I’m always on the lookout for fun fabrics for unique doll clothes. These bright Vera Bradley napkins called to me at a garage sale. I used two napkins to make this Popsicle Top and Four Square Skirt. For the skirt, I left off the pockets, and used the existing napkin hem edge, which saves both time and fabric!
Jenna’s skirt and top used the same two patterns as above, only this time, I cut up a Vera Bradley apron. Cute, casual and colorful!!!
Mix and Match Bright Colored Skirts and Tops for 18 inch Dolls
The Popsicle Top is the perfect top for every bottom- skirts, shorts, pants, jeans etc. This blue top has a little bit of tone on tone stitching at the hem, just to give it some interest. And don’t forget to make them reversible- two tops for one sewing session. The pattern is available in 6 popular doll styles here.
Make some fun outfits for your dolls this summer with loud, floral prints like these Vera Bradley fabrics.
Fall Themed Batik Fabric- Perfect for the Spring Shine Dress
Leah looks amazing in this fall version of the Spring Shine Dress. The fabric has so many colors and so much movement, it’s hard to believe it’s just one piece of fabric. I used hot fix crystals instead of buttons- which is a favorite detail of mine. Find the pattern HERE. A simple but stunning outfit!
Batik Fabric with Crystal Accents- Perfect for Doll Clothes
Mary and Lanie (below) are wearing the same Popsicle Top. The fabric is so eye- catching and I added hot fix crystals for some extra shine.
Oh Sew Kat! Popsicle Top and Sandbox Shorts PDF Sewing patterns
Use Batik Fabrics to add interest to Doll Clothes
I love this very lightweight blue batik fabric I was gifted by my mother. It looks like denim, but it’s so much easier to sew!! Jenna’s skirt is made from the Sun Day Skort pattern, and her bandana top is a reversible Picnic Play top.
Make a Hawaiian Inspired MuuMuu Dress for Your Doll
Below, I use THIS PATTERN HACK of the Playtime Peasant Top to make a beautiful muumuu for Nanea. Batik fabrics give an island feel to your fashions, so it’s soft and pretty. Find the pattern HERE.
The adorable collection of Welliewishers™ dolls hit the toy market with a bang. They are hard plastic dolls, made by American Girl® with adorable outfits and stories (and even a TV show!) aimed at the 3-6 year old age group. We saw an upsurge of smaller patterns and even some new doll lines (Ruby Red Fashion Friends). Glitter Girls are exactly the same size, but offer a cheaper alternative and are available on Target and AD: Amazon.
Oh Sew Kat! offers 31 PDF sewing patterns and value bundles that are perfect for your 14-15 inch dolls. Enjoy this easy reference post to see all of them at once! Click HERE to go right to the shop.
Sewing Patterns to Fit 14-15 inch Dolls like Welliewishers™
Click on the photo to go right to the pattern. Find lots of ideas for each pattern in the Inspiration Gallery.
Oh Sew Kat! Dress Patterns for Welliewishers™ and Glitter Girls®:
Although my patterns are not specifically made to fit the newer, 15 inch Ruby Red Fashion Friend BJD dolls, there do have a similar shape and you can alter the patterns shown here to make them fit. I’ve collected a list of those changes in THIS POST.
Do you remember the 80s? The days of Dallas and Mr. T. Care bears and long telephone cords. ET and Top Gun, trolls and mix tapes. American Girl®’s Courtney Moore™ doll shares our love of all things 80s. Here are some ways to sew Oh Sew Kat! pdf patterns with an 80s vibe for Courtney.
When sewing for your 80s doll, like Courtney, choose geometric patterns and bright, neon colors. Rainbows and graphic tees were also popular.
Make 1980s inspired Doll Clothes
Click on each picture for instructions and pattern information.
The Four Square Skirt is a simple to sew, front gathered skirt with big side pockets, & contrasting waistband. Choose prints or solid colors (or some of each) to mix and match and create your own unique skirt. With an “easy to dress” open back, this pattern is perfect for little hands and also easy to customize for similarly sized dolls. This is a great, beginner level sewing project for all ages!!
Four Square Skirt Sewing Pattern – Perfect Beginner Level Project
The large pockets are sewn into the seams- no fussiness and perfect to hold of your doll’s favorite little goodies. Mix and match fabrics, or leave the pockets off for a skirt to suit your doll’s true style.
Mix and Match Oh Sew Kat! Sewing Patterns to Make an 18″ Capsule Wardrobe
It’s quick, easy, and a lot of fun to make your 18 inch American Girl doll some cute mix and match separates with Oh Sew Kat! patterns. Each pattern (sold individually or in value bundles in my Etsy Shop) offer full sized, computer drawn pattern pieces that you print on your home computer, along with full color photos and directions for every step.
