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Making American Girl Doll Clothes is easy with this free sewing pattern. It is an easy doll dress to sew and can be made in less than an hour.
Making doll clothes can be a great beginner sewing project! Doll clothing doesn’t take much fabric so it’s easy to handle while building your sewing skills.
If you are looking for more easy ways to learn to sew be sure to check out my practice sewing sheets. They are a great way to become familiar with the sewing machine. Then you are ready to sew this doll dress.
18 inch Doll Clothes Pattern
This dress is perfect for 18″ American Girl dolls, or any 18-inch doll. Doll dress patterns don’t use much fabric, so they are a great way to use up leftover fabric. They’re also great for dressing up teddy bears!
If you have baby dolls you might also like this doll diaper pattern. It too is a free printable sewing pattern.
American Girl Doll Clothes Dress Supplies
- Free American Girl Style Pattern for Doll Dress Download and print pattern
- 2 – 8 1/2″ X 11″ pieces of cotton fabric (make sure to pre-wash the fabric before cutting)
- 24 inches of 1/4″ ribbon
- safety pin
- marking pen
- sewing machine or needle and thread
- scissors
- straight pins
- tape measure
- seam ripper (let’s hope not)
How to Make a Doll Dress Easy!
We are ready to get started on our easy doll dress! You won’t believe how quickly this dress goes together. It is just like a pillowcase dress.
NOTE: Do not cut the pattern, use the complete outside of the edge of the 8 1/2″ X 11″ piece of paper to cut out the fabric. Mark dots onto fabric.
With right sides together sew together side seams, from dot to bottom on each side. The open area creates the armhole.
Press open seams. Next, sew close to the edge of the top side opening. Start at the top, go down around the bottom (just below where the side seam started at the dot) and back up. Repeat this on the other side of the dress.
Turn top down 3/4″ and press. Do this on each side of the top of the dress.
Sew across the top on each side 1/2″ in from the fold, creating a pocket for the ribbon to slip through. Repeat on the other side.
Place a small safety pin on a ribbon and slide it through the pocket.
Start on the far right front then through the back. If the pin gets stuck in the side seams open up the pocket with a pencil and try again.
Turn the bottom of the dress under a 1/4″ to 1/2″, press and edge stitch all the way around. Put the dress on and tie a bow.
Tips on how to make a dress:
- If you prefer finished seams, serge or zig-zag around the outside edge of pattern pieces before beginning.
- If you feel this dress will be washed at some point be sure to prewash the fabric.
- I am a fan of the disappearing marker to make markings on the fabric.
There you go, a simple doll dress pattern that you or your child can easily make!
Hope this American Girl doll clothes pattern helps you whip up a bunch of doll clothes!
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More Free Patterns & Tutorials
I am always on the hunt for easy doll clothes patterns–sewing doll clothes is so much cheaper than the real thing…. plus it is fun! Here are some more fun DIY crafts.
- Barbie Doll Sleeping Bag
- If you crochet, try this doll scarf to make a complete outfit
- Cloth diapers pattern for about 15-inch-sized doll
- How to Make a Doll
- Doll Quilt Tutorial
Peggy Ransom says
I don’t see how I can print the American Girl Easy Dress instructions without the ads between every step. Please tell me how. Thank you!
Victoria Posey says
Cute dress and super easy to make. I found the instructions to be quite simple. Although, I added an additional 1/4″ at top so that when I fold in, there is no showing raw edge.
Patti Davis says
I don’t see a reply as to the measurement for the dot for the arm. The pattern and the instructions do not say. Thank you, Patti
Chris Crosta says
I believe that is a Madam Alexander doll
Marlys Rahn says
How far down to mark for the dots. It does not state in the instructions and I do not see an option to print the pattern.
Paulette L Goddard says
how far down to mark for the dots. It does not state in the instructions.
thank You
Jenny says
Thank you so much for this pattern and instructions! My 10 year old daughter was able to sew it (with minimal help from me) and she’s so excited that she can make clothes for her dolls!
Tracy says
This was perfect for a first time seeing 9 year old granddaughter. With breaks it took a couple hours and wasn’t too frustrating. Thank you!
Wish I could post a picture.
Diane says
Thanks so much for this pattern! Last year I made this exact dress for my 3 year old granddaughter. This past Christmas she got her first American Girl doll and of course I wanted to make her a matching outfit with the leftover fabric I had. Low and behold I run across this dress pattern today just mad for her doll! She will be so excited that she and her “Dolly” will have matching outfits!
Gail says
Another idea is to stitch it down with a few stitches in the center of the front and back necklines.
Laura Reese says
Dianna, you can tie a bead or larger knot at each end of the ribbon to keep it slipping through the casing. Hope this helps.
Dianna says
How do you keep the ribbon from slipping out why they undress and redress the doll?
Ellie says
Ellie is my 6 yr old granddaughter. We are going to sew together. But I only see girl doll patterns. She has a brother and a boy American doll?? We need boy patterns too!! Don’t leave the budding boy tailors out! Lol. Thanks for listening and all that you do!
Carol