Of Bjd Fashion: Simple T-Shirt Outfit for Our Yosd Boy Part 1

This post may contain affiliate links, please check out my disclosures page for more info. Thanks!

After far, far too long, Anna has made some clothes for us. Specifically for Makoto, our only yosd boy doll.

His new outfit consists of a t-shirt with longish sleeves, a simple pair of elastic waist shorts, and a sensible pair of socks. They are a touch on the plain side for my taste, but Makoto seems happy with them.

Simple as they are, basic pieces are still necessary for all doll wardrobes, so I have persuaded Anna to produce tutorials for these pieces.

First up, is how to sew a basic yosd sized t-shirt.

Yosd Sized T-Shirt Tutorial

Material needed:

• T-shirt (or jersey knit) material, old t-shirts and other knit clothing works well.
• Matching thread
• Basic Sewing Supplies
• (Optional) Sewing Machine
• Velcro or snaps
• (Optional) Embellishments, like small buttons or ribbons.
• (Optional) Patience

Here's the pattern. It includes the patterns for the t-shirt as well as shorts and socks, but those will come later. The t-shirt is made exactly the same way as my Msd sized t-shirt tutorial. If you've made those before, then this will be a breeze for you. If you haven't then please check out my tank top video tutorial, it demonstrates some of the techniques need to sew these shirts. Plus, it's fun to watch. 

Cut out the pieces from your t-shirt material.

With right sides together, pin the back pieces to the front at the shoulders and sew across.

Now get the sleeves and hem them.  You only need to fold once to hem since t-shirt fabric doesn’t unravel. 

And if you are sewing by hand, be sure to sew using a back stitch (as demonstrated in the video), so the hem will be able to stretch without snapping threads.

Once hemmed, you can carefully pin on the sleeves and sew (using the back stitch again).  I say carefully because if you don’t pin carefully around the curves of the sleeve and shoulders, then the ends won’t match up.

It is a good idea to try the shirt on your doll to make sure it fits well at he shoulders.  Re-sew if necessary.

I find it easier to stick the pins in this way when sewing curved pieces, how about you?

Once sewn, it is helpful to cut little notches in the seam allowance as shown, this keeps the fabric from puckering when you turn it right side out.

Anyway, with the shirt right side out, take the collar and fold it in half long ways.  Then, carefully pin it along the edge of the neckline.  Once pinned, sew on using a back stitch.

After sewing, turn the collar and top stitch (back stitch again) to keep it nice and flat.  You may feel the need to cut off some of the excess fabric.

This is a good time to add any decorations or embellishments to the front of the the t-shirt.

Now‘s the time to do the side seams.  With right sides together, pin along the sleeves and down the sides.  Be sure to try the shirt on your doll before sewing it down.

After turning right side out, fold and hem the edges of the back opening.

Now fold and hem the bottom of your shirt.

Try the shirt on your doll to decide where to add the Velcro or snaps, and attach accordingly.

And now your t-shirt is finished.

Stay tuned for part 2 to learn how to make the rest of this cute outfit. Look forward to it.

Give it a try:

• Loops & Threads Start-to-Sew Kit
• VELCRO Brand Recycled Sew on Tape
• Loops & Threads Sew-On Snaps

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Of Bjd Fashion: Pink Sweater Set with Navy Skirt and a Tutorial

This post may contain affiliate links, please check out my disclosures page for more info.  Thanks!

Our dear little Momoko had a birthday several months ago that quite dreadfully went on forgotten, until now.

Anna has designed and sewn an adorable little outfit for this joyous occasion.

It consists of a sweet pink sweater and knit top with a navy blue skirt and white bow.  The outfit it most becoming on Momoko.

Since we are in Arizona with temperature still soaring even this late in summer, Anna was thoughtful enough to make the knit top sleeveless.

And in her generosity, Anna also developed patterns and a tutorial, so others can sew this adorable outfit for their ball jointed dolls.

Sweater Set with Half Circle Skirt for Yosd Bjds Tutorial

Materials needed:

• Knee socks or some other knit for the sweater.
• Basic sewing supplies
• Thread
• Fabric for skirt
• Thin elastic
• Snaps or Velcro
• Trims of your choice.
• Tiny safety pin (optional)
• Doll
• Basic sewing knowledge (or a helpful friend who sews).

