American Girl Outfit Review: Team USA Medal Ceremony Set

Like so many of you, I love the Olympics and the coming together as a globe to watch the best of the best. I love the pride each country shows in their flags, anthems, and uniforms. I was thrilled to see American Girl® come out with an entire line of Olympic themed outfits…well…until I saw the price tag! At the time of this writing, the day before the Games begin, AG is now offering a buy one, get one half off sale. That would have been nice. But personally, I had to have the Team USA Medal Ceremony set for my collection, despite the very hefty $35 price tag (plus tax and shipping!) Here are my thoughts.

What you get: a thin “windbreaker” type zip up jacket, with navy sleeves, a team USA decal on the back, and the USA flag and olympic rings decal on the front. Three medals (gold, silver, and bronze, all on red white and blue ribbons), a large USA flag with thumb loops, and a pamphlet about taking care of the USA flag.

Olympic Outfit for Dolls: Team USA Medal Ceremony Set

First things first. I love the flag, and the thumb loops make it very easy to photograph the dolls holding it, which can be tricky with the usual flag on a pole. That alone, for me, was worth getting the set. However, for the price, I thought this set should have at least come with an outfit- a tee shirt and shorts or something. Riley is wearing a plain white tee and a white Sixth Grade Skirt that I had on hand. She’s ready to watch the games!

Overall, like many sets from American Girl®, the set feels very high quality. The flag is stitched, not printed, and the medals are heavy (very heavy) and super shiny. The ribbons have hook and loop tape so they don’t have to go over the doll’s head.

OhSewKat’s review of the Team USA Medal Ceremony Outfit for Dolls from American Girl®

All in all, I’m happy with the Team USA Medal Ceremony set and I’m glad I have it. I may regret the $$ if it ends up on clearance after the games, but with a buy one get one half off, it’s the perfect add on set to any of the sport outfits. It could have more included for the high price tag, but it will always remind me of the craziness that has surrounded the summer Olympics of 2020/2021 and I like that. If I were to buy this for my child, I would certainly pick out one of the sport outfits to go with it, even though the cost of both would be almost as much as a new doll. You can find this set in the American Girl online store.

Go Team USA!!

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New PDF Sewing Pattern: Summertime Stroll for 18″ Dolls

What better way to spend lazy summer days than to stroll along the beach or through a park? This new colorblock dress is perfect no matter where she is- mix and match prints and solids to create your own unique Summertime Stroll sundress with this easy sewing pattern, only available from Oh Sew Kat!

DIY Doll Clothes for 18 inch Dolls with the Summertime Stroll A Line Dress pattern

New 18 inch Doll Dress Sewing Pattern: Summertime Stroll

Choose a few fabrics, or many, and make your own unique 18 inch Doll fashions.

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Visit the Summertime Stroll Inspiration Gallery HERE!

Tester Tuesday: Easter Sun Day Skorts for 14-15 Inch Dolls

It’s Tester Tuesday!! I love to share the creations of my talented testers with you. Today, these cute bunny outfits were made by Pam of Amy Violets. She has such a knack for fussy cutting fabrics and an amazing talent of doll photography. Check her out on her Facebook page!

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Willa is dressed in a simple Popsicle Top and the Sun Day Skort to match. You can even make the top reversible. Find the pattern here.

The Sun Day Skort and Popsicle Top also fits the new 15 inch Ruby Red Fashion Friends dolls too! Isn’t she the sweetest in her cute outfit? Find the Sun Day Skort pattern HERE. See more ideas in the Inspiration Gallery.

Are your dolls ready for warm weather fun! Create your own doll fashions with easy to sew PDF patterns from Oh Sew Kat!

Sewing 80s Fashions for Dolls

Sew your 18″ American Girl® doll some fun fashions for the 80s with easy Oh Sew Kat! patterns.

Visit the Oh Sew Kat! 80s Inspiration Gallery for ideas and links to sew the Oh Sew Kat! patterns with a fun, 80s flair. Your Courtney Moore doll with love mix and match fashions that you made yourself!

