Commissioning human seamstress for doll clothes

I haven't tried commissioning someone, but I've been a seamstress for human clothing, and I make the clothes for my dolls, and the two do require some different skillsets. The techniques used to finish human scaled clothing often don't work at smaller scales, even for kids sized clothing compared to adult clothing, so it's automatically much more fiddly work, even for very basic garments. Humans are also squishy, and while custom clothing is made directly to a customer's measurements, there are standard sizing scales out there too, that aren't for dolls, because they're so varied from company to company. A garment for a human can have a little bit more leeway due to the squishability and scale, that doll clothing can't.

I wouldn't necessarily discourage it, especially if you already have patterns that you know fit your dolls, but the outcome for human sized clothing may be different compared to the work on doll sized clothing. I'd say it could be worth asking, since she can always say no

 

If they take human clothing commission, I would simply ask if they would consider taking clothing commissions for a doll. It seems a bit weird to me to build up rapport only to ask if they would take a doll commission.

Also echoing what quilleth said; working at a smaller scale is pretty fiddly, and clothing construction is a bit different than for humans. Definitely shoot your shot to ask but in my experience, most creators probably won't deviate from the general services they provide unless it is worthwhile for them to offer a specific, custom service.

 

Not exactly a commission, but my mom is a professional seamstress. She worked in a sewing factory for human clothing for years, and has made and altered tons of things in her time. As kids, my sister and I started asking her for doll clothes, and she was able to easily use doll patterns, and also make a lot of her own with no problem. My grandma has taken commissions and does repairs and alterations for decades, and I'm pretty sure she's done some dolls and doll clothes in her time. I sew myself (though don't take commissions) and personally, while techniques and patterns are a little different between human and doll clothes, I much prefer making doll clothes! It's just so much easier to me to handle little pieces than big pieces.

I do think talking to the seamstress, making sure you like her work, and seeing how easy she is to work with is a good idea before asking. Some may be weirded out by the dolls, or uncomfortable around them, but in that case it should be as simple as them just turning down the commission, not really a big deal. Make it clear what you'd like, but also that you want them to be honest as to whether they think they have the skill needed to do it. If they don't, you don't want them to feel obligated to say yes, then be disappointed. Also consider you may need to leave your doll with them so they can check the fit as they work, so get an idea of what their shop/workspace is like and if you're comfortable leaving your doll there for however long it may take. Is the place clean? Can they be stored out of sunlight? Do you trust the person to not be careless or too rough? If they work out of their house, do they have pets or children who might damage the doll?

 

I agree with the above; I've made clothes at human scales and at doll scales, and they're a very different sort of experience. Aside from the obvious issue of acquiring a pattern or downscaling an existing pattern, or god forbid, having to draft or redraft a custom pattern, you also have the issue of dolls generally needing different sorts of materials to look right. For instance, a small doll needs lighter weight fabrics to get the same drape qualities you'd see in a heavier weight fabric at a human scale. You need tiny buttons, tiny zippers, tiny everything, and have the skill to get them into place in small and tight areas, which is fidgety work. You also need to be able to make the clothing with the right kinds of access for a human to be able to dress a doll, which can be very different than making clothes for a human to dress themselves in. On the other hand, there is an upside: most dolls don't complain as much about getting the fit exact!

You might have more luck looking for people who actually make doll clothes primarily. There's people who specialize in bjd clothes, obviously, but you might also be able to find people with general doll-size sewing experience. Depending on your doll scale and the type of shape you're looking for, you might be able to find someone who, say, has experience with fashion dolls who's willing to upscale to fit someone larger.

(Also, sewing doll clothes is not as hard as you might think! If you give it a try, your first efforts might look rough, but the good news is, doll clothes don't use anywhere near as much fabric as human clothes, so mistakes aren't as costly. And just think, eventually you can make whatever you want, and not have to deal with communicating concepts to someone else!)

 

I remember reading that someone commissioned a regular seamstress for their doll outfits so it's definitely been done! I think the dolls were 1/3 scale but the username escapes my mind of course . It's best just to ask, and source/bring your own fabrics and closures if they are up for the challenge. If the seamstress is used to making small details for people, doll clothing might not be so intimidating.

As someone who sews for both myself, and dolls in 1/3 and 1/4, there are specific things one needs to look out with dolls, but sewing for humans is a great foundation for that and a skilled seamstress (I don't mean myself here haha ) can adapt if needed. Plus they'll also have professional tools to make it all easier.

 

It's not just a case of making smaller versions of the clothes - the seamstress would ned to be familiar with scaling down the weight/thickness/drape of the fabrics as well.

I had a friend who was a professional costumier who liked to work on doll clothes in her down-time between commissions...they seldom worked well because she never got the concept of scalign down the fabrics. I have a few that worked out well, by chance, and more that just didn't work.

