Tiny Stitches: The Wonderful World of Interfacing

Since this blog is all about making clothes and accessories for dolls, I thought I would start with some basics about making and preserving patterns. Patterns are made from a very thin paper and not much on durability if they are used constantly like I do (not to mention the fact they can be quite costly.) I figured out a way to not only preserve the original pattern, but also how to make little changes here and there. I discovered a magical sewing wonder – interfacing.

Interfacing is a type of fabric that is fairly inexpensive, starting about $1.20 p/yard (depending on its thickness.) I started making my patterns out of the thinner kind because it is cheaper, and easier to work with. Interfacing works so well because you can write on it with a simple pen, it's flexible for crafting different designs, and best of all it can be sewn together by simply hand basting it, which gives you a better idea of how it will fit the doll. Using interfacing to preserve your new patterns is so easy (and it sure beats spending money on new ones.) Personally, I find that the interfacing is easier to lay out on fabric as well.

Here's What to Do:

Take some thin interfacing that you can see through and pin all your paper patterns on it face down.
Cut very carefully around the pattern's outline (I recommend using small scissors for Barbie's patterns.)
Once you've finished cutting the outline, leave the pins in.
Take a pen and trace all the little details on the pattern onto the interfacing. Don't forget to label your pieces!
You can invent all sorts of designs this way by combining different pieces. Best of all, if you make a mistake, you still have the original and can start all over again.