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Click on each photo to go right to the Post!

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Make it Monday: Springshine Dress in Black and Pink

Black gingham with pink polka dots? Or pink polka dots with black gingham? Can’t decide? Make both! Just cut a set of all the pieces from both fabrics and switch them up for a similar sister look!

Find the Springshine Dress for 18 inch dolls HERE. See more ideas for sewing it in the Inspiration Gallery.

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Make a Custom Doll Tee with Infusible Ink

This post includes affiliate links. See my full disclosure policy HERE.

Looking for a new and unique way to customize your doll clothes? Have you tried Cricut’s infusible ink yet? Infusible ink is different than heat transfer vinyl (iron on) in that it sinks into the fabric instead of sticks to it. The result is a vibrant, permanent image. Cricut offers a wide variety of blanks that are made of the right fiber content for infusible ink. They don’t offer doll sized tees yet, so I wait for a sale, and purchase the largest size of tee shirt available. I cut out my tee and turtleneck shirts using the Simple Sweet Tee and the Jumping Jack PDF sewing pattern.

Infusible ink is sold in transfer sheets. You can use your electronic cutter to cut out designs, and then use a heat press to infuse the ink to your item. It comes in solid colors and patterns too. You can also buy infusible ink markers and draw your own designs! Infusible ink is fun for gift items, coffee mugs, and of course, custom doll tee shirts! See the whole range of blank items HERE.

Choose your design in the Cricut Design Space software. Look for single color, blocky images for the best results. If you are using patterned infusible ink, remember that your design will be very small, so pay attention to where the coloring is on your infusible ink sheet. I size my images for doll tees shirts to about two inches.

I used the slice tool to create the white negative space of the butterfly design into a circle for the front of the shirt, then I was careful not to tear the butterfly that gets weeded out and I put it on the sleeve of the shirt. Learn how to use the slice tool here. Two designs in one! Once you have finalized your design, cut it out with your Cricut machine. I used my Cricut Maker for this project, but any Cricut machine will work. Here’s a quick video to show you how to set it up to cut the ink transfer sheet.

Prep your tee shirt pieces for the ink transfer. You can’t use just any tee shirt for an infusible ink project, it needs to be a special blend of polyester to take the ink. Cricut products are designed specifically for this, but you may be able to find other sublimation blanks to use as well. Need help? Check Cricut’s short video. Here’s a link to Cricut’s video of how to press your design into your tee shirt. My new Easy Press 2 is the perfect size for doll projects! Once I determined my design placement, (color side down), I used the Heat Settings APP to tell me the temp and time for the heat press. Once the design cools, remove the clear carrier sheet and your tee shirt is ready to be sewn together!

Find the Simple Sweet Tee Shirt Pattern in the OhSewKat Etsy Shop- click here!

These tee shirts look great with the simple and quick to sew Sixth Grade Skirt, also available from Oh Sew Kat! Check out all the colors and patterns of Infusible Ink transfer sheets and markers by Cricut and create your own unique, one of a kind doll tee shirt.

Tester Tuesday: Ruby Red Fashion Friends

Oh Sew Kat! offers pdf sewing patterns in a range of doll sizes- mostly from 14-18 inches. The Ruby Red Fashions Friends are a new doll in town- and some of the Oh Sew Kat! testers try their Welliewishers™ test patterns on them and share the results with me. Here are a few that look so cute!! (RRFF dolls are 15 inches tall. They have longer legs than Welliewishers™ so they sometimes need a little extra length on skirts and pants. You can find all of these patterns in my ETSY SHOP.)

Tester Photos of Oh Sew Kat! PDF Patterns on Ruby Red Fashions Friends 15 inch Dolls

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Juliette used the Popsicle Top and Twinkle Twirl Skirt for this cute outfit!

Julie’s Ruby Red Fashions Friends dolls are dressed in the Picnic Play Outfit. This pattern also includes the cute backpack!

