Shamrocks, Sugar n Spice

It’s almost time for the annual wearing of the green!! Get your doll’s Irish on with these fun inspiration photos using the Sugar n Spice PDF Sewing pattern from Oh Sew Kat!

Start your outfit simply- a pretty green base dress. Remove the rainbow ribbon and button, and her doll can wear it all spring long too!

St Patrick’s Day Themed Dresses for Dolls

Find the Sugar n Spice Everything Nice PDF pattern HERE.

Both Jenna (above) and Lanie (below) are wearing the same green dress. Add a no sew tutu or themed fabric pinafore to change the look.

Sewing for American Girl Dolls- St Patrick’s Day

Visit the Sugar n Spice Inspiration Gallery HERE.

Saige (below) is wearing a Sugar n Spice pinafore (overdress) backwards with an incomplete skirt. Underneath is a green and white Party Time Peasant Dress. Read more about it HERE.

Be sure to visit the St Patrick’s Day Inspiration Gallery for more ideas to sew in green!

Shop the Oh Sew Kat! Pattern Collection Here

Sewing for Your 1980s Courney Moore Doll

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.

Use Oh Sew Kat! Sewing Patterns for 80s Fashions

Visit the Oh Sew Kat! Historical Inspiration Gallery for more ideas to sew!

Shop the Oh Sew Kat! PDF Pattern Collection HERE

New to Sewing? Beginner Tips and Patterns for Sewing Doll Clothes

It’s a new year!! Does your 2023 goal list include starting to sew? Or making doll clothes? I got you!! Oh Sew Kat! Designs offers beginner level sewing patterns for 18 inch dolls like American Girl®, as well as other popular doll sizes like Welliewishers™, Bitty Baby™, Animators’ by Disney, and A Girl for All Time. Oh Sew Kat! patterns are easy to follow with simple construction and designs to help even the newest seamstress to achieve success. Oh Sew Kat! patterns are PDF files, purchased in my Etsy Shop, and downloaded to your home computer. Print only the pattern piece pages on your home printer, and cut them out. You are ready to begin!!

Learning to Sew is Easy with Oh Sew Kat! PDF Sewing Patterns

Shop for Oh Sew Kat! PDF Patterns HERE

What kind of supplies do you need? A sewing machine, some pins, sharp scissors, fabric, a pattern, and some thread. There are lots of other tools to make your sewing easier, but these are truly the basics. Take a look at THIS POST that is full of beginner tips!!

The simplest pattern from Oh Sew Kat! is the Sixth Grade Skirt. With only straight lines, it’s a quick sew that uses just a fat quarter of fabric. In fact, you can make two skirts from just one fat quarter! Mix and match prints to make your own unique skirt. You can find fat quarter cuts of fabric in rolls or small folded bundles at Joann’s, Michaels, and Walmart. Or you can shop m favorite online selection from the AD: FatQuarterShop. Find the pattern is 6 doll sizes HERE. Want to see more ideas for this cute skirt? Check out the Inspiration Gallery HERE.

When my daughter was young, and wanted to start sewing (She was around 6), we each selected a fabric and cut out two Sixth Grade skirts. I sewed my first seam, then she sat down and did the same. We went back and forth for every step until my excited little girl put her skirt on her doll.

Once you have mastered the simple Sixth Grade Skirt, step it up a bit, and add some pockets!! A pattern hack is when you take an existing pattern, and make a change to it, to make it look different. The instructions to add the pockets are found HERE. The Sixth Grade Skirt looks so cute with added pockets! It’s also a great way to practice straight, steady stitching.

Teach a newbie how to sew Doll Clothes with Oh Sew Kat!

The Sixth Grade Skirt will give a beginner seamstress the confidence to move on to a simple top. And the next thing you know, you’ve got a complete outfit!

The Playtime Peasant Top pattern is another quick and easy project to sew. Straight lines and feeding elastic in the neckline (and arms) are the only skills you need. You can make it long sleeved or short sleeved and if you stick with some basic colors (white, black, red, navy) you will have wardrobe pieces to mix and match with many more wardrobe items. Find the pattern HERE and be sure to visit the Inspiration Gallery for more ideas with this simple pattern HERE. Mary’s wearing her peasant top with a red skirt (below) with the Sixth Grade Skirt worn backwards with cute button accents and a simple ribbon belt for a completely different look! Look how many ways you can change up this easy peasant top pattern in THIS POST.

Easy Sewing Pattern for Beginners: Playtime Peasant Top

Ready for another easy project? The Four Square Skirt is very similar to the Sixth Grade Skirt, and has just a little bit of gathering. It’s also a very simple pattern for someone new to try!

