Is the Easter Bunny headed to your house soon? Dress up her dolls with pretty new dresses for the big day. Oh Sew Kat! offers doll dress sewing patterns in popular doll sizes and you can sew one up in just an afternoon!
Easy Easter Dresses for Dolls: Oh Sew Kat! Sewing Patterns
How about a free skirt pattern? The Four Season Skirt is FREE in 3 sizes. Click HERE to get yours. This skirt is quick and simple and will give your dolly that perfect outfit for hunting Easter eggs.
The Spring Shine dress has pretty flutter sleeves and can be made with or without the button placket. Use your fun prints like these rainbow unicorns (above) or unicorns and castles (below).
Sewing Easter Dresses for American Girl sized Dolls
The Sugar n Spice dress is perfect for Easter and every other occasion. Visit the Inspiration Gallery to see the many ways to sew this fun pattern. The Sugar n Spice pattern is now available for 15 inch baby dolls too! Find the pattern HERE.
The Bloomer Buddies pattern also has a dress option (with or without sleeves) that can be a fancy dress as well, such as Willa’s ruffled dress (Photo by Shirley F.). Find the pattern HERE.
And finally, the newest dress pattern from OhSewKat!- the Summertime Stroll- is perfect ofr your spring dresses too! Find the pattern HERE.
Pretty Spring Dresses to DIY for your Dolls
Be sure to visit the Easter Inspiration Gallery for more ideas for your dolly dresses. Visit OhSewKat on Etsy to find these patters, plus many more, including the BEST DRESSED Bundle to save 15% on three dress patterns.
For a long, long time, I always passed by the batik sections of my favorite fabric stores. My mother, on the other hand, used more batiks than any other fabrics in all of her quilts. When she passed away, I picked through her collection and came home with some very pretty pieces of fabric. I also purchase batiks online at the Fat Quarter Shop (Like these from the Batik Club AD: Batik Clubs).
This rosy batik looked so different each time I used it. I think I’ve made four different items. These two were both made from the School Bell Blouse pattern. Grace is wearing the top, and Kendall is wearing the Dress Hack. Both have added crystals instead of buttons for some extra shine.
There are so many pretty batiks in bright fall colors and with leaf pattern designs.
These fall batiks had lots of swirling colors- each item made from it can take on a completely different look. Both dresses (photo above and below) were made with the Sugar N Spice Dress for 18 inch dolls. See more info in THIS POST.
Try a few fabrics from the batik section of your fabric store or at the Fat Quarter Shop at this AD: LINK and make the magic happen in your doll clothes sewing too!
Snuggle in and Snuggle up! Fall is on its way and your dolls need new, snuggly nightgowns! Use the simple to sew Playtime Peasant Top PDF Sewing Pattern and a few tweaks to make your perfect doll nightgown in six popular doll sizes.
Make Easy Nightgowns for Your American Girl Dolls
You can make your nightgowns look exactly as you choose. Make the dress shorter and the ruffle longer. Or make the dress long with a short ruffle or just lace at the hem The choice is yours. I made at least one nightgown in each size, so I offer the “starting points” for you. Use them to create your perfect, cozy nightgown for dolls.
This pattern hack requires the Playtime Peasant Top and Twirl Skirt Pattern. It’s available HERE in five popular doll sizes.
Directions for Playtime Peasant Top Nightgown with Ruffle (All Sizes)
Cut 2 long sleeves according to the pattern.
To give your gown more of a flair at the bottom, print a second bodice pattern piece. Fold it in half and tape it to the top, left corner of a new piece of paper.
Trace the armhole and extend that side edge nearly to the bottom of the page.
Measure your bodice addition (see below for exact measurement for your size doll) inches below the bottom hem of the pattern piece. Draw a new line, intersecting the side line and continuing on beyond it.
Measure your width addition (see below for exact measurement for your size doll) from the side line, and make a dot. Connect the dot to the armhole as your new side edge. Cut out your new pattern piece and remove the original bodice piece. Mark the long edge as the center fold. Label your new piece and keep it for next time. Cut 2 of these new pieces, on the fold of fabric, one for the front and one for the back.
Cut ruffle to measurements as desired, or listed below.
For Ruffle: Zig zag or serge one long edge, press up 1/4th inch and hem. Gather the top (raw) long edge.
Assemble the pattern per the instructions, adding the ruffle in place of a hem in Step 11. Optional: Topstitch the ruffle after attaching it.
You really can’t go wrong with how long you make your gown or your ruffle. Below you will find my “starting point” for each size doll. Feel free to experiment and have fun with your own Playtime Peasant Top Nightgown!
Both Lengths: Use pattern labelled Dress Length for bodice
Mid Calf Ruffle: 3 x 24 inches
Full Length Ruffle: 4.5 x 24 inches
8″ Caring for Baby Doll
Add one inch to bodice front and back hem, and create the side lines about 1/th wider than the slant they are on.
