Basic Dress Pattern
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
How to Access This Printable
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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.
The Top
The Bottom
Putting it all together
Pin-It!
Adorable Bunny Themed Easter Brunch Table Decor
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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!
HI Sarah,
I used your pattern to make Angel Gowns (burial gowns) for babies who went to heaven by re-purposing wedding gowns. Would love to send you pictures.
Lynn,
What a beautiful, special thing for you to do! I would love to see pictures of the dresses – you can email me at [email protected]
How kind of u to share your AG patterns. My granddaughters r in love with these dolls and their clothes. I am able to make matching big girl outfits too. U r a great gal.
Why are the instructions not included with the pattern?
i like these patterns of 18 inch dolls i m falling in love with those dolls clothes sorry for the english for a french peopal i try
The dress is pretty and I would love to make it, but I have only one question; how much yardage do you need to make this dress?
Hi, I’m trying to make this dress but I don’t know what fabrics to use. Does it matter or does it have to be a specific kind?
No, it will work well with any fabric!
Hello. I love your dress pattern but I have a 27inch doll. Do you have any patterns for a larger doll? I would appreciate your help. Joyce
Hello! Thanks so much 4 the pattern. You mentioned in one of your comments u have some tutorial videos on you tube. Can u please post the adress here, i just couldnt find it. Im a begginer sewing and it woul be really heplfull. Thanks again!
My mom and I are looking for patterns for her to make for my daughter’s doll. Thank you so much for posting these. I wish I could make them with her. We had another idea for fabric: Find a top or outfit on clearance–buy 2 if possible. Then you can use the second one for a matching doll outfit. Thrift store is a great idea. We cannot usually find duplicates, there though. Thanks again for al the free downloads.
This is really a sweet and versatile pattern! Thank you so very much for sharing it for free. I am making AG clothes for our pastor’s granddaughters for Christmas. This will be perfect, as well as a few others on your blog. Many blessings to you for sharing! xx
I have been looking for a dress pattern like this. Thanks so much. Can’t wait to start making it!!
I am so grateful for this post! I was going to go measure the doll and make my own, but this saves so much time and the need to do math hahahah. My only question is – do your patterns include seam allowance? If so, is it 1/4″ or 1/2?
I’m so glad you found us and that this was helpful! Hey, we’re all about saving time and less math lol! Yes, the pattern does already include seam allowance, just cut out the exact size of the pattern and I believe I used a 1/4″ Hope that helps!
Sarah, are you sure about the 1/4″ seam allowance? Any variation would make a big difference in fit, and I have no doll here to try it out on. Thanks!
I just double checked on the same dress. I also added a picture above that shows a ruler! Hope that’s enough reassurance :)
I made this dress with my daughter today. It was her first sewing project and definitely will not be her last! It only took us about 2 hours with a few breaks here and there. Thank you for making such a fun and simple dress! We will be making the PJ’s tomorrow.
Thank you so much for posting this. My daughter has been begging to get clothes for her AG doll, but they are not in my budget. I really appreciate you generously posting these patterns. I will be making this dress today!
I so enjoy making doll clothes for my granddaughters AG dolls (18″ and Bitty Baby). I buy baby and girls clothes at local thrife stores and cut them to make the doll’s clothes! I use the trim, logos and accents. I have a sweater that I needed advice on cutting down for a doll outfit. Thanks for the directions of Sweater Outfit you gave.
I just had a question with the pattern. The pattern for the bottom skirt page 1 has a place where it says center fold. Then to cut 1 on the fold. What does all that mean? Thanks! Jessica
Hey Jessica! That simply means, because you want the skirt nice and full, you fold your material in half and line the side of the pattern that says “center fold” up with the edge of the folded fabric. You cut out 3 sides so you can open it up and the skirt will actually be twice as wide as the page. Does that make sense? Another way to do it would be to print two of those pages out and tape them together so it is twice as long. Now there is no need to fold fabric or cut on the fold, you have one long piece you will be cutting out. Hope this helps!!
Yes, that makes so much more sense!! Thank you so much! I can’t wait to start on the dress. Thank you for such a cute pattern!
Oh my! These patterns are really amazing. These look great. I will surely give these patterns a try. I hope I will get it right.
ShopAtOliviasDollCloset.com
Thank you for the dress pattern, will give it a whirl. Pixey
thank you so much for sharing this pattern; i am a “seasoned” (old) seamstress with hundreds of patterns collected for all kinds of dolls, but i really enjoyed this one, with no shoulder seams! made turning the bodice right side out so easy!! i’m making the pattern as part of a sew-along on the SGOT American Girl Yahoo group, and it turned out beautifully!! thank you and God bless you!! sande
You’re bringing back sweet memories of when I sewed doll clothes for my own little girl way back when. The basic dress also reminds me of a dress I sewed for myself in home ec class back in the 60’s. Thanks for sharing this great tutorial. I am now selling American Girl doll clothes in my etsy shop and a good basic dress pattern is always appreciated.
This is the link to my shop if you’d like to take a look at my “Basic Dress”:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/rhinestonestorubies
Great post.
Wow! So adorable! You really have the talent. It looks great. Thanks for sharing this tutorial. I wish I know how to sew dresses like these. But I guess I could give it a try.
ShopAtOliviasDollCloset.com
Awesome!! I have been looking for some free patterns for my daughters AG doll and this is great! Thanks so much for posting these!!
Thanks so much. This means more than you can know. I have lots of Barbie patterns, but found out last minute granddaughter is getting the American Girl Doll. Limited budget, already had barbie matching outfit cut out. There is no way I can buy outfits on SS.