Repurposing Old Clothes
I LOVE to repurpose old stuff. So, when we got a hand-me-down warm-up pants with a hole in the knee. After I cut the pants and made them shorts, I put the leftover fabric to the side. With doll clothes on my mind, I decided it was time to convert these scraps to an American Girl Outfit.
These pants should be 7″ wide.
The crotch is 5 1/2″ long. Remember this is working with an existing hem. I do not cut any higher than the 5 1/2″. It’s not time yet because you will attach them soon.
Put the to legs of the pants together and pin them together. Then sew in a U-Shape around the front to the crotch and then around to the back. If that seems too hard, start at the front and sew to the crotch. Stop. Sew from the back to the crotch. Then trim the excess fabric from the seam. Do not cut the waist line.
Measure elastic
You can sew the elastic right onto the material, or just sew the elastic together. Then turn the edge of the outfit under and sew. Be careful not to sew on your elastic.
I had to clip the seams around the curve of the pant to make sure there wasn’t any pucker around the seam. Here’s a Youtube video on clipping curves if it is new to you.
Now it’s time for the top. I used the same pattern as the top for the Free Ballerina Outfit. I made it a little longer and did not cut leg holes like I would have for the leotard.
Anonymous
So that is how you call it:repurposing. I am Dutch and only now find this usefull word. That is what I do all the time, repurposing. I visit giftstores often to find things to use as is, but always with repurposing in my mind. Pure cotton shirts and skirts, thin lightweight wool fabrics or jeans, they are great for babies and toddlers clothes or dollsclothes. Thank you for the free patterns, I can not draw a pattern myself, but am very good at sewing. (Silk ties are cheap at the thrift too, make excellent coloured parts in Cathedral Windows patchwork, just iron adhesive fabric to the inside). I have a tip: those lovely “paper” tableclothes of good quality are sold very cheap after Easter or Christmas, they do very well in stead of muslin if you want to sew a try first dress for the doll.
Heather West
This is sooo neat! I wish I had an ounce of your talent!
Julia Forshee
Thanks, Heather!! You are very kind.