Step it Up! Series: School Bell Blouse Dress Pattern Hack 2- Valentine’s Day Dress for Blaire

Welcome back to Oh Sew Kat!  Your one stop shop for PDF sewing patterns for your dolls.  I’ve been playing around with my Valentine fabric…and came up with this super cute dress for the new Girl of the Year, Blaire Wilson, who just joined our family this week!

See more sewing pattern for 18 inch and other sized dolls in my Etsy Shop!

This cute dress was made using the School Bell Blouse pattern. Read more about the pattern HERE.

First, you will need the pattern.  Click the photo to purchase this pattern for 18 inch dolls, 14.5 inch dolls like Wellie Wishers™ and Glitter Girls®, and 16 inch Animators’ princess dolls.

This dress is made from View B, or the School Bell Blouse with the peplum., shown in green on the right on the pattern cover.  You don’t even need to make very many changes to turn this cute top into a fun dress!  Click here to see another tutorial to make a dress using view A.  You can make so many different tops and dresses from just one pattern!

1.  Print out your pattern pieces.  Measure up one inch from the bottom of the bodice front and back, and cut on this new line.  This will make the bodice more of an empire waisted dress.  You can also leave this piece as is and keep the waistline at the natural waist.
2. Do not cut the peplum out.  Instead, cut a “skirt” piece that measures 7 x 36 inches.  Finish one long edge, and press up 3/8th inch. Stitch the hem in place.
3. Follow the pattern as directed, using your gathered skirt instead of the peplum piece when you come to that step.
4. Finish your dress with a pretty bow, or sparkly belt.  Use ribbon, fold over elastic or other fun trim.  I used some glitter trim I found at Hobby Lobby and added velcro to the ends like a belt, so I can use it with other outfits too!

There are lots of ways you can sew this one, simple pattern in order to create a look that is as unique as your doll is.  Find other ideas for the School Bell Blouse pattern here and here.

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Step it Up! Series- Make a Dress with the School Bell Blouse Pattern by Oh Sew Kat!

Welcome back to Oh Sew Kat! Designs- where you can find an endless stream of ideas of new ways to sew the PDF sewing patterns for dolls I offer.  Today’s post will show you a simple pattern hack of the School Bell Blouse.  See how easy it is to take the School Bell Blouse pattern, and make a super sweet dress for your doll.

This pattern is currently available sized for three dolls:  18 inch Dolls like American Girl® dolls, 14.5 inch dolls like Wellie Wishers™ and Glitter Girls™, as well as the 16 inch adorable Animators’ Dolls made by Disney®.

SHOP THE OH SEW KAT! PATTERN COLLECTION

The pattern looks like this and you can find it where Oh Sew Kat! patterns are sold.  This post will show you how to make a dress from View A, the pleated front top (shown in pink on the cover.) Check back soon to see more fun variations with this fun pattern!

1.  To begin, cut out all of your pattern pieces.  I made my dresses from View A, the pleated front version.  Tape each front piece and back piece near the top a new sheet of paper.  You will be extending these pieces at the hem by three inches for 18 inch dolls and 1 1/2 inches for 14.5 inch dolls.  Measure from the two hem corners, and also in the middle, to create a new hem line parallel to the bottom of the pattern piece.

2. At the corner where the side seams will meet, measure out 1/2 inch to the side (less for smaller dolls if you even need any at all).  Draw a line from this point, back up to the armhole to give the dress a little bit more flare in the side seams at the hem. Do the same for the back piece.  Cut out your new pieces.

3.  You will need to cut a front and 2 backs from view b (peplum top).  These will be the lining for your dress. You do not need the facing piece.  Serge or zigzag the bottom of each lining piece.

3.  Now simply follow the pattern as directed to make your doll dress!  I like to decorate the neckline of my blouses and dresses with crystals (found in the bead or scrapbooking section of craft stores) for some extra sparkle.

You can make it sleeveless too!!  Follow the same steps as seen in THIS TUTORIAL.

Or give it a retro feel for BeForever characters Melody or Julie.

