Make a 1930s A Line Feedsack Dress for Kit with the School Bell Blouse Pattern

DIY Feedsack Dresses for American Girl® Dolls

Kit and Ruthie

Use the Oh Sew Kat! School Bell Blouse PDF Sewing pattern to make cute, floral feedsack dresses for the Depression era American Girl® dolls, Kit and Ruthie.

Easy Feedsack 1930s Dresses for 18 inch Dolls like Kit and Ruthie

The School Bell Blouse is a simple pattern with a few special details. It’s designed to make two different styles of cotton blouses. In THIS TUTORIAL, I explain how easy it is to make the blouse into a cute dress!! Choose vintage 30s fabric or soft florals to give your dress a 30s vibe.

Add a few buttons, crystals, or even a tab of fabric at the neckline!

• It’s easy to add a collar or neck tab to your feedsack dress. Looking through pinterest, it seems geometrics were popular and pretty much anything goes. I just cut mine free hand and sewed it around the edge, flipped it and pressed it. I added some topstitching and basted it in place before sewing the dress to the lining. You could also try lace, ribbon or trims. Just remember to add an extra 1/4th inch to the top for the seam allowance.

Kat’s Tip: If the tab doesn’t lay flat after pressing your dress, you can top stitch over it, or add a little bit of iron on hem tape underneath to tack it down to the dress.

School Bell Blouse Pattern Hack: Make a Depression Era A Line Dress for your 18 inch American Girl Dolls

See how to make more historical fashions for dolls using Oh Sew Kat! patterns in the Inspiration Gallery HERE.

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Sewing 50s Fashions for Dolls

Sew your 18″ American Girl® doll some fun fashions for the 50s with easy Oh Sew Kat! patterns.

Visit the Oh Sew Kat! 50s Inspiration Gallery for ideas and links to sew the Oh Sew Kat! patterns with a fun, 50s flair. Your Maryellen Larkin™ doll with love fabulous fifties 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: Gingerbread Outfit for Your Doll

Use the simple to sew Boardwalk Boutique sewing pattern to create a one of a kind gingerbread themed outfit for your doll. This outfit can be made in less than an afternoon; it really is that easy! The only change I made to the pattern was to sew on the front frosting (ric rac) before I assembled the top.

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Easy DIY Gingerbread outfit for 18 inch dolls

Riley has her Boardwalk Boutique halter top over a Playtime Peasant Top. Look through your laces and trims to find the perfect “cookie” decorations. Find the pattern in four doll sizes HERE.

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I used dollar store socks to make her “tights”.

This outfit also looks cute when you add a turtleneck shirt underneath (included with the Jumping Jack pattern) to complete the look!

See more holiday themed doll outfits HERE, HERE, and HERE.

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Make it Monday: Bloomer Buddies Blue Gingham Sundress

I actually found this dress, half made, in a buried pile of things on my sewing table. I’ve been reorganizing and clearing out like crazy and uncovered quite a few “works in progress”. This one had the ric rac already on it, and all that was left was the side seams and the hem. I decided to add a ruffle to the hem- and snapped a few pics of Emily in it. Enjoy!!

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Purchase the Bloomer Buddies pattern HERE and see more ideas in the Inspiration Gallery.

What cuteness have you sewn with the Bloomer Buddies pattern?

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Step it Up Series: Eloise Outfit for Dolls

Make an Eloise Inspired Outfit for your 18 inch Doll

The Sugar n Spice and Everything Nice patterns are mostly sold as one pattern or bundle. The 18 inch size was only created as one version, but both the 16 inch Animator and 14 inch Welliewisher™ sizes can be purchased as the Sugar n Spice dress pattern, the Everything Nice accessories pattern, or as the Sugar n Spice Everything Nice pattern bundle. Find them all in my Etsy Shop.

