arms and fasten easily in the back. Dresses are usually made from the neck down, using increases of stitches as you get to the skirt part will make it flare out. Hats can be made the same way you would make a hat for a child or adult-in the round. You will need to work smaller, of course, but you have the freedom to stop once it fits the dolls head and then work a trim.

Perfect Fit

The only way to get the 'perfect fit' is to have the doll on hand when you are creating. Periodically you should try it on so you can tell if you need to increase or decrease. Keep a record of how long your beginning chain is for each article of clothing so you can repeat it again. If you would like to add to an existing pattern, this is easier than you'd think. Just use the basics you learned from making clothing for adults, children, or other dolls, and use these as a basis for your custom made clothing. You can use elastic for the waist if you have a hard time getting the skirts or pants to say up, just as you would with adult clothing. Don't worry if something doesn't work out that great because you can always start over again or adapt it into something else. The old adage "practice makes perfect" applies here as well. Learn from the ill-fitting ideas to perfect your craft. Before long you will have a wardrobe from scrap yarns that your little girl's sure to love.