Try this simple pattern hack to the Oh Sew Kat! Backyard Bibs to replace the sewn straps with pretty ribbon bows!
The Backyard Bibs is one of my favorite patterns to sew. It doesn’t take a lot of fabric, has just a few steps, and looks great no matter what fabric I choose.
This idea was shared with me by one of my customers. Thank you, Laura!! It’s really easy to switch out the sewn in straps on the Backyard Bibs pattern and replace them with pretty ribbons you can tie into bows. I used 1/4th inch ribbon for this adorable sundress. Simply cut 4 pieces, 9-10 inches each, and stitch one into each part of the bodice (one on each side of the front, and one on each back.) Remember to keep the ribbons free as you complete your sewing!
Easy Oh Sew Kat! Pattern hack: Make ribbon tied straps on the Backyard Bibs
It doesn’t matter which version or which size of the Backyard Bibs pattern you are making. Four simple ribbons are the perfect touch to give your Backyard Bibs a unique look, no matter the season!
Tie the ribbons in pretty bows, and leave them tied, as you dress and undress the doll. You could even stitch them in the tied position to keep them looking perfect through hours of playtime!
Make a quick spring skirt with this FREE SKIRT pattern for Dolls
Spring has sprung!! With flowers and showers, the entire world seems to wake up overnight when Spring arrives. Maryellen can’t wait to remove her saddle shoes and put her bare feet in the grass. Her cute whale skirt is paired with a reversible Popsicle Top and the skirt waistband matches the top. This skirt was actually one of the prototypes I used when I created the Four Season Skirt pattern, which you can get for free HERE. This skirt is a little shorter in both the waistband and the skirt, which gave it a fuller flare for spring!! Check out Grace in her pink Easter egg skirt here. See more Four Season Skirts here and here.
All those cute holiday fabrics in the stores and online are just so hard to resist! Every year I love to sew up a few new doll outfits with the latest prints and colors. Here are some of my favorites. Find all of these PDF sewing patterns in my ETSY SHOP.
Make your doll a holiday outfit with the Backyard Bibs PDF Sewing Pattern
The Backyard Bibs PDF sewing pattern is a very easy sewing project. Even a very inexperienced seamstress will find the process easy to follow with awesome results. Pull out your awesome holiday fabrics and make your doll a Backyard Bibs skirt or capri outfit today!
Grace’s poinsettia bibs (above) bring a fun PINK color to the holiday season. I used it with the Playtime Peasant top pattern- you can find the 2 bundle value here. Perfect for warmer climates or add a cozy sweater and some furry boots! Nicki’s aqua snowman bibs are from the same fabric collection (Merry Merry Snow Days by Moda). I used striped bias tape to add more interest and she’s wearing it over a Jumping Jack turtleneck shirt (made with the lower collar option.) . Find the patterns HERE.
Make a quick and easy Easy Up! jumper in fun holiday fabric. Make it Reversible!
I love this pattern! I made a dress for my daughter a long time ago and this pattern is the result. See the full post here. The Easy Up! pattern looks complicated, but it’s really very simple. With a full front and front contrast straps and hem kick pleat, it’s the perfect pattern for your awesome and fun holiday fabrics.
I used a cute, gingham bias tape for the hem on this jumper. I didn’t, but it would be cute to use the same trim for the straps too. Have fun mixing and matching your fun fabrics. Go outside your box! Fabric is called SNOW GLOBE by Moda.
Your doll will be ready for the holidays and beyond with an adorable Jumping Jack 3 in1 Jumper Set.
The Jumping Jack pattern is probably the biggest Oh Sew Kat! sleeper pattern. It consists of three pieces, a long sleeve, turtleneck shirt, a pair of wide leg shots, and a reversible “front and back” apron style jumper that makes the complete outfit look like a cute dress. This pattern is based on a 1974 design. See more HERE. With three unique pieces, you will certainly want to add it to your pattern collection whether you use it as a set or for its individual pieces . Check out the turtleneck shirts I featured in THIS POST.
Sewing Tip- any time I make a reversible outfit for the winter holidays, I often make the reverse in Valentine fabric. This santa jumper has red and pink hearts on the reverse.
Holiday outfits for dolls? Yes, please. Try the Bloomer Buddies sewing pattern for so many options!
Bloomer Buddies is a very versatile pattern. With three lengths for the top (top, tunic, dress) and three lengths for the bloomers (shortie, knee, capri), you can make it with out without sleeves for even more options. Choose classic Christmas colors (See more photos HERE) or make it with long sleeves (directions in THIS POST). Use this pattern to make nightgowns and pajamas too!! (See THIS POST and THIS ONE.)
