Scroll down to the second set of bullets for the free PDF sewing patterns.
Okay, everybody… It’s confession time!
Have you ever started a project, got discouraged, and then walked away for several years?
And then you went back to the project and tried to pick up where you left off… Have you ever done that?
Well today’s pinafore project is one of those. I started it during the summer of 2018. Now, five years later, I’ve gone back to finish the pinafore for 15 inch dolls, but unfortunately, I forgot why I had gotten discouraged and walked away.
The video at the top of this page is actually the “Pinafore Video Part Deux” because it wasn’t until I’d finished the first video version, that I realized why the first rendition of the pinafore didn’t fit over the top of the pioneer dress right. See (this was the pinafore’s first rendition–Whoops!):
Yup! I forgot to cut the skirt pattern on the fold. That’s why I’d gotten discouraged and walked away from this project back in 2018!
So do as I say, not as I do, and definitely cut the skirt on the fold! Please click on that link to learn more about “cutting on the fold.”
To make today’s pinafore, all you really need is some white cotton fabric and a few size 1/0 snaps. However, in my video, I also mention the little Fiskars Stitchers scissors that I’m enjoying using these days. I’ve now got 3 pair of these little beauties:
Back when I started today’s pinafore project, I didn’t have any Fiskars Stitchers, and holy cow, it makes such a difference when I clip and invert garment pieces! Looking back at these older video clips, I can’t believe how clunky it was to use regular sewing scissors for that task!
And now that I’ve confessed my mistake, and looked back nostalgically at my pre-Fiskars-Stitchers days, you might be a little worried about my pattern.
Don’t worry, folks! As long as you cut your skirt pattern on the fold, your pinafore will look absolutely perfect over the top of my pioneer dress for 15 inch dolls.
See, look (this is the second rendition, after having cut my skirt on the fold):
And here’s the pinafore all by itself without my gingham pioneer dress underneath:
Even by itself, it makes a lovely sleeveless summer dress. I can imagine it in pastel colored print fabric, maybe for Easter.
Today’s free printable PDF doll clothes sewing patterns will fit the following dolls:
- 14 and a half-inch Wellie Wishers* from American Girl doll company*
- 15 and a half-inch vintage Velvet dolls from the Crissy family of dolls*
- 18-inch dolls like vintage Crissy*
- 18-inch BFC Ink dolls*
And here are the patterns and tutorial videos you’re looking for:
- Here’s a link to the pattern for making the pinafore (read the text at the top of this page to make sure you follow directions — don’t do what I did!)
- The tutorial for the pinafore is at the top of this page
- How to do a whipstitch
- How to sew snaps on fabric
- How to do a backstitch
- How to gather fabric
- How to press seams open, using a hot iron
- Tips on sewing with lace
For more of my free tutorials, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, ChellyWood1.
If you would like to make a donation to this free doll clothes pattern website, please click here. There’s also a “Donate” button in the main menu.
For anyone who would like to expand their dolls’ wardrobes, you should really check out my “How to Alter Doll Clothes Patterns” course and my “Design Your Own Doll Pants Patterns from Scratch” classes on the Creative Spark online learning platform. Here’s my bio page on their website, where you can learn more.
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.
To read more about my free sewing patterns and tutorials, please visit the “Helpful Tips” page.
Disclaimer/Credit/Affiliate Marketing Link:
When you click links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include Amazon, JoAnn Fabric, Etsy, and the eBay Partner Network. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. To learn more about how my website uses affiliate marketing, please visit the website’s Privacy Policy page.
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.
The Wellie Wishers and the 18 inch American Girl dolls mentioned in this blog post are products offered by Mattel, which holds the registered trademark for them (™). Please visit the Mattel Toys website to learn more about their company and its trademarked toys.
The Crissy family of dolls which includes dolls like vintage Crissy, Velvet, and other dolls, were produced by the Ideal Toy Corporation, which held the registered trademark for them. That company is no longer producing the dolls, and at the time of this blog post, it looks like Mattel currently owns the trademark for Crissy (although to my knowledge, they are not producing them). If you wish to purchase one of these dolls, you can sometimes find them used, in good condition, on eBay (see link in the first set of bullets).
MGA Entertainment is the company that produced the BFC Ink dolls, and it still holds the trademark rights to them (™). The BFC Ink dolls (aka Best Friends Club dolls) were in production, starting in 2009, but at the time of this blog post, they are no longer available in stores. You may be able to find a used one on eBay, though, if you’re thinking about collecting them (see link in the first set of bullets). These dolls can swap clothes with Crissy dolls, but their bodies are much more articulated. They have very lovely faces.