Foster Creativity with Doll Costumes
Sewing doll clothes for 18″ dolls is a wonderful way to nurture imaginative play. Doll Costume Dress Up is this week’s featured Sewing With Nancy online TV show with author, Joan Hinds. Watch Doll Costume Dress Up online!
Here’s a preview of the doll clothes patterns and sewing tips.
Cowgirl Doll Pattern
Sewing for dolls gives us permission to try a variety of techniques and to work with unique fabrics. The Cowgirl outfit is the case in point! Adding fringe to a cow print is not the norm for sewing. Yet, with this costume, your little girl and her doll will win first prize in the imaginative rodeo.
Witch Doll Pattern
Witches don’t have to be scary! This doll is donned in a mod-style Halloween outfit ready to give a little girl pleasant dreams. You too will have enjoyment with this costume, learning clever ways of adding trim and quickly finishing edges.
Super Hero Doll Pattern
Leap tall building in a single bound—well, not really. But that’s an option for play! Joan’s super hero pattern can create those playful thoughts, after you spend just a small amount of time doing the stitching!
Poodle Skirt Doll Pattern
It’s all about accessories! The sewing is streamlined, but the accents make the outfit.
Ladybug Doll Pattern
Next, a “cute as a bug” costume! It’s amazing what a little polka dot fabric, pompoms, and sheer fabric can turn into! This costume makes me wish I were a little girl again!
Pumpkin Doll Pattern
The ladybug and pumpkin costumes share the same basic pattern. Watch Doll Costume Dress Up to see how both costumes are made.
Watch Doll Costume Dress Up(Part One and Part Two) on Sewing With Nancy online.
Bye for now,
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Vicky
Oh my goodness… The Cowgirl costume is too cute. That’s the one I would make.
Rosalind Gutierrez
The “Super Hero” costume is adorable and my granddaughter would like this because it is an idol like the popular show “Super girl.”
Carol Pollock
I just started making some doll clothes for my grand nieces. I haven’t made doll clothes since I was a little girl. These outfits are so cute, I would love to add these outfits to my other patterns.
Ginny A
I would make the witch costume, for sure. It reminds me of the costume I made for my daughter when she was little. So cute!
diane c
I would make all of them. When I was a little girl, my mom made doll clothes for me. That doll had a very extensive wardrobe. And I still have them all, since I had boys. I would like to make doll clothes for my granddaughter some day.
Margie Herrell
I love the cowgirl outfit so would choose it to make first
Carol A
After watching Sewing With Nancy and seeing how easy these doll outfits were to make, I bought the pattern book. I’ve made 3 outfits and they are so easy and quick to make. Joan Hinds does a great job of designing these patterns and putting in lots of pictures. I learned a lot of new sewing techniques that I can apply to my sized patterns.
Dawn
The poodle skirt brings back great memories! That would be my first choice, but after that, I would make them all!
Sally
I have made doll clothes for my grand daughter, but nothing as elaborate as your patterns. Eventually I would want to make them all, but I would start with the Poodle Skirt pattern so I could explain to her that is what we wore when I was young!
cathy Robillard
I would make the cow girl costume. Cause I’m a cow girl and love to make doll clothes. I need that book so I can make them all.
thanks
Dee Blanchard
Would love to make the mermaid costume for my great grand daughter Ariel our little mermaid. I have made her mermaid Halloween costume now would love to make one for her doll.
Brenda
I would make the poodle skirt. It is really cute and my granddaughter’s would love it.
Linda Pearce
I would make the witch costume first. Second I would make the cowgirl costume. I have two granddaughters that play with their 18″ dolls a lot so I would need two costumes. One of them likes cowgirls and the other has been a witch with different outfits a few times.
Gloria
The costume doll clothes are the best. I would make the Cowgirl outfit for my great niece, the child is a city girl that loves to go to her grand parents farm on weekends and other days off from school. She loves anything to do with the cattle, the farm dog and a special kitty there. She helps with the loading of cattle, treating a sick animal and also feeding an orphan calf. She wants to be in veterinary medicine in the future.
Kathy
Definitely I would start with the Cowgirl costume. Rodeos are very popular in Arizona as are cowgirls.
Sheila
I would make the cow girl outfit for my granddaughter’s doll first followed by the witch costume.
Susan Sorrells
My first choice is the Fairy Tale Wedding Gown. My first granddaughter is almost 16 and doesn’t play with dolls but is keeping her American Girl doll in case she is blessed with a daughter or granddaughter some day. By the time any great-granddaughter comes along I don’t think I will be able to sew due to arthritis. I would like to make this to be kept with the doll as a future present from Nana.
