The Bloomer Buddies PDF sewing pattern for dolls (available from Oh Sew Kat! in three popular doll sizes!) is a great basic pattern to have on hand to make quick and easy tops, bloomers, and dresses for your dolls like American Girl. Mix and match the pattern pieces for a full playground mix and match wardrobe. Find the patterns in my Etsy Shop!
The Bloomer Buddies pattern offers a top or dress in three lengths, with or without sleeves (6 options), bloomers in three lengths, with or without elastic (6 more options!) for a total mix and match wardrobe.
In addition to the cute many included options for tops, bloomers, and dresses, you can use this pattern to create all kinds of additional outfits. Click each photo to go right to the Tutorial. All of these outfits were created with the Bloomer Buddies Pattern. See more in theInspiration Gallery here. Which will you try first?
Create different looks with a simple to sew top pattern for dolls
These pattern hacks will also work for other sized dolls with minor adjustments. The pattern is available for 18 inch dolls like American Girl®, 14.5 inch dolls like Glitter Girls® and Welliewishers™, and 16 inch dolls like Animators’® dolls.
Try fun sewing hacks for Oh Sew Kat! PDF Sewing Patterns
The Playtime Peasant Top and Twirl Skirt PDF sewing pattern for dolls (available from Oh Sew Kat! in five popular doll sizes!) is a great basic pattern to have on hand to make quick and easy tops and dresses for your dolls like American Girl. Find the patterns in my Etsy Shop!
In addition to the cute 3 tiered ruffled skirt and a basic peasant top, you can use this pattern to create all kinds of additional outfits. Click each photo to go right to the Tutorial. All of these outfits were created with the Playtime Peasant Top and Twirl Skirt Pattern. See more in the Inspiration Gallery here. Which will you try first?
Create different looks with a simple to sew peasant top pattern for dolls
These pattern hacks will also work for other sized dolls with minor adjustments. The pattern is available for 18 inch dolls like American Girl®, 15 inch baby dolls like Bitty Baby®, 14.5 inch dolls like Glitter Girls® and Welliewishers™, 16 inch dolls like Animators’® and 16 inch A Girl for All Time® dolls.
Try fun sewing hacks for Oh Sew Kat! PDF Sewing Patterns
Instead of soft gathers, make the Bloomer Buddies Sewing Pattern with a cute pleat down the front. When choosing fabrics, remember that there will be a “break” in your design where the fabric is pressed in or out, so you might want to check how it will line up before you begin. This pattern is available in four popular doll sizes.
Step it Up Series: Pleated Top or Dress with the Bloomer Buddies PDF Sewing Pattern for Dolls
You will need the Bloomer Buddies sewing pattern from Oh Sew Kat! Find it in four sizes HERE.
Cut out the pattern pieces for the top, tunic, or dress length
Fold the front along the fold line and make a mark or pin 1 and 1/4th inch from the fold toward the armhole for 18 inch dolls. You will have to adjust the measurement for smaller sizes.
For an inverted pleat: Baste the seam with right sides together.
For a boxed pleat: Baste the seam with wrong sides together.
Press the pleat flat. Remove your basting stitches down the center front. With the pleat fully in place, stitch across the top raw edge to hold it in place.
Attach the yoke and continue with the pattern directions.
Note: When you press up your hem, you will press out the pleat. Leaving it pressed open like this will give more flair to the bottom of your dress or top.
Simple to Sew Pleated Dress or Top for Dolls by Oh Sew Kat!
All of these dresses were made using the same, simple to sew pattern from Oh Sew Kat!- the Party Time Peasant Dress.
Last minute gift idea: Party Time Peasant Dresses for Dolls
The holidays are upon us!! Do you still need a quick gift for the doll love in your life? The Party Time Peasant Dress is the perfect solution! With an elastic neckline and optional elastic sleeves, you can stitch this beautiful doll dress up in no time flat. Digital PDF patterns mean you can download directly from my shop, print on your home computer, and be sewing without leaving the comfort of your own home.
This popular Oh Sew Kat! pattern is available in five doll sizes: 18 inch dolls like American Girl®, 16 inch dolls like Disney Animators and A Girl for All Time®, 14-15 inch dolls like Ruby Red Fashion Friends™, Welliewishers™, Glitter Girls®, and Hearts for Hearts Dolls, 15 inch baby dolls like Bitty Baby™ and Bitty Twins™, and also the 8″ Caring for Baby tiny doll from American Girl®. Find them all in the Oh Sew Kat! Shop! See the Inspiration Gallery HERE.
See what I did there? Happy December!!! What are you stitching up for the doll lovers on your gift list this year? With so many fun holiday fabrics to choose from, why not choose them all? Use the Twinkle Twirl Skirt PDF sewing pattern to stitch up some cute holiday patchwork skirts for 18 inch dolls and four other sizes too!
Create unique doll clothes with Oh Sew Kat! PDF sewing patterns
When you purchase the Twinkle Twirl Skirt pattern from Oh Sew Kat!, you get five sizes incluced, as well as three variations. Mix and match the panels and ruffles to create your own one of a kind doll skirt.
