If you have some old t-shirts, a windbreaker or some left-over silk flowers, you can make one of these great projects. Just click on the pink links below to get the instructions for each project.

• Make a rag scarf from recycled t-shirts.
• Make a hair styling cape from a used windbreaker.
• Make a headband from left-over silk flowers.
• Make a shower cap and doll-sized towel.
  

Your American Girl Dolls will be really cute, and you can help save the Earth.

Technorati Tags: American Girl Dolls, Doll Accessories, Earth Day, Free Doll Clothes Patterns, Recycled

Before you print your doll clothes patterns, it’s necessary to adjust the settings on your printer. If you don’t do this, your printer may automatically reduce the size of the pattern pieces to fit within standard 1-inch wide margins. This results in the pattern, and therefore the finished outfit, being too tight for your American Girl Dolls.

Proper fit depends on preventing your printer from scaling the patterns.

1. In your printer’s settings, make sure the box next to ‘Scale to Fit” is NOT checked.
2. Then set your margins to 1/2-inch all around.
3. If you have the option, print the document at 100%.

Also remember to save your doll clothes patterns on your computer, so you can use them over and over. Your American Girl Dolls will thank you for it.

Technorati Tags: American Girl Dolls, Doll Clothes Patterns

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

First, click the ‘Add To Cart‘ button and fill in your name, address, etc. on the order form. Then click the ‘Continue’ button to go to the next page. On that page you will have a choice of using PayPal or your own credit card. To use your credit card, just click the link next to the pictures of the credit cards.

Thanks to all you American Girl Doll lovers, for supporting the blog!

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

Your American Girl dolls can dream tonight in these easy-to-sew baby doll pajamas.  Our doll clothes patterns also fit many other popular 18 inch dolls like; Gotz Precious Day Collection, Madame Alexander and Heidi Ott. This adorable sleepwear set is the first pattern in our new “Dreamy” series.

Baby Doll Pajamas:
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.

$4.97

This original designer pattern includes complete instructions and pattern pieces to make the lace-trimmed baby doll top and flared pajama bottoms. Just click on the green button above to start sewing now.

Please leave a comment to let us know how you like the new patterns. What would you like to see next?

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

Every doll needs a hair-styling cape for her at-home beauty treatments. Here’s a fun new project that’s quick and easy.

Start with some water-resistant fabric. I bought a pink nylon raincoat at the thrift store for $1. An old or ‘outgrown’ windbreaker will work just as well. You can even recycle a shower curtain if the plastic is soft and flexible enough. You don’t  need doll clothes patterns to make this cape for your American Girl dolls.

Just follow these directions:

1. Cut a rectangle 20 inches long by 12 inches wide. (This size will fit most 18 inch dolls.) Then find and mark the center point of the rectangle with a dot, as shown in the photo. Draw a line from the center point to the hemline on one of the long sides. This will be the center front opening.

2. Hem all four sides. Turn the raw edge up 1/4 inch. Press in place. Then turn up 1/4 inch again to create a rolled hem. Press again. Topstitch as shown below.

3. Draw a circle (about 2 inches across) around the center point to create an opening for your doll’s neck. I drew around a spice jar to mark my circle. It’s just about the right size.

Then cut along the line and around the circle to create the front opening.

4. Sew contrasting trim around the center front and neck  opening, near the raw edge. I used ready-made piping in a lighter color to add an accent to my cape. You can make your own trim. Or, you can skip this step if you don’t want to add trim.

5. You’ll need some kind of facing to finish the raw edge. I used seam tape because it’s easy. But, you can make your own bias binding out strips of the raincoat fabric if you prefer. With right sides together, sew the seam tape or self-binding along the edge of the front opening as shown.

Then turn it back and topstitch.

6. Next, you’ll need some kind of closure, so your cape stays in place while you’re styling your doll’s hair. I used more of the same seam tape to make ties. Attach one set at the neckline and another set near the waistline. For a final step, tack the rectangle with a few stitches under the doll’s arms, between the shoulder and the hemline.

You can open your cape in the front or back. I like to open mine in the front, so the cape will feel less bulky in back, when I brush the doll’s long hair. So get busy sewing! You can be styling in your home salon in no time. The only doll clothes patterns you need for this project are the instructions in this blog post.

And, please leave a comment to let me know if you like this project!

Technorati Tags: Doll-Clothes-Patterns American-Girl-Dolls