Scroll down to the second set of bullets for the free PDF sewing patterns.
Today’s sewing tutorial shows how to make a super simple above-the-knee, elastic-waist skirt for an 18 inch doll. It’s an ideal sewing tutorial for anyone who’s teaching a child to sew or learning how to sew for themselves.
My cousin, who runs the YouTube channel ASMR Tingle and Taps requested that I design a Halloween costume for 18 inch dolls, and in response to her request, this project is part of a series of patterns that I’ve designed for my 18 inch Madame Alexander doll (similar in body type to an American Girl doll).
Just in case you’re wondering what ASMR is, the ASMR Tingle and Taps channel is designed for people who have insomnia and need to hear quiet, repetitive sounds, in order to go to sleep. If you struggle with insomnia, my heart goes out to you because I’ve had the same problem for many years — since I was a little girl, in fact.
I often use ASMR to help me sleep, and my cousin’s channel, ASMR Tingle and Taps is one of my favorites!
But let’s get back to today’s tutorial and free patterns…
Today’s crop top shirt you see in my pictures is the exact same one I’ve posted here earlier this month, but instead of the lavender color that we saw with the donut Halloween costume, it’s made of black felt.
If you’re just learning how to sew, felt is probably the easiest fabric to work with. And today’s project is made out of felt and only requires a little bit of sewing. Plus, look how cute it is with today’s easy-to-sew, elastic-waist Halloween candy corn skirt!
To make today’s super simple crop top for your 18 inch dolls, all you’ll really need is some craft felt and a few Dritz size 1/0 sew-on snaps. And if you want to make the elastic-waist skirt, you’ll need some holiday print fabric and a little 1/2 inch braided elastic.
To see all of my 18 inch doll clothes patterns, please click here. And if you’re new to my website, this tutorial will show you how to navigate the site efficiently.
Today’s free printable PDF doll clothes sewing patterns will fit the following dolls:
- 18-inch dolls like American Girl dolls
- 18-inch dolls like the Adora Amazing Girls dolls
- 18-inch dolls like the Our Generation Journey Girls
- 18-inch dolls like the “My Life As” Dolls
- 18-inch dolls like City Girls from the New York Doll Collection
- 18-inch dolls like Madame Alexander 45 to 46 cm (similar body type to American Girl) dolls
And here are the patterns and tutorial videos you’re looking for:
- Pattern for 18″ doll felt shirt
- Tutorial for making the doll’s felt crop top shirt
- Pattern for 18″ doll’s holiday skirt
- Tutorial video showing how to make the skirt (at the top of this page)
- How to sew snaps on fabric
- How to pull elastic through a casing
- How to do a whipstitch
- How to do a backstitch
- How to use a needle threader
- How to do a basic straight stitch
- How to choose fabric
- How to tie a knot using a needle and thread
- How to press seams open, using a hot iron
For more of my free tutorials, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, ChellyWood1.
Is this pattern close to what you were looking for, but maybe you’re wishing the pattern was slightly different? If so, my Creative Spark class, “How to Alter Doll Clothes Patterns” may be just what you need to make these patterns into the pattern you see in your imagination.
For any class on Creative Spark, you don’t have to follow a schedule. Just sign up when you’re ready.
It’s a one-time fee for the course, and there’s no specific time limit to finish your course. You can just take your time and learn at the pace that suits you. So go check out my paid courses on Creative Spark, using this link.
As always, feel free to pin, like, or tweet about my free patterns and tutorials. Here’s an image you’re welcome to share on social media:
To read more about my free sewing patterns and tutorials, please visit the “Helpful Tips” page.
Disclaimer/Credit/Affiliate Marketing Link:
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To honor the trademark rights of the doll companies mentioned in this blog post, I am including links to their websites here. Please feel free to visit their website and consider purchasing one or more of the dolls mentioned.
American Girl dolls are products offered by American Girl LLC, which holds the registered trademark for them (™). Please visit their website to learn more about their company and its trademarked toys.
Adora Amazing Girls are products offered by Charisma Brands, LLC, which holds the registered trademark for them (™). Please visit their website to learn more about their company and its trademarked toys.
Our Generation Journey Girls are products offered by Geoffrey, LLC (affiliated with Tru Kids Brands and Toys R Us), which holds the registered trademark for them (™). Please visit their website to learn more about their company and its trademarked toys.
“My Life As” dolls are products offered by Walmart, which (although I couldn’t find it specifically listed in US trademarks) probably holds the registered trademark for them (™). Please visit their website to learn more about their company and its trademarked toys.
City Girls are products offered by The New York Doll Collection, Inc, which holds the registered trademark for them (™). Please visit their website to learn more about their company and its trademarked toys.
Madame Alexander 45 to 46 cm dolls were products that were once offered by the Madame Alexander Doll Company, LLC, which holds the registered trademark for them (™). Be advised that at the time of this blog post, they no longer (to my knowledge) offer dolls in that size range; however you can visit their website to learn more about their company and the trademarked toys they are currently offering.
BFC Ink dolls are products that were once offered by MGA Entertainment, Inc., which held the registered trademark for them (™), but those dolls are no longer produced, and as of this blog post date, the US Trademark Office has listed the trademark as “Cancelled.” However MGA Entertainment, Inc. still produces toys, and you can visit their website to learn more about their company and its trademarked toys.
Vintage Crissy Dolls are products that were once offered by Ideal Toys, Inc., but according to DollReference.com, they were “acquired by the CBS Toy Company in 1982, which eventually merged with Mattel in 1992.”1 Today Mattel holds the registered trademark for them (™). As far as I know, though, these dolls have not been produced since the 1970’s. However, you can always visit the Mattel website to learn more about their company and its trademarked toys.
Footnote 1: “Ideal Dolls 1970s.” Doll Reference, 28 August 2022, https://dollreference.com/ideal_toy_dolls1970s.html