I love this pink swirly fabric with the bright pops of hot pink. It reminds me of cotton candy!! I like to usually choose a single print, then choose some solids to add pieces to the collection. For this set I chose two tops (Reversible Popsicle Top and School Bell Blouse) and two bottoms (Sandbox Shorts and Sixth Grade Skirt). You can mix and match all the pieces for lots of outfits for multiple seasons.
The Sandbox Shorts have real working pockets. I used the print fabric for the fun, patch pockets, but you can also use THIS TUTORIAL to put the pockets on the inside of the shorts. The shorts look cute with either the print or the solid side of the reversible Popsicle Top.
Easy Mix and Match Outfits for 18 inch Dolls
Lanie is ready for some summer fun in her cute outfit!!
Easy to sew, Mix and Match Doll Clothes for American Girl sized Dolls
Grace is ready for fall! She is wearing the School Bell Blouse with the Sixth Grade Skirt and some cute, tall boots she borrowed from her friend, Saige. This wardrobe easily glides between warm weather and cold weather outfits. Both patterns are available in my Etsy Shop.
DIY Doll Clothes: Create a Mix and Match Wardrobe with Oh Sew Kat! PDF Sewing Patterns
Maryellen is ready to beat the summer heat. The Popsicle Top and Sixth Grade Skirt were made to go together. Both are super quick to sew and can be used with lots of other outfit pieces as well. Find the pattern bundle HERE.
Click the photos below to view other versions of quick to make Mix and Match Wardrobes:
The Sandbox Shorts pattern is perfect for all the summer dolly wear you need! With three styles (wide, regular, bermuda), and optional pockets (outside like the pattern suggests, or inside as seen in this pattern hack), your doll of all sizes can stay cool and cute this summer!
Sandbox Shorts PDF Sewing Pattern- 3 Variations Included!
PDF sewing patterns for dolls Oh Sew Kat! popsicle Top and Sandbox Shorts
Find the Sandbox Shorts Pattern in 5 doll sizes HERE.
Summer weather is here and it’s fun to give your dolls’ wardrobe some cute new outfits fit the for the season. Save 15% off individual prices with this value bundle: Sounds of Summer, available only in the OhSewKat etsy shop and make some mix and match summer outfits today.
Save 15% by purchasing this value bundle of four print at home PDF patterns that have full color photos for every step in the detailed directions. Each pattern also includes full size pattern pieces that fit your home printer paper (US 8.5 x 11 inches).
Summer Doll Outfits – Doll Clothes Pattern Value Bundle from Oh Sew Kat!
This Sounds of Summer value pattern bundle is offered in 3 doll sizes: 18 inch dolls like American Girl®, 16 inch Animators, and 14.5 inch Welliewishers™. Each pattern is also available individually. See them all HERE.
Four fun patterns are included to give you lots of options for so many styles of doll mix and match play clothes. Included patterns: Popsicle Top, Sunshine Dress, Sandbox Shorts, and Boardwalk Boutique.
Popsicle Top: The Popsicle Top is a basic tank top designed for woven fabrics. You can add trim to the bottom edge and make it reversible for two tops in one. Use these ideas to dress up the front of your top. Use it to make a cute dress as well!
Sunshine Dress: The Sunshine Dress is a simple short sleeved dress with three variations for the front- plain, straight edged or princess seams. You can even make it sleeveless or reversible!
Here are a few samples of the Sunshine Dress pattern. See more outfits in the Inspiration Gallery.
Easy to Sew Doll Clothes for 18 inch Dolls and other Sizes by Oh Sew Kat!
Sandbox Shorts: The Sandbox Shorts patterns offers three styles (regular, wide, bermuda length) and optional patch pockets that really work. You can use this tutorial to put the pockets on the inside too!
Here are a few samples of the Sandbox Shorts. You can find more ideas in the Inspiration Gallery.
Boardwalk Boutique: This quick to sew pattern is sure to become a favorite. Pair the halter top with a set of ruffled capris. Or add some length and make it a dress.
Here are a few samples of the Boardwalk Boutique. You can find more ideas in the Inspiration Gallery.
Create your perfect doll outfit for spring with these four simple patterns, bundled together to save 15% in the Sounds of Summer Bundle! Happy Sewing!!
I really enjoy sewing mix and match wardrobes for dolls. It’s very satisfying to choose a few fabrics, a few patterns, and after spending an afternoon sewing, end up with coordinated separates that can be used together, or with other pieces in your doll wardrobe (Like white shirts, jeans, blue or white jean jackets, tights, leggings etc.)
As I have posted before, I don’t live too far from a Vera Bradley® outlet. They always have great sales, and I’m always on the hunt for things to repurpose into doll clothes. Sometimes it’s hard and sometimes it’s easy! These dresses were made from two Vera Bradley napkins I found one year, with the Sunshine Dress pattern. And I took a non quilted bag apart to make this dress. Much of Vera’s line is quilted, or canvas, so not much can be used for doll clothes. This time, I was picking up my usual “wet swim suit” tote to cut up, and found tea towels. Below the tea towels, whoo hoo!!! APRONS!!! Aprons are a little thinner than towels, and by price, gave me more fabric for my money.
