Make it Monday: Easter Easy Up! Jumper

The Easy Up! Jumper is one of the easiest patterns in the Oh Sew Kat! PDF Pattern library to sew. You can simplify the process with fold over elastic straps and leave the side pleat in or take it out for a quick to sew one hour project.

Simple 18 inch Doll Sewing: Easy Up! Jumper

Find the Easy Up! Jumper pattern in three sizes in the Oh Sew Kat! Shop. This pattern is available for 18 inch dolls, 15 inch baby dolls, and 14.5 inch dolls like Glitter Girls® and Welliewishers™.

Both Luciana and Blaire are wearing the Easy Up! Jumper over a Playtime Peasant Top, which is also a super quick sew that you will use over and over with so many different outfits. Find the pattern HERE, and the Inspiration Gallery HERE.

This adorable bunny fabric was purchased at Walmart in their seasonal fat quarters. This pattern is perfect for your fat quarter collection. The faux button placket instructions are included in the pattern if you use the same fabric as the jumper, but I wanted a contrasting fabric down the center. It’s easy to do with just a tube of fabric pressed flat, and stitched down the middle of the jumper before you start assembling it. You can find the exact measurements and instructions in THIS POST.

Easy Easter Dress for Dolls: Easy Up! Jumper PDF Sewing Pattern

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Baby and Me: Matching Backyard Bibs for St. Patrick’s Day

Everyone is going crazy for the new 8 inch baby doll that American Girl® sells as the Caring for Baby set. It’s a pricey piece- $48 is almost half the price of an 18 inch American Girl ® doll, but isn’t she cute? She can also be a boy!! The baby is 8 inches tall, and is NOT the same as a small baby doll American Girl ® sold years ago as Felicity’s baby sister, Polly. In fact, if you are lucky enough to have a baby Polly, I apologize right now- my patterns will NOT fit her.

Sewing for 8 and 18 inch Dolls- Super Cute Sister Outfits by Oh Sew Kat!

Backyard Bibs PDF Sewing Pattern for 18 inch Dolls as well as Caring for Baby 8″ Dolls

This new Caring for Baby, as we like to refer to her/him, is an all vinyl baby doll. Her arms, legs and neck all move. Her eyes are painted and do not open or close. Without a cloth body, she is a litter harder to fit for sewing patterns as the doll is not as forgiving. Oh Sew Kat! has two patterns for your little girl baby dolls, and one that also works if your 8 inch baby is a boy. You can find them HERE.

The Backyard Bibs is one of the most popular patterns in the Oh Sew Kat! Shop. It’s available in a range of doll sizes from 8 inches to 18 inches with the 14,15,16 dolls being covered in between. (Animators, A Girl for All Time, Bitty Baby, Welliewishers). You can see them all HERE.

The 8 inch baby Backyard Bibs has 2 variations – skirt or pants. All the other sizes have four variations (shorts, capri, full skirt, slim skirt) for lots of ways to sew your bibs. Visit the Backyard Bibs pattern gallery here for more inspiration.

The 8 inch baby sized pattern of the Backyard Bibs also includes the Playtime Peasant Top for short or long sleeved tops to wear under the bibs, and of course, with other outfits. For the other sized patterns, the Backyard Bibs and Playtime Peasant Top are sold separately or in a value bundle.

Make Your Own American Girl Matching Doll Outfits

These adorable bibs are made with shamrock fabric purchased at the AD: FatquarterShop. I purchase most of my fabric there throughout the year, and they always have fun, seasonal fabrics to choose from. Poppy and Callie are ready for fun!

These girlies are ready for St Patrick’s Day in their new, matching Backyard Bibs outfits. Find more ideas for March 17th and Irish inspired outfits in the St Patrick’s Day Inspiration Gallery HERE.

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Twinkle Twirl Patchwork Skirt for St Patrick’s Day

Leah’s got the luck of the Irish with her new Twinkle Twirl patchwork skirt. I mixed and matched four coordinating fabrics from my fat quarter bundle from AD: FatQuarterShop and added some contrasting, premade black houndstooth bias trim at the hem for fun. You can make your own patchwork skirt for dolls in just an afternoon!

Twinkle Twirl Patchwork Skirt for Dolls

Find the pattern for the Twinkle Twirl Skirt HERE. When you purchase the pattern, it will include 3 variations AND five popular doll sizes. Download and sew your own Twinkle Twirl skirt today!

Make an Irish themed 18 inch Doll Skirt – Easy Project!

Leah’s top is made with the Playtime Peasant Top pattern, also from Oh Sew Kat! I cut it a little shorter, and added elastic around the hem to make a cute cropped shirt. See more information and measurements in this POST.

Easy to Sew PDF Patterns for 18 inch Dolls from Oh Sew Kat!

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See more ideas to sew St Patrick’s Day themed doll clothes here, here and in the Inspiration Gallery HERE.

Visit the Twinkle Twirl Inspiration Gallery HERE.

