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Here is a way to make a big impact on the look of a skirt or dress with very little effort! Double fold bias tape!!
Use premade Bias tape for a fun hem accent to your 18 inch Doll Clothes
I love my patterned bias tapes. They add a quick and fun accent with very little effort. I prefer 1/2 inch double fold bias tape for the easiest application. You can look on You Tube for more detailed instructions to attach bias tape to your doll clothes. I simply open up the tape, (if one side is longer than the other, that goes on the inside of the garment), and line the raw edge in with the fold crease. I close the tape, and pin in place. When I sew, I sew from the right side, using my edge foot so my stitches are close to the edge but not on it. You can also apply bias tape in two steps. Open out the tape and sew the raw edge to the inside of your garment. (Right side of tape to wrong side of garment.) Fold the tape back in place with the raw edge neatly inside. Stitch on the right side of the garment just inside the edge.
I buy most of my bias tape on Etsy and at Home Sew. You need about a yard for an 18 inch doll’s gathered skirt. You can also make your own, with your cutting tools, an iron and this kit Ad: Bias Tape Makers.
Here are some fun examples that I have sewn for 18 inch American Girl dolls and 14.5 inch Welliewishers Dolls. It looks like I tend to pull my bias tape out at holiday times!! 🙂
Courtney is wearing the Twinkle Twirl Skirt with a red, striped bias hem. Find the hack to add the ruffle to the Playtime Peasant Blouse here.
Samantha is looking festive and cozy in her Backyard Bibs and Jumping Jack turtleneck shirt. I used the bias tape for the hem, the straps, and the waistband. Find the pattern bundle here.
Easy to Sew Doll Clothes using pre made Bias Trim for an Accent hemline
Bias tape hems can make such a statement. Here Camille is wearing the Party Time Peasant Dress with a black and white striped bias tape hem.
If you don’t have an premade bias tape, you can either make your own, or you can create the same look with a very narrow hem band. Ashlynne’s cute pink panda bear outfit is made with the HalterAlls pattern.
Another Twinkle Twirl Skirt with striped bias tape hem. Kelly’s top is the Popsicle Top pattern. Find both patterns in my ETSY SHOP.
It’s easy to make your own doll clothes. Try bias tape for a quick and easy accent hem.
This rainbow bias tape was found prepackaged at Joann’s, like this one Ad: Double Fold Bias Tape. You can also use solid colors as well. Here, Courtney has a Four Season Skirt with a rainbow hem- for a fun 80s vibe! Her top was made with the Popsicle Top pattern and looks just like the one from her collection at American Girl! Get the Four Season Skirt pattern FREE right HERE.
Poppy’s halloween dress was made with the Party Time Peasant Dress. This is my favorite pattern to mix and match holiday prints for a fun and festive outfit and I offer it in 6 doll sizes from 8-18 inches! This bias trim includes a little lace crochet edge but it was attached the same way; I just put the raw edge of the skirt into the fold and stitched along the edge. See more skirts with this same trim HERE.
Here’s another Party Time Peasant Dress– Grace is ready for Valentine’s Day!! I shop on Etsy and at Home Sew to find my patterned bias tapes so I always have a fun assortment on hand. See how to make the Party Time Dress with long sleeves HERE.
Such cute and tiny snowglobes!! Nicki’s Easy Up Jumper is trimmed in cute red gingham bias tape. Bias tape works on non gathered skirts too (and takes less tape.) It accents her fun striped socks and cozy red Jumping Jack Turtleneck. You can find more ideas for this simple to sew jumper here and here. Find the Jump into Fall bundle with both of these patterns in my Etsy shop HERE.
I hope you will try the fun, patterned bias tapes on the market to give your doll clothes a lot of accent for very little effort!! Don’t forget to follow me on facebook and see new sewing ideas daily!