Every sewing pattern is just the starting point. Once you have a bodice and a skirt, you can make a dress that fits your dream.
Use Oh Sew Kat! patterns to make cute holiday outfits for American Girl sized dolls.
See my favorite patterns for Fall HERE and for Summer HERE.
Are you new to Oh Sew Kat! Or new to the digital sewing pattern world? Here are some answers to some general questions you might have about what an Oh Sew Kat! (OSK) PDF pattern is and why you will love it. Find the full list of FAQ HERE. Find the full OSK pattern collection HERE.
GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT OH SEW KAT! SEWING PATTERNS
What size dolls do Oh Sew Kat! patterns fit? Oh Sew Kat! Offers patterns in 5 popular play doll sizes from 14-18 inches.
18 inch Dolls like American Girl® and Our Generation®
16 inch slim ball jointed (BJD) Dolls like A Girl for All Time®
16 inch Dolls like Animators’ Dolls by Disney®
15 inch Baby Dolls like Bitty Baby® from American Girl®
14.5 inch Dolls like Wellie Wishers™ from American Girl®, and Glitter Girls® from Our Generation®
14 inch Dolls like Hearts for Hearts Girls®
What are the levels of difficulty? Oh Sew Kat! Patterns have a difficulty rating clearly marked on the pattern cover. Even though smaller doll patterns may use the same sewing skills, sewing smaller pieces (sleeves, collars etc) will naturally be a little harder than sewing for larger dolls.
Very Easy: Great pattern for beginners, Uses basic sewing lines, and threading elastic.
Easy: Simple construction, few pattern pieces, included rounded necklines and sleeves
Confident Beginner: Uses a few advanced techniques such as button holes, knit fabric etc.
Intermediate and Experienced: Oh Sew Kat! Doesn’t make sewing patterns that are this difficult.
What is included in the Oh Sew Kat! PDF patterns? Each Oh Sew Kat! Pattern is packed full of instructions, tips, and inspiration. Each pattern includes:
Basic pattern reading instructions
Cutting layout and print guide
Step by step, full color photos and instructions
Text only printable instructions (to save paper and ink)
Full size, computer drawn, labelled pattern pieces
Do Oh Sew Kat! patterns include a seam allowance? Yes, every Oh Sew Kat! pattern piece has a 1/4th inch seam allowance included. This is clearly marked by a dashed line.
Do Oh Sew Kat! patterns include the large pattern piece for a gathered doll skirt or ruffles? Oh Sew Kat! patterns do not include a pattern piece for the rectangles used to make gathered doll skirts. Measurements are always included and pattern pieces for waistbands and straps are always included, along with the measurements. Read why I do it this way and how to make your own skirt pattern piece in THIS POST.
How long does it take to make a doll outfit? The amount of time it takes you to sew one outfit will vary depending on your experience, but as a general rule, most Oh Sew Kat! Patterns are simple to sew without a lot of fussy details and small pieces. They are designed to be completed in an afternoon. Some patterns will sew up very quickly (Sixth Grade Skirt, Halteralls, Boardwalk Boutique, Four Season Skirt, Backyard Bibs) and can probably be made in about 1-2 hours.
How much fabric do I need for each pattern? Each pattern will specify exactly how much fabric will be needed, depending on the doll size. As a general rule, if the pattern is for a doll dress with a gathered skirt, you will need a minimum of 1/4th to 1/3rd yard of fabric, cut off the bolt. If there isn’t a gathered skirt, most Oh Sew Kat! Patterns will easily fit on a fat quarter of fabric (18×22 inches), that are often offered in pretty, folded bundles of coordinating fabrics. You can also find a great selection at Ad: Cricut.com.
Can I purchase a printed copy of the sewing patterns? I don’t normally offer printed patterns. If you are interested, please CONTACT ME for more details. In order to purchase a printed copy of the pattern piece pages, you would also need to purchase the full digital copy.
Frequently Asked Questions about PDF Sewing Patterns
The 15 inch baby dolls, like Bitty Baby® and Bitty Twins® are fun to sew for. Mix and match an easy wardrobe with the basics using easy to sew PDF patterns from Oh Sew Kat!
Easy sewing patterns for Bitty Baby and Bitty Twins Dolls
The newest pattern available for 15 inch baby dolls is the super popular Backyard Bibs pattern. Pair it with the Playtime Peasant Top for a cute outfit for your boy or girl baby doll. (These two patterns are also available in a special price bundle here.) This pattern includes four options- two skirts and two pants- for lots of ways to dress baby! See more photos of the Backyard Bibs pattern HERE and in the Inspiration Gallery HERE.
Use beginner level sewing patterns to make doll clothes for 15 inch Bitty Baby Dolls.
