Market Day Doll Clothes || PDF Sewing Pattern
I’m here to share with you the next installment of my 18 inch doll clothes sewing patterns! I’m having so much fun creating these patterns and I have unashamedly added a few dolls to our collection in the process … for the business, you know ;)
The Market Day collection is available now in my shop! The PDF pattern includes all the pattern pieces, plus step by step instructions with photos for sewing the raglan dress, bloomers, wide brimmed hat, and market tote. This new pattern, along with the Sleep Tight collection, are both meant to be easy sewing patterns for doll clothes, and will fit any 18” doll, such as American Girl, Journey Girls, Disney ILY, and more.
This raglan dress is definitely an easy, simple doll dress that is beginner friendly. I couldn’t stop at a dress, though, I had add accessories and obviously bloomers! A gal can’t go to the farmers market without her sun hat and market tote, after all. Those pieces lean toward the intermediate, but I write all my patterns with the beginner in mind, so even if you’re a new sewist, don’t be afraid to give it a try.
Like the Sleep Tight doll nightgown pattern, the Market Day doll dress was designed to have no fussy closures, making it the perfect project for beginners, or for someone who wants to sew doll clothes without the tiny arm holes and plackets and that sort of thing.
Choosing Fabrics for the Doll Clothes
This collection lends itself so well to mixing and matching fabrics. I had so much fun picking out coordinating prints and solid cottons for the dress, bloomers, and bag lining.
And can we chat about that hat and bag?? Those two are my favorite parts. The hat and tote gave me a great opportunity to play with some unconventional fabrics. I made hats out of burlap and thick felt, and the tote from burlap and cork (yes, cork!) I had a remnant of cork yardage that I had gotten from Hobby Lobby a few years ago and finally the perfect project for it came along! It tuned out so cute that I want a cork tote bag for myself now, haha!
Burlap worked so well for both the hat and bag, but I did learn that burlap yardage is very different from the burlap “ribbon” that comes on rolls in the floral or wedding department at the craft store. I first tried the ribbon and it didn’t work out because the weave was too big and loose. The project stretched out terribly and I ended up with a flat hat, haha. So I ordered burlap yardage instead and that made all the difference. I have a blog post about sewing with burlap in the works, so I’ll post that link here when it’s finished.
While I haven’t made a video walkthrough of this pattern, I do have one for the Sleep Tight doll clothes collection and the construction of the nightgown is very similar to the Market Day dress. So if you need more visual help, be sure and check that out.
I truly strive to make these patterns usable for all skill levels, though! In case you’re curious about what my patterns look like, here is a sample of one page:
I hope you enjoy sewing these doll clothes and accessories! I’m excited to keep working on more doll clothes patterns, including a complete collection of sewing patterns for 18” boy doll clothes! (Gabe is the newest member of my doll collection, because I needed a model, of course).
For now, shop the Market Day pattern here, or over on Etsy if you prefer. :)
Until next time, Happy Sewing!
Nikki
