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.
The Spring Shine Dress for 14.5 inch dolls sewing pattern was released last Friday. Have you seen it yet? I’d like to thank my amazing pattern testers who always create such adorable outfits, while providing me the feedback needed to make sure the pattern is ready for you. Today’s post features some of these dresses and outfits. Be sure to visit the Inspiration Gallery to see more ways to sew the new Spring Shine Dress pattern for 14.5 inch dolls.
Purchase the Spring Shine Dress for 14.5 inch dolls HERE.
This pattern is also available for 18 inch dolls HERE.
The Spring Shine Dress PDF sewing pattern is now available for your smaller dolls- like Wellie Wisher and Glitter Girls.
Michele made this purple and lace Spring Shine dress for her Wellie Wishers doll, Kendal. The layers and pop of color are just perfection!! Don’t be afraid to use this simple pattern with new fabrics or trims to create something really special. I just love the little flowers at the waistband- so well done! Michele made the “Step it down” simplified version without the center placket.
Make a flutter sleeve Spring Shine Dress for your 14.5 inch Dolls
Shirley of DollClothesbyShirley was inspired by a random remnant of embroidered denim she had on hand. Her Spring Shine Dress is a beautiful example of how you can take this pattern, and truly make it your own creation. The pattern is just the starting place! Stop by Shirley’s shop and see what she has listed for sale.
The Spring Shine Dress pattern is perfect for a playtime top too!
Mireille created this cute green and blue outfit for Willa. She made in in Oh Sew Kat! colors!! The Bloomer Buddies pattern adds a playful (and quick) option to go with the top.
The Spring Shine Dress PDF Sewing Pattern for 14.5 inch dolls is now available from Oh Sew Kat!
Linda used a soft batik fabric which really lets the design elements of the Spring Shine Dress stand out. The front placket is easy to make with just two steps and you can add buttons or sparkles to the front “just for show” as the dress closes in the back.
Make a pretty flutter sleeve sundress for your Wellie Wishers and similar sized dolls with this easy pattern.
Julie of SewDolledUp81 added a pretty, gathered ruffle to the bottom of her Spring Shine Dress. Such a perfect compliment to the yellow sleeves and ric rac trim. Kendall looks ready for a summer party! Stop by Julie’s shop to see if this cute dress is still for sale. Or buy the pattern HERE and make it yourself. 🙂
Are your girls and your dolls into superheros? The Backyard Bibs is an easy pattern to alter to fit lots of fun themes. Today I’m sharing one with you… I often share sneak peeks on my facebook and instagram pages. Be sure to check them out and follow both so you don’t miss a thing. Enjoy these Captain America inspired photos.
Make your doll a Captain America dress with the easy Backyard Bibs sewing pattern.
No time to sew it now? Be sure to PIN these images so you can find them later!
Available in five popular doll sizes, the Backyard Bibs is quick to sew with four fun options (two skirts and two pants!).
Captain America themed dress for your 18 inch doll – made with the simple Backyard Bibs pattern by Oh Sew Kat!
I used red, white, and navy blue heat transfer vinyl to iron on the logo on the front of the dress, after cutting it out on my cricut machine. See more information in this POST. The white top under the bibs is made from the Playtime Peasant Top. Find it bundled with the Backyard Bibs HERE. You can use any of the 5 sizes of Backyard Bibs patterns to make fun outfits like this one!
A new year is here!! It’s time to clean up the sewing area and start brainstorming projects for 2019. Before I dive into another fresh year of sewing, I like to share my annual 5 latest “must have” tools and notions for doll clothes sewing (or any sewing really!) These simple tools can make sewing smaller doll clothes a little easier and you can find all of them on Amazon. Click here to see my list from last year, and here to see my list from 2017.
My annual list of best notions and tools for sewing doll clothes.
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small compensation. See my full disclosure policy HERE.
This brand new tool, made by Patty Young, is a game changer for doll clothes. I LOVE THIS TOOL. In a facebook group one day, Patty asked what tools we would like to see made that had her fabric designs on them. I suggested a gripping, foreceps type of tool and she not only picked my idea, she sent me one when it was actually produced about a year later! This handy tool is well worth the wait, and also the price tag (about $12). You will use it for all sorts of things- mostly to pull that slipped elastic back out of the casing, or to turn a tiny doll bodice right side out after you sew it together with just one little pull.
