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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 can’t remember who taught me to tie a bow I think it was my dad he was the one who showed me how to do a lot of different things as I was growing up.

Linda K

My mother taught me how to tie my shoes. But my sister taught me how to make pretty bows for crafts. I miss them both.

Kathy Updegraff

I suppose it was my mother -she seemed to do everything that needed to be done. Time has passed and now I am the mum teaching her four-year old!

Denise

I think both mom and dad taught me how to tie bows. When I had trouble one or the other would pitch on and help. I think I was a slow learner, still am at some things. Lol

Linda

To tie a little, neat bow was all taught to me by You Tube. If I went back to my very first bow, I would have to say my mom….moms are the best:-)

Laurie

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