How-To Embellish Your Crocheted Doll Clothing the Easy Way

No matter whether you want to embellish your original design or one from a pattern, there are endless ways to spruce up your doll fashions. You don't need to be skilled in color-coding or sewing to manage this feat, either. Just consider some of these ideas on how to give your crocheted doll fashions an extra bit of glam.

Crochet Thread

Assuming you didn't use crochet thread to create the original doll outfit, you can add thread accents to sport, fingering, or worsted weight creations. Try using it on the cuffs (e.g. pants, shirt, or even socks) to add a contrasting color, or on the hem of a dress. If you are good at embroidery you can use metallic crochet thread to embroider flowers, initials, or other designs directly onto your yarn clothing for a professional touch.

Adding buttons the easy way

For doll clothing that is meant to look bulky or fit around a baby doll body, you can use this method rather than sewing. Take a tapestry needle and thread the yarn through, making sure it is the same color yarn you used on the particular area you are placing the button (this is so it blends in seamlessly). Pull the yarn through the clothing and then thread it through the button; if the button has a hole that is too small for the tapestry needle's head, than take the needle off here and just thread the button through the yarn (be sure to re-thread the tapestry needle afterwards). Pull the tapestry needle through the clothing on the other side of the shank. Simply tie the two ends and knot them twice for extra security; snip off the free ends, and voila! you have a button placed without sewing.

You can use this same method for placing ribbon bows on. Just make sure the tails are facing outwards on the clothing and tie the bow securely in front.

Even if you just want a decoration of some sort, buttons work great. Find large metallic shaped buttons for a shock of glam on any crocheted doll dress, or use other shapes to match the theme of the outfit. For example, ladybug buttons can be purchased cheaply at craft stores and they can perk up a summer outfit of the same color scheme in a cinch. Just use the same yarn method as explained earlier and have your outfit completed in no time.

Small accents for a big impact

Crochet thread Barbie dresses or outfits can be embellished with just a few small, well-chosen pieces. You only need to think miniature to find some great ideas. Don't throw out a small earring without a pair because it can be a brooch on Barbie. You can use small jewelry findings to decorate an outfit. For example, a filigree finding can double as a front decoration on a dress by just using small pearls or seed beads as dangling jewels. Use small feathers to decorate hair. Don't worry about anyone figuring out that you used a necklace pendant to decorate a parasol-they aren't likely to make the connection when they see the finished result.

Fused pearls

Fused pearls are a great way to add an ivory or iridescent gleam to any sized crocheted doll dress without having to do the stringing yourself. Make use of ball chain findings to connect the fused pearls on the back side of the dress and just sew between the pearls in a few strategic places to hold it up. If you want it to be draped around the sides or even hanging as elegant loops on a dress hem then you only need to sew it in a few key places. You will need to position it with stick pins to determine the drape on the doll, and then sew small stitches over the 'string' in between the fused pearls in those key places. You can also use small pieces of scrap yarn to do this as well, by tying them on the inside and using the loop made on the outside to hold the pearl strand in place.

There are many other ways to decorate your crocheted doll clothing, including the use of miniature symbols, lace, and fun fur yarns. Just use your imagination and you'll come up with many more easy ways to give your crocheted items an added sparkle.