This little tiny iron really packs some punch for the price. It gets super hot, has a steam option, and doesn’t turn off by itself (which is an advantage and disadvantage for sure!). I first used one at a sewing retreat a few years back. We plugged it in and left it on all week long. Lightweight and tiny, it got the job done and is a perfect companion to your doll clothes sewing tools. I think the difference from some others on the market is that it’s a travel iron not a craft iron.
Everyone needs a pair of nice, sharp, high quality fabric scissors. You know the ones- the ones that you lock up yourself each night or threaten bodily harm to anyone found using them for anything other than fabric? I started using KAI scissors with my paper crafting. Strong and sharp, I found a pair that was a bit shorter and they are my go to for all of my fabric cutting. I own three pairs!
I know I’ve mentioned this little gadget before, but yes, this year, my ruffler foot is on my top five list. It’s just so quick to gather up a doll skirt (like 15 seconds quick!) that is really pays for itself over and over. I’ve kept a spreadsheet of some of my common skirt length settings (to make the skirt match up with the bodice for example) so I don’t have to figure it out each time. This foot is also great for the popular ruffled sleeves too, and makes putting a ruffle on a full skirt a breeze! Be sure to get the one that is correct for your specific sewing machine make and model.
I believe I have an omnigrid ruler in every size they make- from 1 x6 all the way up to 24 x 24 inches. However, even with multiple rulers right at my finger tips, this 4×8 inch one is the perfect size for so many of my doll clothes needs. It’s easy to use to extend a pattern (make pants from shorts, or long sleeves from short sleeves for example) or for cutting straps, waistbands, and skirts with my rotary cutter. Keep this handy ruler right next to your work area.
So there’s my Favorite Five for 2019. Use these few tools to make sewing your doll clothes a little easier and a little more fun. We’re going to have a great sewing year ahead, stop by again soon! Check out my other lists by clicking the photos below.
Happy Fall Y’All. Do your dolls need some warmer weather clothes? Get creative with your doll outfits and read on for some pumpkin spice inspiration with just one basic, print pinafore. Think outside the box and mix and match the pieces in your doll’s wardrobe to create a different vibe!
Make a fall outfit for your 18 inch American Girl doll with easy sewing patterns from Oh Sew Kat!
I made this Halloween themed Sugar n Spice pinafore from this fun fabric late last Fall. I never even took any photos of it. I pulled it out today, and had some fun dressing different dolls in it to see what kind of looks I could create.
Halloween Doll Clothes- make one pinafore and dress it up so many different ways.
First up is Nicki. Nicki is wearing the Playtime Peasant Top with 3/4th sleeves and some fun, slouchy front black boots. (Side note/ Public Service Announcement: These boots left black marks on my Grace’s legs last year when I left her in them for a few weeks. They have been moved to the “photograph and remove pile” in my dollhouse! ) I also tried it with some fun AG candy corn tights and black Ugg boots.
See more posts about the Sugar n Spice Pattern here, here, and here. And don’t miss this PATTERN HACK to make it into a cute peplum top!
Sugar and Spice is Twice as Nice when sewing for Pumpkin Spice
Next up is Kelly. She is wearing the same pinafore, over a Jumping Jack turtleneck shirt. With a pair of black leggings (made by American Girl) and her “chucks”, she’s ready for a fun, fall afternoon. Or pair the pinafore with knee socks and mary jane shoes for a perfect Halloween party dress outfit.
Classic dress looks for fall- Try a simple dress with Halloween Print pinafore
Finally, Luciana is wearing the full Sugar n Spice ensemble. The Halloween pinafore over a yellow Sugar n Spice dress to help the colors pop! When you purchase the Sugar n Spice pattern, you get the patterns for the dress, the pinafore, and 5 “dress up” accessories to really let your creativity shine! Find the pattern HERE.
With one dress, you have all kinds of options to create different doll outfits for hours of doll playing fun. The Sugar N Spice pattern is a basic pattern to fill your doll’s closet with pretty clothes! It’s also available sized for wellie wishers and disney animator dolls.
See more ways to use this basic and simple pattern HERE and HERE.
Check out THIS POST to see 6 different ways to use this same pattern.
