30 Things to Make for an American Girl Doll - Free Patterns & Tutorials

Attention all American Girl doll lovers! Look no further, because I have a stash of American Girl doll ideas for you right here at your very finger tips.

I've gathered 30 posts together that show you things that you can make for American Girl dolls into one post as an easy reference.  If you enjoy free patterns and tutorials, then this should be a fun post for you.  All these posts show you how to make things for your child, grandchild, or your doll(s) because let's face it, I know a lot of you out there collect dolls.  

Last month, I finally purchased my own American Girl doll -- before that I was just borrowing my grown daughters who have left them at home. Maybe you've noticed that cute blond doll with a few freckles across her cheeks?  Yup, she's mine - at least until I give it away to a granddaughter one day.  I have visions of showing her my huge box of clothes and accessories and letting her choose what she wants for her doll as her gift.  

1.  Refashion pants into a doll sized tee pee go HERE.

2.  Make tights from knee high socks go HERE.

3.  Refashion men's socks into doll mittens & hat go HERE

4.  How to make easy doll socks go HERE

5.  A Valentine's Day Doll Dress.  HERE

6.  How to make doll backpacks - a tutorial go HERE

7.  How to make doll clip boards - a tutorial go HERE

8.  Lace Hankie into a Doll top with a free pattern & tutorial found HERE

9.  Baby Clothes Refashioned into Doll Clothes.  Downloadable tutorial sheets so you can refashion easily found HERE

10.  Four downloadable tutorials on making doll sized sandals go HERE

11.  Tutorial on how to refashion a leather wallet and eyeglass holder into doll sandals. Go HERE

12.  Tutorial on how to turn a child's swimsuit into a doll swimsuit go HERE

13.  Turn a sock into a doll leotard go HERE.

14.  Turn a doily into a doll skirt - a tutorial go HERE.

15.  Make a precious purse - fit for a doll.  Free pattern & tutorial go HERE

16.  "Never throw away an old wallet!"  Free pattern & tutorial on how to make doll shoes and a purse from an old wallet go HERE

17.  Tutorial on how to make a super simple doll purse from a jewelry pouch go HERE

18.  Free pattern to make the jumper on this doll outfit.  HERE

19.  Pattern review on refashioning a bathrobe into a doll sized kimono.  HERE

10 dollar store purchases into clothes for an 18" doll with complete tutorials and some free patterns too.

20.  Little Miss Santa Outfit from Santa hats go  HERE 

21.  Sweater Dress from thermal socks go HERE 

22.  Leggings from knee highs go HERE

23.  Elf Outfit from Christmas Stocking go HERE 

24.  Doll sleeping bag from a chair cushion & tea towel go HERE 

25.  Shorts from shirt sleeves go HERE 

26.  Skirt & scarf from a scarf go HERE 

27.  Party dress using a sequin headband go HERE

28.  Night Gown from a baby fleece blanket go HERE 

29.  Zebra Jacket from a fleece scarf go HERE 

30.  Easy Doll Hospital Gown go HERE

I think that'll be enough for now. That should keep you busy for a while. Which of all these tutorials is your favorite?  Would love to hear!  

xoxo Grandma

Linked to: Nap Time Creations, Crafty Allie/Gina's Craft Corner

Baby Bubble Dress - a Refashion

While visiting my daughter's family, I got the chance to sew a baby bubble dress for my almost eight month old granddaughter and to play along with Project Run and Play's January 2015 sewing challenge and Free for All at Frances Suzanne. 

I started this project with one of my daughter's old shirts. I really loved the black, ivory and turquoise fabrics, the colors compliment this sweet babies pretty blue eyes, and her delicious chub, perfectly.  

Here's how my creation turned out using Alida Makes tutorial changed up a bit to fit this little chubster (which is what her big brother calls her).  I took a square of lace and cut it into a triangle and added these pieces to the lower sides of the dress.  A trimming look to that thigh area!

I also inserted the elastic at the top of the dress eliminating the extra ruffle.  I didn't have elastic thread to use for the bottom shirring as directed in the tutorial and had no idea how to even find any in the foreign country my daughter lives in so I used 1/2" elastic and made a casing instead and luckily, it worked.  I also added a half circle pocket to the front of the dress to hide a hole in the fabric which is why the top was no longer worn.  My granddaughter hinted that she would like a pocket to keep a toy in...ha ha!

Don't you just love her rolls, blue eyes and red hair?  Yup, she's a cutie and her grandmother kisses her dozens of times a day just knowing it'll be a long time until I get to see her again.  (Sadly, my daughter swears she won't fly half way around the world to come home with her children until it's time for her husband's job to be over.  I understand, honestly I do....I even had a hard time with the long, long flight over here.)

I sure enjoyed refashioning this top into my version of this bubble dress baby style.  I mostly enjoy my time with this little girl's family.   Do you like bubble dresses on babies?  xoxo Grandma

Linked to: Threading My Way, Creating my Way to Success, Frances Suzanne

Easy Doll Hospital Gown - a FREE Pattern

Last March, I participated in a service activity and as part of that activity, we made simple medical dolls and hospital gowns to fit those dolls.  As I was making them, I realized they are the perfect size for an American Girl doll. HERE is the link to that pattern; go to "Items to make" then to "Medical Play Dolls" and then to "Doll Gown Pattern".  This is a super easy sewing project and can be made in around 15 minutes.  

