On this website, I get frequent requests for new patterns to fit 18 inch dolls. One request that pops up from time to time is, “Can you make a coat pattern?”
When I get these requests, I remind my followers that such patterns exist, and they’re not that hard to find! Today’s pattern review for the See & Sew B5414 is one such pattern.
A bathrobe pattern is easily converted to a coat pattern. All you have to do is switch the fabric of choice from flannel to, say, lightweight wool or even just cotton.
Look again at the bathrobe shown on my See & Sew B5414 pattern, but this time, imagine it as a winter raincoat:
There… You see how easy it is to convert a bathrobe into a winter coat?
You can buy this pattern on eBay, even though Butterick is no longer producing it, and the See & Sew brand — like the Simplicity brand — is well-known for it’s easy-to-follow instructions. So I highly recommend this pattern to anyone who’s searching for a winter coat and/or a bathrobe pattern for their 18 inch dolls (like American Girl dolls, Journey Girls, Adora Amazing Girls, etc…).
But what if you don’t sew for 18 inch dolls? Of course, you can do the same with any of my free bathrobe patterns. Imagine Tammy’s bathrobe as a winter coat, for example:
It even has a pocket! So you could make her a winter coat with pockets, or adapt the length of these sleeves to fit Barbie, or another doll, like rainbow High, Skipper, etc…
Have a look again at the shape of the bathrobe on the See & Sew B5414 pattern. Doesn’t it look a lot like a coat?
This coat would be the same length as the bathrobe, like a raincoat or long winter pea coat.
If you don’t want your coat to be so long, though, that’s easy enough to do. In fact, I teach all about shortening pants, shirts, sleeves, and more (or lengthening them) in my “How to Alter Doll Clothes Patterns” course. So if you feel you need to learn a bit more about pattern alterations before you shorten your bathrobe into a dinner jacket or ski coat, maybe consider taking my “How to Alter doll Clothes Patterns” class on Creative Spark.
Today’s blog post mentions the See & Sew B5414 pattern, but as always, I recommend that you read this article I wrote about buying used patterns on eBay, before you actually buy one. Used patterns can have a number of issues with them, so I highly recommend reading that article first. That way you won’t end up with buyer’s remorse!
And by the way, if you use the links I’ve provided to make your eBay purchase, this website will receive a small commission, which helps fund the ChellyWood.com website, so I can continue to provide you with all the free patterns and tutorial videos offered here.
Today’s post is yet again a nod to those of you living below the equator! Happy winter to my followers from South America, the southern half of Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and any other countries which lie south of the earth’s waistline! 😉
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Chelly Wood and the ChellyWood.com website are not affiliated with the pattern company or companies mentioned in this blog post, but Chelly finds inspiration in the doll clothes designed by these pattern companies. To purchase patterns from Simplicity, McCall’s, Butterick, or other pattern companies shown and discussed in this blog post, please click on the links provided here. These links below the “Disclaimer” section do not help raise money for this free pattern website; they are only offered to give credit to the company that made these patterns.