Erma Desper
I have made 18″ doll clothes for years for my all my nieces. I’ve always said making doll clothes is so much fun because no matter how many times you have to take the outfit off an on to get a good fit, that doll NEVER complains. Ha ha ha. If I win this book, I’m sure I will make all the outfits. so cute!
Debra
The cowgirl outfit is so cute that it would be the first one! My granddaughter has her own cowgirl costume from Halloween so I know she’d love for her doll to have one too. There are so many cute ideas that I might have to try them all!
Deb Paisie
Of course they are all adorable! The ladybug outfit would certainly spark imaginative play as a bug, a costume, a theatrical play, a made up story. I could see adding other bug outfits (dragonfy, bumble bee, butterfly, moth or an ant) for even more imaginative fun playtime.
Debbie Delcoeio
I would make the pumpkin outfit. I have made many pumpkin outfits for my grand babies, nieces and nephews first Halloween. Then I would make them all. Thanks for another great 18″ doll pattern book.
MARY
I would make the Poodle Skirt because it’s exactly like the one I had as a teenager !:)
Kathryn Farver
How fun to make costumes for dolls! I have nieces who would adore the Super Hero costume.
Kim H
I would make them all because they are so darn cute! I hate to choose one to answer the question, but there is no doubt I would make the poodle skirt, because it makes my heart sing!
Dottie Macomber
I would make the jack-o-lantern outfit because my grandmother made one like that for me when I was little! There was no face on the one she made, and the hat was actually a hood with eye and mouth holes cut out, complete with a stuffed “stem” on top made of green felt! She rigged up something inside made from a corrugated cardboard box to make the body stand out. This really brought back memories!
jacki
oh, I love the cowgirl outfit! and the superhero! and, well all of them!
Kim Parga
I would love to have the cowgirl costume to make for my granddaughter to go with the American Girl doll that I am getting her for her birthday next month!
Shirley Clark
They are all so cute! I think I’d make the Lady Bug outfit fist!
Starla
I love the poodle skirt!
Michelle Defenderfer
I have a 3 year old daughter who recently discovered dressing her dolls. I use her love of dolls to try to teach her to love sewing too. She picks out fabric and patterns for me to sew for her. She would love the dresses in The Doll Pattern Dress Up Book. She would love the mermaid and fairy costumes on the front. I love the Scarlett Ohara dress. The doll dresses play into her imaginative games with her dolls. I love the idea of having a book for us to pour over and sew.
Carol Netzler
I just showed the costumes to my granddaughter and asked her which one she likes the best. She enthusiastically replied, “I like ALL of them.” Can you make them for me?I’m not a seamstress, but I will have to give these a try!
Virginia
I’m so lucky that my daughters and granddaughters get together for project days and this book would spark some great times together while the youngest ones still love to dress their dolls.
Carol
My granddaughters special interest is in superheroes, especially since her daddy is one. The superhero costume is the first one I would try first.
Susan
I’d make the poodle skirt, it reminds me of the one my Mom made me when I was young.
Charlene M Dann
I have used Joan’s patterns for years and love them. At the time I received an American Girl doll (Samantha), my sons were teenagers and they thought it was odd that a grown woman would want a doll. I didn’t exactly play with her, I wanted to sew and knit for her!
Twenty years later, I now have a granddaughter about to turn one. She won’t be playing with Samantha yet, but I plan to get her a Bitty Baby and an American Girl in her likeness soon. The cowgirl outfit has my heart because Avery seems to be drawn to pink and to fringe.
Thanks for the opportunity to win this.
Lillian K
They are ALL so cute, but my favorite is the Poodle Skirt costume. It takes me back to high school days.
Jan
I would ask my granddaughter which she liked best and hope that my sewing skills were up to the task. They are all so cute! She would probably want them all.
Janet Weirauch
I love how easy you make this look. I think I will try the cowgirl first. Doll clothes have always been difficult for me but I want to give it another try. Thank you.
Laurel Lee Pedersen
I’d use the patterns to make a Scandinavian costume from my father’s heritage in Norway.
Peg G
The Super Hero costume would most likely be the favorite of my 8 to 11 year old sewing students and mine too. But since the kids are all beginners, I’d substitute patriotic colored cottons for those slippery satins.
