Make 1950’s fashions for your 18 inch American Girl® Doll like Maryellen Larkin with easy sewing patterns.
You can make iconic looking doll clothes for 1953 American Girl® character, Maryellen Larkin with Oh Sew Kat! PDF patterns and hacks. Print the patterns on your home computer- find the full selection in the OhSewKat Etsy shop. Use these easy hacks (same pattern with slight changes) to make your doll a sweet wardrobe inspired by the Fabulous Fifties! Find more ideas for Maryellen in the Oh Sew Kat! 50s Gallery HERE.
Make Maryellen a Shift Dress with Overskirt- Add pearls and gloves for a Fabulous Fifties Outfit
Make a floral 50s inspired dress for your Maryellen doll with the Sunshine Dress pattern.
The Sunshine Dress is a simple, A Line dress (with short sleeves) that is timeless through the decades. Use THIS tutorial to make a sleeveless shift dress and then add an overskirt, made with the Sugar n Spice and Everything Nice pattern for the “skirt over dress” look that was popular in the 50s and 60s. The overskirt can be worn with the opening in the back (above) or in front (below). Try different fabrics with the same patterns.
Your doll can also wear the floral Sunshine shift dress all by itself for even more play value.
Find these and many other sewing patterns HERE. See more ideas for Maryellen’s fashions HERE, HERE, and HERE.
Girls and dolls alike will fall in love with pretty, Easter fashions that you sew yourself with the easy to follow PDF sewing patterns from Oh Sew Kat! Find a full selection of patterns for dolls that are 18 inches, 16 inches, 15 inches, and 14.5-15 inches in the OH SEW Kat Etsy shop and download and sew today!
Easter Dresses for Your Dolls- DIY Doll Clothes
Click on the photos to go right to the post. Click on the description’s pattern name, to go to the Inspiration Gallery for each pattern. Find all the patterns in the OhSewKat Etsy shop for instant download.
Sew your 18″ American Girl® doll some fun fashions for the 50s with easy Oh Sew Kat! patterns.
Visit the Oh Sew Kat! 50s Inspiration Gallery for ideas and links to sew the Oh Sew Kat! patterns with a fun, 50s flair. Your Maryellen Larkin™ doll with love fabulous fifties fashions that you made yourself!
Make an Eloise Inspired Outfit for your 18 inch Doll
The Sugar n Spice and Everything Nice patterns are mostly sold as one pattern or bundle. The 18 inch size was only created as one version, but both the 16 inch Animator and 14 inch Welliewisher™ sizes can be purchased as the Sugar n Spice dress pattern, the Everything Nice accessories pattern, or as the Sugar n Spice Everything Nice pattern bundle. Find them all in my Etsy Shop.
To make the black suspender skirt, an iconic look for Miss Eloise, I used the overskirt pattern, found in the Everything Nice accessories pattern. You might want to make it more full than the pattern calls for, but this basic, open back gathered skirt has a nice waistband. My fabric was 29 inches long, so that is what I used. I also took off 1 inch from the hem. Instead of a regular gathered skirt (which will still look very cute!) I pleated my fabric every 3/8th inch or so (I did not measure) and it fit perfectly to my waistband. If you choose to do this, I recommend cutting your skirt piece longer than you need and trimming to fit just in case.
18 inch doll sewing pattern for an Eloise inspired Suspender Skirt
Once you attach the skirt to the waistband, try it on your doll and mark or pin the strap placement. Pin the straps in place inside the skirt (front and back, being careful not to let them twist). On the front, sew a few stitches to secure the straps right in the center of the waistband. On the back, consider hiding your stitches in the hook and loop tape area or the topstitching. Sew the buttons to the front of the waistband where the straps meet the skirt, covering the stitches that attached the straps. For this outfit, I used 9.5 inches of black Fold over elastic for my straps. If using fabric, cut two pieces, 11 x 1.25 inches, folding in each long edge to the center and stitching in place.
I chose a Playtime Peasant Top for my Eloise costume because all the photos of her seem to have a baggy, almost untucked look to the front of her shirt. Even though it doesn’t have a collar, it still created the look I was after. You could easily add a collar to the bodice of the Sugar n Spice dress and make it into a blouse. You could also use the school blouse pattern from the Pleasant Company Molly’s Pretty Clothes patterns. You can find those at a site called AG Playthings. White knee socks and black mary jane style shoes can be found at American Girl®. See this POST for more doll shoe sources.
Add a bright read headband with this easy TUTORIAL and she’s ready for tea at the Plaza! Find Eloise stories on Ad: Amazon. See more pattern hacks and ideas for the Sugar n Spice dress HERE and HERE.
