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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

It was my mom that taught me to tie a bow

Jen

I love it! Can’t wait to get out my sewing machine and make this!

Anna Sothman

This brought back a great memory. My aunt taught me how to tie a bow. Oddly enough, she is a lefty and I am a righty. I have no idea how I ever learned. I remember sitting in her lap while she patiently showed me over and over again. She is a great teacher because she also taught me how to crotchet.

Denise

My mother taught me to tie a bow. When my youngest child was 4 (many years ago) he looked at me very seriously and said “You tie shoes backwards.” My mother was left handed, I am right handed. He very quickly got his dad to teach him to tie his shoelaces. He would tie mine as a little child because they looked so odd. Finally, about a month ago, I found a site on Pinterest which taught me to tie a proper bow RIGHT HANDED!!!

Marian

I think probably my mom taught me how to tie a bow but I don’t really remember. Cute idea with the bow.

Robin Raymor

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