Friday, December 12, 2014

$1.00 Doll Night Gown - FREE PATTERN & TUTORIAL


I've saved my favorite dollar store purchase transformation for today.  To make this project you'll need a fleece baby blanket from your local dollar store.  I transformed this purchase into a doll night gown. This post features a free pattern which I created to fit an American Girl doll. 

(If you're just joining me, we had fun last week and this week turning cheap finds from dollar items into cute doll clothes (you can find links to my other tutorials at the bottom of this post).

(When you print this pattern, don't forget it needs to be printed at full size. First download the free pattern HERE.) Once downloaded, tape the main pattern piece to the bottom pattern piece along the dotted lines. If you download this pattern, would you be kind and leave me a comment below and let me know how you found my blog?  Thank you in advance.


Supplies needed:
  • Thread
  • 30" of contrasting ribbon - 1/8 - 1/4" wide
  • Small safety pin
  • 18" of single fold bias seam tape
  • One dollar store fleece baby blanket

Side note:  The fabric used to make this baby blanket has to be the cheapest fleece I've ever used!  But do not be fooled, it  worked great for making a doll night gown which is the important thing, right?

Cut out the fabric using the pattern pieces as directed on the patterns.  When sewing, use 1/4" seams unless otherwise stated.

Follow the pictorial steps below and in 30 - 40 minutes you should have a doll night gown:



Sew the sleeve seams together.



Slit the buttonhole open.  
From the right side of the project, do the following:




Sew both side seams together using an overlocking stitch.
Sew the sleeves into the armholes with an overlocking stitch.




Turn night gown right side out and thread the ribbon through the casing. 
Sew through all layers of fabric and the ribbon at the back center casing.  
(This will prevent the ribbon from being accidentally pulled out of the night gown while playing.)

As a child, night gowns were my personal favorite sleep wear.  In the chilly mornings, I loved to sit on the heater and have the warm air shoot up my body billowing my night gown out. Awww, the memories!  My sister and I use to laugh at how fat we looked.  (We stopped laughing and joking about our weight years ago!)



Thanks for joining me...don't forget if you download the pattern a comment is required!





  • Little Miss Santa Outfit from Santa hats go HERE 
  • Sweater Dress from thermal socks go HERE 
  • Leggings from knee hights go HERE
  • Elf Outfit from Christmas Stocking go HERE 
  • Doll sleeping bag from a chair cushion & tea towel go HERE 
  • Shorts from shirt sleeves go HERE 
  • Skirt & scarf from a scarf go HERE 
  • Party dress using a sequin headband go HERE 
  • Night Gown from a baby fleece blanket go HERE 
  • Zebra Jacket from a fleece scarf go HERE 


  • xoxo Grandma  

    63 comments:

    the best fan said...

    thank you for a free and very easy to follow pattern and instructions
    for me the fabric will be free too as i am going to use an outgrown dressing gown

    Anonymous said...

    Thank you for this pattern! I found your blog through pinterest - searching for doll night gown patterns. I may use it for my girls sewing group.

    Anonymous said...

    Thank you for this pattern! I found your blog through pinterest - searching for doll night gown patterns. I may use it for my girls sewing group.

    Penny said...

    I've just printed your pattern, and will try it for my granddaughter's doll,I think it looks easy enough for me to manage...I'm really not a great sewer at all!

    Man of the Cloth said...

    Thank you for sharing this. I had a play day with my granddaughter today and we made two of these - one for her doll and one for mine. We had jolly good fun teaching and learning the fine art of sewing.

    Man of the Cloth said...

    Thank you for sharing this. I had a play day with my granddaughter today and we made two of these - one for her doll and one for mine. We had jolly good fun teaching and learning the fine art of sewing.

    Unknown said...

    Thank you for sharing the pattern. I have been looking for an easy pattern.

    Bonita said...

    Thank you so much for sharing these patterns and also doing the tutorial.
    it is so nice of you to do this for all of us. I am looking forward to your next tutorial

    Stacey Phillips said...

