Special Note: Summertime is perfect for starting your doll making projects for Christmas giving! You'll find free patterns for many of your favorite dolls on these pages. And, if you need help learning to handsew dolls and doll clothing order my How to Sew Cloth Dolls and Costumes Book - either in paperback or download.

2. Bunny Doll Girl's Costume

Here is a photo of a completed costume.




To dress a 12” (30cm) long girl bunny I make a skirt using a piece of lace 4” (10cm) wide.

First I take the waist measurement of the bunny and then cut the length of lace twice that number.

If you are making a ballerina doll costume think of the skirt as a tutu, and sew 2 or more layers of lace or nylon net together along the top edge before gathering waist edge.

Now, one half inch in from the top edge of the skirt I gather the lace to just overlap the waist measurement and top stitch on a pretty one quarter inch narrow satin ribbon. I leave 6 inches (15cm) of ribbon extending from the skirt on each side to tie a bow in back.

Hint – the technique is like making an apron.

As a pretty finishing touch I use a use a 6 inch (15cm) length or longer of one quarter inch satin ribbon to tie at the base of each ear.

More ideas to make the skirt fit the occasion – various colors of wide ribbon sewn together along the long edge in a rainbow effect, to the desired skirt length. Red or green skirt and ribbons for Christmas. Gingham skirt and pastel ribbons for summer. On and on!

3. Bunny Doll Vest Pattern

Bunny Doll – Vest back view


Bunny Doll – Vest front view


Bunny Doll – Vest Pattern

Full size pattern - print out to use:



For a 12” (30cm) long fabric bunny I use this pattern to make a simple lined vest that overlaps in front with just a button size piece of velcro sewed on at center front.

Here is the pattern. Each square equals 1 inch (2.5cm). And, one quarter inch seam allowance is included in the pattern pieces.

You may make the vest for personal use, but not for commercial use.

To construct the vest make 2 single vests by sewing together the side seams of each. Press seams open.

Then, put the 2 vests right sides together and sew around all edges, leaving an opening on the front center on one front edge for turning. Clip curves.

Turn vest right side out.

Hint – after turning right side out, I use the eraser end of a new pencil to go inside vest and work out any bunches in corners.

Blind stitch front and back shoulder seams together. Attach a velcro dot as front closure.

Hint – I use velcro dots for closures on items for children, to eliminate accidentally swallowing a button.

If sewing for a girl bunny, a nice finishing touch to complete the costume is to use a 6 inch (15cm) length or longer of one quarter satin ribbon tied at the base of each ear.