Try this pattern hack to take a pattern for a top, and make it into a cute dress!  See more ideas for the School Bell Blouse pattern here and here.

VISIT THE OH SEW KAT! INSPIRATION GALLERY TO SEE MORE DOLL CLOTHES IDEAS.

OH SEW KAT! FREE SKIRT PATTERN FOR DOLLS (3 SIZES)

New Wellie Wishers Sewing Pattern! School Bell Blouse for 14 inch Dolls

Now available on Etsy and Pixie Faire- the perfect cotton top / blouse sewing pattern for your 14 inch dolls.  Now available:  School Bell Blouse for 14 inch dolls.

This pattern is easy to sew and offers two fun styles!  One has a pretty pleat at the neckline, and the other has a fun peplum skirt.  Both styles have long sleeves, with a pretty pleat above the wrist to give a “bell flare” to the sleeve hem.

Find the pattern HERE.  It is also available for 18 inch dolls HERE and Disney Animators Dolls HERE.  Find more ideas for this pattern here and here.

The School Bell Blouse will fit your Wellie Wishers, Glitter Girls, or Style Girls 14 or 14.5 inch dolls.

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.

Sixth Grade Skirt

The Sixth Grade Skirt was the pattern that started it all!  I had just finished a pattern making class, and a few friends and I were all working together to publish our first patterns.  We worked together and tested each others’ work, challenging ourselves to publish our first patterns! We all did it!  And the Sixth Grade Skirt was mine.

Because it was my first pattern, the learning curve was pretty steep. Who knew there was so much work in a pattern? I chose a simple design that my (at the time) 12 year old daughter could easily sew.  Thank you to all of you that have purchased this (and any that have come since!) pattern!

 

The Sixth Grade Skirt is a simple skirt to sew.  From cutting to finishing, you can easily complete it in under an hour.  With the overlap in back, it’s easy to fit for different sized dolls.  You can make it for summer, or winter, or anything in between!

Add pockets to your skirt with this easy tutorial!

Choose shiny fabrics and pretty trim to put in between the seams.  Here is the Sixth Grade Skirt for Hearts for Hearts Dolls.

This rainbow skirt was fun to make and is perfect for a hot summer day.  I turned my fabric when I cut the center panel for interest.

Maryellen is ready for the holidays in her red, corduroy Sixth Grade Skirt.  A perfect fall skirt to take your doll right into the holidays and on to Valentine’s Day!

This pink skirt was made with simple, pink cotton.  It easily works in summer and winter. Because dolls don’t get cold 😉

School Bell Blouse and Sixth Grade Skirt by Oh Sew Kat!

Rapunzel’s summery outfit was stitched by Jaci of JGooseandCO.  Mixing and matching prints make a perfect play outfit for Disney animator dolls.

Find the patterns here to stitch up your version today!  You can find all the sizes in my ETSY SHOP.  These patterns are also available on Pixie Faire, and You Can Make This.

Sixth Grade Skirt for 18 inch dolls

Sixth Grade Skirt for Animators

Sixth Grade Skirt for Bitty Baby

Sixth Grade Skirt for Wellie Wishers

Sixth Grade Skirt for Hearts for Hearts

Shirley of Doll Clothes by Shirley used the Sixth Grade Skirt with pretty embroidery and fold over elastic as the trim for her Wellie Wisher outfit.

 

 

Back to School Doll Clothes for Animator Dolls: School Bell Blouse by Oh Sew Kat!

Are your princess dolls ready to go back to school?  Stitch up a cute School Bell Blouse (also available for 18 inch dolls like American Girl).

Make it with a peplum, or a sweet, pleated neckline.  Pair your School Bell Blouse with the Playground Pants, Sandbox Shorts, or Sixth Grade Skirt patterns for a perfect fall outfit!

Make it a GREAT day!

~Kat

Style It Up! Color Combo to Try: Blue and Pink

It’s time to Style it Up! Open up your doll’s closet and dress her in a fresh, new color combination! Getting ready to sew? Try putting these fun colors together, either as complete items, or bright accents.

Dress your dolls in dreamy pinks and blues to move from a balmy spring to a sizzling summer!

