Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Measure and cut a piece of fabric that is 15 inches wide and 11 inches long. 15 inches provides ample room for the waist of a pleated skirt, and 11 inches is 1 inch longer than this distance from an American Girl doll's waist to ankle.
Fold back 1/2 an inch of fabric along the 15-inch sides of the cloth and sew these strips down to create hems. The 15 inch sides are opposite to one another and constitute the waist and the lower hem of the skirt. Make sure that you have folded the fabric back onto the side that you do not wish to be visible, so that your hem will be hidden when the dress is complete.
Fold the fabric in half along the unhemmed sides and sew these edges together to create the skirt of the dress. Make sure that the fabric is inside out so that the side of the material that you wish to be visible is hidden. This will prevent your seem from marring the appearance of the finished outfit.
Turn the skirt, which is currently in the shape of a tube, right side out and sew around one of the ends. Make large stitches that are about 1/2 an inch wide. Once you have sewn around the circumference of the skirt, do not tie a knot or remove your needle.
Slip the skirt over the legs and position the sewn side around at the doll's waist. Gently pull the needle until the thread becomes taught and the skirt is snug around the doll's hips. The fabric will fall into pleats as you tighten the thread.
Tie a knot and remove the needle. Cut a strip of fabric that measures 12 by 8 inches. This is the bodice of the dress.
Sew the 12-inch long ends of the bodice together to create a tube with the inside of the fabric visible. Turn the tube right side out and sew it to the pleated waist of the skirt. Snip off any loose strings.