Learn to Sew with Easy 18″ Doll Sewing Patterns from OhSewKat

Evette (below) is wearing the Four Season Skirt with the OhSewKat Popsicle Top- also available in the SHOP!

Easy Doll Sewing Patterns for Beginners

When you purchase a PDF sewing pattern from Oh Sew Kat! you will get a beautifully laid out pattern, fully tested by more than four sewists of different skill levels, computer drawn, full size pattern pieces, easy to follow step by step instructions that include a color photograph for each step, and this blog, which offers more ideas, inspiration, tutorials, and pattern hacks to keep even a simple pattern, feeling fresh and new with every time you sew. Check out the tutorials and pattern hacks page HERE.

Have some fun with this new hobby. With such a small investment in patterns, fabrics, even time, you can experiment and gain confidence with each try. I can’t wait to see what you make!

Click here to See the Entire Oh Sew Kat! PDF Pattern Collection

Cozy Turtleneck Dress: Oh Sew Kat! Pattern Hack

Use the Jumping Jack turtleneck shirt pattern from Oh Sew Kat! to make a cozy knit dress for your 18 inch dolls like American Girl® dolls. You can also use the Simple, Sweet Tee shirt pattern and lengthen the sleeves.

Turtleneck Doll Dress- Oh Sew Kat! Pattern Hack

Both the original tee shirt pattern hack and this turtleneck dress hack work better with knit fabrics. Check out your local Walmart or Target store for fun and festive leggings, or other tees and shirts in both the girls and womens departments. Buy the largest size you can find in order to have the most fabric. Keep an eye on the sale racks! This pink stripe fabric was a girls’ shirt I found on sale. I used the existing hems for the hem and sleeves of my doll dress, making this quick little dress even quicker!

How to Make Your Doll a Cozy Turtleneck Dress

Set up your pattern the same way as I posted HERE on making a tee shirt dress. The bodice of the two shirts patterns (Jumping Jack and Simple, Sweet Tee) are very similar so the measurements and process will be the same. If you are using the Jumping Jack pattern, it already has long sleeves. With the Simple, Sweet Tee, you will need to length the sleeve pattern by 3 1/4 inches for 18 inch dolls. I added the 1/2 inch width to the hemline of both the pink and holly dresses for a bit of extra flair, creating a new side cut line with a little bit of a slant.

Use a Turtleneck Shirt Pattern to Make a Cute and Cozy Doll Dress

Leah’s holiday dress (below) was cut from a four way stretch knit. It was leftover from a shirt I made myself last year. The all over print is fun and festive and this fabric hugs her body just the right amount for a classic look. Leah’s navy boots are new from the Janie and Jack® collection at American Girl®. I’m not one to pass up a good doll boot! Ha ha.

Make an 18 Inch Doll Dress From Your Turtleneck Shirt Patterns

For the pink striped dress Corinne is wearing (below), I used a girls’ long sleeved tee shirt I found on the sale rack awhile ago. I cut the body and sleeves using the shirt’s exiting hem and cut the collar on the bias for the contrasting stripes. I added some sparkly pizazz with my AD:Cricut Machine and some glitter, silver HTV, along with some glued on crystals. Keep the age of the child in mind if adding crystals! Snowflake tights (made by American Girl®) and her meet boots complete the cozy ensemble!

Make a Cozy Turtleneck Dress for Your American Girl Sized Doll- Easy to sew Pattern Hack

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Shop the Oh Sew Kat! PDF Pattern Collection HERE

This simple dress is perfect for your doll accessories! Grace’s meet boots and a simple, hand-knit shawl give Jenna a casual and classy outfit for the holidays!

Find more ways to use your tee shirt patterns for dolls by clicking the photos below!

Make a Colonial Dress- An Oh Sew Kat! Pattern Hack

Make a Colonial Dress for 18 inch Dolls

This fun pattern hack is for the Felicity and Elizabeth fans. Felicity and Elizabeth have been in the vault for many years, but Felicity was re-released for the 35th anniversary of American Girl® along with the other original characters. The colonial duo had a very large collection to include a four poster bed for each, a two seat carriage, and many outfits (especially for Felicity). If your Felicity Merriman doll is a little light on dresses, use this pattern hack to make simple colonial gowns for her or her friend, Elizabeth Cole.

One of the long held questions amongst American Girl® loyalists is why did they make the Elizabeth doll blonde (she’s clearly a brunette in the original books), and where is her iconic yellow dress? (See the illustration in THIS PIN.). Ever since I found Elizabeth in a thrift store, I’ve always wanted to make her yellow dress, despite her long, blonde locks. You can still purchase the Elizabeth books at the AG store and on AD: Amazon.

