To make the dance skirt, make three copies of my A-line skirt pattern.

Cut the hem off all three pattern pieces. For the back pattern piece, use the entire pattern without the hem. For the right front, use the entire skirt waist, but cut a curve starting at the hem line and stopping half way up the side cut line. I traced around a drinking glass to get a smooth curve. For the left front the top of the skirt start at the side seam and measure one and one eighth inch (about 3 cm) at the waist line. Mark the measured point. Draw a straight line down the skirt from the measured point for about one and three quarters inch (4.5 cm). Then begin curving the line back to the bottom of the side seam.

From fabric, cut two of each pattern piece. You will use the second set of pattern pieces to line the skirt.

Sew the skirt left front and skirt back together at the side seam. Sew the left front skirt lining to the back skirt lining down the side seam. Sew  the left front/skirt back piece to its lining down the curve and hem. Sew the right front and right front lining together down curve and hem.

Trim the pieces, turn and press.

Lap the lined right front piece over the left front/skirt back piece. Line up the edge of the right front with the left front/skirt back side seam. Pin and then had baste the two pieces together.

Finish and then fold over the top edge of the skirt to make an elastic casing, and follow the directions in my pattern guide to finish the skirt.

Put the skirt on the doll and tie a matching or contrasting ribbon around the waist.

For free tips for making an elastic casing download my free Tools, Tips, and Techniques booklet and look on page 9 of the booklet.

You can purchase a download of my pattern Pants, Skirt and T-shirt from the small doll section of my Pattern page. It is the fifth pattern in that section.

If you are only interested in AG mini dolls, the pattern is also in my book, Sewing for Mini Dolls. If you only want mini doll patterns, I think that the book is the best buy. You can find out how to order it from My Books page.

Last week I showed you how to make the tights and top for this outfit. If you found this article from a web search, you may not have access to the rest of my blog. If you would like to make the tights and top, go to my blog and search for August 9, 2014.

Playing with American Girl mini dolls Adapting a pattern, sewing for small dolls

I adapted the pants pattern from my Pants, Skirt and T-shirt pattern for Twinkle to make the tights.
Make a copy of the pants pattern. Cut off the side seam allowances and the fold line for the elastic casing. Fold in the  side hem tabs at the bottom of the leg pattern.

For top and tights use a ladies thin black sock. Use black elastic for the top’s straps.

Cut the tights from the foot and toe end of the sock. (I took a picture with a pink sock, because I had already used all my black socks.)

Follow the pants pattern directions to make the tights.  I sewed the elastic casing at the waist by hand, because the sewing machine tended to stretch the sock fabric too much. After inserting the elastic use a quarter inch (6 mm) seam with a zigzag stitch to sew the back seam and the inside of the legs. Sew across the bottom of each pant leg, so that the doll’s feet stay inside the tights.

The doll’s top is made from the top of the sock, after the tights have been cut out. Try the sock top on the doll, by having her “step into” the sock top. The cut end of the sock should be pulled up to just below her shoulders. The finished end of the sock should be at her waist. Trim the cut edge of the sock to shape it like a doll’s top. Remember to leave enough of the trimmed sock fabric to add a hem.

I had to make a seam down the back of the top to make it small enough to fit the doll.

Hem the shoulder/neck/arm opening by hand and add black elastic at the shoulders.

Here is the doll in her tights and top:

For free tips for making an elastic casing download my free Tools, Tips, and Techniques booklet and look on page 9 of the booklet.

You can purchase a download of my pattern Pants, Skirt and T-shirt from the small doll section of my Pattern page. It is the fifth pattern in that section.

If you are only interested in AG mini dolls, the pattern is also in my book, Sewing for Mini Dolls. If you only want mini doll patterns, I think that the book is the best buy. You can find out how to order it from My Books page.

Next week I will show ;you how to make a dance skirt to complete the outfit.

Playing with American Girl mini dolls Adapting a pattern, American Girl mini clothes patterns

This dance ensemble for AG mini dolls is made from a ladies’ thin sock, elastic, ribbon and tulle fabric.

I adapted the pants pattern from my Pants, Skirt and T-shirt pattern to make leggings.

I made a copy of the pants pattern and cut off the side seam allowances and the fold line for the elastic casing.

Cut the leggings from the foot and toe end of the sock. Follow the pants directions to make the leggings. Use a quarter inch (6 mm) seam but sew the seam with a zigzag stitch. I sewed the elastic casing at the waist and the leg hems by hand, because the sewing machine tended to stretch the sock fabric too much.