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To make the black suspender skirt, an iconic look for Miss Eloise, I used the overskirt pattern, found in the Everything Nice accessories pattern. You might want to make it more full than the pattern calls for, but this basic, open back gathered skirt has a nice waistband. My fabric was 29 inches long, so that is what I used. I also took off 1 inch from the hem. Instead of a regular gathered skirt (which will still look very cute!) I pleated my fabric every 3/8th inch or so (I did not measure) and it fit perfectly to my waistband. If you choose to do this, I recommend cutting your skirt piece longer than you need and trimming to fit just in case.

18 inch doll sewing pattern for an Eloise inspired Suspender Skirt

Once you attach the skirt to the waistband, try it on your doll and mark or pin the strap placement. Pin the straps in place inside the skirt (front and back, being careful not to let them twist). On the front, sew a few stitches to secure the straps right in the center of the waistband. On the back, consider hiding your stitches in the hook and loop tape area or the topstitching. Sew the buttons to the front of the waistband where the straps meet the skirt, covering the stitches that attached the straps. For this outfit, I used 9.5 inches of black Fold over elastic for my straps. If using fabric, cut two pieces, 11 x 1.25 inches, folding in each long edge to the center and stitching in place.

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Easy doll Costume: Eloise inspired Suspender Skirt

I chose a Playtime Peasant Top for my Eloise costume because all the photos of her seem to have a baggy, almost untucked look to the front of her shirt. Even though it doesn’t have a collar, it still created the look I was after. You could easily add a collar to the bodice of the Sugar n Spice dress and make it into a blouse. You could also use the school blouse pattern from the Pleasant Company Molly’s Pretty Clothes patterns. You can find those at a site called AG Playthings. White knee socks and black mary jane style shoes can be found at American Girl®. See this POST for more doll shoe sources.

Add a bright read headband with this easy TUTORIAL and she’s ready for tea at the Plaza! Find Eloise stories on Ad: Amazon. See more pattern hacks and ideas for the Sugar n Spice dress HERE and HERE.

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Make it Monday: Twinkle Twirl Skirt for Halloween

The Twinkle Twirl Skirt pattern is a great choice to use up those fun mix and match holiday prints to give your doll a boutique ruffle skirt! For this Halloween 18 inch doll skirt, I actually used 9 5 inch squares (Quilting fabric precuts are sold in set sizes- a charm pack is usually 20-40 5 inch squares. Imagine how many skirts that can make!! Find a large selection at my favorite online fabric store: Ad: the Fat Quarter Shop!

DIY 18 inch Doll Twinkle Twirl Skirt for Halloween

In these photos, Joss is wearing her Twinkle Twirl with a Jumping Jack knit turtleneck shirt. You can find that pattern (also from OhSewKat) here.

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I searched through my drawers for fun bias trim. I purchased this one a year or so ago, and realized that the bias tape still opens, but has a crochet trim on one edge. I attached it the usual way for this cute hem! Find the Twinkle Twirl Pattern in my Etsy shop. Five different sizes are in one pattern! See more ideas to stitch it up in the Inspiration Gallery.

Make a fun twirl skirt for your doll’s Halloween party

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Pin it for later!!

Tester Tuesday: Twinkle Twirl Skirt Sewing Pattern for Dolls

Before I publish a new pattern, I send it out to my amazing team of Oh Sew Kat! testers. I love to get their feedback and see what they come up with. Here are a few photos from some of the test outfits of the new Twinkle Twirl Skirt pattern. You can find it in my Etsy Shop with five sizes included in one pattern! Be sure to notice all the different tops you can use with this skirt. Patterns are all by Oh Sew Kat and found on etsy.

Twinkle Twirl Skirts for Dolls in 5 Sizes by OhSewKat.

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Leah’s outfit, made by Michele, has a western flair. The sunny colors are perfect on her. Her top is made with just the bodice of the Spring Shine Dress pattern. Michele is very talented, no matter what doll size she is sewing for! All of her Twinkle Twirl Skirts are just darling!

Be inspired by the OhSewKat testers and the Twinkle Twirl Skirt Sewing Pattern.

