Vera Bradley Remix: Up-cycled Sunshine Dress

The Sunshine Dress is easy to download and quick to sew. Find it HERE in 3 popular doll sizes: to fit 18 inch dolls like American Girl, 14.5 inch dolls like Wellie wishers, and 16 inch Animators princess dolls.

Easy to sew, Basic Dress for 18 inch Dolls

This beautiful floral fabric started life as a Vera Bradley waterproof bag. The bags are not quilted, and have a fabric shell over a plastic liner (like to put wet bathing suits in, I guess.) It’s easy to cut it apart and gives me about a fat quarter of fabric. I purchase these bags very cheaply at the Vera Bradley Outlet in Virginia. Vera Bradley makes such beautiful prints that I often break the rules and use these fabrics for doll dresses despite the large print size. See more large print doll dresses in THIS POST.

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Sew a sleeveless doll Dress in fun, Vera Bradley fabric

The Sunshine Dress pattern shows a short sleeve dress on the cover. It has three options for the front of the dress- one piece, a straightline inset, or princess seams. WIth this large and busy print, I chose the one piece front and used THIS method to leave the sleeves off and make it a sleeveless shift dress.

What fun fabrics have you used to make doll clothes? See more Vera Bradley doll outfits HERE and HERE.

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Sewing for 14.5 inch Dolls Like Welliewishers™ and Glitter Girls®

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.

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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.

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Oh Sew Kat! Dress Patterns for Welliewishers™ and Glitter Girls®:

Easy Up! Jumper

School Dance Dress

Backyard Bibs

Spring Shine Dress

Party Time Peasant Dress

Sunshine Dress

Sugar n Spice and Everything Nice

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Oh Sew Kat! Separates: Skirts, Shorts, Pants, and Tops

Popsicle Top

Sandbox Shorts

Playtime Peasant Top & Twirl Top

Sun Day Skort

Simple Sweet Tee

School Bell Blouse

Sixth Grade Skirt

Playground Pants

Twinkle Twirl Skirt

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Oh Sew Kat! Complete Outfits Patterns:

Bloomer Buddies

Boardwalk Boutique

HalterAlls

Picnic Play

Jumping Jack 3 in 1

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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.

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Step it Up Series: Doll Dresses Made from Large Prints

Using Large Prints for Doll Clothes

Tell me if you have heard this one before? When sewing for dolls, never use a print fabric that has a motif bigger than the doll’s hand. As a general rule, I totally agree with that, but at the same time, it’s okay to break the rules. This post is showcasing how I took some fabric that should be “too big” for doll clothes, and turned them into fun doll fashions.

Kira’s sunflower dress (above) and Kelly’s pink roses dress (below) are two examples of large, bold prints sewn up for 18 inch dolls. Both dresses use the princess seam version of the School Dance Dress.

To be fair, I certainly don’t sew with large prints for dolls on a general basis. I like my tiny “scaled” prints that look realistic on the small dolls. But every now and then, I will come across a super fun fabric that I just love, and just decide to go for it anyway, no matter the rules!!

Doll Scale Fabric Tips

When you want to showcase a large print, the first suggestion I have is to pick a pattern that has large pieces to really show it off. Try to avoid patterns that will break up the pattern at the waist. Leah’s wearing a hack of the Jumping Jack 3 in 1 turtleneck shirt made from a large, festive knit. Find the pattern hack HERE. Corinne (below) has a jumper made from a Vera Bradley apron using the Easy Up Jumper. See this post for the full mix and match set I made in this pretty green and purple theme.

Riley (below) is also wearing Vera Bradley. Her Sunshine Dress (solid front option) started life as a napkin. I used the existing napkin hem and left off the sleeves. Read more about it HERE.

Easy to Sew Doll Clothes- Large Print Dresses

Below- Grace and Kelly are modeling more School Dance Dresses. These dresses are the ones that actually helped me get outside the lines. They were a custom order, and the customer provided the actual Vera Bradley fabric. It was cut into very small pieces, and when she chose the School Dance Dress, I really had no choice but to use the princess seam version that does cut up the center of the dress a bit, but I was so happy with the fit and the pattern that I used the same version (princess seams) on the Sunflowers and Roses at the top of this post as well.