Easy Pattern Hack: Make a Colonial Doll Gown

Looking at the illustration, the dress will be simple to duplicate using the Oh Sew Kat! Sugar n Spice PDF sewing pattern. Purchase the pattern HERE or click the photo below. The white lace/ruffle on the sleeves is much wider than at the neckline, but you can easily use the same trim for both.

DIY American Girl Colonial Doll Dress Tutorial

1. Cut the bodice pieces as directed. For the sleeves, round off the top of your pattern piece by about 1/4th inch to give a little less poof to the top of the sleeve. Use a pen and ruler to extend the sides of the sleeve by one inch. Connect the lines to create a new, straight hemline. I just printed a new copy of my sleeve piece, made the changes, labelled it, and put it in with my pattern pieces for next time.
2. The finished skirt length will be 9 inches. Cut your skirt piece 9 1/2 inches by the Width of Fabric (WOF is usually 42-44 inches). This will make the skirt a little fuller than the Sugar n Spice Dress.
3. Follow the pattern instructions to assemble your dress adding the lace or trim to the neckline and sleeves as below.
4. Neckline: Remember that there is a 1/4th inch seam allowance. If your trim is very small, you may lose much of it in the seam allowance so take that into consideration when you pin your trim. After attaching the shoulder seams, carefully pin your lace trim to your neckline (wrong side of trim to right side of bodice.) Baste in place right at the fabric edge and remove pins. With right sides together, pin the lining to your bodice (lace will now be in the middle of the two layers) and stitch. Press to the right side and topstitch. (Optional, if your lace is small and easy to manage, finish the neckline according to the pattern directions, then pin the lace inside the neckline and topstitch in place.)
5. Sleeves: Add a 1/2 to 1 inch ruffle to the hem of the sleeves before you attach them to the bodice. Depending what type of lace or trim you use, it can be attached underneath, or on top of the hem seam. If you are using a fabric ruffle instead of pre-made trim (like eyelet lace), you want to attach it to the inside of the sleeve.

Colonial Gown for Dolls: Oh Sew Kat! Tutorial

Make a Colonial Doll Dress for American Girl Felicity

Does your colonial doll need a bonnet to match her pretty new dress? Use this easy tutorial to make one from felt. You can also add an apron with this tutorial.

Be sure to visit the Felicity Inspiration page HERE. And find Oh Sew Kat! pattern hacks for other historical time periods HERE or click the character photos below.

Shop for Oh Sew Kat! PDF Patterns HERE

Make it Monday: Holiday Nightgown for Dolls

It’s not too early to start thinking about your holiday gift list and what you want to make for dollies this fall! How about a cozy nightgown?

Make it Monday- Holiday Nightgowns for 18 inch Dolls

It’s easy to use the Playtime Peasant Top and Twirl Skirt pattern to make a simple, classic nightgown for your doll. This holiday plaid is also perfect for our 70s girl, Julie! Find the full tutorial HERE.

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Shop the Oh Sew Kat! Pattern Collection HERE

Oh Sew Kat! Party Time Peasant Dress: Holiday Elf Dress Hack

PDF Party Time Peasant Dress Hack- Make a Cute Elf Dress for the Holidays

If you’ve read my blog for very long, you know by now, that sometimes a pattern hack is hardly more than changing colors when you sew. That is nearly true of this adorable elf dress. The Party Time Peasant Dress is a quick sew. I used THIS TUTORIAL to add a small ruffle on the neckline (the tutorial shows the top, but it works the same way for this dress. Simply add your ruffle, then add the elastic and finish the back according to the directions. I followed the skirt cutting measurements from the pattern as if to add lace, but added the striped band instead. How cute did this turn out????

It’s been awhile since I’ve stitched up a cute holiday outfit. I’m so happy with how this green elf dress came together. The Party Time Peasant Dress is so quick and easy to sew; it looks amazing in all kinds of holiday fabrics. See more ideas for this versatile dress pattern in the INSPIRATION GALLERY HERE.

Easy to Sew Holiday Doll Clothes- Cute Elf Dress

Be sure to spend some time in the Oh Sew Kat! Christmas Inspiration Gallery to see what myself and others have sewn for the holidays. I hope you find something to inspire you this holiday season.

DIY Holiday Doll Clothes for your American Girl Doll

Shop the Oh Sew Kat! PDF pattern collection HERE

When you purchase this doll above (Evette Peeters) from the American Girl® store, she comes in an orange dress with a black leather belt. It’s the perfect accessory for your Santa and Elf outfits!! If you don’t have a belt, you can stitch a metal buckle to the waistband, or use gold or glitter HTV and your CRICUT or Scan n Cut machine to add a buckle like I did in THIS POST. The dress looks cute with or without it if you ask me!

