Tacky Glue or fabric glue is helpful in positioning the hook and loop tape (also known by its brand name, Velcro). The glue acts like sewing pins to hold the hook and loop tape in place before permanently sewing it to the dress. I have used red hook and loop tape for visual purposes only. Normally, I would use black on black. Hook and loop tape does come in a variety of colors, and when I make dresses, I try to best match the fabric and tape.
Before attaching the hook and loop tape, the 3/8″ extension of the skirt on either side of the bodice needs to be tacked down. This extension on either side of the bodice is actually part of the seam that will eventually run down the back of the skirt. You will see that the skirt naturally folds down at the top as seen in Photo 1. Apply a tiny dot of glue to the top of the skirt on and under the folded area as shown in Photo 2. Fold the side of the skirt over and hold for a moment until the glue keeps the fabric in place. This is shown in Photo 3. Do this for both sides of the skirt.
1. The Top of The Skirt Folds Down
2. Apply a Dot of Glue
3. Fold Over and Hold in Place
Photo 4: Visually measure the hook and loop tape so that it is about 1/2″ longer than the bodice. Cut the 1/2″ portion off. The longer pieces will be attached to the bodice, and the shorter 1/2″ pieces will be attached to the top of the skirt so your doll’s bottom doesn’t show.
Photo: 5: Cut the rougher side of the hook and loop tape into 1/4″ wide strips. The rougher side of the hook and loop tape is what will typically stick to your doll’s hair and other fabrics. This is why I make this portion of the hook and loop tape smaller and tuck it inside the dress.
Photo 6: Apply some glue to the back of the rough side of the tape. Put a piece inside the bodice of the dress so that it doesn’t extend past the edges of the bodice. Do the same with the smaller piece on the skirt just below where the bodice and skirt meet.
4. Visually Measure the Hook and Loop Tape
5. Cut Rough Side of Tape into 1/4" Strip
6. Apply Glue and Adhere to inside of Dress
Photo 7: Apply glue to the edge of the softer side of the hook and loop tape. This side does not need to be trimmed like the rougher side.
Photo 8: Attach the soft side to the edge of the bodice so that nearly the entire piece of tape is visible from the outside of the back of the dress. Make sure the soft side of the hook and loop tape matches in position to the rough side so the two will go together when you put the dress on your doll.
Photo 9: Attach the soft side of the tape to the top of the skirt opposite of where you positioned the rougher tape so they go together easily.
7. Apply Glue to the Edge of the Soft Side
8. Attach Soft Side to Edge of Bodice
9. Attach Soft Tape to Top of Skirt
Photo 10: This is what the dress should look like once the hook and loop tape has been glued in place. Be sure to allow the glue time to dry before permanently sewing the tape onto the dress. Depending upon the fabric, you can skip the step of sewing the hook and loop tape to the dress, but I personally don’t recommend it. Over time, it is common for the hook and loop tape to come off.
Photo 11: From the inside, the stitches that go over hook and loop tape look absolutely terrible. Fortunately, this is the part that no one will see. The stitches on the outside of the dress should not look so jagged.
NOTE: When I sew hook and loop tape to the dress, I position the dress so that the fabric is facing up in the sewing machine and the hook and loop tape is facing down. If you have the hook and loop tape facing up, the tape tears your thread, and you will find yourself having to start over.
Photo 12: This is what the dress will look like once the hook and loop tape has been sewn to the dress. Keep in mind, the color of my thread is for visual purposes only. If you correctly match your thread to your fabric, the stitches are virtually invisible.
10. Hook and Loop Tape Positioned on Dress
11. Hook and Loop Tape Sewn to Dress
12. The Back of the Dress After Sewing