Go ahead and break the rules a bit!! Step up your doll sewing with big, bold prints and see how they turn out! The dolls won’t complain a bit. 🙂

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Sewing with Batiks Some More – DIY Doll Clothes

If you have followed my blog for awhile, you know that I love bold prints, but also bright batiks. These quilting style fabrics bring automatic motion and interest to any sewing, but especially to small scale doll clothes. Enjoy some of the makes I’ve done with batik fabrics!

Luciana’s reaching for the starts with the Easy Up! jumper with HTV wording on the front. I took a shortcut and used FOE (fold over elastic) for the jumper straps.

Batik Fabrics add motion and interest to your Doll Clothes Sewing

Starr (TM #89) below, is wearing a bright top made from the Summertime Stroll pattern. It’s fit and flare are cute for spring and summer!

Corinne is wearing a Sunshine Dress without the sleeves, as seen in THIS tutorial, and I also added a zipper!! Try it yourself with these easy instructions.

What outfits will you make with fabulous batik fabrics?

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Simple Dress Pattern: Sunshine Dress Pattern Hacks

The Sunshine Dress PDF sewing pattern for dolls (available from Oh Sew Kat! in three popular doll sizes!) is a great basic pattern to have on hand to make simple short sleeve dresses for your dolls like American Girl, Welliewishers, and Animators’. The pattern includes three variations for the front, and below you will find links to even more ideas for this basic pattern. Find the patterns in my Etsy Shop!

In addition to the cute many included options for dresses, you can use this pattern to create all kinds of additional outfits. Click each photo to go right to the Tutorial. All of these outfits were created with the Sunshine Pattern. See more in the Inspiration Gallery here. Which will you try first?

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Create different looks with a simple to sew dress pattern for dolls

These pattern hacks will also work for other sized dolls with minor adjustments. The pattern is available for 18 inch dolls like American Girl®, 14.5 inch dolls like Glitter Girls® and Welliewishers™, and 16 inch dolls like Animators’® dolls.

Try fun sewing hacks for Oh Sew Kat! PDF Sewing Patterns

Shop the Oh Sew Kat! Doll Clothes Pattern Collection HERE.

Find more patterns and tutorials on THIS PAGE.

Pattern Value Bundle for Dolls: Sounds of Summer by Oh Sew Kat!

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.

Sounds of Summer Pattern Bundle of Four Patterns by Oh Sew Kat!

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.

Find this pattern bundle, Sounds of Summer, in my Etsy Shop.

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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!

See the Popsicle Top Inspiration Gallery HERE.

Here are some samples of the Popsicle Pattern.

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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.

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Easy to Sew Doll Clothes for 18 inch Dolls and other Sizes by Oh Sew Kat!

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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.

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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.

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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!!

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Oh Sew Kat! Doll Dress Patterns Made Up as Tops

Just as every doll top sewing pattern you have can usually be made into a dress, the reverse is true as well. Every dress pattern can be made into a top or shirt. Here are a few examples to use the patterns you have (or choose a new one) in a new way.

Use your Oh Sew Kat! Doll Dress sewing patterns to make cute doll tops too!

Kelly is wearing a cute spring outfit. Her top is made from the Sugar n Spice pattern. Instead of a full skirt, I just made it ruffle sized. Read more details in THIS POST. The skirt is a simple skirt like THIS TUTORIAL.

Easiest Pattern Hack Ever: Make a Dress Pattern as Top for Dolls

In the above example, sewn by my amazing tester, Michele, Leah is wearing a top made from the Oh Sew Kat! Spring Shine Dress pattern. It’s simply the bodice with a little trim at the hem. Cute cute!! Find the pattern HERE. The skirt is made from the Twinkle Twirl Skirt pattern.

Michele also sewed the cute outfit Snow White is wearing below. Her top is made from the Sunshine Dress pattern. It doesn’t matter the doll size, this hack works for every size. Find the pattern HERE.

