Do you fancy manufacturing a doll\’s dress for your own doll or a friends? Or how about some other articles of clothing like a trouser suit, pyjamas or a night shirt?

If you have never done it before, it is not that difficult to make a decent job of making dolls\’ clothing, but you will have to take measurements, just as in real life.

It is a good idea to know the full length of the doll, but there are no garments that actually cover from head to toe unless you are designing a ghost\’s fancy dress costume for the doll. Be careful with the chest measurement too.

You cannot estimate it because dolls, both male and female, tend to have larger chests than proportion would imply that they should be. Merely look at Barbie and Ken, they could probably hold their breath for ten minutes!

Likewise, the inside leg measurements tend to be overstated and the waist way undersized. This is why it is so essential to measure the doll or if the dolls\’ clothing is to be a surprise, measure one like it. From waist to the hem is enough for a skirt or from neck to the hemline for a dress.

If you are manufacturing trousers, you will need the inside leg and the outside leg to the waist band or hips, depending on the style. Then you will also require the waist or the hip measurement and the combined thigh measurement for skirts and dresses or individual thigh dimensions for trousers or slacks.

If you are measuring for a top or the top of a dress, you will require the measurements from the sternum to the centre of the armpit and from there to the centre of the other armpit.

In many ways, measuring a doll for clothing is equivalent to measuring humans, but on the other hand, the dimensions can have a lot more tolerance because seams do not come under stress from movement with dolls. It is quite easy to only use common sense whilst measuring dolls for clothing, but practice will make perfect.

One of the best habits that you can get into is keeping notes and making sketches. After you have become proficient enough at making dolls\’ clothing, you might be able to sell your produce and maybe even sell your pattern book too, if they are all your original concepts.

Tailoring or dressmaking for dolls can be great fun and children will certainly appreciate a new, unique costume for their doll, but then you will see that for yourself the first time you present your little niece, nephew or friend with one of your latest creations.