Now we have great doll clothes patterns for your special occasions. Your American Girl dolls will capture everyone’s attention at the nicest formal events wearing this lace dress and matching hat. This outfit is even special enough to wear to Prince William’s royal wedding …or to just watch it on TV.

Both dresses shown here can be made from this pattern.

This beautiful dress is designed to be made from a sheer lace fabric with an embroidered border placed at the hemline. The lining can be a contrasting color for Spring, like our model is wearing. Or, the dress can be made in white lace over a cream lining for a formal ceremony, like Confirmation.

Lace Dress for Special Occasions:

You can download this digital pattern and instructions right now! 
There are no shipping charges, because a paper pattern is not mailed to you. After clicking on the link and downloading the product to your computer, you can print out the instructions and pattern pieces on standard 8-1/2 X 11 paper.

Details of the lace hat with lined brim are shown below:

This doll clothes pattern includes detailed instructions and pattern pieces for making:

• the lace dress
• the lace hat with lined brim
• for an additional look, a second dress (shown below) can be made using only the lining pieces and bias binding
  

Shoes are not included.

$9.97

Dress Option 2

Technorati Tags: 18 Inch Doll, American Girl Dolls, Doll Accessories, Doll Accessory Patterns, Doll Clothes Patterns, Lace Dress, Special Occasions Dress

Who else wants more doll clothes patterns for your American Girl Dolls? These fringed, lace-up knee boots are included in this pattern and they totally rock.

The long hoodie is cut and sewn from fabric. It is NOT hand knit from yarn. So, you can easily make it in much less time. It also looks great made from fleece or a recycled sweatshirt.

Long Hoodie, Fringed Boots, Tunic and Pants:
You can download this digital pattern and instructions right now!
There are no shipping charges, because a paper pattern is not mailed to you. After clicking on the link and downloading the product to your computer, you can print out the instructions and pattern pieces on standard 8-1/2 X 11 paper.

$9.97

This doll clothes pattern includes detailed instructions for making:

• the long hoodie
  
• the fringed, lace-up knee boots
• the long-sleeved tunic
  
• the slim-cut pants

Details of the boots are shown below:

Technorati Tags: 18 Inch Doll, American Girl Dolls, Doll Accessories, Doll Clothes Patterns, Long Hoodie

Remember my blog post about the long hoodie? (If not, read it here.) That hoodie is almost ready. I’m just finishing the instructions. So, you can expect to see it soon.

The new doll clothes pattern includes the long hoodie, a long-sleeved tunic, slim pants and these adorable fringed, lace-up knee boots. The hoodie is sewn from fabric. It is NOT knit from yarn. So, it’s very quick and easy to make.

I’ll send an email to the list to let you know when this new pattern is available on the site.

Your American Girl dolls will love it. Here’s a sneak peek…

Please leave a comment and let me know how you like it.

Technorati Tags: 18 Inch Doll, American Girl Dolls, Doll Accessories, Doll Clothes Patterns

Here’s another new outfit to add to your collection of doll clothes patterns. Your American Girl Dolls will love this trendy handbag and the espadrille shoes. The doll accessories included in this pattern are fun to make and more fun to play with.

Flared Tunic, T-Shirt and Cropped Leggings:
You can download this digital pattern and instructions right now!
There are no shipping charges, because a paper pattern is not mailed to you. After clicking on the link and downloading the product to your computer, you can print out the instructions and pattern pieces on standard 8-1/2 X 11 paper.

$9.97

This doll clothes pattern includes detailed instructions for making:

• the flared tunic
• the striped T-shirt
  
• the cropped leggings
  
• the espadrille shoes
• the drawstring handbag
  

Details of the drawstring handbag and espadrille shoes are shown below:

Now you can make this beautiful princess party dress for your 18 inch dolls. Today we’re introducing one of our first doll clothes patterns for sale. It’s easy to sew this original designer outfit created to perfectly fit your American Girl Dolls.

Flared Party Dress with Fuzzy Knit Trim:
You can download this digital pattern and instructions right now!
There are no shipping charges, because a paper pattern is not mailed to you. After clicking on the link and downloading the product to your computer, you can print out the instructions and pattern pieces on standard 8-1/2 X 11 paper.

$9.97

This doll clothes pattern includes detailed instructions for making:

• the flared party dress
• the fuzzy knit trim for the hem and the headband
• the ribbon flower for the headband
• the strappy ribbon sandals

Details of the sandals and headband are shown below:

Quite a few of the readers who are sewing doll clothes patterns for American Girl dolls are looking for a less expensive 18 inch doll who can wear the same clothes. The three dolls shown in the photo below are Madame Alexander Girlz dolls.

I bought these three dolls…last October at Costco. When I was shopping at Costco yesterday, I noticed the Christmas merchandise is already in the store. My local Costco store is selling three new Madame Alexander Girlz dolls, priced at $24.99 each. If you’re on a budget this Christmas, or just looking for an affordable ‘fit model’ for your doll clothes patterns, now is the time to shop. So run, don’t walk. Last year these dolls sold out very fast.

How do these dolls compare to American Girl dolls?

1.) Probably the biggest difference is that American Girl dolls cost around $100 and come with a very high quality, durable wig so girls can spend lots of time styling the dolls’ hair. The Madame Alexander wigs don’t seem to be intended for ‘hair play’ or styling. Their heads aren’t fully covered with hair. So when their hairstyles are changed, sometimes the Madame Alexander dolls may appear to have bald spots.

