We have a small tree this year and so I decided that my small doll, Florabunda, would make a great angel for the top of the tree. I made her gown from my “Gown,Smock, and Two Tiered Skirt” pattern. I cut the pattern from white bridal satin and made the skirt extra long. The wings are from two layers of gold lame bonded together with low heat fusible webbing. Her halo is made from a pipe-cleaner wrapped in gold midi braid.

Here is a picture of our little tree with Florabunda perched proudly on the top.

Christmas Sewing Adapting a pattern, sewing for small dolls

I have finished Christmas dresses for my dolls. This morning I took them and their clothes to church to join other toys in the November toy drive. Here they are in their Christmas dresses.

Here are Florabunda and Kitty modeling Christmas dresses.

If you want to make doll dresses for a special Christmas gift, patterns in my book Learn to Sew for your Doll are quick and easy to sew. The necklines are gathered and the waists use elastic, so the clothing is easy to fit on a variety of eighteen inch (46 cm) dolls. Here are the other clothes that I made for my two dolls. 

The A-line dress pattern is the only pattern for eighteen inch (46 cm) not included in the Learn to Sew book. It is available for download purchase on my pattern page. The American Girl mini wears clothes made from my downloadable patterns for three small dolls. She wears Twinkle’s patterns.

Christmas Sewing American Girl mini clothes patterns, eighteen inch doll clothes patterns

I have finished red striped, flannel nightgowns for my Christmas dolls and Florabunda. I’m almost done with the Christmas dolls’ wardrobe. I’m only planning one more outfit, a Christmas skirt and top. Here are my eighteen inch (46 cm) doll and my American Girl mini in their gowns.

The eighteen inch nightgown pattern is in my book Learn to Sew for Your Doll. The mini’s nightgown comes from my Nightgown,Smock Top, and Two Tiered Skirt down-loadable pattern. The mini doll wears clothes made from Twinkle’s patterns.

When I make a cloth doll as a play doll, I like to include a flannel gown. I think that it adds to the tactile pleasure of the doll. Here are Florabunda and Kitty wearing flannel nightgowns.

The little cats that they are holding are part of a new easy to sew project that I am developing. I’ve made three sizes of cats. Here is Florabunda with the largest cat.

Christmas Sewing, My books, my patterns American Girl mini clothes patterns, eighteen inch doll clothes patterns

This past week I made sundresses for my Christmas dolls and Florabunda. The eighteen inch dress is in my book Learn to Sew for Your Doll. The small dress patterns are free on my pattern page. The American Girl mini wears Twinkle’s patterns.

Kitty is wearing the eighteen sundress and the red jacket I made earlier, and Florabunda is showing how well her new dress goes with her red jacket.

I plan to make a nightgown and a Christmas dress to finish off the dolls’ wardrobes.

Christmas Sewing, my patterns American Girl mini clothes patterns, eighteen inch doll clothes patterns

I am still having fun working on my Blue Santa Christmas dolls. My eighteen inch (46 cm) doll skirt and top are from my book, Learn to Sew for your Doll. My American Girl mini is wearing a top from my “Gown, Smock Top, and Two Tier Skirt” down-loadable pattern. The skirt comes from my “Pants, T-shirt, and Skirt” down-loadable pattern.

Here are Kitty and Florabunda. Kitty is wearing the larger skirt and top made from patterns in my Learn to Sew book. Florabunda’s patterns are found in the same down-loadable patterns as those for the American Girl mini and also my book Sew a Small Doll.

Christmas Sewing, My books, my patterns American Girl mini clothes patterns, eighteen inch doll clothes patterns

I like to dress a doll or two every year to donate to Blue Santa or similar groups. This year I decided to use my own patterns to dress an eighteen inch (46 cm) doll and an American Girl mini. I am going to donate the dolls as two separate gifts, but I am making them matching outfits for my own pleasure.

Last week I made dresses using my A-line patterns. I added the ruffles as an experiment. Instructions for ruffles at the hem are not included in my A-line patterns. I may blog about how to add ruffles at a later time. Here are the two Christmas dolls wearing their first outfits.

