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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

Super cute t-shirt and fun tutorial! Thank you! I would love to enter the giveaway!

Who taught you to tie a bow? I can hardly remember, but I’m pretty sure it’s my mom! I do remember teaching my kids, though!

Sophie T

My mother taught me how to tie my shoes and make a bow.

Joanne O.

I learned to tie a bow from my grandmother. From a very early age, we would spend several weeks in the summer at her house in the country. It was a lot of fun because we had to pump water and carry it into the house, use an outhouse and feed the animals (chickens, pigs and horses). I taught my kids at a very early age because my grandmother showed me an easy trick for tying my shoes.

Cherry

My mom taught me to tie a bow. It took a lot of telling me and retelling me how to do it. :-)

Bethany

My mom taught me to tie a bow.

jo

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