Sew a Holiday Doll Dress with Sewing Patterns by Oh Sew Kat!

Oh Sew Kat! patterns are quick and easy.  Choose a fun, holiday print and stitch up a new dress for your doll this holiday in just an afternoon!  The design is in the details.  Add pretty piping or fun buttons and bows to enhance your dress.

The Party Time Peasant Dress is a quick to sew pattern for dolls, that will give lots of “WOW” when you choose fun, holiday themed fabrics.  This pattern is available in five popular doll sizes:  18 inch dolls, 14.5 inch dolls, 15 inch baby dolls, 16 inch Animators dolls, and 16 inch A Girl for All Time® Dolls in my Etsy Shop.  Because PDF patterns are instant download, and you print them at home, you can sew one up without even leaving your house!

Be inspired by these fun, holiday dresses and sew one up for your favorite doll today!  Kelly’s snowflake dress was made with the Party Time Peasant Dress.

Use the Bloomer Buddies pattern for a Christmas Classic, like Riley’s dress below.

This polka dot dress is also made with the Bloomer Buddies.  I just made the sleeves longer.

Maryellen’s Dress was made with the School Bell Blouse pattern, using this easy Pattern HACK.

Make holiday dresses for your Wellie Wishers 14.5 inch sized dolls too! Willa’s dress is made with the Party Time Peasant Dress.

The Party Time Peasant Dress is also available for A Girl for All Time Dolls.

Have fun putting a holiday twist on your doll clothes this season!!

See more Party Time Peasant Dresses here and here!  Find more holiday ideas here and don’t forget to visit the Inspiration Gallery.  Find the entire Oh Sew Kat! pattern catalog HERE.

Make a Santa or Elf Apron for your Doll with this Boardwalk Boutique Pattern Hack

Here is a quick and easy sewing project (which doesn’t even have very much sewing!) to dress up any doll for the holidays~~

Make this easy apron, with fabric or felt.  Use the Oh Sew Kat! Boardwalk Boutique PDF Sewing pattern for this quick and easy pattern hack.

You only need the FRONT pattern piece.  This pattern hack is super easy if you just use felt, but you can certainly use other fabric and fun materials like fringe, cotton balls, jingle bells, htv, vinyl, embroidery, scraps, felt etc.  I used felt for my samples because I wanted a “no fuss” project, which is also very inexpensive and available at every craft store.

1. You only need to print the front pattern piece.  On your paper pattern piece, measure over 1/2 inch from the center fold and draw a new fold line.  Cut off the extra 1/2 inch and use this as your new center fold line.  Cut off all of the seam allowances, top, sides, and bottom. (Especially if using felt, which does not fray.) . Draw a line across the top from where the front meets the strap, to your new fold line. This “fills” in to make a top that goes straight across.  If you like the look of the squared off front, just realize you will have to trim those edges in step 5.
2. For the length, measure up 1/4th to 1/2 inch up from the “Cut here for ruffle” dashed line and draw a new line. Use this as your new hem line.
3. Cut out the front pattern piece on the fold of your fabric. Do not cut into the square neckline, leave that filled in so it’s straight across the top.
4. Using a heat and bond product, or a careful edge stitch, add a 1/2 inch wide, black ribbon across the middle to form the belt.  Trim even with the apron sides.   Add lace or a white band across the bottom, turning in each side’s raw edge by 1/4th inch.  If you want to add a Santa beard, or a pointed elf collar, cut them from felt, and bond or sew them to your apron.
5. Enclose the top, raw edge in a 5 inch piece of bias tape and stitch.  Do the same for each straight side edge, turning the raw end of the bias tape under at the hemline. Trim to be even with the edge of the apron.  (You could also use ribbon or even fold over elastic.)
6. Cut 2 straps (also of bias tape) 30 inches long.   Mark the center of each strap and place it at the middle of the armhole.  Place your apron in between the bias tape and pin in place, working your way out to the edges, attach the bias tape and when you sew, continue the seam from one end to the other so the strap is sewn together and the apron is sandwiched in between.
7. Try it on your doll and trim the straps to the length you prefer with a diagonal cut. If you used bias tape, you will not need to turn in the raw edges.
8. Using ribbon, a buckle, or glitter heat transfer vinyl, cut a one inch belt buckle and attach it to the apron.  Add buttons, bells, pom poms etc (glue or sew on) if desired.
9. SNAP or Hook and Loop Tape VARIATION IDEA:  Cut your ties to 18 inches each.  After you finish the apron, try it on your doll and add velcro or snaps at the neck and waist, trimming off the long ties for a more fitted, easier to put on apron.

