How much fabric does it take to make a dress for one of the world’s smallest fashion dolls? Not much! For this Minnee doll sewing tutorial, I started with a fabric remnant measuring only 6 x 9 inches and turned it into a tiny evening gown.
The entire dress was made using just fabric, thread, lace, beads and one tiny snap.
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| Minnee and Barbie |
If sewing for such a tiny doll looks intimidating, don’t let the size scare you. I found the Minnee doll surprisingly fun to sew for, and creating the dress without a pattern was half the fun. You don’t have to know exactly where the design is going when you begin. In fact, I made a mistake along the way and simply changed directions—and the dress became something different than I originally planned.
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| 6x9 inch remnant |
The planning stages on how I want the dress to look. I know I want something with a full skirt!
All the pieces are measured and cut.
My plan is to create the skirt first, and I have an idea for the top to match....
Hope this wasn't too confusing. That small piece saved was used to sew to top of ruffled skirt to create the waistline. I folded it in half and sewed both ends and as you follow down the side of each skirt, I lightly stitched the sides over to the first ruffle. This is the back of the dress when it's opened to slip doll inside.
This way when the opened side is turned right side out, both sides of the skirt waist will have a clean seam, no raw edges. I like the dress to look pretty inside and out!
Sewed the opened side of waist across. No raw edges, or unsightly strings or fray.
The fun part is sewing the skirt together and seeing the design come to life.
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| Hemming Minnee doll dress |
I prefer hemming after sewing skirt together, so there are no blunt edges from meeting hems together.
Where arrow is pointed, I had sewn a tiny snap. I realized the waistline was just not going to work for her very tiny waist, so on a hunch, I pulled the waist over her chest and realized this idea worked better. The waistline of the skirt now became the bodice of the dress and now it's ONE PIECE, instead of what I had originally envisioned 2-piece, top and skirt.
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| Half the fun is designing doll dress as you go |
Turning skirt into a dress
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This is where I usually get overly ambitious, but I wanted to give the dress more pizazz! I think tiny bows along the lace or little rose buds would have worked perfectly.
The lace and beads were handstitched since the dress has already been sewn together - too tiny for the machine. Otherwise, if you know you'll use lace in advance, you can always machine stitch the lace before connecting the back together.
That little extra accessory, gives the gown a finished look.
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| Minnee Doll dress and stole |
The height of the dress now puts her above 4 inches tall, but I love full skirts as it allows a doll-stand to prop from inside. This dress in particular is holding her up without a stand.
If you make this dress, please share photo so I showcase here! Hope this tutorial was a little helpful. Have fun sewing!
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| One-of-a-kind Minnee Doll Fashion |
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