Bring on the PUMPKIN SPICE!!! A brand New Sewing Pattern is now available- get your Wellie Wisher dolls ready for the cool, fall weather with this easy, pull on style jumper. Make it reversible and get two dresses in one!
It’s hard to believe that fall is just around the corner. The mornings are not quite crisp yet, but we know it’s coming soon. It’s time to shift from beaches and boardwalks to back to school, football, and fall colors! What better way to start than some pretty dresses for dolls! Be sure to pin the images so you can find them later! 🙂
Make Beautiful Fall Dresses for Dolls with Easy Sewing Patterns by Oh Sew Kat!
I used the Sugar n Spice pattern for both of these dresses. For the 18 inch sized dress, I added the placket for the buttons using this method here. You just have to remember to cut the front bodice differently (lining does not change).
I only made two dresses, one in each size. But I just love how this fabric looks so different depending on what doll wore it. Who do you think wore it best?
Fall Fashions for 18 inch Dolls- Beautiful in Batik!
It’s time to celebrate the red, white and blue here in the USA! Here are a few 4th of July inspired outfits made with Oh Sew Kat! patterns. Click on the photos to go right to the pattern.
The Sunshine Dress, with its three variations and classic A-line look can easily be adapted to look like it came from the 70s era with just a few minor tweaks to the pattern.
Make a 70s doll dress for your BeForever Julie Doll with this easy sewing pattern.
I used this photo from Pinterest for inspiration. Here’s another one. Based on the first photo, I am using View C, the princess seamed option, but I really think that any of these views can be easily adapted to create this daisy trimmed look. The second photo definitely looks like View B.
Start with the Sunshine Dress pattern. This pattern has had a recent update. Check your file and make sure that it says Copyright 2018 at the bottom of the front cover. If it doesn’t, you can find the updated version where you purchased the pattern, or contact me.
Raise the neckline by quite a bit- I used almost a half inch for the 18 inch size doll. Don’t forget the lining piece needs to match too!
Skip the top stitching after assembling the dress front. It would be covered by the trim. If you want your trim to disappear into the seam at the shoulders (and not go down the back), you need to add it over your seams before you stitch the front to the backs as I did here. If you want the trim to go over the shoulder and down the back, it will be attached after the dress front and back are joined but before you do the hem. I just attached mine to the front (to conserve my trim mostly). Add the daisy trim with transparent tape to ensure you have the look you want; you can follow the seam lines if you have them, but if you don’t, put the trim where you think it should go. Stitch in place. I used a machine and just carefully stitched down the center of my flowers. You can also add your trim by hand. If the trim was wider, or for a real girl and would be washed, I would put a row of stitching down each side to hold it securely.
Raise the hem by an inch or even more. Dresses for girls were short then too! (I usually do this after the dress is sewn together unless I’ve done it before and have a good measurement. Once the dress is done, it’s easy to (use a ruler) and trim off the right amount for right look for the era.) .
Optional: Add lace (again by hand?) around the neckline.
One final note. I do not profess that this pattern is historically accurate. I found an image on Pinterest and used my own pattern, which looks very similar. However, in the world of child’s play, “close enough” is usually enough to save you a few dollars at the American Girl Store if you have a young friend pleading for Julie Albright or items from her time period and collection. When my daughter was very young, and a new doll was released, I usually kept her focused on who she already had with just a few new doll dresses to fit the new era or theme. The one that comes to my mind is when Elizabeth Cole, Felicity Merriman’s best friend was released in a beautiful pink, ball gown. I was able to make and buy a few colonial dresses for my daughter’s Mia doll, and off we went to Williamsburg happy as can be. Elizabeth never did join our doll family by the way. 😉
Use the Sunshine Dress PDF sewing pattern by Oh Sew Kat! for BeForever Julie Dolls.
PLEASE NOTE: The Sunshine Dress has been updated since it was first published. The current version has Copyright 2018 on the bottom of the cover page. If you are unable to get the updated copy from where your purchased it, please contact me at ohsewkat@gmail.com with the details of where and when you purchased the pattern and I will get you the updated copy!
See other ways to make clothes for Julie here and here, and more ways to sew the Sunshine Dress here.
I love getting emails or seeing posts of the amazing outfits you all make with my patterns. I was blown away by these outfits that Michele Anderson sewed and shared. I hope you enjoy them too! I love the entire ensemble!!
Oh Sew Kat! 