I have another post for you today that has taken me years to actually get completed. Yay! I love posts like this. It makes me happy to finish a project that I have wanted to finish and especially when it is something to which my girls have looked forward. Today, I have some cute Christmas American Girl Doll clothes to show you. I know I often like quick things so I just want to make sure you know that going into it. So, let me be totally up front with you, this is not a quick pattern.
I started to make these skirts for my girls 2 years ago. I talked with the girls about who wanted what fabric and got everything cut out. Then sadly, my Aunt was hit by a car and killed and that totally changed the dynamic of our Christmas. In addition, to a week in Arizona to be with family and go to the funeral, it just wasn’t a ‘typical’ Christmas in any way. Last year, I totally planned to make them for my girls, but I got so much additional sponsored work that I let this slip. This year, I determined that no matter what I was making these skirts for my girls. With a 13 and a 9-year-old, there is no telling if they will even like their dolls next year, so I need to seize the day and make them this year even if it means turning down some sponsored work. Well…thank goodness I actually did it! I finished the skirts just before Thanksgiving so my girls could use them with their dolls this holiday season.
This post is also special to me because it is the debut of Maryellen on my blog. In case you aren’t familiar with the American Girl doll line, they came out with Maryellen earlier this year. She is from the BeForever line and is from the 1950’s. My girls have long wanted me to get a doll so I could play with them(and not have to borrow one of their dolls). I always told them that I didn’t really want a doll, but if they ever came out with a doll from the 1950’s I would get her since I love the 50’s. This year….Maryellen joined our family and became my first American Girl doll. 🙂
So, to the actual pattern to make these cute, full twirl skirts. It is not my pattern but rather a free pattern from I Can Make This. I’ve shown you this pattern before with the Halloween skirts I made for the dolls a few years ago. It also comes with the pattern for the reversible wrap skirt I’ve made sooo many times (for Halloween, Christmas, Easter, Girl Scout Uniforms and just any day).
To get the free pattern, you will have to sign up for a free account on their site. Then you can download the pattern which will come in two files. Pay attention when you download them because I get tons of comments about not being able to find both patterns. It is not the most user-friendly process, but hey it is a free pattern. So, just be forewarned that you will need to pay attention to the files as you download.
Once you have them downloaded, you will start by cutting out 25 squares per skirt.
When I first made the Halloween skirts, they didn’t line up like I thought they would. Take some time to lay the squares out on the floor (as you can see I did above). Try to lay them out like a pyramid so that you can see what squares will overlap on the different layers. It is a good idea to have at least 5-6 different fabrics as well.
The skirts will take you about 1 1/2 hours to make. It is just a little time consuming because of the sewing of all the squares together and the gathering of the fabric.
There are two things I do a little different than the pattern.
- The pattern calls for stitching the bottom tier to the middle tier and the middle tier to the top tier with a zig zag stitch and then running a straight line stitch at 1/4″. I did mine the opposite. I find it easier to run the straight line stitch and then do the zig zag stitch.
- The pattern also tells you to remove the threads that you used to gather the layers. I don’t do that step. I don’t see it as necessary and I lack the patience to do more steps.
The skirt is a full skirt that is really cute! Maryellen thought her skirt looked really cute with her play clothes top.
I had gotten these sweaters for my daughters dolls a few years ago with one of the AG store specials. They match the new skirts perfectly.
Maryellen and Samantha had fun getting the Christmas tree ready and eating some candy. The skirts helped them feel just a little more festive.
I’m so glad I finally got to make these skirts for my girls. While I showed one of the skirts on Maryellen, I didn’t actually have enough fabric to make a 3rd for her. I also didn’t really have the patience or the time to make 3 of these skirts. I think it took me a little more than 2 hours to make the 2 skirts. Not too bad, but not a quick project.
I’ve got a fantastic American Girl Doll Pinterest board with even more great patterns and ideas. Follow the fun here…
What are your favorite American Girl Doll clothes patterns? Leave a comment below.
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I like free patterns for American Girl Dolls.
I agree! They are fun to make.