There are so many ways to change up your sewing patterns to create your own unique doll clothes. One of my favorite fashion features is to add a pocket (or two) to a simple garment. Some of my patterns include pattern pieces to add a pocket (HalterAlls for example) but any square or circle scrap of fabric can work too.
My Oh Sew Kat! Testers love pockets too!! Michele is my pocket QUEEN! Pam, Sophie, and Shirley also add stunning accents to outfits with their pockets. Be inspired to try a few pockets on your next outfits.
Picnic PlayBackyard BibsBackyard BibsEasy Up JumperEasy. Up Jumper
Backyard BibsBackyard BibsBackyard BibsEasy Up JumperHalterAlls
The Easy Up! Jumper is quick to sew and makes a no closure jumper that pulls up over your doll’s feet. The technique is easy to follow, but sometimes you may prefer a dress that has a back closure for simple dressing. It’s simple to make the Easy Up! Jumper with a back closure instead. Start with the Easy Up! pattern for 18 inch or 14.5 inch Dolls. Find it in my Etsy Shop HERE.
Use this hack to make a summer beach jumper like Joss’s coral dress.
Easy Up! Jumper Pattern Hack for Dolls- Give it a back closure.
Cut out 1 front and 1 front lining according to the pattern directions.
Cut out your two back pieces, adding 1/2 inch to the edge marked FOLD on the pattern piece. Do not put it on a fold. (You can also print a second copy of your pattern, and add the 1/2 inch to your piece and cut it out that way.). Do the same for the back lining.
You now have 1 front, 1 front lining, 2 backs, and 2 back linings.
Because the jumper does not have to go on over the feet, you can opt to leave out the elastic straps if you like. I just folded mine and sewed them closed, using a 4 inch strap for 18 inch dolls and a 2.5 inch strap for the 14.5 inch dolls. (If making the elastic straps, follow the pattern).
Follow the pattern instructions to add lining, pleat triangles, and straps.
Kat’s Tip: Use a small safety pin to pin the back edges together while you attach the back straps. This will make it easier to ensure you get the jumper straps sewn in the right places, as it will now more closely look like the pattern instructions.
Press up your hem but do not sew it.
Serge or zig zag stitch your back edges, being sure to catch the lining. Fold in 1/2 inch and press (or turn under 1/4th, then 1/4th again). Add hook and loop tape.
Stitch your hem.
Make your Easy Up! Jumper with a back closure for easy dressing.
Isn’t this little birdie fabric so sweet for spring? I just love the fresh lilac and lavender colors. See more Easy Up! Jumper ideas here and here.
Simple to sew and fat quarter friendly, the Halteralls PDF sewing pattern from Oh Sew Kat! is a perfect beginner project. Use ribbon or fabric for the straps and add buttons, belts, or bows to create your own one of a kind summer romper for your 18 inch American Girl® doll.
Use the Halteralls Sewing Pattern to make a summer romper for your 18″ doll.
Quick and easy- the Halteralls pattern makes a great summer outfit for your doll.
Make a simple belt to complete your outfit. I use buckles found at the craft store in the scrapbook section. You can also use fold over elastic as seen in THIS TUTORIAL.
When your sew the super quick and easy Party Time Peasant Dress, you have two fun options for the skirt. You can make the skirt from one fabric, or choose three ruffles for even more fun! The Party Time Peasant Dress is perfect to make a rainbow!
The Party Time Peasant Dress pattern is perfect to make a doll Rainbow Dress.
Nellie’s dress was made by Koala-T. Find their clothes for sale on Facebook! Find the Party Time Peasant Dress PDF pattern in 5 popular doll sizes HERE.
See more ideas for the Party Time Peasant Dress pattern HERE and HERE and visit the Inspiration Gallery too!
May the 4th be with you!! Walmart tends to be hit and miss across most of the country with their fabric selections and sales, especially in light of the recent events. I found this Star Wars fat quarter bundle last summer and the tiny prints are perfect for your galactic doll friends!
