Wearables Nostalgia Dresses (oversize/unusual fabric prints)

Hello!
Big edit: since I started this thread I was surprised how many people seemed to find it interesting or helpful, so the first post is changing a bit because I want to keep updating this topic and loosen the scope slightly so that hopefully it will be most helpful to others.

Basically this thread has clothes I am making for my various dolls using prints that are generally considered out of scale for their sizes. My love of sewing is largely from the love of colors and prints in a more is more way. My hope is that I can show some things as I work that inspire and encourage others to make wild and unexpected fashions from fabrics you love.

This thread uses different doll models and I will always let you know who is the model and the scale.
I'm going to try to let you know about the amount of fabric I was working with when possible moving forward.
If you have animosity for people who use a lot of novelty quilting cottons please hurry away before it's too late.

I'll start off with a recent examples to set the mood:

Here we have Laurel ( here she was LeDolls Flora + Angel of Dream body 1/3)
This dress uses an amazing print of Simplicity pattern artwork.

If you stick around I hope you are exited for all sorts of unusual prints and nice comfy dresses.

 

Aw thank you @ellie my cat likes to be involved with what I am doing and the dolls too
I love that dress very much. That was one of those fabrics I was so excited about because of how unique it seemed!

@Azure Agape thank you! I know what you mean! Also, although I appreciate people who make doll clothes that can convince you the dolls are human sized I think I like these things that make them seem more like big fancy dolls again.

 

Oh those works are totally wonderful @cthulhu I'll have to look and see more of it because I think it's brilliant!

I think it's fun to watch larger patterns become abstracted and see how breaking them up and recombining them creates something new when sewing.

And thank you very much I appreciate it!

 

@Glaerdrune What size of dolls would you be planning to sew them for? I really hope you will give it a whirl!

I'm using 1/3 dolls most of the time, and for this thread. I am often really bad at actually knowing how much fabric I'm using... because I buy it on whims without concrete plans and sometimes I wait a long time to use it too and it gets lost in my head
However I will try to make a better effort to offer any helpful info like how much fabric a general dress style is taking, and I will try my best! I buy fat quarters sometimes, a lot of the time I buy 1/3 of a yard cut, usually I don't get more than 1/2 yard of anything ever. I actually have a fat quarter of a print I did get for this project, so I'll mention it when I use that one!

I can drop some related recent examples and tips below if you are interested:

Spoiler: Some ideas from past work

One great way to use a small scrap of fabric in a bold print, depending on how you can place it is to sew the big pattern on the bust of the dress and make the skirt something different. Here is one using a piece of out of scale rainbows print on a 1/4 dress:



Another thing you can do with mixed scale scraps and pieces is to combine scales in a way you find pleasing (another 1/4 dress here):



The print is simple polka dots but I felt like I got something really wild and fun by combining mixed scales and trims! (And these ideas are great for using up those last scraps of trim if you have them laying around. I keep a whole bag of various remnants to use later!)

So I did come bearing an update on dresses I was intentionally making for the nostalgia theme! I've finished an outfit for the main subject, Mara (1/3 Bambicrony on Iplehouse nYID) who I want to have a nice little wardrobe only in this theme. I recently got myself 3 cotton prints from Hobby Lobby and a fat quarter for this project, because Hobby Lobby seems to really be into this specific aesthetic even if it may not be that much in fashion right now.


I'm constantly on lookout for specific types of nostalgic prints that I think are reminiscent of scrapbooking paper more than anything. This one has postal stamps and script on it, which is always hard to resist, but I was also on the lookout for a "Paris" themed one and we found a good one!

As a bonus you can see how her cozy little red sweater I made will go with it.



I think this is a good example of how certain oversized prints with lower contrast designs or a lot of one background color can look very natural in doll size. When you use the tiers to create length you get to break up the flow of the pattern which I feel makes it work even better.

 

Thank you very much @Lillith and @chrstphrl

That sounds like it will be wonderful @Haven_Of_Dolls336 hope you will show off some pictures as you are working on it. The shabby chic aesthetic is really cute especially for things like doll styling and illustration.

 

It's been a while, but I'm back with another dress to fit the project journal, this time for my LoongSoul ChenXing who is a very large girl at 68/69 cm tall. The majority of the dress is made from this fun fabric by Waverly from WalMart. Because this fabric is just about the biggest print I can manage I wanted to show you exactly the scale:



I promise I won't be buying another fabric with the Eiffel Tower on it after this one though if some other Paris theme comes up like cute little cafe scenes I can't make any promises. This print just has SO much great stuff going on: letters/ typography, music sheets, postage markings and postcards, the perfume bottle, bird cages but the bird is freely flying around (a touch I really enjoy) and the Eiffel tower as before mentioned. I think the very busy pattern becomes really sophisticated with the neutral color palette.

The problem with fabrics like this is mostly when the bodice of the dress has the pattern on it in a weird place, because that's what is most in focus in most photos and it will really ruin the look. An easy way to avoid that problem is to pair your bold fabric with something else more toned down on top that coordinates, and thus we ended up with this dress:



I think in the end it's really cute how the large visual elements on the skirt will really pop and give the whole outfit a very artistic feel! I made sure not to have any large black designs showing on the front facing sleeve parts because I thought that would really unbalance it as well.

And here it is on lovely Chelsea, who I would say is very pleased with her new outfit:


Thank you for watching and I hope to return again soon with more as I did collect quite a few good fabrics I really need to be using already!