    Thank you for sharing this pattern. Just started sewing to make things for my granddaughters. Thank you for the step by step instructions.

    SewGrandma said...

    I reached your blog through Pinterest. Thank you for sharing the pattern and helping this grandma make her granddaughter's dreams come true!
    August 18, 2019

    AJH said...

    Hi there, just found you with google search. Am going to print at 35% to try to make one for my daughter's 6" doll... Thanks for the tutorial!

    Unknown said...

    Thanks you for sharing this pattern! I'm using it to make doll clothes to give to Don't Cry... I'm Here, an organization which gives refugee children dolls and teddy bears.

    Unknown said...

    Thank you! My daughter will love her matching PJ's!

    Baby T Grows said...

    Thank you! I found you through Pinterest. I'm making matching Christmas pajamas for my little family, and thought it would be a fun surprise to make a nightgown for my daughter's favorite stuffed animal, who is similar dimensions to an AG doll. It's a good use of my scraps!

    Gabrielle said...

    Hello, I found you through Pinterest, as well. I;m looking forward to making this for a 16 inch doll, but I think that will work just fine. I live in Michigan and my feet are always cold, so maybe hers do too. Thanks for the pattern...XOXO

    Gabrielle

    Unknown said...

    thank you for this wonderful pattern and tutorial.

    Heidi Gail said...

    I found you through Pinterest. Thank you for this pattern.

    Unknown said...

    Thank you for the pattern. My granddaughters want me to make matching night gowns for them and their dolls. I googled American Doll patterns and selected YOU.

    Unknown said...

    Can't wait to get started on the little nightgown for my granddaughter. Love the pattern and your story.
    Nana in Oklahoma

    Lawtalkingal said...

    Thank you! My daughter is now 14 but we are Swedish-American and I am making a St. Lucia gown for her doll to set out with our Christmas decorations next year. The original AG St. Lucia outfit is long discontinued and I couldn't find a nightgown pattern anywhere. Found yours on Pinterest and for sure will follow your blog. Thanks.

    Inspire said...

    Thanks for sharing, so happy to have come across your blog. Happy 2020

    Inspire said...

    Thanks for sharing your creative work, happy 2020!

    gab from Gael said...

    You are a very creative seamstress. I shop a lot in the dollar stores and with the same mind or wondering how to repurpose purchases. Thanks for your sharing. Gael Golden, Texas





    gab from Gael said...

    Thanks you for letting us with your delightful designs. Gael

    Vivian said...

    Found you through Pinterest. Thanks.

    Unknown said...

    Great for my two granddaughters"babies

    Monica

    Cathy said...

    A great little nightgown for learning to do sleeves and a casing. Thanks for posting on your own site and making it free. I found it by googling “doll nightgown” and have downloaded the pattern. Thank you for an idea for use during the social distancing. We are doing sewing lessons over FaceTime. Can you use just my first name on the comment please, since I don’t have a nickname or tag.

    deborah7452 said...

    Thank you for sharing this pattern. I found it on allfree.

    Unknown said...

    I googled doll nightgown pattern - love this! My daughter just had a baby girl, so I'm going to make this gown for my daughter's childhood doll from a nightgown MY MOTHER made my daughter 30 years ago - I'm excited to pass down this multi-generation treasure. I will have to adjust it though, as her doll is a 15" doll, not an American Girl - I hope it works - any advice? Thank you for posting this free pattern, so appreciated to pass your gift and talent to everyone!

    robbie said...

    This Pattern looks very easy to make . I can't wait to try it. Thank you so much for sharing.
    I found a link to it on Pinterest.

    Unknown said...

    thank you for the free pattern!

    Unknown said...

    Norma thanks for the free pattern my granddaughter will love it.

    Unknown said...

    Thank you for the pattern and the instructions. Will make this today.
    July 20, 2020

    Mom/ME said...

    Thank you sew much for the pattern. I am looking forward to stitching it up. I also want to look around your blog to make sure I don't miss some other hidden treasure. Thanks again.

