Dressing your dolls - realism or ease of access?

Generally, I prefer realism, even if it requires removing body parts, but if that's impossible or inconvenient, I like clothes that comprimise in ways that aren't super obvious. If the clothing hides the extra closures/etc well, I certainly don't mind if they're there. But with some clothing, I also don't really mind, especially with smaller dolls where realism can be really tough to pull off due to scale.

 

I prefer realism in general, I like to look for historical patterns when I want to make clothes for my dolls, learn from the wise ancient seamstresses and artisans.

Although over time, I have realized that with sizes from 1/4 at down, it is very difficult to recreate a realistic pattern shape exactly. It also depends a lot on the design of the doll in question, if it is disassembled simple, you can dwarf the scale of your pattern, but let's say there you have to prioritize simplicity and common sense, many times. Accept that it will not look good if you do it as a professional who works at human size does. And I insist, that doesn't make you less professional or it will make your pieces less realistic to look at on your dolls.

I opened my mind a little by learning from the miniaturists of dollhouses and the dressmakers of barbie and licca-chan. They are other small scales and for their dolls they have had to master other forms of patterning. I think you can be realistic, using common sense and making it easy to use in tinies scales.

 

...Damn, you're actually making me consider giving velcro a chance. The ultra-thin type, that is, I don't think I've ever gotten to handle any, but if it really is that thin, it would make sewing for a couple of my dolls soooo much easier. How does it compare to regular velcro that's typically used for human sized things? Specifically, is the other part of it as or almost as stiff, and does that same part feel more or less the same to the touch? I hadn't thought to mention it in my previous post (probably because it's kinda hard to explain), but on top of the velcro I'm familiar with being too bulky and stiff and sticking to hair, there's also just something about the overall feel of that one part of the velcro that I've always had a strong sensory aversion to.

 

We'ere straying off-topic for this thread so I'm messaging you direct

Teddy

 

I generally prefer realism. I have mostly 1/3 dolls, so I don't mind buttons and clasps since they're large enough for me to handle (and I'm pretty deft with my hands). I've sewn kimono for my dolls, and I'm happy to learn how to tie proper obi knots instead of pre-making an obi knot and using clasps. I also like my dolls to have real ties when they're wearing suits -- none of that premade tie with elastic neckband nonsense. Yes, it's fiddly and tricky to tie small full windsor knots, but my dolls stay in their clothes for a while, so I only have to do their ties once instead of, y'know, every day.

I once bought an outfit from a crafter that had only velcro for closures. It was done tastefully and hidden well, but I was somewhat disappointed that they didn't use realistic closures at all.

 

I usually go for ease of changing clothes over realism since I like redressing my dolls and I do not like having to take off heads, hands, or feet to change their clothes. I'm ok with taking off the magnetic hands and feet my Fairyland dolls have since its easy. I sew a lot of my dolls clothes and generally prefer snaps or hooks and eyes to velcro.

 

I swap clothes a lot, so I like realism until it's an obstacle (read: taking off the head). I have a strange hangup on kimono that have a velcro obi, I don't like that.

 

Being raised with velcro Barbie clothes, I'm personally indifferent. Ultimately, I prefer whatever looks the best in photography (which usually isn't velcro because of how bulky it can be.)
When it comes to taking doll clothes on and off, I prefer snap-on buttons. They're easy to set and undo, look subtle,

 

I would prefer an altered piece, with "easier access" so to speak.
In my first days in this hobby I was super into 'ultra realism', wanted everything to be on scale and perfectly accurate, I wanted dioramas scaled to the dolls and the lace trims in the clothes should follow suit. And the historical reference (if any) should be perfectly accurate too!

But lately.... after almost two decades of hobby, I was like.... you know what. They are dolls through and through, nothing will change that and wax replicas do better realism than we ever will. Sometimes there's no fighting it and it is best if you don't. Ultra realism (ie. very tiny buttons that you need tweezers to actually unbutton them) can be pretty, but also makes the whole doll annoying to handle. So now I don't mind at all and sometimes I am even amused when the design very evidently flaunts that it is meant for dolls

 

I very much care about ease of access when I make doll clothes.

The last dress I finished was a sundress with crossed shoulder straps in the back. My first go with this dress, I sewed the straps in the front and back. It took one attempt of trying the dress on my doll before I grabbed the seam ripper to remove the back stitches and use snaps instead. If I left it as it originally was, I would have had to remove my doll’s head every time I wanted to take it off or on. Now that’s not necessary.

I don’t mind if it’s not as realistic, I think it adds to the doll aesthetic.

 

I prefer ease of dressing. I do not photograph my dolls from the back in general, so fasteners back there don't matter. But I suppose I'm the most evil end of the spectrum, because I am not ashamed to use velcro. There are situations where using snaps makes a big enough difference I will sew them on but usually velcro does the trick for me on the back of a dress. I love being able to dress my dolls so easily. I also prefer Elastic waist pants and tunic tops that cover the waistband where it's not a level of realism I'm visually missing.

 

I think realism for my dolls depends on the scale - the smaller dolls are way less realistically dressed and styled while the big'uns have props and accessories that scale very nicely. I also have strong preferences for how patterns, clasps, closures and so on look at the right scale. Many of my dolls wear clothing with buckles, chains and other "fancy" closures. My big pet peeve is when shoes look wrong at scale, doll shoes that look doll-like is my biggest pet peeve.

 

As I make my own clothes 99% of the time, and I am older now, I make things that don't require me to remove things. Snaps and elastic are my friend. Do I still make frilly dresses or things in layers that look cool to me? Sure, but if I have to take off the hands, or the head, its getting snaps or something somewhere because I cannot be fussed to do all that. Sleeves better be big enough for the hands to go in or they're not big enough. If it needs to open down the back to get in, fine, almost no one but me has to see it and I don't care.