Easy and cute, every baby girl loves a twirly dress like the Party Time Peasant Dress. This pattern is also available in 5 popular doll sizes and is quick and easy to sew! Find more ideas in the Inspiration Gallery HERE.
Your Bitty Baby would love a new outfit- sew one yourself with easy sewing patterns.
The Boardwalk Boutique Halter Top and Capri pattern is still one of Oh Sew Kat’s most popular patterns. Available in five doll sizes, it’s easy to make with very little time and very little fabric. Make the top a little longer for a cute sundress- or use the pants pattern for pajamas and other cute outfits. See more ideas HERE and HERE.
The HalterAlls for Dolls pattern (below) is a very easy pattern to sew. It’s very similar to the Boardwalk Boutique pattern used above. Use ribbon for straps and add your own special details. It’s available in 5 doll sizes and you can see more ideas for it HERE.
Make your Bitty Baby and Bitty Twin dolls their own special outfits you design and sew yourself.
Sewing for Melody Ellison? Try these twists on patterns from Oh Sew Kat! to make a 60s inspired outfit for your doll. Find all of these patterns in my Etsy Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/ohsewkat.
Make 60s inspired doll clothes with Sewing Patterns by Oh Sew Kat!
Here at Oh Sew Kat! Designs, you will find quick and easy sewing patterns to make an entire doll clothes wardrobe for your 18 inch dolls (like American Girl®) as well as other, smaller sized dolls, like Wellie Wishers and Bitty Baby®. PDF patterns are simple to use (shop and print at home!) and easy to store (computer files- save your pattern pieces for next time or toss them and print them again later). Read below to learn more about the pattern sites where Oh Sew Kat! patterns are sold.
Many of us have favorite sites we like to use and choose and collect reward points to buy (yes!) more patterns. I want you to be able to shop where you like to shop- so I offer my patterns on multiple selling platforms. Each platform is a little different, and all patterns are not available on all the sites. Click HERE to find the FREE Four Season Skirt pattern in 3 sizes.
Please note: Due to the variety of internet browsers, you should always download your PDF file first, and save it on your computer, before opening it and printing your pieces at actual size.
Where to buy Oh Sew Kat! PDF sewing patterns for dolls
You Can Make This
Update 11/21/19: You can still find and purchase my patterns on the YCMT site, but I am concerned it may have been hacked. If you purchased patterns there before, download them now for safekeeping as I am unsure if the site will be around much longer. I encourage you to shop elsewhere for Oh Sew Kat! patterns.
You Can Make This, or YCMT, is a sewing lovers’ dream! This was the site where I first found my love of PDF digital sewing patterns. This site offers much, much more than doll clothes, with a large variety of handbags, kids’ clothes, craft projects, toys, and more from over 300 designers. They offer weekly newsletters, a place to feature the items you’ve made, and also take most forms of payment. You will need to establish an account, but your pattern files will always be available for you in your pattern library. You can also earn points for purchases and use them for future purchases as well.
Use your cricut maker or cricut explore machine to make doll clothes sewing faster, easier and more precise.
This post includes affiliate links. Please read my POLICY here. I’ve been a cricut user since the very first “baby bug” machine came out. Cricut sure has come a long way since then! Don’t know what I’m referring to? Check out this LINK to see what a cricut machine is.
1. Make graphic tee shirts for your dolls with a cricut or cameo machine.
Use your cricut machine to cut out cute designs and make your own graphic tee shirts and outfits for your dolls! Boy and girl dolls alike love tees with clever sayings and personalization. I find that heat transfer vinyl is much quicker and easier than using my embroidery machine! With a subscription to Cricut Access, I have thousands of designs at my fingertips that can be resized to doll scale with a push of a button.
2. Cut out your PDF doll clothes paper patterns with your cricut machine and Design Space software.
If you have a cricut machine, no matter the size or name, you can use it to cut out your paper patterns that you purchase from Oh Sew Kat! and other online designers. You will need a cricut account and to be able to use Design Space. You can also do this on the Brother Scan and Cut and Silhouette Cameo machines. You will need to get the images from the PDF pattern into the cutter’s software. I convert mine to SVG files but there are lots of way to do this, depending on your software. (You can try the cricut SNAP Mat for example, or in the Silhouette software, it might be easier to print your pattern page and scan it back in as a jpg file. Load that into the software and use the TRACE tool for each piece.) Again, a little extra prep work the first time you do this, will save you lots of time later on when you go to use your patterns again. Once you cut them out, be sure to label them with the piece name and size, plus add any markings like notches, dots etc.
