Doll Clothes Patterns

A few people have written to me saying the doll clothes patterns are much too small to fit their American Girl Dolls. If this has happened to you, there’s a good reason. Here’s how to correct it.

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.

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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. Read the rest of this entry »

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

Several readers have written to me, asking “I would like to buy doll clothes patterns, but I do not have a PayPal account. Can I use my credit card?” The answer is yes! You can use your own credit card on this site. You do not need a PayPal account. Here’s how it works:

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!

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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… Read the rest of this entry »

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Doll clothes patterns are so much more interesting when they include accessories. So, don’t miss out on one of the hottest fashion trends this season, …the headband.

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. Read the rest of this entry »

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I’ve had a couple of requests recently for the measurements of the Springfield Collection dolls. If you’re trying to alter your doll clothes patterns to fit this line of dolls, please notice they’re quite a bit thinner than the American Girl dolls.

Read the rest of this entry »

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I’m often asked where to find small-scale materials and supplies to use when sewing doll clothes patterns. For example, it’s difficult to find light-weight ribbed knit trim to use on the cuffs and waistbands of your doll’s hoodie. The adult-sized trim looks too bulky on your American Girl, or other 18 inch doll.

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

Read the rest of this entry »

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Doll clothes patterns and patterns for real girls have one big difference. Dolls are small and girls are big.

If you’re sewing matching outfits for your special girl and her doll, you want to make them look as much alike as possible. But, since girls are so much bigger than their dolls, you have to adjust the proportions. For example, if you plan to use a patterned fabric, the pattern on the doll’s dress should be much smaller in proportion than the pattern on the girl’s dress.

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:

Read the rest of this entry »

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Here’s another fun project you can cut and sew without needing to buy doll clothes patterns.

Look in your closet for cotton knit fabric you can recycle and reuse to make your doll a rag scarf. All you need are two or three old t-shirts in coordinating colors. If you’re creative, you can use white t-shirts and dye them before cutting the strips.
Be brave with your color choices. Experiment. Mix and match until you find striking combinations, like sky blue, aqua and teal …or maroon, apple red and pumpkin.

Read the rest of this entry »

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Doll clothes patterns should be inspired by the latest fashion trends. The same is true of doll accessories. Your choice of accessories can complete an outfit, or make it ordinary.

One of the strongest accessory trends we see today is the tote… or oversized handbag. (A hobo bag is shown below.)

The oversized handbag has replaced the backpack as the new ‘must have’ fashion item. Read the rest of this entry »

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