Bright blue and hot pink make me think of the the tropics.  A bright combination in any pattern, your dolls will shine in these colors. I used one batik print as my focal point for these outfits.  (Grace is wearing a School Bell Blouse with the easy Sixth Grade Skirt.  Lanie has a Popsicle Top paired with Sandbox Shorts).  I love the added sparkles a few crystals can give!

How about just a splash of color?

You can even take each shade a little lighter!

Here the Boardwalk Boutique for Animators gives the princess dolls a soft and feminine look for spring and summer.

Find all the patterns for these outfits and  much more in my Etsy Shop and at http://www.youcanmakethis.com and on Pixie Faire.

What will your doll wear when you Style it Up?

Now Available – New PDF Sewing Pattern: School Bell Blouse for Animator Dolls

My School Bell Blouse has been released for the Disney Animator ® dolls. Check out these cute photos!!!  What princess doesn’t need a sweet and sassy top for the holidays?  Here are some of my sample and testers’ photos. More to come!!

Visit my etsy shop or www.pixiefaire.com to purchase your copy today! Coming soon to http://www.youcanmakethis.com too!

OhSewKat School Bell Blouse for Animators

Shopping for a School Bell Blouse?

My daughter and I were out shopping today, and I found this in the junior’s section. How fun!! It’s my SCHOOL BELL BLOUSE out of a sheer fabric with pretty lace sleeves.  You can find this pattern on pixiefaire, you can make this and etsy. Do you have yours yet?  What did you make?

Diane from 18onMain created this beauty in checks and lace!

 

Happy Sewing!
~Kat

You can make your own mix and match doll wardrobe for just about $10

Are you looking for some holiday gifting ideas?  Is there a special girl with a doll in your life?  Here’s a way to put together a full mix and match wardrobe for about $10 in fabric.  Check out how I turned these three fat quarters (average price = $2-3 each depending where you shop!) into four quick mix and match doll clothes items for just about $10 total in an afternoon!

First, I spent an evening cutting out all of my pieces.  (I actually put together about five bags of outfits…you’ll see them all here on the blog as I go along!  But the pieces for this wardrobe, all went into just one bag.)

I cut one School Bell Blouse, one Sandbox Shorts, one Popsicle Top, and one Sixth Grade Skirt.  (Click on the links to purchase the PDF sewing patterns if you don’t already have them.) I chose the solids for the bottoms, and the prints for the top. The reversible Popsicle Top will be print on one side and pink on the other.  The top left part of the photo shows a pair of Playground Pants.  I cut them out, and added them to my bag, because I could use the turquoise thread and give me a fleeting feeling of multitasking. It was a test to try out the leg pieces as one complete piece (it’s cute!) but it doesn’t really match the other items in the set.  So after the cutting and bagging phase, I left it out of the photos below.

I sewed by color, so I started with the pink (so I could add the pockets before sewing together the blue shorts) and then moved to the blue. I wrote the patterns, so it’s safe to say I am pretty familiar with the sewing order. I highly suggest you read through each one (they don’t take long!) and get familiar with the basic construction before you begin. I always like to press more pieces and sew more pieces at one time, even if that means stitching something and putting it aside while I sew a few more, so I can press all at once.)

When I was done, I had this.  A four piece wardrobe to mix and match in lots of different ways!

Here are some more photos. Click on each one to view it in a larger window.  Visit my etsy shop at OH SEW KAT ETSY SHOP to purchase this collection, or the PDF sewing patterns to make it you own!

School Bell Blouse by Oh Sew Kat!

Oh Sew Kat! Popsicle Top and Sandbox Shorts PDF Sewing patterns

Posicle Top and Sixth Grade Skirt by Oh Sew kat!

School Bell Blouse and Sixth Grade Skirt by Oh Sew Kat!

School Bell Blouse by OhSewKat

Oh Sew Kat!

School Bell Blouse and Popsicle Top by OhSewKat!

School Bell Blouse by Oh Sew kat!

PDF sewing patterns for dolls Oh Sew Kat! popsicle Top and Sandbox Shorts