Here is the pattern for the knit top and half circle skirt.  You will also need my yosd sock sweater pattern, but that will come later.

First cut out the piece for the top from a knee sock or knit material.  You have two option for the collar piece.  You can cut using the pattern as is and fold it in half before sewing, or cut a piece along the edge of the sock.  The ribbed sock edge looks nice and you save on fabric because it only needs to be half as wide.

Anyway, start by pinned the front and back pieces at the shoulder and sew.  If sewing by hand, you will need to sew using a back stitch.  Check out this video tutorial for doll tank tops if you don’t know how to do a back stitch.

Now hem the arm openings (fold and pin along the edge before sewing them).

When hemming with a backstitch, you want to sew while facing the outside of the piece because the stitches on the underside are kind of ugly.

Now let’s get to that neckline.  Remember, if you cut the whole pattern piece for the collar instead of using the ribbing, you need to fold it in half before attaching to the shirt.

Start pinning the “collar” to the top.  I first pin at the center and both ends.

Then I finish pinning the rest of the collar.  Carefully sew while removing the pins.

Turn the collar up so it lays flat and pretty and pin in place.  Stitch along the edge (top stitching!), so it stays nice and pretty.

Now it’s time to sew up the sides of the top.  This is also a great time to try it on your doll (if you haven’t already) to make sure it fits.  Adjust as needed.

Almost done now.  Pin and hem the bottom.

Repeat on the back opening.  Then you can sew on snaps or Velcro, or whatever ever closure you like.

And now the top is ready to wear!

To make the sweater, just download the pattern from this post.  There’s a pattern for both Msd and Yosd sized sweaters along with a link to the original SD sized sock sweater tutorial.

As for the skirt, just follow the instructions in my msd sized half-circle skirt tutorial.

And now the finishing touch, the bow pin.  Just tie a simple bow from a bit of ribbon and add it to the sweater.

You can just sew it to the sweater, but if you sew on a tiny gold safety pin it suddenly become a nice removeable bow to use in other outfits.

And with that, the outfit is complete and ready to be worn by your doll.  Take tons of photos and enjoy!

End of tutorial.

(Anna, next time please arrange for the birthday doll to receive her gift at least during her birthday month!)

(Okay, but just remember that it’s difficult enough to keep track of all these dolly birthdays let alone plan gifts.  It would be easier to just give cards instead.  Is that what you want for your next birthday?)

(…On second thought, just do your best.)

Give it a try:

• Girls' Knee-High Socks 2pk - Cat & Jack™ Pink

• Singer Sewing Kit Beginner's

• VELCRO® Brand Soft & Flexible Sew-On

• Sew-On Snaps by Dritz Size 4/0 Nickel 12 pc.

• Coats & Clark Dual Polyester Thread

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Of Bjd Fashion: Faux Button Down Tank Top and Skirt for Misako with a Tutorial

This post may contain affiliate links, please check out my disclosures page for more info.  Thanks!

Our newest doll, Misako has gone far too long without a decent set of clothing.  Therefore, I am pleased to find that Anna has finally sewn a new outfit.

And doesn’t it look marvelous on Misako.

It consists of a casual sleeve-less top (she means a tank top), a floral half circle skirt, and a few accessories.  We will get to those momentarily.

I am concerned about the skirt.  It was made from the same fabric as one of my fine skirts.  Yet, I distinctly recall Anna promising to use the rest of said fabric to make a dress for me, preferable similar to this fine dress she made for herself.

No worries Hikaru, I still have more than enough to make a dress.  (Plus, I technically never promised to make it, you just decided on your own that I would make it and I went along.)

That is such a relief, maybe there’s enough left for accessories?

Anyway,  Anna decided to create tutorials and printable patterns for the “tank top” and skirt.  So others could sew this delightful warm weather Outfit.

Faux Button Down Tank Top and Half Circle Skirt for MSD Bjds

The Tank Top

Let’s start with the tank top.  It was designed to be a “faux” button down because I love the look but hate making button holes.

Plus, the overlapping fabric in front is kind of bulky on a doll.  Something I don’t want on things like light and airy tank tops.

You will need:

• T-shirt fabric, and old t-shirt works great.
• The pattern below.
• Basic sewing supplies
• Small buttons or beads for the buttons
• (Optional) Glue like Aleene’s Jewel-It

Here is the pattern for the tank top.  It was made based on Misako’s measurements which are post on the doll’s profile page.  It is intended to fit a little loosely though for a comfortable fit.