Make an easy button up doll skirt with the Sugar n Spice Sewing Pattern
The Sugar n Spice and Everything Nice PDF sewing pattern from Oh Sew Kat! is a short sleeved, full skirted dress with fun accessories, including a pinafore, and an overskirt. See this post and this one for the full look. The overskirt pattern, when turned around, makes an adorable button up skirt on its own!
Find the Sugar n Spice Everything Nice sewing pattern in 3 sizes HERE. The overskirt, included as an accessory to the dress, is a quick skirt as a stand alone piece too! Pair your skirt with the Picnic Play reversible top (below), which is available HERE, or the Popsicle Top (above and also reversible) HERE.
You can certainly add real buttons and button holes to your skirt. I opted for hook and loop tape to keep my skirts easy for children’s little fingers. I added enough of the hook and loop tape to close the skirt up. I added the tape first, then sewed the buttons next to it. I folded the edge back in and stitched down next to the buttons so I didn’t have to sew the buttons on through the tape.
The Sugar n Spice/Everything Nice pattern shows the overskirt with the opening in the back, but it’s your choice. The skirt works great both ways- buttons in front or the back! See another example with a 50s/60s flair in THIS POST. Find the pattern HERE. Pair your skirt with the Picnic Play reversible (one piece!) top.
18 inch Doll Skirt Sewing Hack- Make a button front skirt
Now available: PICNIC PLAY, a new sewing pattern for Joss and her friends.
Picnic Play, the newest PDF Sewing Pattern for 18 inch dolls, is now available in my Etsy Shop. This quick to sew pattern is fat quarter friendly and so very easy and quick to sew!
This outfit, which includes a reversible, one piece top, cute pull on cuffed capri pants, and a simple cinch style back pack, was inspired by Joss, the 2020 Girl of the Year™ from American Girl®. Joss wears a hearing aid, and loves to surf. This outfit is perfect for her days by the shore…with a safe little pack to hold her hearing aid case while she it out on the water! The Picnic Pack includes two sizes and the reversible top can also be worn backwards!
Picnic Play- 3 piece Joss inspired PDF Sewing Pattern for 18 inch Dolls
Blaire is ready for spring! Her unicorn dress was made with the Spring Shine Dress pattern from Oh Sew Kat! Use the bodice lining piece as both the lining and the front and make the dress without the placket if you don’t want to interrupt the design of your fabric.
Use the Spring Shine Dress PDF sewing pattern to make a dress for your 18 inch doll.
Make the perfect 18 inch doll dress for spring with the Spring Shine Dress pattern.
Easter likely won’t be the same this year, with the COVID-19 pandemic, but I still wanted to share a pretty Easter dress I made for my dolls. I used the Sugar n Spice PDF Sewing pattern to make a cheery pink dress and the Everything Nice Accessories for the bunny overskirt.
Make an Easter Dress for your 18 inch Doll.
The Sugar n Spice dress sewing pattern has lots of mix and match options.
I like to use solid colors, or tone on tone prints for my Sugar n Spice dresses. Save the fancy, holiday fabrics for pinafores and quick to make overskirts.
Which comes first for you? The fabric or the pattern? Do you carefully select the garment you want to sew and then head to the fabric store or search your stash? Or do you finger a favorite fabric and then head to the pattern drawer, your computer files, or the internt to decide what that fabric will become?
Today I’m sharing two outfits that were inspired by this pretty fabric collection.
I do a lot of both. This golden fabric collection is called BEE JOYFUL by Deb Strain for Moda. I bought it in a local quilt shop, but you can still find it on Amazon here: Ad: Bee Joyful Fabric . I matched it with some Riley Blake black gingham accents. Once I made the Boardwalk Boutique outfit, I went back and made a Spring Shine Top to go with the pants to get two fun outfits!
Mix and match fun fabrics to create your own unique 18″ Doll Clothes.
Find the Boardwalk Boutique Pattern in 5 popular doll sizes HERE and the Spring Shine Dress Pattern in 4 sizes HERE. Who says you have to make just one? See more ideas for Blaire and her friends by clicking on the photo links below to visit each post.
