Summer is flying by but don’t tell that to the dolls – they don’t want summer to end! For today’s doll play activity, Karen shows you how to make a cute summer bikini style top for your dolls that goes with some of the other things you have made this summer.
For today’s doll play and craft post, I wanted to show you how to make a super simple bikini top to go with your skirt. I have made today’s out of duck tape, however it can easily be made out of fabric, felt, and fun foam. Today’s craft is a result of a reader who wrote and asked me to show how to make a matching top to the skirt I made from my post July 20th.
To create today’s craft you will need:
- 2 strips of 14 inches of duct tape (* you can use 14 inches of fun foam, 14 inches of felt or 2 14 inch pieces of fabric use a 1/8 seam allowance)
- 24 inches of ribbon
- Scissors
- a ruler or tape measure
- a sticky back Velcro dot or square
- an 18 inch doll (You can make this to fit any of your dolls just measure around their chest and add an inch to create the bikini top.)
Step 1- Using your ruler or tape measure unroll 14 inches of tape twice
Step 2- Place the sticky sides of the tape on top of each other . You may want to ask someone for help. Do not worry if the edges are ragged you can trim them later.
Step 3 – Lay your doll on the table and find the center of your tape. Pinch it together as shown above and tape it into place.
Step 4- Measure and cut your ribbon to 24 inches. Next your are going to create the neck tie straps for the top. Fold your ribbon in half and hook the loop end around your thumb. Feed the loose ends through the loop around the center of the bikini top when your are finished your top will look like the last photo shown above.
Step 5- Put the bikini top on your doll as shown. Tie the neck straps in a bow. Wrap the top around your doll just like in the photos above. Overlap the duck tape where you would like to place the fasteners. Peel off one of the sticky back Velcro dots and place it on top of it’s mate. Then peel it off the paper and place the dot “sandwich” on the strip of duck tape closest to your dolls back as shown. Then overlap the top strip of duck tape and press down. Your top is finished.
Now pair it with your favorite doll shorts or with the skirt you made from my July 20th post.
This is the complete outfit made from duck tape.
And this is the fabric version of the top that was featured in our Doll Pinata post in May.
I look forward to sharing more with you next week!
Amanda – my friend has kaya she’s very pretty in person the online photo doesn’t do her justice for such a wonderful doll
I think I might get kaya for Christmas this year or save for her 
Hayley, really? Thanks! She might just be on my Christmas list this year…
Char, did you get my e-mails of the swimsuits I made for my dolls?
Not yet, when did you send them?
Amanda – yeah one time i was at my friends house and she goes to me can you fix kaya’s braids and I’m like ok sure and kaya’s hair is extremely long which Is a good thing because it’s a lot of hair to do fun hair styles with
Hey char – did you get my photo in yet ? I sent it in last night and was wondering
Yes, it is for the Sunday Showcase, right? Because that is how you labeled it.
Char – yeah it is
thanks again
Char, I sent them last night, and labeled them Sunday Showcase : – )
Hayley, that’s cool! I love doing fun styles with my doll’s hair.
Amanda – it is fun I watch stephenswodadancer on YouTube all the time with her hair style videos I love the crazy wacky hairstyle video she made
Hayley – I’ve never heard of her, but I’ll have to look her up! : – )
Amanda – yeah you should she gives awesome tips on American girl dolls
and I found out the middle name of my Lanie doll 
Lanie Amanda holland 
Hayley – Lol! She has the same middle name as my first name! I will have to look her up. I love AG and anything I can find on them is great!
Amanda – lol I gave it to her in memory of my friend who moved to Spain and Lanie reminds me of her so much we both have Lanie but she named has the name Lanie Hayley holland while mine is Lanie Amanda holland
these little things that I look like her we both have light skin and blonde hair well mine is a dirty blonde 
and my friend Amanda look like her 90% she has blue eyes not Hazel
Hayley, that’s so cool! I love seeing the creative ways people come up with to keep in touch with faraway friends. And WOW, Spain is FAR away!!!
i matched this with the mermaid tail that you guys did