How to Sew a Skirt for an American Girl Doll

Learn how to sew a simple shoe length skirt for an 18" doll.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 100% Cotton Fabric
• Thread
• 8" of 1/4" Elastic

1. 
   Image A

   Cut a rectangle from fabric that measures 10 inches high by 25 inches wide. (Image A)

2. 
   Image B

   Iron 1/4 inch lower edge of skirt. Turn under and hem another 1/4 inch lower edge of skirt. (Image B)

3. 
   Image C

   Loosely gather top edge of skirt. An easy method for this is to stitch 1/4 inch along the top edge using long machine (basting) stitches, remove from machine, and push the fabric along the stitches with your fingers. (Image C)

4. 
   Image D

   On wrong side of fabric, sew the elastic to the raw edges of the gathered top using a zigzag stitch, stretching the elastic and adjusting gathers as you stitch. (Image D)

5. 
   Image E

   Turn elastic under to inside. Stitch to skirt with straight stitch at both top and bottom of elastic, again stretching elastic as sewn in place. (Image E)

6. 
   Image F

   With right sides together, sew 1/4 inch along the center back seam from waist to bottom of skirt. (Image F)

7. Turn inside out. Try it on your favorite 18 inch doll. Adjust if needed.

Tips & Warnings

• A tip to make stretching and sewing the elastic in easier. After securing one end of elastic to fabric, grab the threads behind the sewing foot, stretching the elastic from both sides as you guide it through.
• Add fancy embroidery designs as a hem.
• Try other fabrics. Thin, non-fraying fabrics work best for this method.
• Embellish with ribbons, lace, buttons, etc..
• Adult supervision required for children.

[godgouchi]

on 10/25/2009 My Singer has an elastic stich button. So, I didn't have to do most of the steps. My pit bull used to tear the clothes off my daughter's dolls. I could sew clothes for the dolls a lot cheaper than buing them. I was trying to teach my daughter to sew but, she is now into nintendo!