Make it Monday: Cozy White Turtleneck

Every now and again, I find myself sitting down to the machine to make my dolls some basic (read boring) pieces for their wardrobe. But a stack of solid colored shirts, tees, and turtlenecks can be worn season after season and you will find the time you spent to make them was worth it!!

You can never go wrong with a basic, white turtleneck shirt. I like to use rib knit for my shirts. Find the pattern HERE.

Use the Jumping Jack Sewing pattern to make your dolls some long sleeved, single color shirts. You can put them under jumpers, with skirts, with jeans, and so much more!

Doll’s Wardrobe Basics- Sewing with Oh Sew Kat!

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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!

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New! Sewing Pattern for 8″ Caring for Baby Doll- Baby’s Backyard Bibs

Yep, you read that right. American Girl® has a new toy/accessory set for their 18 inch dolls. It’s an 8 inch baby and high chair set, for the bigger girls to “babysit” for. She’s like a tiny (and I mean tiny!) version of the Bitty Baby doll we all know and love. She does not have a cloth body and you can choose your skin tone. Introducing – the Baby’s Backyard Bibs!

8″ Caring for Baby Doll Clothes Sewing Pattern

There are a few things that you will want to keep in mind when sewing for such tiny dolls. I learned many of them from my dear friend, Linda, over at Merry Manatees. The pieces and construction are very similar to the 18 inch dolls but on a much smaller scale. The good news is they take very little fabric! I include some tips in my 8″ sized patterns.

Sewing for 8 inch Baby Dolls- Backyard Bibs for Caring Baby

The Backyard Bibs is one of Oh Sew Kat’s best selling patterns and is now available in this tiny 8 inch size too. The Playtime Peasant Top pattern has also been resized (now has an open back) and is also included so you can make the complete outfit right away. Have fun making tiny overalls with the newest OhSewKat PDF sewing pattern. Click HERE to get the pattern. See more 8″ doll patterns here.

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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!

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Make it Monday: Valentine’s Day Inspiration

I fell in love (ha ha, see what I did there?) with this Valentine fabric bundle I purchased from the ad: FAT QUARTER SHOP. They have the best selection of bundles and I purchase nearly all of my fabric online. Their selection varies from year to year, so this particular one might not be available, but this is a similar one HERE. Look for bundles that have a few different colors and then mix and match to your heart’s content. (Ha ha! Okay, okay, I’ll see myself out.)

Courtney’s lovely Valentine Skirt was made with the Twinkle Twirl Skirt PDF pattern. The pattern is quick to sew and you can choose fabrics and trims.

Valentines Day Doll Clothes- Fun Fabrics!

Kira’s simple skirt was made with a striped type print which was in the same fat quarter bundle as the prints on Courtney’s skirt above. It’s a quick sew when you use the Everything Nice overskirt pattern. Find it in the Sugar n Spice pattern bundle.

Mix and match a Fat Quarter Fabric Bundle

Grace’s Party Time Peasant Dress also came from the fat quarter bundle. I purchase premade gingham bias trim for the fun hem. See THIS POST for long sleeve instructions for this quick to sew dress.

Have a little fun mixing and matching fabrics you love! Oh Sew Kat! PDF sewing patterns for doll were made for it! Kendall is wearing the Twinkle Twirl Skirt. Purchase one pattern and get five doll sizes included!

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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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Easy Fleece Scarf for 18″ Dolls Tutorial

Try this fast and easy doll craft today! Use strips of fleece or flannel to make your doll a cozy scarf or fall and winter fashion accessory. Choose contrasting colors, your team or school colors, or red and green for the holidays.

Fast Fashion for Dolls: Make a Cozy Scarf

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Fringe Doll Scarf Tutorial Instructions:

1. Choose two fabrics. You can use fleece or flannel. For Fleece: Cut a strip measuring 2 inches x 20 inches from each fabric. For Flannel: Cut a strip measuring 1.5 x 20 inches from each fabric.
2. With wrong sides together, stitch the strips together right down the middle of the strips. Fleece can be stretchy, so use clips or pins to hold it if needed. Trim any parts of your scarf that don’t line up, including the ends.
3. Use sharp scissors to cut “fringe” up close to your sewing line but be careful not to cut through it. You don’t need to measure this, just clip it every quarter inch or so the full length, both sides. The thinner the better, especially for the flannel fabric.
4. Fluff up your scarf! Twist it around your finger or use your iron to press the fringe layers apart so you see a nice mix of both fabrics.

You can trim your scarf to your liking if you think it’s a little long. Lanie likes to wear her scarves as a fashion statement to add pops of color to a simple outfit of the Jumping Jack turtleneck shirt with a Sixth Grade Skirt and boots. You can find both patterns in the Oh Sew Kat! pattern shop here.

Fleece Fringe Scarf for Dolls- Easy Craft Tutorial

Mix it up a bit by making your strips longer or wider— try using 3 or 4 layers for a fluffier scarf!! Cut strips 8 inches by 36 or more inches and make a matching one for your girl!

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Click the photos below to find more, easy doll crafts from Oh Sew Kat!