It’s Tester Tuesday!!! The 16 inch A Girl for All time Dolls® are still newcomers to the doll world, but they sure have their own following. Oh Sew Kat! currently has 11 patterns specifically sized for these pose-able dolls HERE.
The Sandbox Shorts pattern is the perfect pattern to give your 16 inch ball jointed dolls like A Girl for All Time a cute, modern, summer look! With three lengths and cute, patch pockets, you can make all kinds of different shorts for your doll. See the Inspiration Gallery for more ideas, and find the pattern hacks for this pattern HERE.
The Oh Sew Kat! testers had so much fun with these cute mix and match shorts and Popsicle Tops. Download and sew your own summer fun set today! Photo credits: Sandy S, Carol G, Linda R, Pam R, Kathy M, Kathy N, and Juliette A. They all have such a talent for mixing and matching and creating the perfect doll clothes outfits!
The Sandbox Shorts are also available sized for 18 inch dolls like American Girl®, 16 inch Disney Animators, 14/5 inch Welliewishers™ and 15″ baby dolls like Bitty Baby™ and Bitty Twins™. Find them all in the Oh Sew Kat! Etsy Shop!
Spring is upon us 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 new value bundle: Spring Fling, available only in the OhSewKat etsy shop and make some mix and match outfits today.
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 Spring Outfits – Doll Clothes Pattern Value Bundle from Oh Sew Kat!
This Spring Fling bundle is offered in 2 doll sizes: 18 inch dolls like American Girl® and 14.5 inch Welliewishers™. Each pattern is also available individually. See them all HERE.
Three fun patterns are included to give you lots of options for so many styles of doll mix and match play clothes plus a cute little string bag backpack. Included patterns: The SpringShine Dress, the Picnic Play pattern and the Sun Day Skort.
Find this new pattern bundle, Spring Fling in my Etsy Shop.
Spring Shine Dress: This pattern includes a sleeveless dress with fitted bodice, flutter sleeves, faux button placket, and gathered skirt. Use it to make a cute top as well!
See the SpringShine Dress Inspiration Gallery HERE.
Here are some samples of the Spring Shine Dress Pattern.
Picnic Play: Top, pants, and backpack pattern- simple Simple and quick to sew, with a reversible top, pull on capris with cuffs and a string style back pack with a pocket to hold her things.
Here are a few samples of the Picnic Play pattern. See more outfits in the Inspiration Gallery.
Easy to Sew Doll Clothes for 18 inch Dolls and other Sizes by Oh Sew Kat!
Sun Day Skort: This quick project is a pair of shorts, with matching or contrasting wrap around skirt that doesn’t quite meet in the middle. Trim it with buttons or use contrasting fabric. Top pattern is not included, but the Sun Day Skort looks perfect with the Picnic Play Top (above).
Here are a few samples of the Sun Day Skort. You can find more ideas in the Inspiration Gallery.
Create your perfect doll outfit for spring with these three simple patterns, bundled together to save 15% in the Spring Fling bundle! Happy Sewing!!
Make your American Girl® doll a sweet jumper for Easter with the beginner level sewing pattern, the Easy Up! Jumper. With optional contrasting side pleats, this jumper can be worn frontwards or backwards and is pulled on over the doll’s feet. Make it reversible!! This sweet bunny jumper (fabric was from Walmart) was made with fold over elastic for the straps as a short cut. Add the quick to sew Playtime Peasant Top underneath for a super spring outfit for dolls! Available for 14 and 18 inch dolls, plus 15 inch Bitty Baby!
DIY Easter Dresses for 18 inch Dolls like American Girl®
Instructions for the faux placket are included in the pattern, however for this version, I used contrasting fabric so it’s sewn on the front before the jumper is constructed instead. Sew many options!! What will you make? Find more Easter inspiration in the Easter Inspiration Gallery or by clicking the photos below:
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
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.
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.
Clean finish the back edges with a serger or zigzag stitch, catching the lining pieces.
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.
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)
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)
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)
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.
Clean finish the hem, press it up and stitch in place.
Ta da!! Zip it up!! See how easy it is to get the Sunshine Dress on and off your 18 inch doll.
There is a new 18 inch doll on the market. Have you seen these girlies in Target yet? Disney has come out with a new line of play dolls- ILY 4Ever, which are four new 18 inch dolls with lots of accessories, inspired by Disney characters.
ILY 4 Ever 18 inch Doll Review by Oh Sew Kat!
My local Target store was full of these new dolls and cute accessory sets. They were not in the toy section, but had sort of their own display of clothing, toys and more. I also noticed they now carry the 16″ Disney Animators dolls!