It’s the perfect way for your doll to keep her special holiday dress clean!

Would you rather a full outfit for your doll? Find the Elf, Santa, and Gingerbread outfits from this same pattern HERE.  Find my 5 Favorite Holiday pattern hacks HERE.

 

Shop for the Boardwalk Boutique pattern in 4 sizes HERE.

Make a Classic, Holiday Doll Dress with the Bloomer Buddies Sewing Pattern

Are you looking for a simple sewing pattern to make doll clothes gifts this season?  You’ll find a whole selection of easy level sewing patterns that you print at home from Oh Sew Kat!  Take a look around the website, especially the Inspiration Gallery, and see all the fun ways you can make a simple pattern look completely special and unique!

Try this easy version of the Bloomer Buddies pattern.  A classic green, Kona cotton, a red ruffle (I used pregathered eyelet), some red baby piping, and a holly felt cut out will give you the perfect classic Christmas dress for your 18 inch or other sized doll.  She will be ready for her photo with Santa!

I used my Big Shot Die Cutter and some felt to make the cute little holly accent for this dress. You could easily use your cricut machine or other e-cutter as well!

I just love this classic look for the holidays! Make this dress for Disney Animators or 14 inch dolls like Wellie Wishers dolls too!

Find the Bloomer Buddies Pattern for 18 inch dolls (like American Girl, Our Generation, and more) here and see more ideas to make with it here and here.

Step it Up Series: Make a Long Sleeved Dress for Dolls with this Easy Bloomer Buddies Pattern Hack

The Bloomer Buddies is already a very, versatile pattern.  With three lengths for both the top/dress and bloomers, you can mix and match to create an entire wardrobe for your doll.  Take that pattern one step farther with this easy pattern hack to make the long sleeved dress version. (This also will work for the top!)

The Bloomer Buddies pattern is currently available in 3 sizes, for 18 inch dolls, for 16 inch Disney Animators’ dolls, and for 14.5 inch Wellie Wishers/Glitter Girls sized dolls.  Find the pattern HERE.

Cut out all of your pattern pieces, including the sleeve.  Fold your paper along the sleeve’s fold line, or tape it to the top of a new sheet of paper that is folded in half lengthwise and cut it out.  You now have a full sleeve piece.  Measure your dolls arm, from the center point between the shoulder and elbow, down to the wrist where you want the sleeve to end on your doll.  On your new sheet of paper, measure down from the bottom corners of the sleeve this same amount and extend those side lines.  Connect the ends of these new lines across the middle in a straight line.  Cut out your new sleeve pattern piece and follow the pattern instructions to make the top or dress.  For my polka dot dress shown here, I extended the sleeve by 3 inches for the 18 inch doll.  If you are not using any trim at the cuffs, use 3 1/2 inches.

What other short sleeve patterns do you have that you can also make with long sleeves or vice versa?  Find more tutorials and pattern hacks on the Tutorials page.  Visit the Bloomer Buddies Inspiration Gallery HERE.

 

Five Holiday Pattern Hacks for Oh Sew Kat! PDF Patterns

It’s so fun to sew doll clothes for the holidays with easy and quick PDF patterns by Oh Sew Kat!  Below I’ve gathered up a few pattern hacks for you to share the holiday love this season!  Click on the photos to go right to the tutorials.  These pattern hacks can be made for any size doll.  You can find all of these patterns, plus many more in my online shops, like MY ETSY SHOP.

1. ---

   Snowman Outfit:  How cute is this outfit?  Use the Jumping Jack pattern, all in white, to make a cute snowman themed outfit that also gives you basic pieces to mix and match with other outfits.  This pattern is also available for Wellie Wishers™.

   ---

2. Holiday Santa, Elf and Gingerbread:  The classic Boardwalk Boutique pattern is a popular pattern for summer halter tops and ruffled capris.  But wait!  You can use it all year long.  Use it as a base to make cute holiday themed outfits!  I just used some creative colors to whip up these quick and easy holiday cuties.  Layer them over a Playtime Peasant Top or a Jumping Jack Turtleneck!
   

   ---

3.   Molly’s Holiday Dress:  This one isn’t even a pattern hack.  Make a beautiful dress that looks like the classic made by AG for Molly McIntire with the Sugar n Spice and Everything Nice pattern in a deep green with a little lace.  This would also be adorable in red!
   

