Doll Dress Pattern for Mini Dolls

This long sleeve dress is a very easy pattern to sew and a nice addition to your mini doll's wardrobe.

The long sleeve dresses will fit 6.5 inch (16.25cm) Mini American Girl, 8 inch (20cm) Tonner Betsy McCall and similar size dolls with an approximately 3.75 inch (9.5cm) chest.

My American Girl, 6.5 inch mini doll, Addy, is modeling the dress in this photo.

6.5 inch long sleeve doll dress; photo credit Susan Kramer

6.5 inch long sleeve doll dress; photo credit Susan Kramer

Our Cyber Doll House pet dog, Floppy, always enjoys getting in the picture!

Here are pattern pieces:

You may use the pattern for yourself or gifts but not commercially.

Bodice Pattern

Mini doll long sleeve dress pattern pieces © Susan Kramer

Mini doll long sleeve dress pattern pieces © Susan Kramer

To make your 1 inch square (2.5cm) grid graph paper

First, take an 8.5x11 inch or letter size piece of plain paper and draw 1 inch (2.5cm) squares - I do this by drawing horizontal lines 1 inch apart down the page, and then vertical lines 1 inch apart across the page.

Next, looking at the .jpg image you want to enlarge, copy what is in each of my squares into your larger squares.

Seam allowances of 1/4 inch are included.

Skirt Pattern

Cut fabric 12 inches (30cm) (or 15 inches (37.5cm) for full skirt) wide and 4 inches (10cm) long for skirt to fall between knee and ankle length. After trying on doll dress fold up hem to desired length.

This is a very easy to make dress pattern with just 3 pieces - bodice front, bodice back and skirt. The sleeves are part of the bodice.

dress detail for 6.5 - 8 inch doll; photo credit Susan Kramer

dress detail for 6.5 - 8 inch doll; photo credit Susan Kramer

You’ll need one eighth yard (one eighth meter) of material for the skirt.

For the front and back bodice, you'll need just a small scrap of contrasting material.

Pattern pieces include 1/4 inch seam allowances.

For the skirt, cut fabric 12 inches (30cm) wide and 4 inches (10cm) long for skirt to fall just below knee to ankle length. Adjust length of hem after trying on doll. The finished skirt length in the photos is 2.5 inches (7cm).

Construction directions

Bodice including Sleeves

With right sides of back and front bodice facing, sew together at shoulders. Press seam open.

At neckline roll edge in and blind stitch to inside.

To finish back seam of bodice, turn in 1/4 inch twice on each center edge and hand or machine stitch.

Stitch front to back underarm seam on each side.

Roll in lower edge of sleeves and hem by hand or machine. (I sew sleeve and skirt hems by hand.)

Skirt construction

How to sew bodice to skirt

Sew back seam leaving 1/2 inch (1cm) open at top of seam to match back seam of bodice. Roll in raw edges and blind stitch hem. (This is for ease of dressing doll.)

Gather the waist seam to match the bodice lower edge and sew skirt to bodice. I make this a 1/4 inch seam for both skirt and bodice. Top stitch waist seam on bodice lower edge.

When dress is completed sew a velcro dot just above waistline and at neckline to overlap bodice back one quarter inch.

Finishing

Sew 1/4 inch or 1/8 inch wide satin ribbon on bodice at waistline.

To make neckline decoration as in photo above, take a 6 inch (15cm) length of satin ribbon and roll twice to form 2 circles, tuck ribbon ends to unseen side, stitch securely together. Then stitch to center front of dress with several hand stitches, knotted on inside of dress.

Have fun sewing your mini dresses! Time from start to finish - 3 hours!

Hints and Tips

- I like to use calico for dresses because the smaller scaled prints suit the dolls well.

- Make the bodice/sleeve in a lighter solid color. This gives the dress a layered appearance - like a skirt and blouse combination.

- Use washable materials and trims. Use velcro closures rather than buttons or hooks and eyes for safety's sake.

- Use contrasting materials and trims - they show off best.

- This mini doll dress makes up in just 3 hours!

Article and photo credits Susan Kramer

Email: susan@susankramer.com

Link to complete dolls sitemap

Patterns for dolls
Page 9 - Old Fashhioned Dress Pattern for 18 Inch Dolls Like American Girl
Page 9a - Cap Sleeve, Short Sleeve Dress Pattern for 18 Inch Dolls Like American Girl
Page 9b - Christmas or Festive Short Sleeve Dress Pattern for 18 Inch Dolls Like American Girl
Page 9c - Bitty Baby, Maxi Muffin and other Medium 14 to 16 Inch Baby Dolls Dress and Apron Patterns
Page 9d - Small 12 to 13 Inch Baby Dolls - Very Easy Cap Sleeve Dress Pattern
Page 9e - Mini Dolls 6.5 to 8 Inch Tall Like American Girl and Tonner - Very Easy Dress Pattern
Page 9f - Mini 8 Inch Baby Doll Like Gotz Mini Muffin - Pants and Shirt Patterns
Page 9g - Cap Sleeve Dress to fit Bitty Baby, Maxi Muffin and other Medium 14 to 16 Inch Baby Dolls
Page 9h - Boy Shirt and Pants to fit Bitty Baby and other Medium 14 to 16 Inch Baby Dolls
Page 9i - Bodysuit Pattern to fit Bitty Baby, Maxi Muffin and other Medium 14 to 16 Inch Baby Dolls
Page 10 - Tutu and Bodice Ballet or Dance Costume for 18 Inch Dolls Like American Girl
Page 10a - Slim 15 to 18 Inch Specialty Dolls - Sleeveless, Short Sleeve and Long Sleeve Dresses
Page 10b - Bodysuit Pattern to fit 18 Inch Dolls like American Girl and other Full Body Dolls

Costumes for people
Make a Christening Gown or Baptismal Dress for Baby

How to Sew Cloth Dolls and Costumes plus Traceable Patterns
Book by Susan Kramer

Medium Doll Clothes
with Full Size Patterns
Ebook by Susan Kramer

Baby Christening Gown
E-pattern by Susan Kramer
E-pattern of Christening Gown

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Dolls sitemap with many patterns
page created August 12, 2009

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