How to Sew Clothes for American Girl Dolls

Study the time period and lifestyle that your American Girl doll represents. You can use the same techniques to make a basic dress for any decade, but will want to make adjustments that are appropriate for the era to maintain historical accuracy.

Decide what kind of outfit you want to make for your American Girl doll. If you want to make her a nightgown, choose jersey cotton. If you want to make her a summer dress, use linen or gingham in a colorful print, and if you want to make a formal gown, choose silk or satin.

Remove the clothing that your American Girl doll is currently wearing. Wrap the fabric you've chosen snugly around her body and pin it in place. Cut the material along the pins, allowing a 1/2 inch of excess fabric that will permit you to sew the dress together without making it too small.

Remove the pins and fold the piece of fabric inside out; the side that you want to be visible on the finished dress should now be hidden. Sew the edges of the dress together about a 1/2 inch from the ends.

Turn the dress right-side-out and slide it onto the doll. Add straps by sewing strips of fabric over the doll's shoulders and onto the dress itself. If you're making a nightgown rather than a summer or formal dress, follow the same procedures but make the dress looser.