The Sunshine Dress is a simple pattern to sew, with or without a contrasting front panel. With three options to sew, plus the option to make it sleeveless, you will find yourself turning to the Sunshine Dress over and over, no matter what the season!
Be inspired by these wonderful dresses sewn up by Oh Sew Kat! testers!
Pretty pastels! And notice the neat trim added to the hem of the center panel before the dress was constructed. So clever!
Tester Tuesday is my chance to show off the talent of the Oh Sew Kat! tester team. Each tester chooses which version of a new (unpublished) pattern they want to sew, and offer feedback on fit, directions etc as well as provide a few photos for me to share. These two Sunshine Dresses were sewn by the very talented Jozel W. I hope you are as inspired as I am to make a Sunshine Dress for your doll!
The Sunshine Dress has three versions- including the princess seams version here on this adorable cherries dress. Find the PDF pattern in my Etsy Shop.
Easy PDF sewing pattern for doll dresses: Sunshine Dress by Oh Sew Kat!
Jozel used THIS TUTORIAL to make a sleeveless version of the Sunshine Dress. It’s the perfect way to show off a bold, fun print. I use it often to make Game Day and historical fashions like this these, and these dresses for Melody and Maryellen. Click the photos below to see more ideas for doll clothes to sew!
Reversible Doll Dresses with the Sunshine Dress PDF Pattern by OhSewKat
The Sunshine Dress is a great “go to” pattern for a basic dress, with or without sleeves. It has a loose fit so it’s great for dolls that may be older or different brands.
Make your doll a reversible Sunshine Dress for summer
When you make an item reversible, take the extra time to put the fabrics with wrong sides together and ensure that each one can’t be “seen” from the other side. I try to choose lighter prints for the insides of my dresses and I usually choose fabrics that have a few coordinating colors.
To make your Sunshine Dress reversible, start with THIS TUTORIAL to make the sleeveless version. You do not need the bodice lining pieces. I used the simple front for Joss’ dress, but you can use any of the options in the pattern. Complete the front first.
Use two fabrics and make two versions of the dress, one for the outside and one for the inside. Sew the shoulder seams and the neckline as stated in the pattern. Sew the armholes, and the hem. Turn the dress right side out, and press well.
You now need to complete the side seams. You will be sewing the lining and dress together, with right sides together. The front will be sewn to the front, and the lining will be sewn to the lining. (This is the same method I use in the Popsicle Top pattern). You will not be able to sew the entire seam. Try to get at least one inch of the lining, then over the seam, down the front, and then over the seam again to the lining by at least one more inch. Once you do that, you can pull the sides into place, and the gap should pretty much close up. You can handstitch the gap closed, or you can “stitch in the ditch” along the seam with your machine. Attach the hook and loop tape as usual.
Make a reversible dress for your 18 inch doll with the Sunshine Dress sewing pattern.
Use Fold Over Elastic to make an easy, slip on belt or headband as seen in THIS TUTORIAL to complete your outfit. Find the Sunshine Dress pattern in 3 sizes HERE.
Make 50s style Fashions and Outfits for your 18 inch Doll.
Maryellen Larkin and her family are glad WWII is over and everyone is hopeful about the future in 1954. She loves pretending to be a 50s movie star and playing the jukebox at the diner with family and friends. Use Oh Sew Kat! patterns to stitch up 50s style outfits for your Maryellen doll and her friends.
Ad: Want to learn more about Maryellen’s adventures? Find Maryellen’s stories by Valerie Tripp HERE and at the American Girl stores.
Use Oh Sew Kat! patterns to sew 50s outfits for your Maryellen Larkin Doll.
Do you want to make Maryellen a new outfit? Try these twists on patterns from Oh Sew Kat! Find all of these patterns in my Etsy Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/ohsewkat.
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!
Last month, Oh Sew Kat! featured the Sunshine Dress Sewing Pattern all month long. As the Pattern Pick of the Month, it was on sale for the 1st five days and we posted lots of samples, ideas, and more all month long. Stay tuned to the newsletter to see when we offer a Pattern Pick of the Month so you can join in the fun.
