American Girl Doll Clothes

This summer we made a patchwork blanket for one of Emily's American Girl dolls. She got a new trundle bed for two dolls for her birthday, so I made two more blankets (not patchwork -- too time consuming) over the holiday break. I also made a sleeping bag for her Indian doll, Kaya.

I bought patterns for American Girl doll clothes at least a year ago and decided it was time to use them. It has been at least a decade since I've sewed more than a seam or a button, so there has been some frustration. The instructions seem like the adults in a Peanuts cartoon movie are talking. There has been a lot of seam ripping. There has been wasted fabric. But I am getting the hang of it all again and really enjoy seeing the finished product -- something to SHOW for my time. (You know, you can't SEE the results of teaching every day for the most part, and seeing the results of cleaning and washing dishes and ironing are not as exciting as they used to be -- assuming they every were satisfying....)

Here is Maria (Emily's new Just Like Me doll named after her birth name) in a snowman jumper. The fabric and rick rack were my grandmothers! This is Elizabeth in a dress made from an old bed sheet.

Lanie in flannel pajamas (fabric from college), a special request. All the dolls need pjs so I will be busy making those for awhile. We bought some more fabric to match the style of each of her FIVE dolls.

After the pajamas it will be some more jumpers (fairly easy) and turtlenecks to go under them in the winter. Pants are the easiest to make, so there may be some of those, too!

I would also like to make some for the dolls of friends.