   ---

4.   Make a holiday nightgown:  This white nightgown is perfect for the holidays and was inspired by Clara in the Nutcracker.  A few changes to the Sugar n Spice pattern is all it takes!
   

   ---

    

5. Santa Jumping Jack:  The Jumping Jack pattern can also be used to make a cute Santa outfit.  White cuffs on the turtleneck and a black belt!

Shop my full catalog of over 50 PDF doll clothes sewing patterns HERE.  Find more holiday doll dress ideas here and here.

Oh Sew Kat’s Holiday Gift Guide

**This post has affiliate links.  See my policy HERE.

Looking for a few ideas for the girls, doll lovers, crafters, and seamstress (sewists) on your list?  Here are a few top picks from Oh Sew Kat!

For the Doll Lover:

Glitter Girls!! These new, smiling dolls are the exact same size as the Wellie Wishers™ dolls made by American Girl®, but you can get them for less than half the price.  There are ten different dolls to choose from and they are poseable too!!  How much fun with that be for the little girl in your life?

A Girl for All Time Dolls:  These 16″ poseable dolls are fairly new to the doll market. They have a loyal following and wonderful stories, most of them historical.  Over time, I think you will see them more and more, not only in pattern shops, but in doll clothes shops too!

---

For the Crafty Gal:

I absolutely have used and love my cricut products for years and years and years.  There are just so many wonderful things you make with these electronic cutter machines from tee shirts to coffee mugs, to journals, to doll clothes.  See how I cut my doll clothes patterns with my Cricut Maker machine HERE.

Does she want to learn something new? How about crafting classes at craftsy.com? Sign up for a free trial and see what you want to learn!

---

For the Serious Seamstress:

These are hands down my favorite scissors.  I have four pair of them.

Every seamstress needs a good walking foot.  Be sure to find the correct one for her brand and model of sewing machines. They vary widely in price, but are well worth the extra investment, especially when sewing silky and knit fabrics.

Doll dresses are so much easier with a ruffler foot.  Again, ensure you choose the correct brand and model for her sewing machine.  This amazing tool is my favorite for skirt ruffles and for gathering doll skirts!

---

For the Beginning Seamstress:

This Brother sewing machine is a perfect starter machine for anyone that is new to sewing.  It’s lightweight, and strong, with a wide variety of basic stitches.

Find a few more tools that make great gifts in THIS POST.  Need a few sewing tool stocking stuff ideas?  Try this post and this one to see my favorite tools of 2017 and 2018.

How about some easy to sew patterns for her dolls?  Choose from a variety of styles and sizes at http://www.etsy.com/shop/ohsewkat.  Put them on a cute thumb drive and tuck them in her stocking!

Fun fabric packs to sew doll clothes with?  Yes, please! Here is an adorable bundle from one of my favorite designers, Riley Blake.  Find these doll sized stripe bundles at www.cricut.com.

It’s certainly not an all inclusive list, but hopefully you’ve found a few ideas for the crafty, sewing, doll lovers in your life!  And every doll lover, always loves new doll clothes for their special friends.  Create a keepsake, like this Clara inspired nightgown, this holiday season with easy sewing patterns from Oh Sew Kat!,

 

Step it Up! Series- Make a Dress with the School Bell Blouse Pattern by Oh Sew Kat!

Welcome back to Oh Sew Kat! Designs- where you can find an endless stream of ideas of new ways to sew the PDF sewing patterns for dolls I offer.  Today’s post will show you a simple pattern hack of the School Bell Blouse.  See how easy it is to take the School Bell Blouse pattern, and make a super sweet dress for your doll.

This pattern is currently available sized for three dolls:  18 inch Dolls like American Girl® dolls, 14.5 inch dolls like Wellie Wishers™ and Glitter Girls™, as well as the 16 inch adorable Animators’ Dolls made by Disney®.

The pattern looks like this and you can find it where Oh Sew Kat! patterns are sold.  This post will show you how to make a dress from View A, the pleated front top (shown in pink on the cover.) Check back soon to see more fun variations with this fun pattern!

1.  To begin, cut out all of your pattern pieces.  I made my dresses from View A, the pleated front version.  Tape each front piece and back piece near the top a new sheet of paper.  You will be extending these pieces at the hem by three inches for 18 inch dolls and 1 1/2 inches for 14.5 inch dolls.  Measure from the two hem corners, and also in the middle, to create a new hem line parallel to the bottom of the pattern piece.

