FSL Crochet Summer Outfits for a 12" Doll

These are the instructions on how to embroider and assemble different garments out of the parts of the FSL Crochet Summer Garment Set for 12" dolls.

You will need water-soluble mesh stabilizer (Vilene) and 40-, 50- or 60-weight cotton embroidery threads. The thinner your thread is, the finer is the final product.
For the project we used Signature cotton thread for machine quilting.

The parts of the set are embroidered like all our FSL crochet, so please read the General Guidelines and Step-by-Step Guide to Embroidering our Crochet-Style FSL designs.

Some points to remember from the General Guidelines:
Use water soluble mesh stabilizer (Vilene); film-like water soluble stabilizers, such as Solvy, are not suitable for the project.
Use cotton thread.
Use the same thread in the needle and in the bobbin.
DO NOT embroider several designs in one hoop.
Make sure you use a 80/12 embroidery or metallic needle. Our experience shows that cotton thread used with metallic needles gives less lint.

Step One: For the vest, embroider
the back part once;
the front part twice.

Trim the stabilizer close to the designs, leaving at least 1/4" around each design. DO NOT dissolve the stabilizer at this point.

At this stage you can read the Step-by-Step Guide to Assembling crochet-style FSL Designs into a Project, it might be helpful.

Step Two: Lay out the FSL patterns in accordance with the diagram below. Thread your machine with the SAME thread with which your embroidered the designs. Use short and not very dense zigzag. Make the shoulder seams.

Now fold the workpiece in half and zigzag over the edge to connect the front and the back.

Step Three: You can now go ahead and dissolve the water-soluble stabilizer. Place the vest into a bowl of warm water; change the water several times to dissolve the stabilizer completely. So that the vest dries evenly, spread it on a flat surface and let it air dry. Iron, if needed, with a mini iron or with the tip of a normal iron.

To make a skirt, embroider both parts twice. Wash away the stabilizer and leave them flat to air dry. After they are ready, assemble as shown on the diagram below - pull a narrow satin ribbon through the holes of the upper edge.

Pull the ends of the ribbon and tie around the doll's waist.

You can also make an ensemble of an open dress and a vest like on the photo below.

To make this dress you'll have to embroider back of the vest four times and stitch them into a tube. First stitch both two quarters together as shown below,

Then stitch both parts together, leaving about 1" of the seam unstitched at the bottom. Repeat with the second side to form a tube.

Thread a narrow ribbon through the upper holes, pull the ends to make the opening the same size as the doll's chest. Tie and stitch through the knot. Cut the loose ends.
Thread a ribbon thorugh the holes in the waist line. Put the dress on a doll, pull the ribbon and tie.

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