Doll Days! Modern Jumper Sew Along Day 4

Welcome back for Day 4 of the Doll Days! Modern Jumper Sew Along -doll clothes sewing patterns for American Girl Dolls and other 18″ dolls.

1st day go here  

2nd day go here

3rd Day go here

It’s all about the back in this part of the sew along.

The last posted ended with pressing the lining and bodice. Before moving forward, make sure you have sewn the lining to the bodice at the side seams (quilters might know this as stitching in the ditch).

Finish the raw edged of the center back. Sew from the top edge to the hem edge to make sure things stay where they should. If using a serger, remember to secure those thread chains–I use a needle to thread the endof the thread chain into the serged edge.

Optional, finish the raw edge at the bottom/hem edge.

Sew the center back seam and add a back closure as directed in the book.

On this dress, I’ve decided to show you a way you can use velcro instead of a buttonhole to attach the straps in the back AND still have it look like it buttons.

Begin by putting the dress on the doll it’s intended for. Maryellen will be wearing this dress in my booth at the EE Schenck Trends show next month, so she is trying it on so it fits her perfectly. She wants her straps to cross in the back, so there it is.

1. Place a pin at the point where the straps are emerging from under the bodice. (Also pin the strap in place along the bodice to hold it there–which I neglected to take a picture of. sorry.) Notice how the bodice in the back is slightly lower? Make sure you adjust the dress this way for best results.  The hem should hang evenly all around when adjusted properly.

Carefully remove the dress, especially if your doll doesn’t like to get poked 🙂 Readjust everything, so the pin on the strap only is even with the bodice edge again.

2. Use a chalkoner, or other type of fabric marker that creates a fine line, to mark the diagonal placement lines of the straps.

3. Move the strap and use a ruler to mark a horizontal line 1/4″ down from the top edge on the wrong side (lining side) of the bodice.

4. On the right side of the strap, draw a line parallel with the pin and 1/4″ down.

5. Cut 1/4″ pieces of velcro and sew them onto the strap and bodice back (where you did all those markings). I place the fuzzy side on the bodice back and the scratchy side onto the strap ends.

When sewing the velcro to the bodice back, sew small rectangles. This stitching may show on the outside and it’s best to use matching thread and sew neat little shapes, depending on the button placement.

6. On the outside, hand sew 2 buttons to mimic the look of straps that button with buttonholes. I like to have the doll wear it and make sure the buttons look good, which may not be exactly where the velcro was sewn.

Now you can hem the dress as you choose if you haven’t already. I hemmed with a tiny green picot cluny lace. I hope you enjoyed the sew along and find it helpful! I’d love to see your Modern Jumpers–feel free to share them on our Avery Lane Pattern facebook group page here

Follow me on Blog Lovin’ or click on the little “follow” icon in the lower right corner of your screen to get notified of new posts. Until then, happy sewing!

~Erin