Scroll down to the second set of bullets for the free PDF sewing patterns.
Today’s little African safari animal themed nightgown was a gift I gave my niece, Emily, for her birthday this year.
She got a Kaya doll just like mine, a bed to lay her in, pajamas (this nightgown), a pillow with a real pillow case (made by me of course), and one of my mother-in-law’s lovely doll-sized quilts!

*Disclaimer: when you click on 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.
Of course this cute little nightgown fits other 18 inch dolls as well, and if you scroll down a bit further, you’ll see that the full list of dolls that can wear today’s free doll nightgown pattern is found in the first set of bullets below.

To make today’s nightgown, you’ll need some flannel fabric.
I recommend using a smaller print than I did. In hindsight, I just think this nightgown would have looked a lot prettier in a smaller-print flannel fabric.

I think I bought the bunny slippers at a craft store, but I couldn’t tell you which one. This link will take you to a similar pair on Amazon though.
My video tutorial also suggests using Fiskars snippers for clipping seams. I highly recommend that brand in particular. It’s what I use.
*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 sleeveless nightgown
- Tutorial for making doll clothes (found 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 do a baste stitch
- How to use a needle threader
- How to do a basic straight stitch
- How to use bias tape
- How to choose fabric
- How to tie a knot using a needle and thread
- How to press seams open, using a hot iron
- How to sew rickrack
- How to use selvage
- How to attach ribbon to doll clothes
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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:
*Please note: when you click on 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.
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
