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Doll Sewing Tutorials

Bow Sleeve Tee

This is a super fast, easy technique to add to your favorite basic tee!

Today, I'm using the free Liberty Jane Trendy Tee. It's super easy to sew up, and we have it available for many different doll sizes... :)

Giveaway update: Thanks everybody for entering, we have a winner! It's Leonore, who said, "My mother taught me to tie my shoes. It wasn’t easy for either of us, because she was right-handed and I am left-handed." I am glad you figured it out -- the righty/lefty distinction can be tricky sometimes! We'll be in touch via email soon, Leonore :)

Cut out all your pieces -- and cut a couple pieces of matching ribbon. Mine are about 10" long, but you don't have to be very precise (you'll be trimming these down later). 

Follow the directions in the guidebook to sew the shoulder seams, and hem the neck edge.

Then, find the middle of your pieces of ribbon. Pin one to the outside edge of each shoulder. 

Hem the sleeves by zig-zagging over the hem edge, and turning it up once. Topstitch this single folded edge down.

Pin and sew the sleeves into the tee -- being sure you're sandwiching the ribbon between the sleeve and the body of the tee.

Trim and finish this seam, but be sure not to clip off any of the ribbon on the inside!

Finish your tee shirt, following the guidebook instructions (sew the side seams, hem the bottom, and add a closure at Center Back). 

Then, tie the ribbons up into bows, and trim the ends off neatly. If your ribbon doesn't like staying tied, you can stitch through the bows once or twice to keep them in place.

And that's it! Congratulations!

Thanks everybody, and have fun with this :)

For Pixie Faire,
Melinda

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179 Comments

i taught myself to tie a bow. I remember sitting in a packing box at age four with my little shoe on my foot determined to figure out how to tie a bow. I worked at it, struggled with it for what seemed like an eternity to a small child. Making mistake after mistake until finally one of my attempts was a success. I remember untying and retying my shoe over and over again so I would never forget how I did it.

Linda DuBos

I believe my answer is “all the above”. I was the youngest of 7 children so of course they all wanted to show off and be the one to claim they taught me.

Wendy

I’m gonna have to go with my Mom. Who else?

Alison

It was my Mom.

Irene

My mother taught me to tie a bow. I can still remember the cardboard cutout she made and laced for me to practice on. :)

Diana

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