Use your Oh Sew Kat! Doll Dress Patterns to Make Cute Summer Tops too!

Maryellen is ready to hit the beach!! The Backyard Bibs is my favorite pattern for every season. Shorten the skirt to ruffle length, and look how cute the top is! (The green shorts were purchased at American Girl®.) See more details in THIS POST. I simply made the ruffle even smaller in the patriotic outfit below. Paired with a pair of Bloomer Buddies bloomers and it looks like a bathing suit!!

Make Easy Doll Tops with your Oh Sew Kat! Dress Sewing Patterns

Pam, another amazing tester and photographer, always made the cutest outfits. Here she used the Sugar n Spice Dress pattern and made it into cute tops for Welliewishers 14.5 inch dolls. She paired them with Sixth Grade Skirts and added the pockets as in THIS TUTORIAL. Such cute outfits!!

What other dress patterns will you use to make your doll tops?

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Zip it Up! Add a zipper to the Oh Sew Kat! Sunshine Dress

This quick tutorial will help you add a zipper to the back of the Sunshine Dress, and will also work for the School Dance Dress pattern as well. You will need this pattern:

Add a zipper to the Oh Sew Kat! Sunshine Dress Pattern

1. Choose your option for the front of the dress (three variations are included) and cut out all of your pattern pieces as directed. I used a six inch zipper. You can use a longer one, but be careful of going too short and not being able to get the dress on the doll.
2. Follow the pattern to put the front together, attach the shoulders, and add the lining. If you are adding sleeves, add them as well. My photos are for a sleeveless version of the dress, like in THIS TUTORIAL. Do not stitch the side seams.
3. Clean finish the back edges with a serger or zigzag stitch, catching the lining pieces.
4. With right sides together, baste the back edges together with a long stitch length and a half inch seam allowance. Two inches or so before the hem, where the zipper will end, switch to your regular stitch length. Press the seam open.
5. With the zipper pull pulled away from the top edge, lay your zipper face down along the pressed open seam. Use pieces of scotch tape to hold it in place. (It’s hard to see the clear tape in the photo, but I used three pieces across the zipper. (Photo 3-white arrow)
6. Using your zipper foot, stitch down one side, across the bottom and up the other side, keeping as close to the zipper teeth as you can. Move the zipper pull up and down out of the way as you sew if you can. Remove the tape. (Photo 3)
7. Remove your basting stitches by pulling the seam slightly open. Stop when you get to the end of the zipper. Using your regular stitch length, restitch from the bottom of the zipper to the hemline on your basted seamline if you need to. (Photo 4)
8. With the right sides together, stitch up the side seams, from hem, through the armhole seam to the hemline of the lining piece or sleeve.
9. Clean finish the hem, press it up and stitch in place.
10. Ta da!! Zip it up!! See how easy it is to get the Sunshine Dress on and off your 18 inch doll.

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Front and Back views are shown below.

Making 18 inch Doll Clothes- Adding a Zipper

Easy Tutorial to Add a Zipper to a Doll Dress

Find the Sunshine Dress and other 18 inch PDF sewing patterns HERE.

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Find more tutorials and pattern hacks HERE and click the photos below to see more ideas for the Sunshine Dress pattern.

New Pattern Value Bundle for Dolls: Best Dressed by Oh Sew Kat!

Does your doll need a new dress? Which doll doesn’t am I right? Oh Sew Kat! has a new value pattern bundle with three styles of dresses for your doll, in four doll sizes.

Best Dresses Doll Dress Pattern Bundle of Three by Oh Sew Kat!

Save 15% by purchasing this value bundle of three 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).

3 Doll Dress Pattern Value Bundle from Oh Sew Kat!

This Best Dressed bundle is offered in 3 doll sizes: 18 inch dolls, 16 inch Animators’ and 14.5 inch Welliewishers. There is a similar bundle (one dress is different) for 15 inch Bitty Baby dolls. Each pattern is also available individually. See them all HERE.