2.) Madame Alexander Girlz have very pretty faces and soft pink skin tones. The Girlz have heads that tilt side-to-side. They’re much easier to ‘pose’ than American Girls, so they have the ability to show many different expressions.

3.) There are only slight differences when sewing doll clothes patterns for the two dolls. The MA Girlz are a little taller than American Girl dolls, but it really doesn’t affect the fit. The main difference is the Girlz breast plate, which makes their shoulders seem a little thinner. But on the positive side, when the Girlz wear low cut necklines or sundresses, their cloth bodies are not exposed. American Girl dolls’ cloth bodies often show under their summer clothes. To see the dolls’ bodies and for more fitting information read the earlier post, Doll Clothes Patterns That Fit Perfectly.

Bottom line… the price is right! So, if you’re willing to handle the Madame Alexander wigs with care and make some slight fit alterations to your doll clothes patterns, these may be the Girlz for you!

Technorati Tags: American Girl Dolls, American Girls, Doll Clothes Patterns, Madame Alexander Girlz

It’s easy to make a headband for your doll. Our headband features a giant silk flower. But you can use lots of different odds and ends like feathers, beads or buttons to make yours unique.

Recently, my mother brought this silk Hawaiian lei home from a party. (shown in the photo below) I decided to recycle it. I used 5 layers of the silk flower petals to make the big flower on each doll’s headband. There are 2 medium-colored layers on top, 2 dark-colored layers in the middle and one light-color on the bottom. I gathered them up in the center with a hand-basting stitch and sewed them on to an elastic band.

It takes about 12 inches of elastic to go around an American Girl dolls head. I used white elastic for the blonde and black elastic for the brunette, but you could also match the band to your doll’s outfit.

The secret to planning great looking accessories is to look at the doll clothes patterns you’re about to make, and find items that compliment the fabrics and colors you’re using.

The headband has lots of popular variations. This year, with the anniversary of Woodstock in the news, the forehead band is back in style too. Maybe you should celebrate Woodstock with retro-styled doll clothes patterns in updated tie-dye looks.

Shown above: The forehead band, a retro-look inspired by Woodstock.

Whatever you do, have fun and use your imagination. If you have an idea for a cute headband, leave a comment below, and share it with the other Doll Clothes Patterns readers.

Technorati Tags: American Girl Dolls, Doll Clothes Patterns

Find used baby clothes in good condition, and recycle the ribbed knit trim:

Try this idea. Go to your local thrift store and look for infant clothing. Babies outgrow their clothes so fast, it’s easy to find outfits in great condition. Many show very little wear and are very inexpensive. Recycle the baby clothes by removing the ribbed knit trim from the sleeves and around the neck. Then reuse the baby’s knit trim for your doll clothes patterns. The buttons on baby clothes also work perfectly for dolls.

One of the secrets to maintaining a great source of materials is to go to the thrift store often. Get to know the people who work there, and let them know what you’re doing. Tell them you’re always looking for baby clothes with white knit trim, …or whatever colors you use most. As they get to know you, they’ll start setting things aside for you. You’ll soon have all the supplies you need for your doll clothes patterns.

Technorati Tags: 18 Inch Doll, American Girl, Doll Clothes Patterns

As it turns out, these small ‘crank’ sewing machines were originally produced in the 1920’s and 1930’s as children’s toys. National Sewing Machine Company manufactured The American Girl sewing machines in a range of colors; black, red, dark green, bright green, indigo and butter yellow. The slogan on the original box says, “Just like Mother’s.” They were featured in the Sears Christmas catalog in 1936.

This little machine, with its chipped paint and missing wooden hand crank, looks like it’s probably seen its share of doll clothes patterns.

How fun is this? You could have a tiny American Girl sewing machine for your American Girl doll.

Technorati Tags: American Girl

Girl-sized fabric:

Say you want to use a flowered print. If each of the flowers on the fabric you’ve selected for the girl are about the size of the girl’s hand, then you’ll want to find a matching fabric for the doll with flowers about the size of the doll’s hand.

Doll-sized fabric:

It’s easier than you might think. A good place to start is with cotton quilting fabrics. These fabrics are often designed as coordinated groups, with the patterns in different proportions so they’ll look great when used together. Other fabric lines produce coordinates, so the smaller-sized print can be used as trim on the finished garment. But instead of using it for trim, the smaller-sized print is the perfect fabric for your doll clothes patterns.

Girl-sized fabric:

Doll-sized fabric:

For a quick-and-easy solution, start with gingham checks or striped fabrics. Both patterns come in a wide range of colors. These classics have been around forever, so they’re easy to find in most fabric stores.

Girl-sized fabric:

Doll-sized fabric:

While you’re at it, don’t forget to adjust the proportions of the trim and notions you use on both dresses. If the girl is 2 or 3 times taller than her doll, and the girl’s dress has a 1-1/2 inch wide ribbon belt, the dolls belt should be about one-half to one-third as big, or 3/4 to 1/2 inches wide. It’s not an exact science. Just ‘eyeball’ it, and do what makes sense visually.

The same rule applies to flower trim, ruffles, lace, etc… and especially buttons.

If you use solid colored fabrics, you won’t have this problem. But, you still may need to adjust the weight of the fabrics you use. Because the doll is so much smaller than the girl, select lighter weight or softer fabrics for the doll clothes patterns than you select for the girl’s patterns, so your doll’s dresses won’t look too stiff.

Technorati Tags: Doll Clothes Patterns