Debra Buchanan
I will absolutely have to make them all, but my first one will be the cowgirl outfit! I have a 4 year old that is crazy about horses and outfits. Wait ’til she sees this outfit for her American Girl doll! I will have to adapt it so that I can make a size 5 for her! Too cute.
Winnie
That witch doll is adorable!
Karen
I love the cute Little Witch Costume. Halloween is one of my favorite Holidays. My Granddaughter loves it too and her Doll, Samantha, goes everywhere with her. Would be so cute to
have my Granddaughter and her doll dressed in the same costumes when they go “trick or Treating” this year.
Linda
I would make the cowgirl costume as the doll would love to attend the Calgary Stampede. They are all so cute it was hard to decide!
Ruth StMartin
I want to make most all of the patterns as I have my great granddaughters birthday coming up and I know she would like to have more clothes for her doll.
Susan
I would make the Poodle Skirt Doll Pattern because I made the same costume for my daughter, when she was a teen, and think my granddaughters would get a big kick out of their dolls having one too.
Lynn
I like the ladybug outfit.
Donna Genito
I love the witches costume. Would love to make these with my granddaughter!
Kay Statom
I would make the cowgirl outfit first. My grand daughter has a horse and she would just love it
Oleta Edwards
Iwould either make the lady bug or the poodle skirt first. Have a Great Great Niece that would love either of them.
Brenda P
I would make one of the Halloween costumes. I can just see my little granddaughter pushing her doll in her stroller taking her along as her mom, brothers, and friends go trick or treating. She has a doll here also and we go for walks and take the doll to restaurants, shopping, etc. Grandkids are so much fun and a blessing from God!
Cheryl
It will have to be the mermaid since I have been meaning to make the mermaid costume that Nancy featured in her blog for my granddaughter. I have been teaching her how to sew with “Doll Fashion Studio.”
Helen
Well where would you start? These are beautiful dress up costumes and you make them look so easy to complete. I think maybe my first outfit would have to be the lucky ladybug! But who knows – it could be the cowgirl in the blue outfit trimmed with ric rac.
Mary Green
1st granddaughter was a pumpkin just like this one for HER 2nd Halloween, and GD would surely love this pumpkin costume for her doll. Then when soon-to-be-here baby sister wears the costume, they can match!
Linda Weinberger
I love the 50’s poodle costume because I grew up in the 50’s and still love dolls today. I love making outfits for the American Girl dolls
Gail Beam
Love all of the costumes and your fabulous tutorial on making them. My granddaughters are both 16 and although they do not play with their American girl dolls anymore, both of them kept their dolls to hand down one day. I would love to make the Cowgirl costume to be kept with their dolls as they are both cowboy boot lovers.
Tina
I would love to make the poodle skirt!
Frances Ruta
This video was such a joy to watch and make me want to make all costumes for my dolls…..thank you
Judy G
I love the Cowgirl outfit. However, my youngest granddaughter has two older brothers who are “into” super-heros, so I imagine she would want the Super Girl as she is always trying to keep up with the boys!
E. Ann
I would make the Poodle Skirt outfit. Such fun! For my granddaughter!!!! Lol, but I would love it. Could make one for my doll also. Then twice the fun!! Love it!
Esther
I would make the poodle skirt for my granddaughter’s doll. I think she would love it!
Kelly Sasman
I have watched this program with Joan Hinds thinking I can’t wait to when my granddaughter is old enough to have a doll so I can make these. I wouldn’t make just one costume. I would start with the Mermaid, then Cow Girl and then the Pumpkin costume would be next. Granddaughter is almost two so these are definitely in the near future!
Linda Rupe
I would make them all! I would start with the poodle skirt.
Karen Dietert
I would make all of them. I have a granddaughter, she would them.
suzi smith
The cowgirl and the superhero are favorites but the poodle skirt wins them all!
Alice
I really like them all. The witch would be one I would like to make first.
Marty
First I would make the long dress shown on the cover and the adaot the mermaid into a shark costume for my “sharkie” fan.
Marty
First I would make the long dress shown on the cover and then adapt the mermaid into a shark costume forr my “sharkie” fan.
Marlene Carlson
I really like the cowgirl outfit. I would make that but I would probably make all of them.
Jeri Rohl
I love them all but I’d make the cowgirl costume first — I love the cow print and the fringe!
Barb Steinmetz
From the featured ones, I’d have to choose the Cowgirl. My granddaughter would love it! She loves anything horses and this Definitely fits the bill! But then I would have to make the mermaid because it just so darn cute!