First cut your pieces according to the pattern from the t-shirt fabric.  One front piece and two back pieces.

Pin the front pieces to the back at the shoulder a sew.

Then pin and hem the arm area of the top.  You only have fold edge once to hem since t-shirt fabric doesn’t actually unravel.

I hem by hand front the front side of the fabric using a back stitch (check out this doll tank top video tutorial for a demonstration of the back stitch.)

I use the back stitch so it will stretch with my fabric, and I sew from the front because the stitches look weird on the other side.  I want the weirdness on the inside of the top.

Anyway, here’s the interesting part.  You fold the fabric on itself in the center of the front and pin in place. 

This is what the fabric should look like when folded.  The fold is only about 1/4 inch (about 1/2 cm.) wide, but you may need to make it wider to better fit your doll.

Sew the fold in place by making two rows of stitches down the front of you top.

Moving on, pin and sew the sides of your top.  Don’t forget to try the shirt on your doll before sewing to ensure a good fit.

Pin and hem the bottom of the tank top, just like we did with the arm area.

Hem the back opening too, and lastly hem the neckline (I didn’t get a picture of that step).

After hemming everything, sew on your closure of choice.  I prefer to cut two small pieces of soft Velcro and sew them on by hand.  Small snaps are a great choice as well.

Finish off the top by adding buttons.  I glued on flat back pearls using Aleene’s Jewel-it.  I also recommend tiny faux pearls and other tiny beads.

Add any other embellishments you want like lace, ribbon bows, flowers, etc.

The Half Circle Skirt

This half circle skirt was actually based on this tutorial for a knit skirt (intended for humans).  It’s a useful tutorial, especially if you want to make a skirt for someone larger or smaller in size.  I recommend using the hip measurement instead of the waist, and adding a little extra for a seam allowance if you aren’t sewing with a knit fabric.

Anyway, let’s get going on this skirt tutorial.

You will need:

• Pretty fabric
• (Optional) fabric for a lining if your fabric is thinner.
• Thin elastic
• The pattern below
• Basic sewing supplies
• Small safety pin
• (Optional) Sewing machine if you don’t want to sew by hand.

Here is the pattern for the skirt.  Like the tank top, it was made based on Misako’s measurements which are listed on the dolls’ profile page.

Cut one piece of fabric out of the pattern.  My fabric is a bit sheer, so I also cut a piece of lining fabric. 

However, I’m cheating at making a lining.  The two pieces are layered on top of each other and I am pretending they are just one piece of fabric instead of two.

Start by hemming the bottom edge of the skirt.  This fabric does fray, so you will need to double fold to hem.

You will also double fold and sew the top edge of the skirt to create a casing for your elastic.  Make sure it is large enough for the elastic.

Use a safety pin to thread the elastic through the casing.  You can used other tools instead, check out this doll tank top video tutorial for some examples.

Pin the elastic on each end of the skirt to secure it.

Now pin the ends of the skirt together and sew.  In one step you can sew both the elastic and the back seam.

And now the skirt is ready to wear.  You can also add other details like bows and lace.

Now you have a new doll outfit that’s perfect for Spring/Summer.  Enjoy!

End of tutorial.

Now let us discuss the accessories. 

First we have this fine pearl jewelry set.  A necklace and matching bracelet made simply by threading 4 mm. faux pearls on elastic thread.

To accentuate the hair, there is also this lovely hair clip, made from gathered lace and a few more pearls.

The base of this hair piece consists of a small barrette Anna purchased from a local craft store.

See how lovely it looks in Misako’s hair.

The accessories do so much to complete this lovely new outfit.

Misako does seem pleased with her new clothing.  Though it is quite difficult to know for certain since she still doesn’t speak to anyone, especially not to myself. 

Oh well, she is finally appropriately dressed and that is what really matters.  And perhaps someday she will open up.

Until then, be at peace my dear readers.

What Misako is really thinking.

“It was nice of her to make me this pretty stuff, but why?  I thought that white dress was nice.

And why does the noisy white haired doll fuss so much about it?  Maybe she wants more clothes too? If I asked her would she get mad?  Or would she make even more noise?  I don’t want that to happen. :(”

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