That works for some of the summer outfits… and sometimes I just crop out their feet 🙂 but at the same time, a well dressed doll deserves some perfect shoes to complete the perfect outfit. If you are looking for doll shoes, and don’t want to make your own, I’m sharing where I buy most of my shoes to help your doll shoe shopping needs! (Kendall’s outfit is made with the HalterAlls sewing pattern.)
American Girl offers trendy shoes for your 18 inch Dolls.
My favorite place to buy shoes is directly from American Girl®. They offer trendy styles (although pricey, especially if you have to buy the outfit to get them), but they are well made, fit perfectly and come in all sorts of styles and colors. My daughter is now 18 years old. We got her Bitty Baby when she was 1, and her Mia GOTY doll when she was 6. That is a LOT of years of buying doll clothes and shoes from American Girl, so you just have to watch the styles and try and purchase what you like when you see them. (Riley’s boots- above- which I use ALL the time, are the meet shoes that came with my Saige GOTY doll.) Patterns used: Backyard Bibs, Playtime Peasant Top Pattern bundle.
Emily’s shoes above are from Nicki’s collection also from American Girl®. Nicki was the GOTY in 2004. Emily’s outfit is made with the Picnic Play top and the Everything Nice Skirt worn backwards.
American Fashion World offers a large selection of doll shoes in lots of popular doll sizes.
Every so often, I place a large order from American Fashion World. Their prices are very low, and the quality and fit are not as high as American Girl®, but they are perfect for playtime and for photographs and offers lots and lots of styles and colors, to include boys’ styles, along with other things like tees, hats, belts, and much more. You no longer have to have a wholesale account with them- find them on Amazon. Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/378OrPr. This three pack of tennis shoes is just $9.99. Or find these cute “sherpa” look boots in lots of colors here. (Maryellen’s outfit: Jumping Jack sewing pattern.). Both wellies in the photo below are wearing AFW shoes and the Picnic Play sewing pattern was used for their outfits.
Find a large selection of doll shoes on ebay and etsy.
Don’t forget some of the more popular online shopping sites to look for cute and inexpensive doll shoes. Etsy and Ebay also offer some options. You can find a whole range of styles by searching by doll size (Animators’, 14.5 inch dolls for example.). I’ve found lots of really cute shoes on Etsy. Plus there are tons of patterns out there if you want to make your own!
So those are places I shop the most often for my doll shoes. Do you have any shops you would add to this list? Leave a comment below and let us know!
I also had recommendations from readers about Sophia’s and also Monique’s. I think if you poke around the net, you will find lots of places to buy some cute doll shoes to match your adorable handmade outfits!
The holidays are here! There is still time to download a PDF sewing pattern from Oh Sew Kat! and stitch up a new holiday dress for your favorite 18 inch dolls like the dolls from American Girl® and Our Generation® and your 14.5 inch dolls like Wellie Wishers™ and Glitter Girls®.
The Sugar n Spice and Everything Nice PDF Sewing pattern offers all the options you need to make the perfect holiday dresses for dolls.
Easy to Sew- Make a Clara inspired nightgown for your 18 inch doll
A few tweaks here and there, and I used the basic Sugar n Spice dress pattern to make this lovely Clara inspired nightgown for my 18 inch dolls. I added length and ruffles to the sleeves, length and a ruffle to the gown, plus a simple faux placket trimmed with piping. Maryellen is ready for sweet dreams this holiday season! Find more details about the modifications to the pattern in THIS POST.
Sew your Molly doll a special Holiday Dress with this easy sewing pattern
Green kona cotton and some tiny lace combine to make a dress similar to Molly’s Christmas dress from American Girl® in her stories. (Molly’s original dress was green velvet, and this Sugar n Spice dress would be gorgeous made from velvet too! See more in THIS POST.)
The Sugar n Spice PDF Sewing Pattern is perfect for your Holiday Doll Clothes Sewing
Lengthen the sleeves and make a long sleeve version of the Sugar n Spice Dress. Add a pretty ribbon sash for a splash of color. This dress was part of an Angel Tree gift I made a few years ago. I also made a dress for Willa.
Make your 14.5 inch dolls (like Wellie Wishers™ a special holiday outfit.
When you purchase the Sugar n Spice dress for 18 inch dolls, it is bundled with the Everything Nice accessories pattern. For Wellie Wishers™ and Animators’, you can purchase the bundle or each pattern separately. Everything Nice includes an unlined cape and a quick to make overskirt. Julie H combined it all in this peppermint themed outfit for Camille. See more photos of this outfit without the cape HERE.
Make a 70s holiday outfit for Julie with the Everything Nice Sewing Pattern
Here, I lengthened the Everything Nice Skirt to floor length and added a Playtime Peasant Top (also available from Oh Sew Kat!) to make a perfect 70s Christmas outfit for Julie. See more photos and information HERE. See the Everything Nice Skirt in a new way here too.