Sew a Sunshine Doll Dress for your 18 inch doll like American Girl.
The Sunshine Dress sewing pattern is a simple to sew A Line dress with three variations for the front. Make it with a straight contrast, pretty princess seams, or leave the front as one solid piece (easier and quick to sew) and embellish with machine embroidery, iron on designs, or trims and appliques. The short sleeves are perfect for summer…or make a sleeveless shift with THIS TUTORIAL. The Sunshine Dress is available in 3 popular doll sizes.
Make a doll dress for your 18 inch doll with the easy to sew, Sunshine Dress Sewing Pattern
I bought a bundle of these ombre fabrics with metallic gold dots awhile back. The Sunshine Dress is the perfect canvas to give the light to dark a chance to shine. The turquoise color matches Saige’s eyes perfectly! The fabric is part of the Ombre Confetti Collection by Vanessa Christenson for Moda Fabrics.
Need an easy to sew pattern? Try the Oh Sew Kat! Sunshine Dress
See more ideas for the Sunshine Dress HERE, HERE, and HERE. Don’t forget to stop by the Inspiration Gallery! The Sunshine Dress is a simple dress that looks different every time you sew~ mix and match the front panels to create a dress as unique as your doll!
This month, Kat’s Pattern Pick of the Month is the SUNSHINE DRESS. This pattern is available in three sizes (18 inch, 16 inch animators, and 14.5 Wellie Wishers) and as an a line short sleeve styled dress, it offers lots of options to sew it up in different ways for your dolls.
Easy Pattern Hacks for the Sunshine Dress Sewing Pattern by Oh Sew Kat!
Click on each link below to go right to the instructions for the Pattern Hacks.
Make historical fashion outfits for your BeForever Character dolls with Oh Sew Kat’s Sunshine Dress pattern.
Nanea’s muumuu dress was part of a four part series of blog posts in adapting Oh Sew Kat! patterns to make Hawaiian inspired fashions. Find the MuuMuu tutorial HERE and see more ideas for Nanea HERE, HERE, and HERE.
The days are longer, the days are warmer, and everything is suddenly green! As we turn the calendar from spring to the lazy days of summer, choose an easy to make, short sleeved a-line dress with lots of options for your 18 inch doll, her 16 inch Animators’ friends, and 14.5 inch Wellie Wishers – the Sunshine Dress.
Save 25% on the Sunshine Dress Sewing Pattern from 1-5 June 2019.
This month will feature Kat’s Pattern Pick of the Month. Grab this pattern in my ETSY SHOP only 25% off for a very, limited time. No coupon is needed, please wait until the pattern listing price is changed to $3.75 before purchasing. (I am in the East Coast, USA time zone). Then stay tuned here to the blog, my facebook page, and instagram account for a month long celebration of ideas, inspiration, pattern hacks, sew alongs, who wore it best, and more!
The Sunshine Dress sewing pattern for dolls is an easy to sew, short sleeved dress with lots of options.
Sewing for BeForever character Nanea Mitchell? Try these twists on patterns to make a variety of Hawaiian themed dress from Oh Sew Kat! patterns. Find all of these patterns in my Etsy Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/ohsewkat.
Sew Hawaiian themed doll clothes for Nanea with easy sewing patterns from Oh Sew Kat!
What other Oh Sew Kat! patterns might work for Nanea outfits? Visit the Nanea page of the Inspiration Gallery to see more ideas. Comment below with your ideas.
Sewing for BeForever character Julie Albright? Her stories are set in 1974 and she has some groovy fashions! Give your Julie a personalized 70s themed wardrobe with these twists on PDF sewing patterns from Oh Sew Kat! Find all of these patterns in my Etsy Shop.
Make a 1970’s themed outfit for your 18 inch American Girl doll.
What other Oh Sew Kat! patterns might work for Julie outfits? Visit the Julie page of the Historical Fashions gallery for more ideas. See more sewing ideas for the BeForever characters like Melody and Maryellen too! Comment below with your ideas!
Visit & follow my 1970s doll fashion PINTEREST Board for more ideas. Pin these images to save them for later!