I purchased two dolls- Inspired by Minnie and Cinderella. Both are beautiful dolls and I thought I’d share my review of them. Introducing Inspired by Minnie:
What I like about the Disney ILY 4Ever Dolls:
The Inspired by Minnie doll was very easy to remove from the box. Having opened other children’s toys lately, this is not a given!!
Her hair is super long, shiny, and so so soft!
These dolls are readily available at Target stores as well as Target online.
At less than $40, these dolls have a great price point!
These dolls come with the most adorable little accessories (Minnie Mouse Phone? Yes please!)
American Girl® brand clothes fit!!
American Girl® brand shoes also fit! (not perfectly, but close)
Although these dolls are inspired by Disney characters, the dolls themselves are not marketed as character dolls and as such, they don’t have a name. You can choose a name for your new friend yourself.
Caution: I’ve been reading that the ILY 4ever clothing can leave dye stains on the dolls. Be sure to change their clothes often or treat the clothing items just in case.
What I don’t like about the Disney ILY 4Ever Dolls:
No sleep eyes- the eyes don’t close when you lay the doll down. The large, open eyes are a common theme for Disney characters and dolls.
I think the hands seem a little bit large.
Same size but they don’t feel as solid as AG dolls,
Give them a name,
The doll body is much softer than American Girl® dolls, but this makes them not stand as easily or sturdily (Is that even a word? This may not be important for doll play, but I do need dolls to stand easily for photographs.)
See more Oh Sew Kat! reviews of products made by American Girl on THIS PAGE.
Will one of these bright eyed beauties join your doll family? She will certainly need a new wardrobe made from Oh Sew Kat! PDF Patterns. Check out my Etsy Shop as well as the Tutorials page.
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.
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.
Here are some samples of the Sugar n Spice Pattern. Find a list of Sugar n Spice pattern hacks HERE.
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!
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!!
Who says doll dresses for St Patrick’s Day have to be all bright colors and rainbows? I found this subtle shamrock fabric at the fabric store last spring and thought it would make a perfect dress for March- and still work for the rest of the spring months too!
Easy to Sew 18 inch Doll Dress Pattern: Summertime Stroll by Oh Sew Kat!
Mary’s dress was made with the Summertime Stroll PDF Sewing Pattern from Oh Sew Kat! You can purchase it HERE. You will find a full selection of 18 inch doll clothes patterns in my Etsy Shop.
With PDF Sewing Patterns for Dolls, you can design your own Doll Dresses
The Summertime Stroll has just a few pieces and goes together fairly quickly. You can mix and match your fabrics, for a fun, colorblock look, or you can stitch it all in one print. Visit the Summertime Stroll Inspiration Gallery here, and also check out this post and this one.
DIY American Girl Doll Clothes with Oh Sew Kat! PDF Patterns
Sewing o the green this month? Be inspired by these doll outfits for St Patrick’s Day and see more in the Oh Sew Kat! St Patrick’s Day Inspiration Gallery.
Riley and Maryellen are wearing simple to sew Party Time Peasant Dresses. See THIS POST for instructions to make it with long sleeves and find the pattern sized for 6 dolls HERE.
St Patrick’s Day Dresses for 18 inch Dolls
Emily’s simple green dress takes on a new look for St Patrick’s Day with a simple rainbow ribbon and shamrock button. Find the pattern for the Sugar n Spice Dress in four doll sizes HERE.
I could not resist this fun leperchaun/ gnome fabric when I was out fabric shopping one day. The print is a little large (and okay, a little obnoxious) for doll clothes, but the Four Season Skirt is the perfect choice for these fun, novelty prints. Pair the skirt with striped socks or tights, leggings, and high tops for a fun and funky holiday outfit.
Poppy is wearing her fun skirt with the Jumping Jack turtleneck shirt, white leggings, and fun orange high tops. You can also add the World Traveller Irish green sweater. Read my review of the Ireland outfit from American Girl® here. Need help making doll necklaces? See THIS POST.
Sew a St. Patrick’s Day Skirt for Doll with the Four Season Skirt free pattern
With a strong Irish heritage, we never let March 17th pass by without corned beef and green shamrocks. See more ideas to sew for St Patrick’s Day in the Inspiration Gallery, or by clicking the photos below.
Dress your dolls in green this month with a quick to sew duo of the Sixth Grade Skirt and the Playtime Peasant Top. These patterns will take you less than an hour to cut and sew for your 18 inch dolls. Both patterns are also available in other doll sizes in my Etsy Shop.
Jenna’s green top is a modified Playtime Peasant Top. It’s very easy to alter the Playtime Peasant Top pattern to be a midriff style top. I cut the hem off by about two inches, hemmed the bottom at 3/8th inch to make a casing, and added 10 inches of 1/4th inch elastic so it sits right at her waist. The top still pulls on over her feet. Find the pattern HERE.
Oh Sew Kat! 