When you learn to sew for your dolls, you now have the power to make your doll clothes in any style you like. Oh Sew Kat! offers basic patterns with simple instructions and few pattern details for this very reason. You can change up the colors, or add a collar or embroidery to make your doll clothes fit your latest inspiration or follow the latest trends. Find easy PDF patterns in 5 popular doll sizes from 14-18 inches in my ETSY SHOP and download and sew today!
Maryellen looks perfect in her Gabby Gabby inspired doll dress from the Toy Story 4 movie.
Make your doll a Gabby Gabby dress with bright yellow fabric and the Sugar n Spice sewing pattern. I trimmed off some of the bodice to add the white band, and added the collar and placket to create this Gabby inspired dress for 18 inch dolls.
The Backyard Bibs offers the perfect spot to showcase your favorite superhero’s logo, like this Captain America Dress.
The Backyard Bibs and Playtime Peasant Top are a quick pair of patterns to create a unique and fun outfit in no time at all. With four options for the bibs (shorts, capris, a line skirt, gathered skirt), you will have time and fabric to make more than one set! Find the pattern in 5 sizes HERE. This pattern is also available in a value bundle with the Playtime Peasant Top pattern too. Find it here.
This Alice in Wonderland inspired dress was created with the Sugar n Spice Sewing Pattern.
The apron pattern is included in the Sugar N Spice sewing pattern. Find more accessories (like a corset and cape) in the Everything Nice bundle.
What doll doesn’t want to be Wonder Woman? This cute outfit was made using the Sugar n Spice and Everything Nice pattern.
This Wonder Woman inspired doll dress was made with the Sugar n Spice and Everything Nice bundle. With one white dress, I can add accessories like the reversible corset and a starry overskirt to create the look I want. Mix and match the white dress with other pieces for even more dress up fun. See the Inspiration Gallery for more ways to sew the Sugar N Spice doll dress sewing pattern. See THIS POST for six different ways to sew this versatile pattern.
Sewing for BeForever character Julie Albright? Her stories are set in 1974 and she has some groovy fashions! Give your Julie a personalized 70s themed wardrobe with these twists on PDF sewing patterns from Oh Sew Kat! Find all of these patterns in my Etsy Shop.
Make a 1970’s themed outfit for your 18 inch American Girl doll.
What other Oh Sew Kat! patterns might work for Julie outfits? Visit the Julie page of the Historical Fashions gallery for more ideas. See more sewing ideas for the BeForever characters like Melody and Maryellen too! Comment below with your ideas!
Visit & follow my 1970s doll fashion PINTEREST Board for more ideas. Pin these images to save them for later!
Don’t you love making special doll clothes for the girls in your life with the easy PDF sewing patterns from Oh Sew Kat! The easy to follow photo instructions are designed to help even the novice sewist have a successful time. In many of my more recent patterns, I’ve started to include some ideas and simple instructions for variations on the patterns. You can “Step them Up” or “Step them Down” to your heart’s content. Read below to see five of my favorite (and most popular to date!) pattern hacks. Click on the photo to go right to the tutorial of Kat’s favorite pattern hacks.
Find all these patterns, plus many more in 5 popular doll sizes in my Etsy Shop or other places Oh Sew Kat! patterns are sold.
Take a new twist on Oh Sew Kat! PDF sewing patterns with these favorite pattern hacks.
Tee shirt Dress tutorial: Make a cute, tee shirt dress from the Simple, Sweet Tee Shirt pattern. Works for any size doll. Find the pattern in 4 popular doll sizes here.
Pumpkin jumper: The classic Boardwalk Boutique pattern doesn’t have to be put away when the weather gets cooler. Use it as a base to make cute holiday themed outfits as well as summer play clothes. A little orange fabric and an iron on pumpkin face took this simple halter top to a cute jumper for fall. Layer it over a Playtime Peasant Top or a Jumping Jack Turtleneck!
Easy to sew Pattern Hacks for 18 inch and other sized doll clothes.
Find all these patterns, plus many more in 5 popular doll sizes in my Etsy Shop or other places Oh Sew Kat! patterns are sold. See more pattern hacks and tutorials HERE.
What is more fun than dressing dolls up in adorable Halloween costumes that you make yourself? Here are a few ideas of costumes that your Wellie Wishers would love to wear. All of these patterns are also available in other doll sizes in my Etsy Shop.
Make a fun Halloween costume for your 14 inch doll with easy sewing patterns
Use the Sugar n Spice sewing pattern to create many different Halloween costumes
Julie H. of Sew Dolled Up 81 made this beautiful ice princess outfit with the Sugar n Spice pattern. It’s amazing how some fancy fabrics can completely change the look of a simple dress pattern.
And finally, Jaci G. of JGooseandCo made this beautiful Alice in Wonderland outfit for her Hearts for Hearts doll with the Sugar n Spice pattern with included bonus apron.