 

Ahhhh yes it's been a while, and this project is not forgotten, I've just been extremely preoccupied. But I made something fitting, so I wanted to drop it in here so that others may ponder it
This lovely peacock feather fabric I did not buy myself. I had traded with an online acquaintance recently and this was one of the treasures. I was uncertain whether I could really make it work, because it's definitely very large scale, but, I really enjoyed sewing with it and I think it comes together for a fun effect. Mid sewing:


IMG 20221106 183219 — Postimages
This will be for a pretty typical sized slim 1/3 girl (waist gathered with elastic by the end)


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And here is is on our model (Gem of Doll Kira 1/3)
The dress was just finished from the picture previous and I made a whimsical lacey coat to go over the top.
One thing about the large patterns is that I think they work better when they are weighted visually towards the bottom vs. having a lot of large pattern right near the doll's face. But that's just me.

I'm really glad I went for this. I will just never stop loving playing with scale and how it affects my perception of the dolls. It makes her very faery like to me, that she becomes so small next to these large eyes of the feathers.

Cross your fingers I can return soon with another one, there is no joy like making these!

 

Pre washed cotton fabrics do not stain resin bjds @wanderingstar I have been sewing for my resin dolls for over a decade from carefullly chosen and prewashed fabrics, not leaving them in tight clothes (because I don't sew super tight clothes anyway) and they have never been stained even slightly. It's a complete non-issue.
Glad you like the appearance of the fabric though!

 

Thanks @chrystal I appreciate it!

 

Aw thank you so much @Medusahere I had a lot of fun with it

 

@Bumblespoon Cottage core can be very lovely and it's fun to get excited about. I like to look at inspiration from those posts because it has become a home on the internet for a lot of vintage style dress silhouettes I really enjoy. I agree that this stuff fits into the cottage core umbrella easily (but I hope to do it in more of a 1990s book illustration way and not a Shein way). I wanted to explain my personal connections to the nostalgic elements because I think with fashions that are based on concept, feeling, fantasy, and nostalgia, it's more interesting to embrace the power of its personal nature, if that makes sense.

 

Been a while since I posted on this project but it's definitely not forgotten. I use so many prints that fit into the oversized category that I didn't want to post in everything, I really just want to leave behind enough examples to be interesting and helpful.
On that note I want to actually finish several for the main project, Mara, 1/3 size and probably a few for Sunny who is 1/4 size. As I was asked earlier I want to let you know approximately how much fabric I was working with at least for a few projects, especially making sure I can show something using a fat quarter. This post is just a little update/benchmark for me and a motivator to get back to this when I'm able. Probably soon
Some fabrics I have tucked away:

IMG 20230205 212014 — Postimages

 

Aw that dress sounds so cool and I'm really happy to give inspiration by coincidence, I also had handmade clothes like that as a kid. I shop for prints that remind me of them sometimes for one of my characters, Kiki. Last year she got a very important poison dart frog dress I hope you can bring your project to life!

 

I've made something to post today! This is for Mara (1/3 Bambicrony Carla on Aria Doll 14 year body) I believe this one was cut from fabric I had 1/2 yard of, though I did have some left over (but still it's nice to have a bit in case of a mistake).


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As far as fabric amount, she is a not slim 56cm and the overalls are oversized (loose). The top front and back are lined with the same fabric as outside and it has two front pockets and one chest pocket. And we cut from 1/2 a yd with leftovers. Could have probably been equally comfortable with 3/8. Leg length vs. fabric cut is the biggest thing to consider.

While I was working I thought it was really fun to see how the print gets broken up by the pockets and piecing together the different parts of the garment. I think a big print is kind of ideal for the appearance in this way unless you prefer solid colors in general, which, I basically don't that's why we are here.

During sewing:

IMG 20230406 162707 — Postimages
I think the pattern + design of garment gives an interesting lost and found edges within the piece, which is very painterly. I really like that. I also think the print ends up working well because although the sunflowers are huge, it does have mixed size elements in the other smaller flowers and even some bees!

Here it is on the model:

IMG 20230406 172332 — Postimages
And a different modeling pic:
IMG 20230406 172517 — Postimages

I'm really happy with how they came out! I've made overalls before but this is the first pair I think I got exactly like I wanted them. Practice makes perfect

Thanks for watching! Hope to post another soon.

 

Thank you @Lillith

 

Aw thank you @Dragoness I'm so glad! I haven't been that active on this project but since I have piles of fabric saved, and this is one of my favorite things, I'll be back periodically I'm sure.

 

Woohoo I have another one today. It uses the oversized floral print I showed in an image earlier:


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I like it because it's SO out of scale it pretty much becomes abstract. And I wasn't sure how I was going to end up using it but in the end, the soft, abstract quality with crisp gold details made me think I should go more modern.

So I ended up making a very short party dress for Wen Wei (using Angel of Dream body) -- this pattern I thought would benefit from some in scale details so I added some strings of tiny beads to finish it off. I bought more of this fabric than the dress uses but I think you could make it from 1/4 yard or fat quarter.


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Sleeves are detached so it could be worn under a fitted sweater or etc.

Here is it on our model:

IMG 20230615 174602 — Postimages

It ended up so short because this fabric is especially thick and rigid cotton (even after washing) so it has a very full body. Since I honestly usually sit her down this is the length that looks best. it's pretty much crotch length so i made white short bloomers for underneath. They don't quite show when standing. The skirt just manages to create a long legged silhouette which is very nice.

Thick cotton fabrics on dolls will definitely ruin a lot of styles but I still think it's fun to play around with a fabric like this because there are certain ways it's great, such as creating a snug, structured top and a skirt that is full without needing a petticoat. Most of the time I use cotton that is thicker than modern fashions call for anyway... But this one was extra bad so I wanted to talk about that.

Anyway I'm very happy with it! Hope you think it's cute.