Sewing classes are a valuable tool and Craftsy has a number of great ones!
Would you like to see Sue’s Tiny Costumes offer classes? If so please let me know!
Sewing classes are a valuable tool and Craftsy has a number of great ones!
Would you like to see Sue’s Tiny Costumes offer classes? If so please let me know!
Pattern Drafting Crash Course – Miniatures Chart Measurements
Miniature Doll Chart | |||
The chart on this page is a list of all the measurement amounts for places within the drafting instructions that say ‘see chart’. It is divided so that you can find the right measurement for your size doll that you may currently be working with and use the correct numbers for the step you are on. Most are for all the different types of dolls but one or two are for specifically just lady dolls or just babies and say so in the doll column. The chart is for just the drafts of the basic blocks – bodice, sleeve, skirt, and pants for the lady, child, baby and man sections in section I. Separate charts will be in later sections for other measurements as needed. | |||
Pattern Piece | Doll Size | Measurement | Amount |
Bodice | 6-10″ | Ease | 3/16 |
1:12 or 1″ Scale | 1/8 | ||
1:24 or 1/2 Scale | 1/16 | ||
Skirt | 6-10″ | Skirt Ease | 1/4 |
1:12 or 1″ Scale | 1/4 | ||
1:24 or 1/2 Scale | 1/8 | ||
Pants | 6-10″ | Pant Ease | 1/4 |
1:12 or 1″ Scale | 1/4 | ||
1:24 or 1/2 Scale | 1/8 |
Copy the following to your paper before you start and fill in with the correct measurements for the doll you are working with. The ones in italics can be found on the Miniature Draft Chart. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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This tutorial was originally created in 2000-2001 and tested on my daughter at about a year old (she’s 13 now). I have also used this tutorial to draft for a doll as small as 1/2″ tall of course using magnifying glasses and a very sharp pencil! This is a preview of the techniques used in Pattern Making for Dolls and Pattern Drafting For Miniatures which were originally sold as hard copy books, moved to CD and finally are now available only in PDF as an instant download.
Included in this tutorial series are all the items that will be needed for all the pattern drafts and even some of the items that will be needed for the stylization in following sections of the full book. Please feel free to draft patterns and critique anything you find that doesn’t work quite right for you. Please also remember the full book covers ladies clothing and babies clothing too along with stylization and construction tips and techniques. If you pass this on to anyone else please remember to give me credit and point them to my website or contact information. Feel free to contact me with any questions you have regarding my technique.
At some point in the future, I will be expanding this series of books to include Computerized Drafting and a book on Advanced Stylizations for Dolls and Miniatures. Keep an eye on the site and the blogs for announcements!
Here is a continuation of the Pattern Drafting Crash Course. A basic straight skirt and a bonus fuller skirt.
Measurements Needed | |||
Copy the following to your paper before you start and fill in with the correct measurements for the doll you are working with. The ones in italics can be found on the Miniature Draft Chart | |||
Waist Arc | Hip Depth | Front | Back |
Hip Arc | Side Hip Depth | ||
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1) Skirt Length- side seam | 2) Side or Back Hip Depth (whichever is deeper)- square out to either side to the left back hip arc and to the right front hip arc | 3) Back Hip Arc- at top square out back hip arc | 4) Center Back- square out back hip arc at bottom and then connect from top to bottom to form center back |
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5) Back Hip Depth-Should be only slightly shorter than side hip depth, mark in. If you used Back Hip Depth in step 2 use Hip Depth here. | 6) Back Waist Arc- from center back line towards side seam Formula: waist arc + ease (see Miniature Draft Chart) | 7) Hip Line- curve from mark to hip level | 8 ) Waist Line- curve from back hip mark to hip |
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9) Front Hip Arc- front hip arc. At top square out then square out front hip arc at bottom and connect from top to bottom to form center front | 10) Front Waist Arc- from center front line towards side seam Formula: waist arc + ease (see Miniature Draft Chart ) | 11) Hip Line- curve from mark to hip level | 12) Front Hip Depth – Should be only slightly shorter than side hip depth, mark in |
13) Waist Line- curve from front hip mark to hip |
This is a bonus skirt draft for a plain skirt that goes well with a simple
bodice and can be as full as can fit around the doll’s waist.
Alternate Skirt | ||||||||||||||||
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Measurements Needed | ||||||||||||||||
Skirt Length | ||||||||||||||||
Skirt Width**** | ||||||||||||||||
****Skirt width- the amount of gathers you want (see chart above) | ||||||||||||||||
Determine skirt length | ||||||||||||||||
Multiply waist measurement by how full you want the skirt to be (see chart) | ||||||||||||||||
Draw 1 skirt length line | ||||||||||||||||
Square out full skirt width from top and bottom | ||||||||||||||||
Draw opposite skirt length line |