3. Cut out your doll clothes from fabric with your cricut maker machine.
Yep! You read that right! Technology has arrived!! The newest cricut machine on the market, the Cricut Maker, is the only one that has a rotary blade, that can easily cut fabric on a specially treated mat. There is a learning curve and a time factor to get a pattern set up, but once it’s complete, you can just pull it up and be cutting your doll clothes out in minutes. The cricut maker does not require the fabric to be stiffened to work. Just lay it on the mat and cut! What a time saver, especially for you craft show sellers! Read more in THIS POST.
4. Decorate your doll clothes with easy to cut pockets, appliques, or accessorize with purses and belts.
Included with the Design Space program are a lot of basic shapes that you can manipulate and cut for free. You can also weld shapes together or slice them apart. Save your files to use them again later. The sparkly pumpkin face on Kelly’s Boardwalk Boutique dress was part of a full pumpkin image. I simply told the cricut to only cut the face. You can weld a square and a triangle together to make a pocket. The new cricut Maker cuts leather very nicely, which opens the door to fun accessories like purses and belts.
5. Make doll shoes with your Cricut machine.
There are lots of ways to use your cricut machine when it’s time to make doll shoes. Use the cricut to cut the foam or chipboard for nice, precise soles. Use the leather and cut out the uppers.
Too busy to sew right now? Pin these images for later! What other ways can you use your Cricut machine to enhance your doll world? Need some specific cricut tutorials? My favorites can be found HERE. Tell Megan you were sent by Oh Sew Kat!
When an Oh Sew Kat! pattern uses a gathered skirt, it’s very difficult to please everyone by either including large, blank pages of pieces of paper to print and tape together to make a rectangle pattern piece, or to just put measurements and let everyone cut their fabric with a rotary cutter. As a pattern designer, I find it to be about a 50/50 split on what people prefer. Personally, I either rip my fabric, or I use my rotary cutter and quilting rulers (like these: AD: https://amzn.to/2XaHDeC) but if you don’t have one, or prefer to cut around a paper pattern, here is an easy tutorial to make a paper pattern for the gathered skirts if one is not included in the pattern.
Make a paper pattern for a doll skirt with just copy paper, a ruler, and a pencil.
First of all, no graph paper is needed. You can, of course, use graph paper to make an easy paper pattern. Most graph paper is 1/4 inch squares, so simply count and mark off your inches and tape them together. This technique does not use graph paper, but rather standard, 8 1/2 x 11 copy paper and a ruler.
It’s actually really easy to make your own pattern with regular printer paper. Start with the basics of the math. A piece of standard, US printer paper is 8 1/2 inches x 11 inches. If you fold it in half the long way, it’s now 4 1/4 inches wide on each half by 11 inches long. Use this basic concept to make your paper pattern.
Let’s start with an easy example, like a skirt that measures 4 x 20 inches.
Fold your paper in half the long way (hot dog). Cut down the center fold, and then measure over and cut off 1/4th more from the long side of each piece. Each piece now measures 4 x 11 inches. (Use a scrapbooking type paper trimmer if it’s easier for you!)
Tape the short sides together, so they overlap by one inch exactly. The piece will now measure 4 x 20 inches. Ta da! Wasn’t that easy?
To make a skirt that measures 5 inches by 20 inches, you will need two pieces of paper instead of one. Fold down the middle, and then measure over another 3/4th inch from the fold in either direction. Cut on that line (5 inches from one edge. You will not use the other part of that paper). Do the same for the second piece. Overlap the short edges by one inch, for a total of 20 inches by 5 inches.
Let’s try one that is a little harder this time. Let’s make a pattern for a doll skirt that measures 6 x 36 inches.
Fold your paper in half the short way (hamburger). This fold will be at 5 1/2 inches. Measure one half inch from the fold in either direction and cut along this line. You will not need the smaller piece you cut off. Your piece now measures 6 by 8 1/2 inches. Do this 5 times, so you have a total of five pieces.
Overlap each one by one inch and tape them together. The piece will now measure 36 1/2 inches. Measure 1/2 inch of one end and cut it off.
Use basic math to make a paper pattern piece to cut out your doll skirt.
If you like to have a pattern piece when you make a gathered doll skirt, these tips/ideas will work for any size that you need. Simply work with what you know. You know what your copy paper measures, so trim it down and overlap it to make it the desired size. Save it for next time with your other pattern pieces.
When you fold a standard piece of American copy paper in half the long way (hot dog), each side measures 4 1/4 x 11 inches.
When you fold a standard piece of American copy paper in half the short way (hamburger), each side measures 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches.
Now anytime you purchase a PDF pattern that does not include the pattern piece for the gathered skirt, you have an easy way to construct one yourself without having to run out to buy graph paper.
