All Things Thursday Link-Up {No. 7}

Thanks for dropping in for the party! We're hosting a link-up every Thursday and we need YOU to make it a success. Please join us by linking up your favorite craft projects, how-to's, tutorials, decorating ideas, advice or whatever else you find inspiring. Pass this link on to fellow bloggers or share us on Facebook. Thanks for the support! Now have fun :) Now it's your turn!

Free American Girl Ballerina Pattern

I am loving this series on American Girl Doll Clothes! I am having fun taking scraps from other projects in my past and putting them together. The golden satin is from a dress I made in high school. Sarah suggested I add the ribbon to the ballet slippers.  I was so excited the way it all came together. Of course with a change of fabric, you could transform this into regular doll clothes and skip the ballet part. The instructions are very straight forward. I hope that you really enjoy making this for your little one.

The free pattern for this outfit can be found here: American Girl Ballerina Outfit

The free shoe pattern is in the pattern for the American Girl PJ's.

The instructions are very straight forward.  I have included pictures for the darts on the leotard and the interfacing that I added to the shoes because I used satin.

Darts are needed for the opening to fit the contour of the bottom.

What the dart looks like pinned.

A finished, sewn dart.

Now for the Shoes

Cut the interfacing a little smaller the the material your are pressing with the bumps down, so nothing gets on your iron or ironing board.

If you want ribbon, sew it in with the first seam.

Happy Sewing!! ~Julia

Linked Up with

Savvy Southern Style

Ginger Snap Crafts

American Girl Doll PJ's Pattern

Sew your own PJ's for your daughter's American Girl Doll. Find the pattern for this outfit here: American Girl Doll Pajamas Pattern Check back next week for a tutorial using the slippers and shoe pattern included in this link. The instructions for this pattern can be found here: PJ's Instruction This is the picture tutorial for the PJ Top and Bottom. The little girls in your life will love this outfit. Don't forget to check out Caroline's Ballerina Outfit.

So the pattern could all fit on one page, 

the instructions call for adding extra to the pattern.

I would be happy to help with any questions you may have!
Julia

Linked Up Here:
Growing Home
Crafty Confessions
Sugar Bee Crafts

American Girl Sweater Outfit

Here it is! Our first official post in the new Make It! Mid-Week series. For the next month, we'll be posting patterns and tutorials for making inexpensive American Girl Doll clothes. Check back each Wednesday for these fun, easy to do sewing projects.

For this project, I used an old Gap sweater that was given to me. It was beautiful and I was terrified to cut it.  I started and was very pleased with the result.  I did my best to use parts of the sweater that were already hemmed, so I sewed as little as possible. See the iPad Cozy, and mittens I made from the same sweater here.

The pant legs were the sleeves. I cut them off and then tried them on the doll to know how far down the  sleeve seam to cut for the doll's pant leg.  

I did a zig zag stich on the part I cut to keep the yarn from unraveling.

Then I pinned them together.

I tried the pants on the doll to see how wide the pants should be and where the waist should be making sure to leave enough for the waistband.

For the top sweater, I used the actual neck hole and put it on the doll inside out. That allowed me to easily pin and mark where I wanted to sew.

Once the you have sewed the seam and zig zagged along the seam, cut the excess sweater. It's much easier to reinforce the seam before you cut off the excess.

Try the out fit on the doll and hand sew the sleeve cuff.  My sleeve was shorter than you may want yours because I created two iPad holders, 1 pair of mittens, and this doll sweater and pant from one sweater.

I hope your daughter enjoys her cozy winter sweater outfit as much as me!! ~Julia

Linked Up with

Clean and Scentsible
House of Hepworths

Adorable Little Girl Apron

Here's a pattern for an adorable girls apron. Create a matching one for her 18" doll too! The apron pictured on the left was made for a Christmas gift and turned out beautifully. I added a string of "pearls" to each apron for fun. You can purchase strands of inexpensive beads like these at any craft store. They can be cut and sewn onto your fabric just as I have done. Get creative with other embellishments, there are so many possibilities! I've included pictures to help you along the way. The PDF pattern and instructions are located at the bottom of this post. Please feel free to ask me any questions you may have, I'd love to help! 

For the tutorial below, I was using scrap material, so I cut mine from two fabrics. You could use the same fabric, or change it up like I did.

When I sew I like to have a lining, so I cut two.  I sewed right sides together, but don't forget to add your ties and neck strap before you sew them together.

I pinned the ties and straps in place in the center of the apron, so when I was sewing they wouldn't inadvertently get caught in the seam.

I also pinned and the neck strap the same way.

Next pin the right sides together leaving a section between the neckties open, so you can turn it right side out.

If you would like a ruffle, take a 4 in piece of fabric and turn the edge under. Gather the top and pin it in side just like the ties.

Sew

Turn it right sides out.

This is what that will look like. Press. 

Then sew a top stitch over the part that you left open to turn your apron.

If you don't want to have a lining, a faster way with less fabric. Turn the edge under and then add your straps and ties.

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DOWNLOAD THE PATTERN NOW FOR FREE: GIRLS APRON PATTERN

Instructions:

   Cut two apron ties 22 inches by 2 inches

   Cut one necktie 18 inches by 2 inches

Optional Ruffle:

   Moderately full - 41 inches by 5 inches

   Full - 55 inches by 5 inches

   Tape the four pattern pieces together and cut

   One or two for a reversible apron

Have fun! ~Julia