Holiday Dresses to Make for Your Dolls

Is it too soon? 🙂   Have you thought about the special girls in your life that might enjoy new clothes for their special dolls this holiday season?  Here are a few ideas to inspire you to ring in the season! Click on each photo to go right to the Oh Sew kat! sewing pattern I used.  Visit my Etsy Shop to find a full selection of patterns for dolls from 14-18 inches tall.

Four Season Skirts ^^ Find this free pattern HERE.

Jumping Jack  ^^

Party Time Peasant Dress  ^^

Sugar n Spice Dress Pattern Hack ^^

See more holiday doll clothes ideas HERE and HERE.

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Fall Batik Dresses for Dolls- Sugar n Spice Sewing Pattern

It’s hard to believe that fall is just around the corner.  The mornings are not quite crisp yet, but we know it’s coming soon.  It’s time to shift from beaches and boardwalks to back to school, football, and fall colors!  What better way to start than some pretty dresses for dolls! Be sure to pin the images so you can find them later! 🙂

I used the Sugar n Spice pattern for both of these dresses.  For the 18 inch sized dress, I added the placket for the buttons using this method here.  You just have to remember to cut the front bodice differently (lining does not change).

I only made two dresses, one in each size. But I just love how this fabric looks so different depending on what doll wore it. Who do you think wore it best?

Find the sewing pattern HERE for 18 inch dolls and HERE for wellie wishers sized dolls.

Who else is ready for fall???

See more Sugar n Spice dresses here and here.

 

 

Back to School Sewing Patterns – School Bell Blouse

It’s so hard to believe it’s already August!! For most of us, that means back to school time! I’ve always loved the feel of back to school shopping- and who doesn’t love those aisles and aisles of school supplies that pop up in every store this time of year?  Be still my heart!

Your dolls will be ready for a great year with a few new outfits too!  Check back often to see more ideas for Back to School doll fashions that you can make yourself!

Today’s feature is the School Bell Blouse.  This pattern features two versions of a short top with long sleeves.  Pretty pleats on the sleeve give you a cute spot for a bow or button accent.  With or without the peplum, this trendy blouse is fun to make and cute for your doll to wear!

The quick and easy Sixth Grade Skirt is the perfect skirt to complete the outfit. 

School Bell Blouse by OhSewKat

Find the pattern for 18 inch dolls HERE and for 16 inch dolls HERE.  Coming soon for Wellie Wishers 😉

See more School Bell Blouse ideas in the Pattern Inspiration Gallery.

Tester Tuesday: Easy Up! Jumper Pattern for 18 inch dolls

My 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 test because my mailbox is full of photos like these lovelies below!! Enjoy the doll clothes eye candy- and click HERE to purchase the new Easy Up! Reversible Jumper pattern for 18 inch dolls.

First up is this Nanea stunner made by Michelle Anderson.  She put the pleat in the center instead of on the sides.  We will have a full tutorial on this later in the month.

Juliette Auckland’s baby cord jumper is stunning with the red heart buttons and long sleeve shirt. Her doll is ready for back to school!

Kathy McMillin has Josefina ready for the summer heat in her pretty, pink sundress version of the Easy Up! jumper.

Denim and gingham- what could be cuter? Sandy Simpson added cute bows to the sides of her jumper with the adorable daisy front and center.

This simple pattern has a lot of options to make it for any season in any fabric. Make it reversible for two dresses in one!!  Find the pattern here and see more Easy Up! Jumpers in the Inspiration Gallery HERE.

Learning to Sew? What pattern to start with?

I get asked this question quite often.

“What would be the best pattern for my young, or brand new sewist start with?”

Oh Sew Kat! offers patterns with basic pattern pieces and simple constructions for this very reason. The goal is to give success to someone who has NEVER SEWN A PATTERN EVER.  Here are my top 3 patterns for newbie seamstresses: The Sixth Grade Skirt, the Playtime Peasant Top, and the Easy Up! Jumper.

1.  Sixth Grade Skirt

The greatest thing about the Sixth Grade Skirt is that it’s very hard to mess it up. Because it is an open skirt, with a hook and loop tape closure in back, it fits a wide variety of dolls (and toys), and also accommodates a beginning seamstress’ (possibly) uneven seam allowances.  It’s fun to mix and match different fabrics, and you can add easy pockets with this TUTORIAL, or ruffles or lace to the hem like in this TUTORIAL.

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2. Playtime Peasant Top

As far as a doll shirt goes, the peasant top is a timeless staple for every doll wardrobe.  It really does not get much easier than this.  The simple construction still lends itself to whimsical fabric combinations for unique styles.  Feeding a safety pin through an elastic casing for the easy neckline will teach a beginner a skill that can be then used on skirts, pants and shorts too!

Make the Playtime Peasant Top with long sleeves with elastic at the wrist.  This classic look works for both historical and modern outfits.

Playtime Peasant Top with short sleeves with elastic.  Add lace to a skirt with this easy TUTORIAL.

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3. Easy Up! Jumper

The Easy Up! Jumper is just that! Easy! It’s easy to cut, and quick to sew.  For first time seamstresses, make the simple version (no side pleats) and use FOE (fold over elastic) for the straps. Be careful, this pattern is addicting! It’s hard to make just one!

 

Visit the Inspiration Gallery for each pattern to see more ideas.