Teddy

 

I did that and had it backfire spectacularly - I sent 3 fabrics for three suits for three of my dolls, instead of making one suit in each fabric they used all three fabrics in each suit, so instwead of three Victorian style Norfolk suits, I got three 1970s-esque multicoloured nightmares. Beaituflly made and in exactly the style I wanted but what person when supplies with three fabrics for three suits patchworks the fabrics togehter into three multi-coloureed suits instead of making one suit from each fabric - especially without checking with the customer first...?).

I risked it again with a different maker, some time later, and they did a perfect job - different fabrics as the ones that were ideal for the job had already been wasted on the order that backfired).

So - if you do find someone to take on the job and go abead with it stipulate every little detail clearly, even if you think it means you're being "one-of-THOSE-customers".

Teddy

 

Nothing. They're somewhere in the xrates hat contgain the Spare Clothing Mountain. The waistcoats and britches are useable but as separates, not as matching parts of a suit. The jackets... not so much.

Teddy

 

I agree about "squichability" that @quilleth is talking about. To me doll clothes is same but very different from human clothes (except for simple basic modern clothes.) Doll clothes need to be more precise if you want exact fit because a small difference - whether you cut inner edge or outer edge of cutting line, for example - becomes major difference. Outfit can get bulky very easily especially if you wand matching clothes with dolls using same fabric.
Personally, I've been making same vintage and historical clothes in both human and doll scale too so I can match with my dolls. I also like turning my kids baby/toddler clothes into 1/6 size as a keepsake. But I much prefer making human clothes over doll clothes. Even so, I only sew for myself and my family. When I'm randomly asked where I buy my coat or if I take orders or if I take commissions, I say no because 1. it costs a lot more than the person thinks 2. it takes too much work for what the person is willing to pay.

 

I've sewn both human and doll clothing, and definitely agree that making doll clothing is very different from human clothing. I'd argue it's almost two entirely separate skill sets.

Definitely recommend asking first if they've made clothing for dolls previously, before commissioning them! I've seen a few folks who specialize in BJD clothing commissions around, but haven't personally commissioned anyone.

My sewing teacher mostly does human clothing, but because I meet with her IRL it makes the measurements part a lot easier. It might be worth seeing if there's anyone around who is familiar with (non-BJD) doll clothing! My sewing teacher isn't familiar with BJDs but has worked with other dolls in the past, so she was able to translate a lot of those skills and techniques. So, pretty much just saying the same thing other people in the thread have

Another idea is seeing if there are any BJD or doll conventions or groups near you? In the US, there's a site that lists many doll groups in each state. I know you're not in the US, but it might be worth seeing if there's an alternative by you! Many members of these groups in the US, at least, have made a lot of doll clothing or know someone who has. For conventions, you might be able to grab some business cards and chat with some folks who have doll clothing-related businesses, who might directly take commissions!

 

I think it depends on the pattern and the doll. If you have a pretty standard size doll and a good quality pattern you know will fit, they probably won't need the doll there. Sizes like SD, MSD, YoSD, Minifee, Smart Doll and Blythe seem to be the most common that I've found (and I bought loads of patterns!), so if you know your doll can fit in any of those, you probably won't need to leave them there. Be sure it's a complete pattern, so they're not left guessing on anything and it doesn't involve cutting pieces based on the doll itself. I've seen a few that do include "wrap this around your doll to know where to cut" type things. In my experience, patterns from Requiem Art Designs, Luminaria Designs, MyLittleDollStory, RacoonsRags, KitNKatShop, SoromosDollSupply and UnderOrange are good patterns for common doll sizes and pretty easy to follow if you have experience, and some have beginner patterns too. You do have to pay for them, but I think they're very worth it. All of those are on Etsy, though Requiem Art Designs has their own website. If you want free patterns, Missy's Imaginings, Ithilear/Beth Alvarez, Undead Threads and SmartDoll's official site have some, but most don't come with instructions. All of these patterns are instant downloads as soon as you pay and very easy to print. I have only used patterns for 1/3 and 1/4 dolls from these places though, so if your doll is a different size, I don't have any experience with them or how easy they are to follow. Also please note that some patterns don't include seam allowance, so if you get one of those (will say in the listing, usually, or sometimes instructions), be sure the seamstress knows that or it will turn out much too small.

 

I wouldn't really say it's that strange of an idea, I've also considered it myself before (and asked at least two people, but got told no both times).

But personally I think it would just be way easier to find a doll seamstress instead? There's a lot of BJD seamstresses around who take custom work, and most of them already have dolls to fit check with anyways, so you wouldn't have to send them your doll for some of them if your doll is the same as any of theirs or in a very standard size.

I think the whole in-person seamstress thing is limiting your choices. Even if you have fabric to send an overseas seamstress found online, mailing fabric would be cheaper than mailing your whole doll regardless, or they could presumably find something similar to what you have.

Someone who's experienced with the intricacies of doll sewing would be more likely to deliver a quality garment than a human seamstress who's never done doll clothes before, in my opinion.