Pam’s sweet Easter outfit is made from the Popsicle Top and the Sun Day Skort patterns.

Some Oh Sew Kat! patterns may need a few slight alterations (mostly in the lower body lengths) but it also depends on the look you are seeking. Have fun sewing for the new Ruby Red Fashion Friends dolls with your Oh Sew Kat! pdf sewing patterns.

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Fan Feature: Patriotic Outfits for 18 inch Dolls

Marti McKee took time out of her busy day to send me a beautiful email about how much she has enjoyed sewing with Oh Sew Kat! patterns. She sent me photos of her cute girls in their patriotic outfits just in time for Independence Day!

Here’s an excerpt from her note:

“About a year ago, I remembered a $3 thrift store Samantha doll that I had purchased about 20 years ago and put away.  I had two sons, and they never seemed very interested in American girls (go figure, right?) Last summer I remembered that she was still waiting patiently for a new hairstyle and some clothes.  I started searching online for AG patterns, and fortunately yours were among the first I found.  I am very much a beginner when it comes to sewing, so I really appreciate how clear and concise your patterns are.  I was able to get great results (and if I didn’t, it certainly wasn’t the pattern’s fault!)  I’ve now made many dozens of items from your patterns.  Sewing has been a great creative outlet over this past year plus.  I decided early on that Samantha really needed some buddies, so I have acquired four “rescue” dolls to keep her company.”

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I love to hear from happy customers!!! Thank you to Marti for sharing her beautiful girls in their Oh Sew Kat! outfits. I hope you enjoy seeing them as much as I do! I noted the patterns used for each outfit underneath the photos. All patterns are for sale in my ETSY SHOP.

Jess is wearing a Popsicle Top with lace trim, and the wide legged Sandbox Shorts. She’s ready for a parade!

Julie’s dress is made with such fun balloon fabric!! Marti used the Sunshine Dress pattern and THIS HACK to make it with sleeves to keep Julie cool and comfy in the summer heat.

How adorable is Kit? Marti cut one and 1/4th inch off the long sleeve pattern piece of the Playtime Peasant Top and used that as the bodice, adding elastic at the doll’s waist. She added it’s also perfect for a 3/4th sleeve. Her cute cuffed capris were made with the Picnic Play pattern, but the Boardwalk Boutique pattern will give you the same look.

It’s so hard to pick a favorite, right? I do love Samantha’s outfit. The Backyard Bibs pattern makes an adorable top layered over a tee shirt and paired with a Sixth Grade Skirt. This outfit is quick but has a big cute factor!! See more about making the Bibs into a top in THIS POST.

And finally, Saige is popsicle ready in her Playtime Peasant Top ruffle hem dress. Find the pattern hack HERE. Need a quick and easy belt? Fold over elastic to the rescue! Find more info here.

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Make it Monday: Denim Look Backyard Bibs for 18 inch Dolls

The Backyard Bibs pattern is simple to sew. With attached straps and a single piece bodice, you can easily make overalls outfits for your 18 inch and other sized dolls. Pair the bibs with a versatile Playtime Peasant Top to complete the look.

Here’s a fun doll sewing tip for you! Shop the blue batik section of your local quilt shop to find thin, cotton fabric that will have the look of denim. It’s much easier to sew and has much less bulk!

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Tester Tuesday: Caring for Baby 8 inch doll Dress

The Oh Sew Kat! Testers are top notch! Take a look at these darling mini dresses Kathy made.

Party Time Peasant Dress Pattern for 8 inch Baby Doll

8″ Caring for Baby Doll Dress Sewing Pattern

Have you met this tiny cutie? Look at the fun dresses Kathy made for her 8 inch baby doll as she tested the Party Time Peasant Dress Sewing Pattern. She’s a tiny thing, so it doesn’t take much fabric. This pattern is not for the standard baby doll (15 inch Bitty Baby Doll – you can find the pattern to fit here HERE.)