Who wants to make ‘look-alike’ outfits for your favorite girls and their American Girl dolls?

With this design, there are lots of options. Complete instructions are included for making the long and short Ruffle Skirts as well as the Shining Star Tee for both girls and dolls. So shine on…

This pattern is not difficult to sew because our easy-care ruffle fabric is pre-made. You’ll get a detailed materials list, so you’ll know exactly what to look for and where to get it. We also begin the project with a ready-made girl’s tee, then add the decoration and trim.

Shining Star Tee and Ruffle Skirt:

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 pattern includes detailed instructions and a materials list for making the:

• Doll’s Shining Star Tee
• Doll’s Short Ruffle Skirt
• Doll’s Long Ruffle Skirt
• Girl’s Shining Star Tee
• Girl’s Short Ruffle Skirt
• Girl’s Long Ruffle Skirt

Now your girls and dolls can have matching outfits!

Shoes not included.

Technorati Tags: American Girl Dolls, Doll Clothes Patterns, look-alike outfits, Look-Alike Patterns, Ruffle Skirt, Ruffle Skirts

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

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. At the bottom of the page it will say, “You have chosen Paypal as…”
• Ignore that and 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, just below the Paypal area.
• If you already have a Paypal account, it will interrupt your transaction and ask you to log-in to your Paypal account. To skip Paypal and use your credit card, click ‘continue without logging in.’ Then you may need to re-enter your credit card information.
  
• Then watch your email in-box. You will be receiving an email containing the link to download your doll clothes patterns. If you can’t find the email after a couple of hours, contact me (on the ‘Contact Us’ page) and I’ll send it to you.
  

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

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

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

The Springfield Collection is sold at Michael’s craft stores. Although they’re not as well-made as American Girl, they’re considerably less expensive than American Girl, …and they make good ’starter dolls’ if you’re on a tight budget. If you watch for a half-price coupon, you can get a real bargain. Just remember, because of the size difference, you’ll have to adjust your doll clothes patterns to get a great fit.

Compare these measurements to the measurements listed in the earlier post (on Nov. 10, 2008) if you’re attempting to alter commercial doll clothes patterns made for 18 inch dolls. Also, because all these dolls have cloth bodies, the measurements may vary slightly from doll to doll. Allow for ‘ease.’

Overall Height: 17-1/2 inches tall

Bust: 10-1/2 inches, Waist: 10 inches, Hips: 11-3/4 inches

Inseam: 6-1/2 inches, Thigh: 5-1/4, Calf: 4-1/2 inches

Arm (shoulder to wrist): 5-1/8 inches

Arm (armpit to wrist): 3-1/4 inches

Around the Shoulders: 13-3/4 inches

Around the Neck: 5-3/4 inches, Neck Height: 3/8 inches

Around Head: 11 inches, Foot: 2-5/8 long X 1-3/8 inches wide

Technorati Tags: American Girl, Doll Clothes Patterns, Springfield Collection Dolls

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