Easy to Sew Mix and Match 18 inch Doll Clothes
I knew I wanted to make some clothes around this purple paisley print apron. I added some solid colors (the print is busy enough!) and spent some time thinking and planning. Vera Bradley fabric is usually a very large print, so although not ideal for doll clothes in some ways, it’s also perfect in others. In the end, I decided on the Easy Up! Jumper to show off the fun print (and the hedgehog I found in the middle!!!), and making it reversible was an easy choice. Put a solid peasant top underneath, that can also be worn with a print Sixth Grade Skirt. Just because they are so quick and easy, I always add a Popsicle Top (one print side, and one solid side) for good measure, even though I already had the darker purple popsicle top on hand.
18 inch Dolls: Mix and Match Wardrobe Sewing Patterns
My go to formula usually ends up being two tops, two bottoms, and one dress for a good array of outfits. With the reversible dress, I opted for just the Sixth Grade Skirt for now, but it would be simple to add a pair of shorts or capris if I feel like it needs a little more when I am done.
Once everything is cut, I give all the pieces a good press before I begin. With solid colors, or easily swapped pattern pieces (like the sides of the Sixth Grade Skirt), I keep the pattern piece pinned until I’m ready to sew, or mark each right side with a small piece of washi tape. I tend to sew all of the pieces at once. (It does help that I wrote the patterns and don’t need to follow them as I go.) My first step is to figure out which of my “hem” seams I can get done first.
I sit down at my serger, and finish off the bottom edges of the Playtime Peasant Top sleeves and the Sixth Grade Skirt waistband. I move to my sewing machine, and stitch the shoulders of the Popsicle Top pieces, stitch the Sixth grade skirt together, add the sleeves to the peasant top, sew the armholes of the Easy Up! jumper. Back at the ironing board, I press all my seams open (Sixth Grade Skirt, Popsicle Top) and clip any curves (Peasant Top and Easy Up!). I also press up the hems of my Peasant Top. Topstitching the Sixth Grade Skirt comes next, and in this case, for the solid side of the Easy Up! jumper, I added a strip of the apron strap down the center front. By this time, I’m off to the races. I seam any seams, moving from piece to piece, and then press them all at once. By using just one color of thread (usually white), I can get the whole wardrobe completed in one sewing session.
Once I’m done sewing, I look for other items I already have on hand that I can use. I do have a dark purple Popsicle Top, which didn’t make it into the photos. :). The purple headband is made by American Girl® and I knit and felted this cute, black bowler hat myself. Add in some shoes complements of Grace and Blaire (American Girls of the Year) to complete the look.
The Easy Up! Jumper is Reversible for Two Dresses in One!
Click each photo below to see more ideas for Mix and Match Doll Clothes!
DIY your own doll clothes for 18 inch dolls like Courtney Moore from American Girl®. Easy to sew PDF patterns from Oh Sew Kat! will help you be successful with full color photos plus written instructions for every step of the way. Be your own doll clothes designer!!
Make Fun 80’s Fashions for Your American Girl Doll- Free Tutorials
Have you seen Courtney’s new mix and match wardrobe pieces from American Girl®? You can create the same look for less money with Oh Sew Kat! patterns and tutorials.
Here’s is the outfit I made for Courtney. I used the POPSICLE TOP pattern for the top, and THIS TUTORIAL for the skirt. Read below for how I made the hot pink belt to complete the look!!
Make Courtney’s 1980s Hot Pink Belt
Supplies: Belt Buckle, cotton or knit fabric
Cut fabric 2.5 x 15.5 inches ( I cut mine at 2 inches wide, and decided it should be thicker but did not sew a new version so yours may look slightly different than my photos, but probably more like the one on the AG site.)
With RST stitch up one side, with the last inch forming a slight diagonal to the edge to create a point.
Turn and press well; the seam can be centered or on one edge, depending how you want your belt to look.
Zig zag stitch or serge the open end closed.
Place this finished end through the buckle, fold over and seam in place, just far enough so your foot does not hit the buckle.
Put your belt over the waistband and bottom edge of the skirt and top for a “dress look” and revel in the $48 plus shipping you may have just saved. You are welcome, Momma!! I put the skirt, top and belt items in my cart. Yes, you get two tops and two skirts and some accessories besides the belt, but if this is a passing phase for your kid (like it was with mine)- this is a great answer for a wonderful, time appropriate outfit for your 18 inch 80s Courtney doll from American Girl. And you can sew as many as you want! Click HERE for the skirt tutorial and HERE for the top tutorial to complete the outfit.
Oh Sew Kat! 