The doll’s top is made from the top of the sock, after the leggings have been cut out. Try the sock top on the doll, by having her “step into” the sock top. The cut end of the sock should be pulled up to just below her shoulders. The finished end of the sock should be at her waist. Trim the cut edge of the sock to shape it like a doll’s top. Remember to leave enough of the sock fabric to add a hem. I hemmed the shoulder/neck/ arm opening by hand to prevent the sewing machine from stretching the fabric.

I had to make a seam down the back of the top to make it small enough to fit the doll. Hem the shoulder/neck/arm opening by hand. Add ribbon ties at the shoulders.

For the tutu, cut four 16 inches by 5 inches (41 cm by 12 cm) rectangles of tulle. Stack the tulle rectangles together and fold them lengthwise to make stack of folded rectangles measuring 16 inches by 2.5 inches (41 cm by 6 cm). Make an elastic casing by sewing a seam three eighth inch (1 cm) from the folded edge of the tulle stack. Insert about 5.5inches (14 cm) of one eighth inch (3 mm) wide elastic. Secure the elastic on both sides and then sew the two short sides of the gathered rectangle together to make the tutu back.

For free tips for making an elastic casing download my free Tools, Tips, and Techniques booklet and look on page 9 of the booklet.

You can purchase a download of my pattern Pants, Skirt and T-shirt from the small doll section of my Pattern page. It is the fifth pattern in that section.

If you are only interested in AG mini dolls, the pattern is also in my book, Sewing for Mini Dolls. If you only want mini doll patterns, I think that the book is the best buy. You can find out how to order it from My Books page.

Playing with American Girl mini dolls Adapting a pattern, American Girl mini clothes patterns, sewing for small dolls

I made a pair of cool cotton pajamas for my Isabelle mini doll using my free Sundress and Summer Top pattern and the bloomers pattern from my A-line dress pattern. The pattern size for mini dolls is marked with a star.

To make the pajamas more comfortable, I hemmed the pants legs without adding the elastic suggested in the pattern instructions.

You can find the free summer top pattern on my pattern page by clicking here. If you would like to order the A-line dress pattern, you can scroll down to the second pattern below the free pattern on that page.

My down-loadable pattern has three sizes of small doll patterns. If you are only interested in sewing for mini dolls, I think that the better value is my Sewing for Mini Dolls book. The book has all the small doll clothing patterns found on my pattern page, but only in the mini doll size. The book also has shoe patterns, including the bunny slippers that Isabelle is wearing. You can learn how to order Sewing for Mini Dolls by going to My Books page.

If you want to draft your own pants pattern watch the Froggy Stuff video How to Make Doll Pants.

Here is Isabelle wearing her new pajamas:

You can find a free pattern for her Teddy Bear on Florabunda’s Page. Choose Beginning Sewing Projects from the directory and select the stuffed bear pattern. Use the pattern that is marked with a flower.

Playing with American Girl mini dolls Accessories for American Girl mini dolls, American Girl mini clothes patterns

I made a new sundress for my mini Isabelle using my free sundress pattern. You can find a free copy of the pattern on my Pattern Page.

The size pattern that fits AG mini dolls is marked with a star. I used a longer piece of wider ribbon than is listed in the pattern instructions. The shoulder bows were easier to tie with the new size ribbon.

You can find a larger pattern for the sundress that fits eighteen inch (46 cm) dolls in my book, Learn to Sew for Your Doll. Learn more about the book and were to buy it on My Books page. Learn to Sew is the third book as you scroll down the page.

Here is mini Isabelle in her new dress.

Playing with American Girl mini dolls American Girl mini clothes patterns

I made dogs from pipecleaners for my AG mini using instructions from a video that you can find here.

The video is from “My Froggy Stuff.” “Froggy” is a charming and creative lady with a lot of amazing ideas for doll accessories. After watching the doggy video, you might want to watch more of her doll craft videos.

I used one eighth inch (3 mm) black glass beads for the tan dog’s eyes and both dogs’ noses. Not all of the beads would fit on the pipecleaner, so I used wiggle eyes for the white dog’s eyes. Here is my mini Isabelle with her two new pets.

Playing with American Girl mini dolls Accessories for American Girl mini dolls

There is still time to make an Easter basket for your American Girl mini doll. Go to Easy Craft Projects on Florabunda’s Page. Select “Tiny Basket Project” for the basket’s instructions and pattern.

Here is my new mini, Isabelle, with her Easter Basket.

The little chocolate bunny came in a package of five bunnies. They are delicious.

Playing with American Girl mini dolls Accessories for American Girl mini dolls