Jeanne
I love these outfits! As we are all about horses and the great outdoors I would love to make the cowgirl outfit and later the adorable poodle skirt! What fun!!
PDudley
I love all that I see. I would make the Fairy Princess outfit on the cover first then work my way through the rest. I make outfits for 18″ dolls that I then donate to CASA for the Children. I toss my leftover material from other projects into a bin all year long and work on a them in between other projects to relax while helping Children get special gifts at Christmas.
Penny
I would start with the Fairy Princess outfit shown on the book cover. I would then work my way through all the other costumes. I toss all my leftover fabric scraps from projects into a bin and use them to make 18″ doll clothes that I donate at Christmas to CASA who provides gifts to abused children that are in the court system. It is a gift to myself to know that a child will have a better and safe christmas.
Kathy Marlow
I am an American Girl Doll waiting in my closet for my granddaughter’s 7th birthday in August. She would love to have a set of these costumes.
Debora Nipper
Mermaid! My daughter loves little Mermaid.
Donna N
I would love making the poodle skirt costume. I just found a poodle skirt at a thrift store for my granddaughter, and it would be so awesome to have a matching outfit for her American Girl doll. I had also made a poodle skirt for my daughter 25 years ago, which she wore for Halloween and Dress-Up Day at school. it would just be the cat’s meow to recreate memories like this and have matching outfits for my granddaughter and her American Girl doll :>).
Caryn Hatchet
Love them all, but isn’t Scarlett adorable?
sue
I would make the lady bug costume because I made Halloween costumes like this for my 10 yr old granddaughters a few yrs ago.
sue
The lady bug!
marie keller
The ballgown. Anything with a long skirt to twirl is a ballgown to my Granddaughter Riley.
Suzanne R
I have another of Joan’s books- it is excellent . I would like this one to make the witch costume.
Vicki
I would start with the log dress on the cover! I loved long dresses for my dolls, with frills, ruffles laces. Mom used to see doll clothes for the Salvation Army annual doll clothes drive, so I would do the same. These are so much cuter than the patterns we had. We embellished. Thanks!
Mary Jo Pigott Groom
I love them all! I would start with the pumpkin because it reminds me of the pumpkin costume my daughter had when she was little.
Ethel Briggs
I have to admit that I would make the poodle skirt first. Just seeing it brought back memories of sock hops and poodle skirts. It may age me, but my granddaughters, ages 16, 10 and 4, enjoy grandma’s stories of when she was in school–a far different time from now.
diane motley
Without a doubt…I’d make the mermaid. My g’daughter is a huge Ariel fan so it only makes sense…cowgirl is a close second!
Cindy Pederson
The cowgirl costume and the witch costume would be the first two costumes that I would make. They are all adorable.
Karen
I would help my granddaughter make the poodle skirt for two reasons, it is my vintage and also because we love to dance together! This would be just the activity to help my grand daughter learn how to and enjoy sewing! thanks Nancy for all you do for our craft.
Rebecca C
All of them are adorable. I would make both the pumpkin and witch costumes. I made both for my granddaughters. I would love to make one for their dolls.
Gina Horst
Who ever wins, Congratulations. You’re going to love this book. I bought it as soon as I could. I made the cowgirl out fit, the witch, Little Bo Peep, and the doctor scrubs. And I have to do two of everything. To those who don’t win, go get this book!!
Nancy
I really enjoy making doll clothes. I made them for my daughter and now my grand daughters. These costumes are the cutest. I would love to make them for my girls. They are so cute. Thank you for the videos Never too old to learn.
Joanie Molnar
My granddaughters would love me to make some of these new costumes. I’ve sewn clothes, but nothing like the new ones that appear in this blog. Thank you, Nancy. I’ve been watching your shows since you first started on TV. Have loads of VHS, DVD, booklets, etc.
Judith
If I have to pick only one, I’d have to go with the Super Hero costume . (But, I’d sneak in the Ladybug, too, oh, and the Cowgirl ,and ….)
Betty Harden
I would definitely make the cowgirl outfit first and then the ladybug outfit as I worked my way through them. They are for my grandniece. Oh please pick me. They are adorable. Another winner.
Joan
Granddaughters live on horseback the cowgirls outfit first then the mermaid and fairy they love Disney Movies and are starting to sew things with me for 4-H projects being 5 and 7 they are now Clover Kids.
Mona
I would love to make the fairy dress doll for my grandaughter she is just beautiful and looks like a fairy herself.