I altered the nightgown pattern from my Gown, Smock and Two Tiered Skirt pattern to fit eight inch Dora and Lalaloopsy Littles dolls.

Here is my  Lalaloopsy Little wearing and unaltered mini doll (Twinkle) nightgown.

The gown’s hem and sleeves are too long. I shorted the gown hem by one and three eighths inches (3 cm) and the sleeves by seven eighths inch ( 2.3 cm).

When I made the gown for my Lalaloopsy Little, I did not add elastic to the sleeves. Here is my Lalaloopsy Little wearing her altered nightgown.

I used my small doll (Florabunda) pattern for my Dora’s nightgown. Her she is wearing an unaltered gown.

For an easy alteration, I added one half inch (12 mm) to the gown hem and left the elastic out of the sleeves.

Here is Dora wearing the gown made from the altered pattern.

For a fuller gown, I copied the gown pattern and drew straight horizontal and vertical lines on both the front and back pattern pieces.

I cut both pattern pieces apart on the lines drawn. I glued the pieces back together on a piece of grid paper, leaving a one forth inch (6 mm) gap between the pieces. I added one fourth inch (6 mm) to the hem on each pattern piece.

Here is Dora wearing her gown made from this pattern

To order a down-loadable Gown, Smock and Two Tiered Skirt pattern, see the small dolls section of my Patterns page. The down-loadable pattern contains both small doll (Florabunda) and mini doll (Twinkle) size patterns.

To order a book with the patterns, see My Books page. All of Florabunda’s patterns are in the Sew a Small Doll and her Clothing book. Alter Florabunda’s patterns to fit Dora. All of Twinkle’s patterns are in  Sewing for Mini Dolls. Alter Twinkle’s patterns to fit Lalaloopsy Little.

Christmas Sewing, Patterns for Dora the Explorer, Patterns for Lalaloopsy Adapting a pattern, sewing for small dolls

I made a few fairly easy alterations in my A-line Dress, Jacket, and Bloomers patterns to make them fit eight inch (20 cm) Dora the Explorer and Lalaloopsy Littles better. Here is Dora in the small doll (Florabunda) size A-line dress.

I decided that the dress pattern did not need alteration. If you make an A-line dress for Dora, you should close it with Velcro or snaps all the way down the back. Dora cannot wear the dress with a zipper closing. Her feet are too big to step into the dress.

The short jacket was difficult to put on Dora. She had to reach back with both hands at the same time.

Here is Dora wearing the jacket when I finally got it on her.

I added one fourth inch (6mm) to the jacket back pattern at the fold line.

Here is Dora wearing her new altered jacket.

I used my mini doll (Twinkle) patterns to dress my Lalaloopsy Little. Here she is wearing an unaltered mini doll A-line dress and short jacket.

The dress is too long. I shorted the dress by three quarters inch (2 cm) at the hem.

I shorted the jacket sleeves by one quarter inch (6 mm) and added one quarter inch at the jacket back fold line.

Here is my Lalaloopsy Little wearing her altered A-line dress and short jacket.

If you make a  Lalaloopsy Little an A-line dress, you should close it with Velcro  or snaps all the way down the back.

To order a down-loadable  A-line Dress, Jacket, and Bloomers pattern, see the small dolls section of my Patterns page. The down-loadable pattern contains both small doll and mini doll size patterns. To order a book with the patterns, see My Books page. All of Florabunda’s patterns are in the Sew a Small Doll and her Clothing book. All of Twinkle’s patterns are in  Sewing for Mini Dolls.

Patterns for Dora the Explorer, Patterns for Lalaloopsy Adapting a pattern, sewing for small dolls

Two fairly new eight inch (20 cm) dolls, Dora the Explorer Everyday Explorer and Lalaloopsy Littles, can wear doll clothes made from some of my patterns.

Dora is wearing the T-shirt and A-line skirt from my pattern Pants, T-shirt and Skirt pattern in Florabunda’s size. Lalaloopsy Little is wearing the A-line dress from my pattern A-line Dress, Jacket, and Bloomers in Twinkle’s size.

Here are the two dolls wearing knitted backpacks from my new book, Learn to Loom Knit for Your Doll.

To order down-loadable patterns, see the small dolls section of my Patterns page.

To order a book with the patterns, see My Books page. Florabunda’s patterns are in the Sew a Small Doll and her Clothing book. Twinkle’s patterns are in the Sewing for Mini Dolls Book.

loom knitting for small dolls, Patterns for Dora the Explorer, Patterns for Lalaloopsy Accessories for small dolls