Easy to Sew Patchwork Skirt Sewing Pattern for Dolls
Add a knit turtleneck Jumping Jack shirt or cotton Playtime Peasant Top to complete your one of a kind diy doll outfit. See how to make easy doll necklaces in THIS POST.
See more ideas for the Twinkle Twirl Skirt HERE and HERE. When you purchase this PDF pattern, you receive five dolls sizes included. Download and sew today!
For a long, long time, I always passed by the batik sections of my favorite fabric stores. My mother, on the other hand, used more batiks than any other fabrics in all of her quilts. When she passed away, I picked through her collection and came home with some very pretty pieces of fabric. I also purchase batiks online at the Fat Quarter Shop (Like these from the Batik Club AD: Batik Clubs).
This rosy batik looked so different each time I used it. I think I’ve made four different items. These two were both made from the School Bell Blouse pattern. Grace is wearing the top, and Kendall is wearing the Dress Hack. Both have added crystals instead of buttons for some extra shine.
There are so many pretty batiks in bright fall colors and with leaf pattern designs.
These fall batiks had lots of swirling colors- each item made from it can take on a completely different look. Both dresses (photo above and below) were made with the Sugar N Spice Dress for 18 inch dolls. See more info in THIS POST.
Try a few fabrics from the batik section of your fabric store or at the Fat Quarter Shop at this AD: LINK and make the magic happen in your doll clothes sewing too!
Snuggle in and Snuggle up! Fall is on its way and your dolls need new, snuggly nightgowns! Use the simple to sew Playtime Peasant Top PDF Sewing Pattern and a few tweaks to make your perfect doll nightgown in six popular doll sizes.
Make Easy Nightgowns for Your American Girl Dolls
You can make your nightgowns look exactly as you choose. Make the dress shorter and the ruffle longer. Or make the dress long with a short ruffle or just lace at the hem The choice is yours. I made at least one nightgown in each size, so I offer the “starting points” for you. Use them to create your perfect, cozy nightgown for dolls.
This pattern hack requires the Playtime Peasant Top and Twirl Skirt Pattern. It’s available HERE in five popular doll sizes.
Directions for Playtime Peasant Top Nightgown with Ruffle (All Sizes)
Cut 2 long sleeves according to the pattern.
To give your gown more of a flair at the bottom, print a second bodice pattern piece. Fold it in half and tape it to the top, left corner of a new piece of paper.
Trace the armhole and extend that side edge nearly to the bottom of the page.
Measure your bodice addition (see below for exact measurement for your size doll) inches below the bottom hem of the pattern piece. Draw a new line, intersecting the side line and continuing on beyond it.
Measure your width addition (see below for exact measurement for your size doll) from the side line, and make a dot. Connect the dot to the armhole as your new side edge. Cut out your new pattern piece and remove the original bodice piece. Mark the long edge as the center fold. Label your new piece and keep it for next time. Cut 2 of these new pieces, on the fold of fabric, one for the front and one for the back.
Cut ruffle to measurements as desired, or listed below.
For Ruffle: Zig zag or serge one long edge, press up 1/4th inch and hem. Gather the top (raw) long edge.
Assemble the pattern per the instructions, adding the ruffle in place of a hem in Step 11. Optional: Topstitch the ruffle after attaching it.
You really can’t go wrong with how long you make your gown or your ruffle. Below you will find my “starting point” for each size doll. Feel free to experiment and have fun with your own Playtime Peasant Top Nightgown!
Add one inch to bodice front and back hem, and create the side lines about 1/th wider than the slant they are on.
Ruffle: 1.25 by 14 inches
Use the Playtime Peasant Top PDF Sewing Pattern from Oh Sew Kat! To make a Holiday Nightgown
Find the PDF Sewing Pattern HERE. Change up your fabric for the perfect (and quick!) Holiday Nightgown for Dolls. I love the 70s vibe of this plaid fabric. It looks so great on Julie too. Find more ideas for Julie’s wardrobe HERE.
What dolls are the Oh Sew Kat! patterns designed for and where can I buy them?
Oh Sew Kat! offers PDF Sewing patterns that are perfect for all ages and skill levels. The patterns are designed to be a great first project for a beginner sewist with clear photos and instructions for every single step.
There are currently 5 sizes of dolls that Oh Sew Kat! offers patterns for. They all have unique body shapes, so some patterns translate more easily to other sizes than others. Some doll sizes sell better than others- so if a certain size requires a fair amount of work, it may not be worth it based on sales trends. At Oh Sew Kat!, I try to stay focused on the most popular doll sizes (those made by American Girl®, 18 inch, 15 inch baby, and 14.5 inch) yet still offer a selection for a few less popular sizes (16 inch A Girl for All Time® and Disney Animators – which are different than Disney Toddler Dolls). Click on the photos to go directly to that size doll section of my Etsy Shop.