Ruffle: 1.25 by 14 inches
Use the Playtime Peasant Top PDF Sewing Pattern from Oh Sew Kat! To make a Holiday Nightgown
Find the PDF Sewing Pattern HERE. Change up your fabric for the perfect (and quick!) Holiday Nightgown for Dolls. I love the 70s vibe of this plaid fabric. It looks so great on Julie too. Find more ideas for Julie’s wardrobe HERE.
Use the Easy UP! Jumper PDF Sewing Pattern for Cute Back to School outfits for Dolls
Maryellen is ready to hit the books in her Easy Up! Jumper and black turtleneck (made with the Jumping Jack pattern). This pull on style jumper can also be made reversible for two looks in one. Find the pattern HERE. See more ideas for this simple PDF Sewing Pattern here and here. It’s available in 3 doll sizes.
Make a quick headband or belt accessory for your 18″ Doll with this easy tutorial.
Have you used fold over elastic before? Don’t you just love it? With so many colors and designs to choose from, it’s a go to trim for doll clothes, especially tees, panties, and swimsuits. The edges don’t ravel, and when folded in half along its center line, it makes a nice border trim for your project that is so easy to use. It’s featured in my Simple Sweet Tee pattern as an easy way to handle knit fabric edges for beginners.
Make a quick and easy doll headband and belt with fold over elastic.
Fold over elastic, available in colors and patterns, is the perfect, easy to use trim for doll clothes. Try it on hems and necklines, as belts, headbands, and straps! I use fold over elastic on a lot of different types of doll outfits as you can see below. I use it often as straps for the Easy Up Jumper or the Backyard Bibs to speed up my cutting and sewing and still offer a nice part of the design element.
The gray striped straps on this (below) bunny jumper is actually fold over elastic, (not folded) and because the Easy UP! Jumper straps are elastic anyways, using FOE is a great shortcut without sacrificing style! Click HERE to see more photos of this dress and to find a direct link to purchase the pattern.
Make an 18 inch doll headband in less than 10 minutes:
The greatest use I’ve found for FOE (Fold over elastic) is a quick and easy headband for your doll. The best news is that it also fits as a belt, so it’s a perfect two for one project that will take 10 minutes or less! Because it’s elastic, it’s easy to put on and take off the doll, yet still stays snugly to the doll’s head and waist. Use different widths, colors, and patterns, and add flowers, buckles, or fun buttons. You will find fold over elastic is also very inexpensive!
Doll Headband (Belt) Tutorial:
Choose your FOE (fold over elastic)- find it in your local craft store, on etsy, or even Amazon like this assortment: AD: FOE ON AMAZON. I like 5/8th inch wide, which is a pretty easy to find size.
Cut your elastic to 10 1/2 inches for an 18 inch doll or for Bitty Baby. For Wellie Wishers and Glitter Girls use 8 inches. For other size dolls, measure the size of their heads, and also their waist. Use the average of the two measurements, because the elastic will stretch. Try it before you sew if you are unsure.
If you want to add any sort of a slide buckle, put that on now, ensuring the front of the buckle and the front of the elastic are facing the same direction.
Over lap your elastic ends by 1/2 inch, being sure the elastic is not twisted. Stitch over the lapped edges, by forming a square, then sew an X in the middle. This will keep it nice and secure.
Leave it plain or decorate your elastic with a flower or button and put it on your doll as a headband or a belt! Make them in every color!
Easy doll accessories to make- Headband and Belt Elastic Craft
The elastic I used for Nicki’s belt below, already had the sparkly stones on it, so it’s not technically fold over elastic, but it’s about the same width and certainly works the same way. Can’t find any that sparkle? Use some strong glue and add your own sparkle! See the tutorial to make this Playtime Peasant dress HERE.
Follow these simple steps to make your own Fold Over Elastic headbands and belts for all of your dolls. You will love having a small basket of these easy accessories ready to go as you mix and match new doll outfits.
Add a belt to the simple SUNSHINE Dress for a whole new outfit.
The Simple Sweet Tee pattern was designed around using fold over elastic to create a pretty contrast trimmed edge on the neckline, sleeves, and hem, but it also makes sewing knits a little easier for beginners to learn. Find the pattern HERE.
Find more tutorials for your dolls HERE and be sure to visit the Inspiration Gallery to see ideas for the entire line of Oh Sew Kat! line of PDF sewing patterns.
Sewing for Melody Ellison? Try these twists on patterns from Oh Sew Kat! to make a 60s inspired outfit for your doll. Find all of these patterns in my Etsy Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/ohsewkat.
Make 60s inspired doll clothes with Sewing Patterns by Oh Sew Kat!
Last month, Oh Sew Kat! featured the Sunshine Dress Sewing Pattern all month long. As the Pattern Pick of the Month, it was on sale for the 1st five days and we posted lots of samples, ideas, and more all month long. Stay tuned to the newsletter to see when we offer a Pattern Pick of the Month so you can join in the fun.
Sew a Sunshine Doll Dress for your 18 inch doll like American Girl.
