Of Bjd Fashion: Birthday Surprise Outfits Part 2, Suspender Skirt/Puffy Shorts Tutorial

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We are continuing on from yesterday’s celebration, here is a brief recap in case you were unfortunate enough to miss it.

Yuna and Sakura have both joined our doll family over a year ago, so Anna made these adorable outfits for them.

Yesterday, Anna created a thorough tutorial for their lovely raglan sleeve tops.

So today, we will learn to make the rest of the ensemble.  Yuna’s lace trimmed skirt and Sakura’s “puffy” shorts, both with removable suspender straps.  A wonderful asset to any yosd sized doll wardrobe.  Let the tutorial begin.

Yosd Suspender Skirt/Puffy Shorts Tutorial

Materials needed:

• Pattern
• Fabric or a handkerchief
• Matching thread
• Thin lace (optional)
• Basic sewing supplies
• Snaps or Velcro
• Thin elastic
• Sewing machine is optional
• Some sewing knowledge is helpful

If you are a bit of a beginner with sewing I recommend checking out this video tutorial for fitted doll dresses, it demonstrates several techniques used for these pieces.

Here is your pattern.  It is based on Sakura’s measurements, which can be found in the doll’s profile page.

Let’s start with the skirt.

First cut one waist band and one skirt according to the skirt measurements.  You are welcome to shorten the skirt if your doll is a little on the shorter side.

Next, we pin and hem the bottom of the skirt.

If you wish, you can also pin on some lace along the hem too, sewing both the hem and the lace at the same time. 

Now it’s time to gather the top of the skirt to fit the waistband (beginners, don’t forget to checkout that video).

Carefully pin the skirt to the waistband with right sides together.  Spread the gathers evenly as you pin.

Sew the pieces together and trim a little of the excess fabric to reduce some bulk.

Now we will start to tackle the back opening.  Start to pin and hem the end of the skirt, but only about an inch down from the gathered top.  I use my thumb as a guide. 

Repeat at the other end.  Now is also a good time to check the fit on your doll.

Now we continue with the waistband.  Fold top edge of the waistband down and pin.

Then fold it over the gathered edge of the skirt and re-pin it in place.

You will now turn the skirt around and sew the waistband along the edge near the skirt.  It helps to move the pins one by one to this side of the skirt, especially if you’re using a sewing machine.

Just about done, now to do the back seam.

Pin the ends of the skirt together and sew the back seam.

All that’s left to do is add snaps or Velcro.

Now the skirt is finished, that is if you want it to be just a skirt.

But we want to add straps.

Easily done.  Just cut 2 pieces for the straps.

Fold the edges…

…pin and sew.

Then attach with snaps on both end of the straps.

This is what makes them detachable.  You could also make them permanent by only using snaps on one end and sewing the other ends to the skirt.

Now let’s get on with the shorts.

The shorts are made very much the same way as the skirt.  You do cut two pieces instead of one, but you still start by hemming them.

You will then sew elastic along the hem. 

If you are doing this by hand instead of machine, you might find it easier to thread the elastic through the hem instead.  Kind of like what we did yesterday with tops.

Either way, you will end up with this, a nicely gathered bottom.

Then you pin and sew them together for the back seam (as marked on the pattern).

This is where it becomes just like the skirt.  Gather the top to fit the waistband…

…sew it just the same way…

…pin and hem the ends (this will be the fly)…

…then finish sewing the waistband.

This is a good time to try it on your doll.  Make sure it will go around them nicely and that there is enough room between the legs.

Now you pin and sew the “front” seam from fly down to the crotch.

Then finally pin and sew up the inseam and crotch.

Add some snaps or Velcro, and if you still want to…

…add some straps.

Now you have a cute pair of puffy suspender shorts.  Feel free to decorate the skirt and shorts as you wish.

Have fun sewing!

Give it a try:

• VELCRO® Brand 0.63'' x 30'' Soft &Flexible Sew-On Tape
• Dritz® Sew-On Snaps Nickel-Asst Size 1/0 2/0 4/0
• Dritz Start-to-Sew Kit
• Dritz 1/4" Braided Elastic 8Yds White