American Girl 18 Inch or Bitty Baby Doll Matching Outfit

This fabric is available at JoAnn Fabric in various prints and lengths. Such an easy project!!

To make the matching little girl's shirt, click here: Matching Shirt Tutorial 

Step One: Cut Fabric 12 and a half inches wide.

Step Two: Determine the length you want your dress. As shown, I left two and a half inches on the top or bodice. For the Bitty Baby Alternative make it a half-inch shorter.

Step Three: Pin the desired length matching the elastic line to the top of the ruffle.

Step Three: Continued... The is what I mean by matching the lines on the right side.

Step Four: Sew along the existing seam of the ruffle.

Step Four: Extra Picture: Sew along the existing seam of the ruffle.

Step Five: Cut off the excess fabric.

Step Six: With right sides together, sew a side seam making sure you match the ruffle edges.

Step Seven: Refer to previous post DIY Summer Sewing Project For Your Daughter Steps 4 - 8.

Step Eight: Try the dress on the doll. Place seam on the side. Look at your sewing to see what should be the front or the back :) Pin the straps on the front and back.

To make the matching little girl's shirt, 

click here: Matching Shirt Tutorial 

DIY Fun Summer Sewing Project For Your Daughter

This fun fabric makes sewing a top or dress for your daughter a quick and easy project. If you have more than one daughter and like them to match is another great incentive to get started. Also, you may be able to include your daughter in the project. Even if it means she sits and talks to you while you sew. What a great opportunity for memories!! Depending on the look you are going for you can get longer fabric for a dress or this length for the shirt option. All of it is sold by the bolt at JoAnn's. In a later post, I will have the matching American Girl Doll Outfit tutorial.

Step One: 

Measure your Daughter with the fabric.

Step Two: 

Sew the side seam making sure the top of the fabric and the ruffle seams match.

Step Three: 

Cut two inch strips of the shoulder strap fabric.

Step Four: 

Fold the strip in half with right sides together and sew with a small seam allowance.

Step Five: 

Turn the fabric. This is a fabric turner you can buy at JoAnn's or Nancy's Notions. If you do not have one of these you can turn one of these by hand, but you need to cut a wider strip at least three inches wide.

Alternative Step Five: 

This is called a Fast Turn. If you sew much this is an absolute dream! Several tubes come with small wires to help turn the fabric. Choose the tube that best fits the fabric you would like to turn.

Alternative Step Five: Continued

The end of the wire is curly to puncture the fabric and twist it so it can be pulled through the tube.

Alternative Step Five: Continued

Here is a picture of the fabric being pulled through the tube.

Step Six: 

Keep the fabric inside out. Put the fabric on the side, and place the shoulder strap and pin it.

Step Six: Continued

Leave extra shoulder strap fabric past the point you are ready to sew because you will sew on two of the horizontal white lines.

Step Seven: 

Pin the back shoulder strap.

Step Eight: 

Sewing on the wrong side, sew over the shoulder strap in line with horizontal white lines on the fabric. Then repeat on the next line down.

Step Nine: Let the Fun Begin!!