Scroll down to the third set of bullets for the free PDF sewing patterns.
Today’s free pattern is brand new to the website, and this fulfills one of the many requests I’ve been given by my fans and followers.
It’s my own version of the iconic pink gingham dress, worn by Barbie in the Barbie movie.
Before I go on, I need to make my required disclaimer statement: As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. To learn more about how affiliate marketing works on my website, please go to the Privacy Policy page. Thank you!
How cute is this sweet little pink gingham dress on my Kaya doll? I just love it!
I designed and made this dress for my niece, Emily, for her tenth birthday. That’s why I used the “Happy Birthday” ribbons for her dress’s straps.
Of course you’d be just fine using regular Offray ribbon. I suggested 1/4 inch wide ribbon in the video, but in all honesty, I think my own straps are closer to 1/2 inch wide.
For newbies, you may need a little guidance to help you cut out all the pieces you’ll need. That’s why I made this slide for the video:
To make today’s doll clothing, you will likely need one of the following items:
- cotton gingham fabric
- Gondola Snaps (I recommend size 2 or 3)
- 1/4 inch ribbon for the straps
- tulle for the petticoat(s)
- chopsticks (for inverting doll clothes)
- Dritz fabric pencil
- Fiskars Stitchers mini snips (for clipping seams efficiently)
- Gutermann sewing machine thread
This list comes from my “Buyer’s Guide” page, which is easily accessed from the home page.
Of course you can make this dress out of any cotton or cotton polyester blend fabric. It doesn’t have to be gingham.
And if you’re interested in using earth-friendly fabrics, please consider buying your fabric from FabScrap. FabScrap is a fabric recycle and reuse service, where you can buy fabrics that would otherwise go into landfills! Watch my FabScrap unboxing video to see what kinds of fabrics they sent me!
To learn more about FabScrap, this page on their website will tell you what a wonderful resource they offer!
*Today’s free printable PDF doll clothes sewing patterns will fit the following dolls:
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- 18-inch dolls like American Girl dolls
- 18-inch dolls like the Adora Amazing Girls dolls
- 18-inch dolls like the Journey Girls dolls
- 18-inch dolls like the Our Generation dolls
- 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
- 18-inch dolls like Fancy Nancy
And here are the patterns and tutorial videos you’re looking for:
- American PDF sewing pattern for 18″ doll Barbie-style sun dress
- A4 (international) PDF sewing pattern for 18 inch doll clothes (coming soon)
- Tutorial video showing how to make the dress is found at the top of today’s blog post
You may also find one or more of these videos helpful:
- 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 pull elastic through a casing
- 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 measure a doll
- How to press seams open, using a hot iron
- How to sew rickrack
- How to use selvage
- How to attach ribbon to doll clothes
- How to add a ruffle to a skirt
For more of my free tutorials, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, ChellyWood1.
Here are 3 ways you can help support my website and YouTube channel:
- Visit my eBay store to see if there’s anything you need there, and if so, make a bid
- Purchase one of the fabrics I’ve designed — here’s a link to my Spoonflower store
- Pray for this website to grow and prosper!
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, 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 dolls are made by Battat (AKA Maison Battat Company), and they hold the registered trademark for them. Please visit their website to learn more about the Our Generation dolls.
Journey Girls dolls are made by Lotus Onda, but I believe their trademark is owned by Tru Kids Brands. (Someone please correct me if I’m wrong. I had trouble finding the origin of these dolls!) As I understand it, in the past, they have been distributed by Just Play LLC in the United States, but I’m unable to find the Journey Girls brand name on their website at this time. So distribution may have changed for these dolls. The Journey Girls dolls may have other companies involved in their trademark rights and/or distribution in other countries outside the US.
“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