Supplies needed: 

• scrap of fabric about 9 inches wide x 20 inches long (I used flannel)
• coordinating thread 
• a package of double folded bias seam tape 

1. Cut out the pattern.
2. Sew the shoulder seams together.
3. Sew seam tape to the sleeves.
4. Sew side seams together.
5. Sew seam tape to the back around to the hem.
6. Sew seam tape to the neck leaving around 7 inches to tie the gown closed.

That's it. You're finished - you could also make one of THESE clipboards and then add a few medical charts to that clipboard.  You can download some perfectly sized charts HERE.

Happy Sewing!  xoxo Grandma

Linked to:  Gina's Craft Corner/Crafty Allie

Pants Refashioned into a Doll Teepee - a Tutorial

A few weeks ago, I made an American Indian costume for an American Girl doll.  After making it, I decided it would be fun to make the doll a teepee because play time is so much more fun with accessories, right?  This doll-sized teepee is perfect for a doll 18" or smaller. The best part about making this is that it can be made from a pair of pants that you no longer wear, making this another totally inexpensive project. Following too many Christmas expenditures, this inexpensive project is the best kind of project!  

Supplies Needed:
One pair of pants - the wider the pant legs the better.
1 package of extra wide double found bias tape
Thread 
Scissors
7 - 3/8" dowels

1. Start with a pair of pants.  Cut both legs off - from the hem up needs to be at least 25 inches.  Unpick any seams and cut off the hem.  
2. Cut the pant legs into even triangles.
3. Sew the triangles together per this diagram: 
   
4. 

   After you cut an opening in the top of your teepee, round off the corners of the bottom of the fabric circle by cutting as needed. 
5. If you want a design on your teepee, cut the design from a contrasting fabric.  HERE is the deer design, if you want to copy the design I used.  I drew the antlers onto the deer with a washable fabric marker and then sewed the antler design with a tight, narrow zig zag stitch.  You'll need to cut out two deer from  this pattern.  Place the deer onto the lower portion of each flap.  One will be reversed so that your deer are facing each other and the opening of the teepee. 
   

   
6. Next stitch the "do not sew" edge or flap opening by folding over the unfinished edge and stitching close to that edge (see top right photo). 
7. Sew brown seam tape around the bottom of the circle, starting and stopping at the flap opening.
8. For the ties, take the remainder of the seam tape and cut in half.
9. Sew that seam tape together finishing off one end of each piece of seam tape.
10. Sew this seam tape at 9" from the bottom of the tee pee.
11. Follow as described in this diagram:
12. Fold in half 1" of 1/8" wide elastic and sew this to the top and bottom of each seam. This elastic will be used to hold your poles to the teepee.

13.  I next added a little white jumbo rick rack onto the bottom of the teepee by sewing at the top and bottom of the trim.  The white from this trim added a little punch of contrasting color.

14.  Thread the dowels through the elastic.

15.  Tie the dowels together right above the opening. I used a piece of leather cut into a 1/4" wide x 12" long stripe and wrapped the leather around the dowels a couple of times. This will hold your dowels together.

16.  Spread the "poles" apart and let a child have fun pretending.

xoxo Grandma

Purchasing Leather at a Fabulous Price - a Refashion

I wanted real leather to use to make a pair of baby booties but I didn't want to pay a ransom for the good stuff. So, I did what any leather-seeking-bargain-shopper would do. I went to my local thrift store. I happened to find this really nice leather jacket:

This jacket was only $15.00 and the fabulous leather was in perfect shape.  After purchasing this jacket, I took it home and started cutting it apart.  I would have felt perfectly wicked except it was a size 4 and I haven't fit in that size since I was in 7th grade! So no guilt in cutting up this baby! 

I first used the leather to make these booties for my grandson for Christmas using THIS pattern:

And one more pair for my growing granddaughter using THIS same pattern.

Then I made my third thing from this leather: a pair of boots using THIS pattern for my granddaughter.  I changed/improved the pattern by adding some sticky back felt onto the sole area of the boots. Then I added another layer of sticky foam because these boots needed stability and warmth for taking a child outside in this frigid weather we've been having lately.  

Sadly, these boots kept sliding off of her so I had to do a few extra things. As seen in the below photo, I added elastic right at the ankle height stitching the elastic to the seams.

Finally, these boots stayed on her cute little feet. But oh, how I wish I had of known before I sewed them together. That fur was HORRIBLE to unpick! But that leather... oh that leather! So glad I found it!  

If you want to sew with leather, be brave and purchase a leather jacket at a thrift store. Trust me, it'll save you oodles of cash that you would have spent otherwise at a fabric store. Such a fabulous price for leather!   Since you've now splurged on the leather, don't forget to get a leather needle too for your sewing machine. It'll help your sewing go so much smoother.  

xoxo Grandma

Linked to: Crafty Allie