The most popular doll size on the market, by far, is the 18 inch vinyl play doll. You can find these dolls made by American Girl®, Our Generation, Pottery Barn, My Life (Walmart), and probably a few others. They are not posable (meaning their arms and legs stay straight and do not bend) and some have cloth bodies and some have vinyl or plastic bodies. I use the dolls from American Girl® as my models and design the patterns for them.
Shop for 14.5 inch Doll Clothes Sewing Patterns
A few years ago, American Girl® dropped the Bitty Twins™ line, and came out with the Welliewishers™. These 14.5 inch dolls are the perfect segway for younger girls who are moving past their baby dolls, but are not quite ready for the bigger, 18 inch dolls. The Welliewishers™ are sold by American Girl® to include stories, props, scenes, outfits, and tv shows or videos. Their eyes do not close. Their popularity has grown, and Our Generation came out with their own version, the Glitter Girls, who are the same size. I’ve also heard about dolls this size being available at Big Lots stores (Style Girls).
Shop for 15 inch Baby Doll Clothes Sewing Patterns
So many little girls just love to play mommy and are enthralled with all things baby doll. My models are the current Bitty Baby™ from American Girl®, as well as the retired Bitty Twins™, which are basically a Bitty Baby™ doll with hair and were available in different skin tones, as well as boys and girls. Bitty Baby has a fabric body and is wider and shorter than her 18 inch big sister, but sometimes she can wear the same clothes or use the same patterns with just a few minor adjustments.
Shop for 16 inch A Girl for All Time® Doll Clothes
I offer patterns for two very different 16 inch dolls. The first, A Girl for All Time Dolls,® are thin, with a plastic body, and moveable joints. Their eyes do not close. They are also referred to as BJD (ball jointed dolls). They are mostly historical characters, but they have a few modern sisters as well, such as my Bex doll, shown the green top below. My other AGAT doll is the 60s character, Sam. These dolls are new on the doll scene and can sometimes be hard to get a hold of.
Shop for Animators’ Doll Clothes Sewing Patterns
The second 16″ doll I make patterns for is the Disney Animator Doll. These dolls are available only at the Disney store or Disney online store. They are much less expensive- and hard plastic bodies with straight limbs and non closing eyes. These dolls are great for younger play dolls and come in most all the favorite characters, both boys and girls. My collection includes Rapunzel, Belle, Ariel, Elsa, Anna, and a few others. They are all the same brand of dolls, but some of them are a little taller than others. (Especially Anna, who is about an inch shorter than her big sister, Elsa.). Disney also offers a complete line of My First Princess and Disney Toddler dolls. I do not have any of them, but I am sure there are comparison charts on Google if you want to compare them. My patterns fit the Disney Animator line specifically, and also will fit a much older doll, called a Galoob doll. (Google it, they are funny!!)
So how do I decide if or when to resize a pattern for a different size doll? Well, I don’t really have one answer. Sometimes I make them all at the same time (Twinkle Twirl Skirt and Backyard Bibs for example). Sometimes I roll them out one at a time but all in a row (HalterAlls). Sometimes they don’t get resized- or sometimes I just haven’t gotten to it yet. Not all patterns will work for all dolls- for example, I’m not sure the Jumping Jack open sided jumper will fit properly and hang right over the Animators’ toddler bellies. And sometimes it just depends on the season or what I feel inspired to work on.
The Twinkle Twirl Skirt from Oh Sew Kat! patterns is a quick skirt to make and comes with five sizes included!! Make one of three versions for your 18 inch doll like American Girl®, 16 inch dolls like A Girl for All Time® or Animators, 15 inch baby dolls and 14.5 inch dolls like Welliewishers™. Enjoy these beautiful skirts made by the Oh Sew Kat! testers!
Juliette (Somewhere in time, a Doll) made darling mix and match Twinkle Twirl Skirts and Popsicle Tops in black, white, and red prints. Each one is cuter than the last!
The Twinkle Twirl skirt will also fit the new 15 inch Ruby Red Fashion Friends dolls that have become so popular lately.
Don’t forget your cute, Animators’ dolls! The princess set loves to twirl and dance in ruffly skirts too! Michele’s Elena looks so sweet in her red and yellow outfit!
The Twinkle Twirl Skirt from Oh Sew Kat! patterns is a quick skirt to make and comes with five sizes included!! Make one of three versions for your 18 inch doll like American Girl®, 16 inch dolls like A Girl for All Time® or Animators, 15 inch baby dolls and 14.5 inch dolls like Welliewishers™. Enjoy these beautiful skirts made by the Oh Sew Kat! testers!
Juliette (Somewhere in time, a Doll) made darling mix and match Twinkle Twirl Skirts and Popsicle Tops in black, white, and red prints. Each one is cuter than the last!
The Twinkle Twirl skirt will also fit the new 15 inch Ruby Red Fashion Friends dolls that have become so popular lately.
Don’t forget your cute, Animators’ dolls! The princess set loves to twirl and dance in ruffly skirts too! Jenny’s Rapunzel is ready to set off into the woods to play! Her shirt is made with the Oh Sew Kat! Simple Sweet Tee.
Oh Sew Kat! 