Make an Elf Dress with the Party Time Peasant Dress PDF Pattern

Shop the Oh Sew Kat! PDF pattern Collection HERE

Click the photos below to find more holiday sewing pattern hacks with Oh Sew Kat! patterns.

Pretty Pilgrim Outfits for Dolls

As Thanksgiving approaches here in the USA, our thoughts turn to our turkey dinner. Yum! Here are a few quick ideas to make a pilgrim outfit for your 18 inch doll like American Girl®.

Simple Pilgrim Outfits For Dolls

The easiest way to make a pilgrim outfit for your doll is to pull together some simple separates. You might already have them on hand! All you really need are a black or white peasant top, black skirt, black corset, and white apron. See below for some easy to make accessories to complete the look.

Pilgrim Dress and Hat / Bonnet for 18 inch Dolls

Black Dress: (These options also give you a head start on next year’s witch costume for Halloween. You can also use brown or gray instead of black fabric.)

• Sugar n Spice Dress with Long Skirt and Long Sleeves (Click HERE for sleeve tutorial; cut skirt length at 9 1/2 inches for 18 inch dolls.)
• Everything Nice Skirt with a black Playtime Peasant Top. (Skirt tutorial is HERE.)
• Any other black skirt and top you like. (See THIS POST to make an a-line long skirt.)
• Make the free FOUR SEASON SKIRT in a long version.

Optional Corset:

• The Everything Nice pattern includes a simple, reversible corset. Make it with or without ribbons, or use yarn for a more rustic look.

White Apron:

• The Sugan n Spice Pattern includes a tutorial for an easy apron.
• Use the Everything Nice overskirt pattern in white for a wrap around style apron.
• Use white fabric to make Kirsten’s Meet Apron (Tutorial is HERE.)

White Cuffs:

• You can easily make detached cuffs with white paper, felt, or even ribbon. Cut to five inches long and attach around her wrists. I used ribbon and a stapler.
• If you are making a dress or top, simply add white cuffs in your sleeve design.

White Collar:

• Use the Everything Nice cape pattern, without the hood and make it shorter from white fleece or felt.
• Try this ridiculously easy Oh Sew Kat! collar tutorial HERE.

White Cap:

• Use your kindergarten skills to make a doll’s pilgrim cap from white paper or felt. You can sew it or use a glue gun. (Find the doll sized tutorial HERE.)
• If you have a Felicity or Elizabeth American Girl Doll– use her meet bonnet.

As we gather around the table this Thanksgiving, I am so grateful for my wonderful customers. Thank you for supporting my business.

Find the Oh Sew Kat! PDF Pattern Collection HERE

Doll Skirts- Free Patterns and Tutorials

Skirting the Issue: Doll Clothes Basics to Sew

No matter the era, it seems that one of the most basic pieces of a doll’s wardrobe is a selection of skirts to mix and match for different seasons and weather. Oh Sew Kat! offers the FREE Four Season Skirt Pattern in 3 sizes HERE. Be sure to grab yours and then come back here to find ways to make different skirts from the same pattern!

More Free Skirt Patterns Plus Pattern Hacks to Try for your Dolls

Click the photos below to find two more (FREE) easy skirt tutorials, or to find instructions to take the Four Season Skirt to the next level. You can find a selection of shirts and tops patterns HERE.

Shop the Oh Sew Kat! Pattern Collection HERE.

Easy Projects: Making Skirts for 18 inch Dolls

Find more doll skirt patterns in the Oh Sew Kat! Pattern Shop. Shown below are the Four Square Skirt, the Twinkle Twirl Skirt, the Playtime Peasant Skirt, and the Sixth Grade Skirt. Click on the names (above) to visit the Inspiration page. Click on the photos below to find the patterns. Many are available in multiple doll sizes. Find more pattern hacks on THIS PAGE.

Oh Sew Kat! Pattern Shop

Free Skirt Patterns for Dolls- DIY Doll Clothes

Make it Monday: Party Time for Halloween

Use the Party Time Peasant Dress pattern from Oh Sew Kat! and your fun, Halloween fabrics to make your 18 inch American Girl doll a fun and not so spooky outfit!

Halloween Fun and the Party Time Peasant Dress for Dolls

These cute fabrics are made by Doodlebug. They are perfect for some not so spooky Halloween outfits. Use THIS HACK to make the Party Time Dress with long sleeves for the cooler seasons.

Shop the Oh Sew Kat! PDF Pattern Collection HERE