Think outside the fabric store
Visit the craft store and browse the isles you normally don’t think about. For instance, the scrap book section has tiny items that can be adhered to a dress. In fact, I purchased the grommet style eyelets and the tool that I use on my dresses and corsets from a craft store where I found it in the scrap book section.
You can also find feathers, buttons, unusual trimmings and fabric paints which are great for decorating a dress. Browse the jewelry making section, too. You could make a necklace or add chains to a Goth style dress.
Look through the floral section. There are often butterflies, leaves and silk flowers that can be added to the dress. You could turn your dress into a butterfly dress by attaching the wings to the back.
Polymer clay is an excellent source for making buttons and props. Even if you’re not a great sculptor, buttons can be made by rolling tiny balls of the clay, flattening the clay, using a sewing needle to poke two holes, and then baking the clay for only 20 minutes. In very little time, you have buttons that will match your dress perfectly!
Visit Your Local Miniatures or Doll House Store
Stores that sell items for doll houses often have great accessories and props that work well with your Pullip Doll. Tiny flowers, miniature dolls and other items might help you decide what direction to take your dress design. Keep in mind, however, miniatures can be a little more expensive.
Use Glue Instead of Sewing Pins
When sewing something tiny that is difficult to hold in place with sewing pins, use a toothpick to put tiny dots of Tacky Glue onto the item to hold it in place. Give it a few minutes to dry before sewing.
Use What You Don’t Wear Anymore
When deciding on fabric, look through your old clothing. Sometimes something you don’t wear anymore has the perfect print or pattern on the fabric that would make a great Pullip dress.
Visit the Second Hand, Charity and Goodwill Stores
Check out your second hand, charity and Goodwill stores. Goodwill sells a lot of children’s clothing for just a couple of dollars. It is an excellent source for finding striped knits for socks or stockings. Sometimes you can find unusual fabrics to make dresses in the adult section of clothing.
Use a Scarf
Have an old scarf you don’t wear anymore? Turn it into a Pullip outfit or accessory. I don’t mean the heavy knit scarves you wear to keep warm in the winter, but the decorative scarves that are used to accent an outfit.
Avoid Sewing a Hem
Sometimes the edges of the fabric are perfect as they are. If you buy fabric, check out the edges (selvedge). Sometimes the way the fabric is woven, the selvedges are pretty to keep as they are. Use the selvedge edges to avoid hemming the skirt or sleeves.
Rip the Fabric
Don’t be afraid to tear fabric to give the dress a tattered look. Simply snip an edge, then pull the fabric apart. Sometimes torn fabric looks beautiful when added to a dress.
Make a Bee Line for the Clearance Section
I always look through the clearance items in any store I visit. I have discovered all kinds of items this way for very little money.
Too Hard to Sew? Use Iron-On Adhesive
Iron-on adhesive comes in sheets and rolls and is available at fabric stores. It also comes in a heavy weight or light weight. What is great about iron-on adhesive is that it similar to the iron-on t-shirt decals. Simply iron a piece of the adhesive onto a piece of fabric. Cut it into the shape you want, remove the protective paper, then iron the trimmed shape onto your dress. No sewing needed!
Adhesives also come in a roll like tape we use for wrapping presents. You can avoid sewing hems by simply ironing the strip of adhesive to keep the hemline up as though it were sewn.
Pingback: Pullip and Momoko Doll Clothing by KerriaRosette | KerriaRosette
Very interesting and useful post!
Thank you. I’m always discovering new ways to do things, even after all these years of sewing and making crafts. It isn’t unusual to discover things by mistake, too.