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How to Make Dolls With Blinking Clothes

Part of the joy and beauty of playing with dolls is the magic and imagination that they can inspire. Take that imagination one step further by adding blinking LED lights to a doll's outfit. Adding lights is a good option for ballgowns, princess or fairy costumes, or "rocker chick" looks. You can add lights to store bought garments or garments you sew on your own. According to the Chief Fashion Designer and Master Seamstress of Rosie's Dolls Clothes, it is best to have clothes that fit the doll loosely.

Things You'll Need

Battery-powered LED clothing lights
Article of doll clothing
Scissors
Straight or Safety Pins
Thread
Needle

Instructions

- 1
  Lay the selected article of doll's clothing on a flat surface. Take the battery-powered LED lights for clothing and position them on top of the outfit where you would like the lights to shine through. Using a pencil, lightly mark the placement of the lights.
- 2
  Set the LED lights aside. Use your scissors to cut small incisions in the doll's clothes where the pencil marks are on the fabric. The incision should be large enough that the light can pop through the fabric, but not so large that there is space around the bulb.
- 3
  Turn the article of clothing inside out. Using a needle and thread, hand sew the battery pack near the closure on the article of clothing. This is usually a zipper or Velcro strap on the back of a doll's dress.
- 4
  Push the bulbs of the LED lights through the holes you've cut in the garment. Use pins to hold the lights in place while you sew. Lightly stitch loops around the chord of the lights to fasten the strand to the inside of the garment. Use a satin stitch to attach the lights which, according to Jenny Hart at the Sublime Stitching website, ensures that the thread pattern will look the same on the outside of the garment as it does on the inside.
- 5
  Turn the clothing right side out and turn on the battery pack. Dress the doll in the blinking light outfit.

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