I am also making Florabunda matching clothes, so that I will have a record of the doll clothes that I am making this year. Here is Florabunda wearing her new dress. Kitty is modeling the larger Christmas dress, just for fun.

Christmas Sewing, my patterns American Girl mini clothes patterns, eighteen inch doll clothes patterns, sewing for small dolls

A kit of basic sewing tools is a nice gift for many people. Anyone who wants or needs to learn a few sewing skills would appreciate the gift. Check my free download “Tips, Tools, and Techniques” (available on my patterns page) for tool suggestions.
If you are making a doll wardrobe for a special little girl’s Christmas, she might enjoy a sewing kit. She could try her hand at sewing for her doll after Christmas. The pillow, pillowcase, and cover from my “Doll Bed and Accessories” pattern are excellent patterns for beginners. Next she can make the simple sundress  from my free sundress pattern. It is also a good pattern fro beginners.
With a few tools and instructions you might give someone a lifetime of sewing pleasure.

Christmas Sewing, learning to sew, my patterns sewing for small dolls

I think that a small doll with a custom made wardrobe would be a wonderful Christmas present for a little girl. If you are considering purchasing a small doll and making it clothes, you should should spend some time deciding on the right doll.  The recent Ginny and Tiny Betsy McCall dolls that I have purchased have a warning on the box that says the dolls are unsuitable for children younger than 14 years. The only hazard that is listed on the box is a choking hazard, which is usually a danger for children 3 years old and younger. I am not certain why the dolls are not considered play dolls. They are hard plastic which means that the arms and legs are connected with rubber bands suitable for doll stringing. I am not sure if this construction technique is hazardous or not, but it might be traumatic. I have several hard plastic Ginny dolls from the 1990’s. One day not too long ago, I opened my doll cabinet to show my four year old neighbor a miniature tea set. The head of one of my Ginny dolls fell off and hit my shoe. I was afraid that my young friend was going to be upset, but she was too interested in the tea set to notice the tragedy. I quickly removed the victim and she is now awaiting repair with some of her sisters.
If the warnings about hard plastic dolls concern you, other options are available. You might make one of my small cloth dolls. The joining buttons and small arms and legs on my dolls are choking hazards for children who are still inclined to chew on their toys. I think that  my dolls would be suitable for most children over 3 or 4 years old.
The mail order company Lillian Vernon has a small vinyl doll that is suitable for children. The American Girl mini doll is made for ages 8 and up. I hope that you can find the right doll for that special little girl.A

Christmas Sewing American Girl mini clothes patterns, Vogue Ginny doll clothes patterns

I like to dress a few dolls for give away at Christmas. My daughter always loved stuffed animals more than dolls when she was a child, so for my own pleasure, I started giving dolls away at Christmas. There are always toy drives that welcome dolls and their wardrobes. Occasionally I donate dressed dolls to charity auctions or craft shows.
This year ordered a Littlest Pet Shop Blythe doll. I thought that I might dress her and then donate her as one of my Christmas dolls. I hadn’t realized how small she is. I still may make her some clothing, but I will need to use doll house doll clothes patterns. These dolls are well made and attractive. I think that the hair is well done, especially on such a small doll. I am not certain if more clothes will add to Blythe’s play value. (Blythe is a world traveling pet sitter.) If I do decide to dress this doll, I will show you the results.
If you have looked at the American Girl website lately, you may have noticed that they are offering three new mini dolls. One of them is Ivy. I had wondered why they hadn’t offered her before. Because they still have mini dolls for all the American Girl dolls, even those that they have retired, there is a mini doll for just about any girl’s coloring and facial features. Any of the dolls can be dressed as a girl of today using the Twinkle size of my patterns. Save the original costume for dress up day. These are exquisite little dolls. I will certainly dress one or two of them for Christmas projects. Any time that I see one of them, I want to sew her some more clothes.

Christmas Sewing, my patterns American Girl mini clothes patterns