This is a great, basic dress pattern that will fit your 18″ American Girl Doll! It is versatile, simply because it can be used to create the look of so many different styles! Use specific colors to create the look of your favorite Disney Princess, use glittery red fabric to make a holiday dress, add ribbon to the hem or embellish it with sequins. It is easy enough for the beginner seamstress or first-time sewer! This pattern includes a long and a short version of the dress.
Striped Neapolitan Dress
I also created a slightly more advanced version of this basic pattern. This pattern includes video instructions and some advanced sewing skills like pressing seams. The pattern itself is the same, which just a couple minor changes. Find instructions for the striped Neapolitan dress HERE
Update: Please Read!
There are Two Ways to get this pattern
This pattern continues to be one of my most popular 18″ doll patterns. I have offered this pattern for free for almost 10 years and it has been downloaded thousands of times! However, if you find the sign-up process for my free membership too complicated or you’re struggling to figure it out, you can also find this printable in my shop!
I’ve had many people run into technical difficulties using the free library for unknown reasons. I have priced this pattern at $1.99 which makes it very affordable, and it directly benefits my family and helps cover the costs of running this site. Thank you for your support!
This printable is available for free in my member area! Subscribe below for instant access to this one, and many more! If you are signing in for the first time, you will be asked to provide an email address and to create a password. Feel free to email me with any questions!
Instructions
Instructions for this dress are included in the pattern as well. The pattern already factors in a 1/4″ seam allowance. I created this pattern to be as simple as possible. Because of this, I skipped fancy back closures or zippers. Simply leave the back open and close with a ribbon or belt! Here are a few of the steps to help you get started.
Update
This pattern continues to be one of my most popular 18″ doll patterns. I have offered this pattern for free for almost 10 years and it has been downloaded thousands of times! However, if you find the sign-up process for my free membership too complicated or you’re struggling to figure it out, you can also find this printable in my shop!
I’ve had many people run into technical difficulties using the free library for unknown reasons. I have priced this pattern at $1.99 which makes it very affordable, and it directly benefits my family and helps cover the costs of running this site. Thank you for your support!
Find this pattern in my shop here: Shop Now
Or join my free membership to download for free:
The Top
Cut 2 top pieces. Position pieces with right sides facing together. Sew all the way around, leaving the bottom open so you can turn it right side out. After turning it right side out, sew under arm areas together, then flip so the seem is now on the inside. This is probably the easiest part.
The Bottom
Once the top is done, gather the bottom so it matches up in width from one side of the top to the other (one side of the back opening to the other). Line bottom up with the top so right sides are facing in and each side of the bottom lines up with the top to create an opening all the way down the back of the dress. Sew together top and bottom, with right sides facing together, and bottom flipped up over the top, so that after you sew it together, you open it up and the seems will be hidden!
Putting it all together
Since this is a very basic pattern, I am trying to provide basic instructions. You may want to check YouTube for beginner sewing lessons if this concept does not make sense. You may also want to go to THIS POST to find a video that give step-by-step instructions for the Neapolitan dress, which is very similar to this pattern.
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About Sarah Lemp
Sarah is a second generation homeschooling mom. She lives in Metro Detroit with her husband Jay, 5 kids and dog, Edison. They love staying active as a family and going on trips in their renovated RV's. Sarah loves to sing, make pretty things and eat pizza.
I was trying to print out the pattern for the dress. The first 4 pages out of the printer were printed in full page, full color. They were not part of the pattern and wasted a lot of my expensive ink. Is there some way to print it without wasting all that ink?
Yes, when you print something, you have the option to select which pages to print. Instead of printing all pages, select just the page number you want to print.
Thank you for this pattern. I just made one for my daughter’s Kanani with batik fabric. She asked for a dress, we got Kanani used, and she came with a judo outfit. I modified by seaming the back up to 5″ from the top, and then using a hook and eye closure at the top. I attached the ties when I sewed the sides of the bodice closed. I used a 1/8″ rolled hem for the skirt.
I believe I will be making more of these in the future from different/fancier fabrics.
Where did you sew the back ties in the dress? Were they sewed on the bottom or top? And do you sew them before finishing the edges? Also on the pajama bottom pattern, I am going to make them into pants for the doll. What material would you suggest using?
Thank you in advance!
Joan M. Culler
I was trying to print out the pattern for the dress. The first 4 pages out of the printer were printed in full page, full color. They were not part of the pattern and wasted a lot of my expensive ink. Is there some way to print it without wasting all that ink?
Sarah Lemp
Yes, when you print something, you have the option to select which pages to print. Instead of printing all pages, select just the page number you want to print.
Doreen
Thank you for this pattern. I just made one for my daughter’s Kanani with batik fabric. She asked for a dress, we got Kanani used, and she came with a judo outfit. I modified by seaming the back up to 5″ from the top, and then using a hook and eye closure at the top. I attached the ties when I sewed the sides of the bodice closed. I used a 1/8″ rolled hem for the skirt.
I believe I will be making more of these in the future from different/fancier fabrics.
Mary Ann
Where did you sew the back ties in the dress? Were they sewed on the bottom or top? And do you sew them before finishing the edges? Also on the pajama bottom pattern, I am going to make them into pants for the doll. What material would you suggest using?
Thank you in advance!