2. At the corner where the side seams will meet, measure out 1/2 inch to the side (less for smaller dolls if you even need any at all).  Draw a line from this point, back up to the armhole to give the dress a little bit more flare in the side seams at the hem. Do the same for the back piece.  Cut out your new pieces.

3.  You will need to cut a front and 2 backs from view b (peplum top).  These will be the lining for your dress. You do not need the facing piece.  Serge or zigzag the bottom of each lining piece.

3.  Now simply follow the pattern as directed to make your doll dress!  I like to decorate the neckline of my blouses and dresses with crystals (found in the bead or scrapbooking section of craft stores) for some extra sparkle.

You can make it sleeveless too!!  Follow the same steps as seen in THIS TUTORIAL.

Or give it a retro feel for BeForever characters Melody or Julie.

Try this pattern hack to take a pattern for a top, and make it into a cute dress!  See more ideas for the School Bell Blouse pattern here and here.

 

70s Style Calico Top for Julie Albright from Bloomer Buddies Sewing Pattern

Here is an easy 1970s style top to make for your American Girl doll, Julie.  Julie is the BeForever character from 1974.  I was seven years old in 1975, and I had a top that looked just like this one, red fabric and all, but the print was of mushrooms.  I used “Little Ruby” fabric for this imitation calico top and the Oh Sew Kat! Bloomer Buddies sewing pattern.

This outfit was inspired by THIS PIN.  For this outfit, I didn’t make any adjustments to the Bloomer Buddies pattern.  In order to be more authentic, next time I might add a seam allowance and make the front open with buttons.  That will stay on my “to do” list for now.  🙂

It’s easy to add pockets to any pattern, especially square pockets.  I add the pockets after the front is complete, before I add the sleeves as it’s a little easier to work with a flat item than a rounded one.

Figure out what size you want your finished pocket.  On this blouse, my pockets measure one inch square.  Add 1/2 inch to the width, and the length for seam allowances.  I cut my pieces 1 1/2 inch square. With right sides together, sew three sides of the pocket, and turn right side out. Press well, folding the unfinished edge to the inside.

I put my top on my doll, and use scotch tape (the magic, transparent kind) to hold the pockets in place. It’s easier to sew over tape than pins that are longer than your pocket! Use a top stitch or edge foot if you have one to get nice topstitching around the three lower sides of the pocket.  Complete the top as directed by the pattern.

Complete the 70s inspired look with an easy headscarf. Find the full tutorial HERE.

What other outfits will you make for your Julie doll or her friends?  Find more 70s inspiration here in my Inspiration Gallery, as well as here and here.  Don’t forget to visit and follow my Julie inspired Pinterest board!

 

 

Tester Tuesday! Easy Up! Jumper

Looking for a quick outfit to make for 14.5 inch dolls like Wellie Wishers and Glitter Girls?  Try the new Easy Up! Reversible Jumper sewing pattern found HERE .  Add a Jumping Jack turtleneck or Playtime Peasant Top to complete the outfit.

The Oh Sew Kat! test group never ceases to amaze me. Their talent and creativity are top notch! I always love checking me email 2-3 days after sending out a patter to test because my mailbox is full of photos like these lovelies below!!

This unicorn princess outfit was sewn by Jenny.

Linda made this adorable spring jumper.  I love the added button detail.

Michele added a cute pocket to her striped jumper.

The instructions (and pattern piece) to make the faux button front version are also included in the pattern.

Willa is out and about in her animal jumper, that is also reversible!

Let your creativity shine as you play designer to create your own version of this simple sewing pattern.  Find the pattern here and also for 18 inch dolls here.  See more Easy Up Jumpers in this post and this one!

New! Sewing Pattern for A Girl for All Time® Dolls – Playground Pants

Now available!  A new pattern for your 16 inch poseable A Girl for All Time® Dolls.

The Playground Pants pattern for the A Girl for All Time Doll line is easy to sew but offers lots of fun options, including pieced side panels, working pockets, and an elastic waistband for easy dressing.  These loose fitting pants are perfect with the Playtime Peasant Top or the Popsicle Top, patterns also available from Oh Sew Kat!

These pants work great for boy dolls too!  Stitch them up in a light denim or classic khaki!

See more ideas for the Playground Pants here and here.  This pattern is also available for 18 inch dolls, 16 inch dolls, and 14.5 inch dolls where Oh Sew Kat! patterns are sold.