Three dress patterns are included to give you lots of options for so many styles of doll dresses. The Sugar n Spice pattern, the Party Time Peasant Dress pattern, and the Sunshine Dress pattern.

Find this new pattern bundle, Best Dressed, in my Etsy Shop.

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Sugar n Spice and Everything Nice: This pattern includes a short sleeve dress with fitted bodice and gathered skirt. Also included are patterns for a no sew tutu, reversible corset, apron, overskirt, and hooded cape so you can make your full imagination’s worth of outfits.

See the Sugar n Spice Inspiration Gallery HERE.

Here are some samples of the Sugar n Spice Pattern. Find a list of Sugar n Spice pattern hacks HERE.

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Party Time Peasant Dress: Simple and quick to sew, with an elastic neckline, and contrasting waistband, the Party Time Peasant Dress is perfect for every season. You can make it with long sleeves with THIS HACK for even more options.

Here are a few samples of the Party Time Peasant Dress. Instructions are included for both the solid skirt and the 3 tiered prairie skirt. See more dresses in the Inspiration Gallery.

Easy to Sew Doll Dresses for 18 inch Dolls and other Sizes by Oh Sew Kat!

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Sunshine Dress: This a-line dress is simple to sew with three variations to the front: Straight lined center, princess seams, or solid. Use THIS HACK to make it without sleeves for even more options.

Here are a few samples of the Sunshine Dress. You can find more ideas in the Inspiration Gallery.

Create your perfect doll dress with these three dress patterns, bundled together to save 15%. Happy Sewing!!

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Sewing for the Ruby Red Fashion Friend 15″ dolls?

This post will be updated as more information becomes available. Bookmark it for your records and check back often as the Ruby Red Fashion Friends become more popular!

Make Doll Clothes for 15 inch Ruby Red Fashion Friends Doll with PDF Sewing Patterns from Oh Sew Kat!

I asked my test group to try their Welliewishers 14.5 inch doll clothing on their Ruby Red Fashion Friends 15 inch dolls. This is the feedback they gave me on the fit, as well as a few of their photos. Please note, that at the time of this writing, I do not own any RRFF dolls. These adaptations are just guidelines, and you may have to adjust the patterns more or less to your individual taste.

Photo Credit: Juliette Auckland

Use these slight modifications to make Oh Sew Kat! 14.5 inch sized patterns for Welliewishers™ to fit the new, popular 15 inch dolls, Ruby Red Fashion Friends.

Find a full selection of Oh Sew Kat! Patterns for 14.5″ and 15″ Dolls HERE.

• Backyard Bibs: Add 1/4th inch to bodice, and 3/8 inch to length
• Boardwalk Boutique Top: Add 1/4th inch
• Boardwalk Boutique Pants: Add 1/4 inch to top of waistband
• Picnic Play Top: No changes
• Picnic Play Pants: Add 1/4 inch to top of waistband
• Popsicle Top: No changes OR add 1/4th to the length to show less tummy
• Playground Pants: Add 3/8 inch to length
• Sandbox Shorts: Add 1/4 inch to top of waistband
• School Bell Blouse: Add 1/4 to both bodice and sleeve length
• School Dance Dress: Add 3/8 inch to dress length and 1/4th inch to sleeve length
• Sugar n Spice: Add 3/8 inch to both bodice length and skirt length
• Spring Shine: Add 3/8 inch to both bodice and skirt length
• Sun Day Skort: Double the seam allowance at center skirt fronts and don’t ease, add 1/4 inch to length of both shorts and skirt
• Sunshine Dress: Add 3/8 inch to length
• Twinkle Twirl skirt: Add 1/2 inch to length of skirt blocks

Sewing for the Siblies? Try a 15% reduction of your Welliewishers patterns as a good place to start.

Photo credit: Pam Ray

Please note that this list is not an exact science. The OSK patterns were designed to fit the Welliewishers™ and Glitter Girls® 14.5″ dolls. By adding a little length to most of my patterns, they will also fit the taller 15″ Ruby Red Fashion Friends. You may need to adjust the measurement more or less depending on the look you like for your dolls.

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