My Story

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Oh Sew Kat!
Fashion Trends for Dolls and their Friends

 

PDF Digital Sewing Patterns for Doll Clothes (for 14-18 inch dolls)

 

Hey there!!! Are you a mom with young girls that are wrapped up in “Doll World”?  Or are you a young girl that is all about Doll Fashion and super trendy photo shoots to put on Instagram and You Tube?  Maybe you are Aunt Spoils Alot…or Gramma (or Granny or Mimi) who just wants to see that little girl’s eyes light up when she opens up that special gift you made just for her and her doll… or maybe you are just dying to learn to sew on some quick and easy projects and make some pretty, handmade gifts for the doll lovers in your life while you are at it?

If you have ever shelled out $44 for a doll outfit, all the while thinking, “Surely, I could make that. And for a lot less! And probably cuter too!”  Well, you are me. Or I am you.  Or that is who I was too.  Or still am?  Anyway.  I spent hours of time and thousands of dollars sharing my daughter’s love of All Things American Girl®.

And then this funny thing happened.  She grew up.  Yep.  I couldn’t stop her. And neither can you. That is why you should stop wasting time, and start sewing today!  Come on in…the water is warm!

So now at 20 years old, she has boxed her dolls up, and put the furniture and things away, and I can’t say she’s “into it” anymore.  The really, really sad part was that when that happened, so did something else.  All of the fun, colorful twirly skirts and matching doll outfits were no longer covering my sewing table.  When Molly was four and five, I started making her some simple dresses and twirly skirts for preschool.

As she got older, I added layers to the skirts, made the waist elastic a bit longer, and she wore them some more.  As my skills grew, so did her wardrobe. Okay, maybe to the point of excess at one point, but everyone was having fun, right?  Molly would accompany me to the fabric store where we would pour over designs and fabrics for her next “first day of school” outfit.  Or her “St Patrick’s Day skirt”.  And every time, whether there was a matching doll pattern or not (mostly not), I’d create a mini version as well for her doll, Mia. Sometimes these were amazing, and sometimes they worked well enough for a five year old so who was I to say?

Molly took up Irish dancing. She no longer dances, but when she did, it  really, really cut into my sewing and designing time, and by the way, my pocketbook. Email me if you are considering this cult hobby for your child!  Seriously, reach out.  Okay, kidding.  Sort of. Anyway, my skills were stretched even further to include satin fabrics, as I recreated matching school costumes and solo dresses each year.  Okay, most years. I’m two four behind.  But I still look at that zip lock bag of the extra fabric the dressmaker sent me and say, “Some day I will.” And Molly does ask about it every so often…maybe as her wedding gift? Please don’t judge these…first of all, I know nothing about Irish dance dress construction, (yes, that is a thing!) so I just had to wing it until something looked “right enough”.  And I can’t even tell you the hours I spent on these. Once, at a feis, a mom walked by Molly with her doll, and said, “Oh, I need you to make those for my girls.”  Sorry, Sister, you can’t afford me, LOL!

After awhile, Molly started to ask to sew some of her own doll clothes. I won’t lie and say she made a zillion doll dresses with inset sleeves, but she and I spent a lot of time, side by side at the machine.

My method was easy.  We picked a pattern I felt was easy enough for her sewing level (like my Sixth Grade Skirt, Four Square Skirt, or Easy Up! Jumper, which are perfect 1st time patterns!) and I picked out my fabric, and she picked out her own.  I sewed mine. Then she sewed hers. So we still went step by step, but she saw me do it first, and then was able to do it herself. Here she is with her dolls wearing her own creations- a skirt, a top, a dress, and a pair of shorts.  I think this took a week.  Not bad! And she was so proud! I knew at that moment, I would love to “someday” create that same feeling for other moms and their girls.  I hope you find that feeling here at Oh Sew Kat!

Anyway, fast forward a bit.  I went back to work full time in 2010, (I teach US Marines to write essays, which I love, but I can’t say I get much girl conversation at work!) and as Molly’s tastes matured, the homemade look didn’t quite cut it as often.  No worries! I realized it actually takes way less time to just make a doll dress than it does to make that perfect outfit for Molly and the dolly (let alone 2 or 3 or 9).

So I let go of the girls’ side of it, and pushed back headlong into Doll World. I have published a full wardrobe of basic patterns, that follow similar instructions, but can be modified and mixed and matched.  My inspiration wall is full of new ideas, (if only this full time job did not get in the way so much!).  My hope is to bring you, both moms and girls, some basic patterns that will not only create a beautiful and useful doll wardrobe at a fraction of the cost, but will hopefully begin a life long journey of sewing and fabric, and ruffles, and bows, and who knows what from there!

So come on in!! Even if you have never sewed a stitch, my clear patterns and simple constructions give you step by step photos to guarantee success! And if you run into a bump in the road, then email me at ohsewkat@gmail.com and we will get you back on track!

Oh Sew Kat! is the place to find trendy fashions and sewing patterns for your American Girl® and similar sized 18″ dolls. You will also find patterns sized for 14.5 inch Wellie Wishers™ dolls, 15 inch Bitty Baby® dolls, and 16 inch A Girl for All Time® and Disney Animators’ Dolls.  I learned to sew as a child, and like many girls, I learned to sew from my mother and she taught me with doll clothes. The discovery of American Girl® when my own daughter was born, brought a whole new meaning to doll sewing, designing, and collecting. My daughter and I have shared many wonderful memories playing with and creating things for her dolls. I always enjoyed the days we spent together sewing doll clothes, and I hope some of you get a chance to do that too.

 

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A selection of my patterns are also available at Pixie Faire.

 

 

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I am always working on new digital patterns. They are coming out one by one, and are designed to be shared with your favorite girl and her doll as well. These patterns are designed with the beginner in mind. They use simple techniques and few pieces, but together they create a versatile and complete doll wardrobe. Each project is a perfect starting place to learn to sew, or to teach your daughter to sew for her dolls.  You will find easy styles that can be easily dressed up or down with just a few tweaks. See more of these tweaks each month on the TUTORIALS page.  I hope you find something to share with your doll…and her girl.  Well, if you actually made it this far, then I say “thank you”!  Here’s our latest family photo…I’m so proud of my entire family. Especially my Sweetie. No matter what I decide to do, he is right there with me!! Even if it is dolls.

 

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Fashion Trends for Dolls and their Friends

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