Other simple patterns to try:  Boardwalk Boutique, Playground Pants, HalterAlls, and the Party Time Peasant Dress.

SHOP for Oh Sew Kat! Patterns

 

Share your projects!!

Tester Tuesday: The Easy Up! Jumper Pattern for 18 inch dolls

Here are a few photos of the amazing Easy Up! jumpers from the Oh Sew Kat! testers.  They never cease to amaze me with not only how quickly they work, but also have creative they are!  Find the Easy Up! Jumper for 18 inch dolls here.

Above, Pam Ray of Amy Violet’s, used lace for her pleats and straps.  Such a pretty dress!!

Michelle Anderson added an adorable pocket to the front of this spiffy plaid jumper.  The pocket piece is not included with the pattern, but if you don’t have one from another pattern (like the HalterAlls for example), it’s very easy to make your own!

Sophie Pagr’s STUNNING dress blew me away.  The fabric is perfect with this off the shoulder peasant style top. Be sure to check her out on instagram at ProjectAGrunway for more stunning photos and doll clothes.

Nellie looks ready for anything in her adorable apple Easy Up! Jumper made by Koala-T. Find them on facebook and say hi!!  Koala-T sells her doll clothes online and at craft shows in Canada.

What will you add to your Easy Up! Jumper to make it uniquely yours?  Share your photos with me at #ohsewkat on instagram or my facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/ohsewkat.  See more Easy Up! Jumper ideas in the Inspiration Gallery and purchase the pattern HERE.

 

Gingham Peasant Dress Outfit Tutorial for Julie Albright- A BeForever Pattern Hack!

I’m really enjoying sewing for Julie Albright, the BeForever character from 1974.  I think I’m attracted to her collection because I was seven years old in 1974 and I had very similar things- like her purple coat (mine was blue) and the sneaker skates (mine were bright yellow with orange stripes).

When I saw THIS PIN, I just knew that this peasant style outfit would be easy to recreate with Oh Sew Kat! patterns.

Click here to see other outfits I’ve sewn for Julie.

The top is simply the Playtime Peasant Top, sewn in white with long sleeves.  For the skirt, I used the overskirt that comes in the Sugar n Spice and Everything Nice bundle.  I cut the gingham fabric skirt longer by 4 1/2 inches, but didn’t make any other changes.  Add a little lace at the bottom, and ta da! A perfect, pretty bell skirt! Add a red or gingham ribbon to complete the look.  This outfit will be perfect for the Christmas holidays!

Find the patterns HERE.  Find more fashions for Julie (all made with Oh Sew Kat! patterns!) here and here.

 

 

 

New 18 inch doll Sewing Pattern: Easy Up! Jumper by Oh Sew Kat!

Just in time for fall and back to school sewing, the Easy Up! Jumper for 18 inch dolls is now available.  This is a simple jumper with elastic straps and a contrast pleat at the sides for fun.  Make it fully reversible for two dresses in one!  Special intro price ends Friday night! Download and sew up a quick jumper for your doll today.

This pattern has lots of fun options~~

• Simple jumper with elastic straps that pulls up over doll’s feet
• Cute side pleats, can be reversible, no closures to sew
• Easy to sew, detailed instructions and photographs of every step
• Instructions for simple and stepped up versions, BONUS front placket pattern piece
• Computer Drawn Pattern Pieces; PDF Digital download- print and sew today!
• Uses less than 1/4 yard of cotton fabric- mix and match your prints

SHOP NOW.

Available exclusively on Etsy, special intro price of $3.99 through Friday night.

The Easy Up! Jumper is the perfect jumper for every season!!  Find the pattern HERE in my Etsy Shop. Pair it up with the Jumping Jack turtleneck shirt! Coming soon in other sizes!!

Click here to see the Easy Up! Inspiration Gallery.  Get your dolls ready for fall with this fun, new, easy to sew pattern!

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Back To School with Oh Sew Kat!

The most wonderful time of the year!  Get your dolls ready to head back to school in style.

Willa and Camille are dressed in Simple, Sweet Tees with Four Season Skirt. Both of these patterns are so quick and easy, you can outfit the whole bunch in just one afternoon.  The Four Season Skirt pattern is FREE right here.

Kelly’s dress was made with the School Dance Dress Pattern.  With three different ways to sew it up, your doll will be ready for cooler weather in her own style!  Grace is comfy and casual in her Simple, Sweet Tee and boots.

Are your kiddos ready to head back to school?  Their doll friends will be with these cute outfits you made yourself!!

See more Simple Sweet Tee Ideas here and here, and the Four Season Skirt is here.

 

 

Julie Albright’s Sunshine Dress Tunic Top

The Sunshine Dress has so many options. There are many different ways to style it up to create just the look you want.  Here, I used it for the 1974 BeForever Character, Julie Albright.

 

Find tutorials for other ways to sew Oh Sew Kat! patterns for your Julie Doll HERE.

This top is very simple.  I only made one change to the pattern- I cut off about 1 1/2 inches from the hem.  I added a little bit of crochet trim, and Julie has a perfect tunic to wear with her bell bottoms.

See more ways to make the Sunshine Dress here and here, and find more fashions for the 70s and Julie Albright here and here.

Find the Sunshine Dress Pattern for 18 inch Dolls here (other sizes also available.)