Gotz Doll Underwear and Bathing Suit from Socks

For Happy Kidz, Hannah and Little Kidz.

Camisole 

1 girls' or women's sock 9" from toe to heel and 8" around foot (4" measured flat), Velcro, cut 1/4" wide.

Cut soft side of Velcro 4” X 1/4” (or cut in half lengthwise). Make 2.

Turn girl’s sock inside out with cuff folded over. Zig-zag along folded edge. Trim foot section close to stitching, leaving cuff with hemmed edge. Sew one end of one strip of soft velcro to the part of the cuff you want to be the front, soft side against the cuff. Sew one end of the other strip 1 1/4” away, or 2” stretched, also on the front. Sew small pieces of the hooked side to comparable locations on the back. Done!

Panties 

(See photos in bathing suit instructions for tutorial. Panties are made the same way in the crotch.) 

Cut fold-over-elastic 8 1/2” long for waistband
Cut fold-over-elastic 4 1/2” for leg opening, make 2.

Cut toe of sock off 3 3/4” from end of toe (more or less depending on how you want it to fit). Zigzag around cut edge to stabilize. The little toe seam will be in front. Here's the little toe seam:

Waistband: Take the 8 1/2” strip of fold-over elastic and find the center of it. Place it with the WS against the RS of the center front, extending above the finished raw edge. Pin so that the midpoint is in the center front and the two ends overlap by 1/4” - 1/2” in back. Sew in place and finish by sewing the ends together up to the top and lock. Turn to WS and trim raw edge close to stitching, being careful not to catch RS when cutting.

Fold over with the little toe seam in front. Place a pin 3/4” up from toe and another one 1 3/4” higher. Cut an oval opening through all layers, from one pin to the other. Cut toe open at seam. (See instructions for bathing suit for photo of how this is done.)

Turn WS out. Place WS of cut edge of one leg hole on WS of fold-over-elastic and pin, with cut edge as close to middle line of elastic, pinning as needed so the stretch is even from one end to the other. Sew with narrow zigzag stitch as close to cut edge as possible. working carefully around the sharper curve at the crotch. If you have to rain the presser foot, be sure the needle is down. Turn elastic to RS over cut edge and sew down on right side with the narrow zigzag stitch. (If you must use a straight stitch, you will need to stretch as you sew.) Repeat for second leg hole.

Pin crotch seam closed, RS together, making sure the beginning and end of the seam is perfectly matched. Sew closed using a straight stitch and 1/4" seam allowance. Trim corners of seam and finish with zigzag.

Bathing Suit (with modifications for Little Kidz in parentheses sock size S)

Cut fold-over elastic: 

Bathing suit front: Cut 1 at 3 1/2” (2 7/8")

For back and straps, cut 1 at 14" (11 1/4") 

For leg holes, cut 2 at 5" (4 1/4")

The leg holes of the bathing suit are made the same as for the panties. 

Fold sock in half, matching ends of toe seam, so you have four layers. Measure 3/4" (1/2") from end of toe and place a pin on double fold. Place another pin 1 3/4" (1 3/8") further up the sock from the first pin, but on the same side.

Cut small half ovals from one pin to the other, cutting through all four layers.

Cut open along toe seam as for panties. Trim toe seam away.

Place WS of cut edge of one leg hole on WS of fold-over-elastic and pin, with cut edge as close to middle line of elastic, easing as needed so the stretch is even from one end to the other, and pin in place, with the FOE extending a little bit past the end of the sock fabric, as the feed dogs will pull it in more. (It may be easier to turn sock inside out at this point, but you will certainly need to do it for smaller openings.)

Sew with narrow zigzag stitch as close to cut edge as possible. working carefully around the sharper curve at the crotch. Turn elastic to RS over cut edge and sew down on right side with the narrow zigzag stitch. Repeat for second leg hole. (If you have only straight stitch, you will need to stretch your work for sewing the elastic on both sides.

Sew crotch seam closed, RS together, using a straight stitch and 1/4" seam allowance. Trim corners of seam allowance.

Zigzag seam to finish.

Try on to check fit. (At this point, if the leg holes are too tight or too snug, you can cut them off, cut the crotch open and try again.) While your doll has the suit on, you can mark where you want to cut for the top.

Place a pin at the center front to indicate where you want the bathing suit to start. Place another pin at the underarm and a third just above the waist in back. Remove the bathing suit from the doll, being careful not to disturb the pins. Fold in half so that the two leg openings are together. Remove the underarm pin, noting its position.

Cut from the pin in back to the pin in front, passing through the point where you want the underarm to be and ending by curving your cut at the front to end perpendicular to the fold.

Sew the fold-over elastic for the front in the same manner as for leg openings. Trim any excess.

Match center of back elastic with center back and pin in place. Some of the elastic will extending past neck at each end to go around the neck. Do not trim off, as you will need that for the straps. With the WS of sock together with the WS of the elastic, sew as for leg holes.

Fold over and starting at the upper right extension sew all the way to the end of the other extension. Sew a short strip of Velcro 1/4” wide on the extensions so they will connect. Done!

For a two-piece suit, make panties out of your bathing suit sock, according to directions in the underwear section of this tutorial.

For the top, cut a piece from the top of the cuff. This one had a cute animal face and ears. It should be slightly bigger in the front than in the back.

Finish with FOE as for the waist of the panties. Sew straps of FOE folded and sewn together lengthwise where you would like the straps to fit. Sew a small piece of Velcro to the ends and decorate the front with buttons if desired.

Now your bathing beauties are ready for the pool or beach.

Hats are made from the Bucket Hat pattern from Matilda's Closet, purchased through Pixie Faire.

If you like my doll photos, check out The Doll's Storybook at http://thedollsstorybook.blogspot.com

*Cutting and use of sock based on this YouTube video: https://youtu.be/DYh6JUI7wsQ

This pattern is protected by copyright.

Any items made from it may be sold.

Copyright © 2018 by Peggy Stuart

Gotz Doll Underwear and bathing suit Rev. 3, 7/13/18

Please note: If you would have paid for this pattern, please consider donating the amount you would have spent to a child-related or other charity of your choice, such as CURE. I thank you for your generosity and for not having to do the books.