How to Sew a Reversible Bolero Vest for an 18-Inch Doll?

Today we will see how to sew a reversible bolero vest for an 18- inch doll.

The measurements of the doll I used are

Chest 11.5 inches

Waist 11 inches

Hip 11.75 inches

This pattern will fit 18-inch dolls such as the American Girl® Doll and Our Generation® Doll and dolls with similar body measurements.

I have posted lots of free PDF printable sewing patterns on this page on my blog. Browse through this page to find the patterns you are looking for. You can download and use them to make your own clothes.

You can also click the Free Sewing Patterns Page at the top of this blog page (under the blog title) to find more free sewing patterns.

Click the links below to browse through all the pattern drafting and sewing tutorials on my blog.

Pattern drafting tutorials 

Sewing tutorials 

Free PDF pattern download link for the vest is here.

Step 1:

First, print the pattern pieces using the free printable PDF pattern posted here, and cut them out. 

Step 2:

Cut two front pieces and one back piece from the main fabric, and cut two front pieces and one back piece from the lining fabric. I have chosen a green polka dot fabric as the main fabric and a green checked fabric as the lining fabric.

Step 3:

Place the main fabric back piece with right side up. Then place the main fabric front pieces right side down over the back piece, matching up the shoulder seams. Repeat this for the front and back pieces of the lining fabric.

Now join the shoulder seams of the front and back pieces of the main fabric together. And repeat the step for the front and back pieces of the lining fabric.

Press open the shoulder seams.

Step 4:

Lay out the joined front and back pieces of the main fabric with right side facing up. Lay out the joined front and back pieces of the lining fabric (with the right side facing down) over the main fabric pieces. 

Step 5.

Pin the necklines, armholes, hemlines, and the center front of both the main and lining fabric pieces together. Sew together leaving a 1/4-inch seam allowance.

 

Step 6.

Make small slits in the seam allowances around all the curves, such as the neckline, armholes, and the front hemline, so that they get a nice shape. Make sure you don't cut through the stitches. 

Step 7:

Turn the vest inside out by pulling the front pieces through the openings on the sides and the shoulder openings.

Step 8:

Neaten the edges and press on both sides.

Step 9:

Let's join the sides now. Slide your index finger through the side seam opening of the back pieces and bring in the front piece by tightly holding together the underarm point of the front piece's side seam and the underarm point of the back piece's side seam. 

And then turn them inside out and match the side seams of the front and back pieces. Make sure you have marked the underarm points with a marker before this step, so that it would be easy to identify them and align the back and front side seams properly.

Once the side seams of the front and back pieces are aligned sew them all together.

Once you turn it outside, you will get a nice, clean finish of the side seam.

 

Step 10:

For the other side, turn in the side seam of the back piece by 1/4 inch. 

Insert the side seam allowance of 1/4 inch of the front piece into the side seam opening of the back piece.

Step 11:

Now we will pin these together and sew either by machine or by hand. 

Step 12:

Here is the finished vest! 

Main fabric front:

Main fabric back:

Lining fabric front:

Lining fabric back:

Happy Sewing!

---Flora