The Sunshine Dress sewing pattern is a simple to sew A Line dress with three variations for the front. Make it with a straight contrast, pretty princess seams, or leave the front as one solid piece (easier and quick to sew) and embellish with machine embroidery, iron on designs, or trims and appliques. The short sleeves are perfect for summer…or make a sleeveless shift with THIS TUTORIAL. The Sunshine Dress is available in 3 popular doll sizes.
Make a doll dress for your 18 inch doll with the easy to sew, Sunshine Dress Sewing Pattern
I bought a bundle of these ombre fabrics with metallic gold dots awhile back. The Sunshine Dress is the perfect canvas to give the light to dark a chance to shine. The turquoise color matches Saige’s eyes perfectly! The fabric is part of the Ombre Confetti Collection by Vanessa Christenson for Moda Fabrics.
Need an easy to sew pattern? Try the Oh Sew Kat! Sunshine Dress
See more ideas for the Sunshine Dress HERE, HERE, and HERE. Don’t forget to stop by the Inspiration Gallery! The Sunshine Dress is a simple dress that looks different every time you sew~ mix and match the front panels to create a dress as unique as your doll!
Your Melody doll will feel groovy in a swing dress you made yourself with the Oh Sew Kat! School Bell Blouse pattern.
When you are fabric shopping, keep your eyes open for small scale prints that look retro. For Melody’s dress, I found this cotton fabric in a quilt store. I had no idea what I would make at the time, but I knew it would be perfect for Melody. Doesn’t she look great in this color?
Here are some pins on my Melody board on Pinterest that I used for inspiration. Don’t forget to follow me while you are there! This white dress for ladies , this Barbie sized pattern, and this blue and red dresses all have the same wide sleeves, a-line look, and even the front pleat.
This the pattern I used: The School Bell Blouse. It has two styles of blouses to make for your doll and comes in three sizes (Animators, 18 inch and Wellie Wishers). Click HERE and HERE for the tutorials to make this pattern into two cute dresses.
These cute little bows were the perfect color to accent the pleats in the front and sleeves of the dress.
Be sure to share your 60s dresses you make for Melody or any of her friends with hashtag ohsewkat.
Hearts are in the air! Here at Oh Sew Kat!, our dolls are decked out for heart day with doll clothing made from print at home PDF sewing patterns. Today’s photos feature the Four Season Skirt, a free pattern for your 18 inch doll (like American Girl® and Our Generation® dolls), your 14.5 inch doll (like Wellie Wishers™ and Glitter Girls®) and for 16 inch dolls like Animators’ by Disney (available online and at the Disney Store.)
Nicki is wearing her Four Season Skirt with a simple, red turtleneck made from the Jumping Jack pattern (also by Oh Sew Kat!). Make a simple necklace for your doll with chains and charms from the jewelry department of your favorite craft store.
Isn’t Willa cute in her sister look? Both the Four Season Skirt and Jumping Jack patterns are available sized for smaller dolls too.
Try the free doll skirt PDF sewing pattern from Oh Sew Kat!
I used my cricut maker machine to add a sparkle heart to the front. It’s quick and easy to decorate doll tee shirts- check out this simple TUTORIAL. Interested in cricut products and learning more? Check out their website here: AD: cricut.com.
Make a skirt for your 18 inch doll with the easy, free Four Season Skirt pattern
Which dolls have your heart? I know they would just love a pretty Valentine themed skirt that you made with your own loving hands. Happy Valentine’s Day from our dolls’ home to yours!
Don’t you love making special doll clothes for the girls in your life with the easy PDF sewing patterns from Oh Sew Kat! The easy to follow photo instructions are designed to help even the novice sewist have a successful time. In many of my more recent patterns, I’ve started to include some ideas and simple instructions for variations on the patterns. You can “Step them Up” or “Step them Down” to your heart’s content. Read below to see five of my favorite (and most popular to date!) pattern hacks. Click on the photo to go right to the tutorial of Kat’s favorite pattern hacks.
Find all these patterns, plus many more in 5 popular doll sizes in my Etsy Shop or other places Oh Sew Kat! patterns are sold.
Take a new twist on Oh Sew Kat! PDF sewing patterns with these favorite pattern hacks.
Tee shirt Dress tutorial: Make a cute, tee shirt dress from the Simple, Sweet Tee Shirt pattern. Works for any size doll. Find the pattern in 4 popular doll sizes here.
Pumpkin jumper: The classic Boardwalk Boutique pattern doesn’t have to be put away when the weather gets cooler. Use it as a base to make cute holiday themed outfits as well as summer play clothes. A little orange fabric and an iron on pumpkin face took this simple halter top to a cute jumper for fall. Layer it over a Playtime Peasant Top or a Jumping Jack Turtleneck!
Easy to sew Pattern Hacks for 18 inch and other sized doll clothes.
Find all these patterns, plus many more in 5 popular doll sizes in my Etsy Shop or other places Oh Sew Kat! patterns are sold. See more pattern hacks and tutorials HERE.
Oh Sew Kat! 