Shh. Baby is sleeping! Magz not only stitched up an adorable Twinkle Twirl Skirt in the 15 inch baby size, but she sent over the cutest photographs! I love the pop of green with the black accents on this skirt. Her top is made with the Simple Sweet Tee Shirt pattern.

Does your Bitty Baby™ need some bloomers under her dress? Click HERE to get a free PDF Sewing Pattern for Basic Baby Bloomers by Oh Sew Kat!

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Kathy’s cute Twinkle Twirl Skirt has a primary colors school theme. Her Popsicle Top is reversible for two outfits in one! Kathy made her own bias tape to match the ruffle on her skirt. There are so many options for you to try!

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Use the Twinkle Twirl Skirt Sewing Pattern to create a variety of styles for your dolls.

Kathy N made this darling outfit. She added the Playtime Peasant Top to match her doll ruffled skirt. So sweet. Find both patterns in my Etsy Shop!

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Michele added a patriotic theme to her test outfits. Aren’t these darling? Willa has a Picnic Play top with her Twinkle Twirl Skirt with hem ruffle and Kendall is wearing a top made with just the bodice of the Spring Shine Dress with her simple patchwork skirt. These girls are ready for a hoe down! Visit the inspiration gallery to see more ideas with this simple to sew pattern.

Find the Twinkle Twirl Skirt Pattern (with 3 styles and 5 sizes in one pattern) in the OhSewKat Etsy Shop.

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Four Season Skirt Pattern Hack: Make a Bubble Skirt

Courtney Moore,™ the newest BeForever character from American Girl® is a true 80s girl. With hair scrunchies, boxy clothes and bubble skirts- you can create similar looks with PDF sewing patterns you may already have!

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It’s pretty simple to make a basic bubble skirt for your doll. You can start with the free Four Season Skirt pattern from Oh Sew Kat!

FREE SKIRT PATTERN FOR DOLLS (3 SIZES)

You will want to choose a fabric that has some “drape”. That means it softly hangs. Stiff cottons and wovens might not be the best choice. The Four Season Skirt pattern doesn’t have pattern pieces since it’s just too basic rectangles. Cut your waistband as the pattern directs. For the skirt part, you will still have the same length (the long way that goes around the doll), but you will want to double the width of your rectangle (the short way- from the waist to the hem.)

Press your fabric well before you start. Fold your skirt piece in half the long way, with wrong sides together. Baste the raw edges together to hold them in place, and gather as the pattern directs. Do not press the folded edge (which is the hem).

Make a reversible top to match Courtney’s skirt with the easy Picnic Play pattern and this Tutorial. Find more PDF sewing patterns for dolls in 5 sizes in the Oh Sew Kat Etsy Shop, and visit my new Courtney Inspiration Gallery page.

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See more about the Mix and Match Wardrobe I made for Courtney in THIS POST.

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Click the photos below to see more ideas and pattern hacks for the Free Four Season Skirt pattern.

Sew a Halloween Costume for Your American Girl Doll

Make a Halloween Outfit for your Doll this Fall.

Make Halloween Decorations for Your Dolls

Make it Monday: Twinkle Twirl Halloween Patchwork Skirt

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Make it Monday: Boardwalk Boutique

There are so many ways to sew the Boardwalk Boutique pattern! No matter your doll size, it’s the perfect outfit for summer fun!

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Boardwalk Boutique PDF Sewing Pattern for Dolls

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Find the Boardwalk Boutique pattern for 18 inch dolls HERE.

Fashion Feature: Add Pockets to Your Doll Clothes

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.

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It’s easy to add pockets to doll clothes sewing

Enjoy these outfits that POP with the addition of pockets.

Backyard Bibs

Bloomer Buddies

Sandbox Shorts

Bloomer Buddies

Sixth Grade Skirt

Backyard Bibs

Make your own doll clothes with fun pocket accents.

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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 Play

Backyard Bibs

Backyard Bibs

Easy Up Jumper

Easy. Up Jumper

Backyard Bibs

Backyard Bibs

Backyard Bibs

Easy Up Jumper

HalterAlls

What outfit will you add cute pockets to?

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