Lya This project was not done in a day. It’s been nurtured in my mind for months since I met this beautiful lady who gave me a whole bunch of leather fabric for free and shared with me the passion in arts and crafts. In return to her generosity, I offered to make a dress for barbie so she can give her great niece as present for her birthday.
I didn’t know much about this little girl, but I guess a young little girl would love something glamorous, something princessy like a ballgown or a dazzling like a wedding dress. I’ve made different designs on different type of fabric for months, but none of them was glamorous enough to be a special birthday present.
One day, we found this beautiful piece of white fabric perfect to make an elegant wedding dress. I’m so excited when a ballgown design formed in my mind.
It doesn’t need to be overly decorated to make a dress look classy. Instead, small little details will make or break the game. Truly understand that, I took all the time in the world to make a pattern for the bodice that perfectly fit our barbie, and very carefully sew and iron each seam.
The bodice looks just perfect. It fits perfectly our barbie, the seam is nice and flat, the sweetheart cup perfectly form. With this bodice, any kind of underskirt will work. I thought so, so at first, I made a circle underskirt with some vertical pleat. Nothing wrong with that. It still looks pretty. But the thing is, it’s too ordinary. Nothing wrong, but nothing special. You can find this kind of gown anywhere.
It must be something special, something unique, not copy from anywhere, I thought. So I decided to unstitch it and do something I’ve never done before – design by 3D draping. This technique has been widely used by top fashion designers like Christine Dior to make creative and high-end garment.
3D Draping on doll
Draping is easier on professional dress form which are made for draping because you can pin on it. With dolls, it’s much harder because you cannot pin on the doll – how can you hold the fabric in place? I kept thinking about it and came up with an idea – make an inner dress and to pin the fabric on.
This type of dress I decided to make is a ballgown which needs volume. So the inner dress I made to do 3D draping is a ruffle petticoat. It worked just fine.
It took quite a while to fold the fabric, form it, pin it, step back and take a look, then do it again and again until I came up with a version that I like best.
The process of draping I have recorded here in this video:
When I was draping, I didn’t really know what it might turn out to be. The only thing I really knew was that it’s unique, it’s one of a kind, it’s the only version up till now – my very own design. I’m really happy with the result. With this technique, I’m very excited to make more unique and creative outfits for dolls of all sizes.
Why don’t you try it with me?
Happy Sewing!
This one is so elegant! Love it!