When I am sewing a cloth doll, I like to use a template to trace the arm or leg onto fabric, and then sew on the traced line. I think that using a template for arms and legs gives me more accurately shaped doll limbs. If the arm or leg pattern includes a seam allowance, I cut along the sew line to remove the seam allowance and make a template. Sometimes a doll pattern includes a seam allowance but does not have the sew line drawn on the pattern. A sew line can be added to a pattern using a Dream Seamer.

The Dream Seamer is a one half inch (12 mm) medal circle with a small hole in the middle. To use the Dream Seamer, first make sure that the seam allowance on your pattern is one fourth inch (6 mm). I like to use a mechanical pencil with the Dream Seamer, but I have used a red pen in the photo to make the illustration clearer. If you are right handed, hold the pencil in your right hand. Put the pencil point into the hole in the middle of the circle. Hold the pencil at a ninety degree angle to the paper. The Dream Seamer should be inside the pattern. One edge of the Dream Seamer circle should always touch the cut line of the pattern. Use your free hand to keep the Dream Seamer on the cut line. Draw all the way around the arm or leg pattern, one fourth inch (6 mm) on the inside of the pattern. Cut on the sew line to remove the seam allowance and create a template.

Sometimes you may want to alter a pattern to fit another size doll. You need a sew line to shrink or grow a pattern using a photocopier. To keep the seam allowance one quarter inch (6mm) on your new pattern, you should cut away the seam allowance, shrink or grow the pattern and then add the seam allowance back on. To add a seam allowance, the Dream Seamer should be outside the pattern. When adding a seam allowance, the Dream Seamer should touch the sew line as you trace around the outside of the pattern. You can order a Dream Seamer from  Dollmaker’s Journey. Scroll down almost to the bottom of the supply page.

sherralyn Pattern Making Adapting a pattern