    Unknown said...

    Thanks. I used to help my daughter make a nightgown for a stuffed animal. It has bigger arms than the American girl doll so I'll need to upsize the sleeves of I do it again

    frugalgrandma said...

    I will be making this for my granddaughters dolly in halloween fabric. Thank you for the pattern and instructions, it is greatly appreciated.

    Vicki said...

    Thank you, I will be my grandaughters dolly some decent nightdresses. Found this through allfreesewing.com.

    Nannie D said...

    Thank you for the free pattern! I had made 4 of my great granddaughters fleece housecoats and wanted to make them nightgowns to go with them. Instead of using fleece, I used a white muslin for all 4. I put a color of ribbon in each coat to match the coat colors!

    Unknown said...

    My granddaughter is going to love this nightie for her new baby doll. Thank you for posting and allowing me to download this.
    September 16, 2020

    Veronica said...

    Thank you for the pattern! My granddaughter has been asking for a nightgown for her doll and this is perfect.

    Veronica said...

    Thank you for the pattern! My granddaughter has been asking for a nightgown for her doll and this is perfect.

    Patricia Kiyono said...

    I have some scraps that will be perfect for this pattern. Thank you!

    Unknown said...

    I found this pattern from All Free Sewing pages - and plenty of fleece at the dollar stores to choose from - thank you.

    Drayway said...

    I would love this pattern, for my girls to learn to sew. Thank you for your work!

    LeonaG said...

    I would love this pattern to make for my grand daughters dolls! Thank you! And sorry if it posted twice....I wasn't;t sure if I had done it right.

    XOXOGrandma said...

    I am having trouble cutting the bottom half of the night gown. Am I cutting it on the fold or am I cutting 2 pieces. And if I am cutting on the the fold which is the the line for the fold. The dotted line or one of the solid lines. Also how does this piece get attached to the top part of the nightgown. One side of is a slanted line. Am very confused.
    Deedee.

    Starla said...

    Just like every other grandma looking for patterns to see clothes for their granddaughter's new doll.

    donna said...

    Thank you for your sharing! Found in Pinterest search.

    Clan MacAulay WV said...

    Thank you for taking the time to post this pattern and instructions. We'll enjoy making it. I think I'll try using some outgrown pjs.

    Unknown said...

    Thans for the greebie that is perfect for my grandaughter
    She is getting a nightgown to match

    Unknown said...

    Thank you for sharing! I found your pattern on all free sewing. Again, thanks so much! Cindy

    Junelegs said...

    Good morning. I found your pattern on Pinterest and I plan to make this and other patterns you offer for my granddaughter's birthday. Thanks for the easy and well instructed patterns. I'm sure my granddaughter will enjoy playing with these patterns on her dolls.

    Unknown said...

    Hi. I found your pattern by typing in 18 inch doll clothes on pinterest. Thank you for sharing!

    Unknown said...

    Thank you for sharing. Love to sew and it was free. Thank you again.

    Unknown said...

    I found you through Pinterest and love how you are so inventive to use reasonable priced
    materials for doll clothes. Reminds me of being at home while growing up with my thrifty
    mother. I cant wait to try this pattern. Thanks so much!
    Mary

    Zoe said...

    Hi. I found your pattern on pinterest. Thanks for sharing!

    Zoe said...

    Hello. I found your pattern on pinterest. Thanks.

    Unknown said...

    I love this idea and my grandbabies will love their new dolly wardrobes. Thank you for being so creative and sharing so kids of all ages can enjoy!!
    Thanks again,
    Cindi

    beverly said...

    the pattern pieces look to be sewn in the middle however the gown you have pictured does not show a seam. also what is the button hole for? really cute pattern.

    Arassier said...

    Thanks for the free patterns

    Katherina Mosqueda said...

    Hi! I found this pattern on Pinterest. Thanks!

    Unknown said...

    found on pinterest. thank you!

    Unknown said...

    I can't wait to make this for my granddaughter. Thanks