How to Sew a Raglan Sleeved Top for 18-Inch Dolls

Today, we will learn how to sew the raglan top 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 top 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 

Sewing Supplies Needed to Make this Top:

To make this top, you will need:

1. Fabric

2. Free printable PDF sewing pattern for the raglan top

3. Printer paper

4. Thread

5. Sewing machine

6. Tape measure

7. Sewing pins

8. Sewing needle

9. Scissors

10. Two fabric cords (each 8.5 inches long)

Fabric:

I used cotton fabric to make this top. The top can be slid over the doll's head with little effort. 

If you want to have full opening at the back, then before cutting the back piece on the folded fabric, place the paper pattern piece for the back 3/4 inch from the folded edge of the fabric, pin it, and then cut the back piece. Cut open the fold. Now you will have two back pieces. This extra 3/4 inch serves as the button extension. When you sew the blouse, fold this button extension under 1/4 inch and then again by 1/2 inch, and sew 1/8 inch from the folded edge. Attach Velcro for closure.

You can use stretchy fabrics such as knit or cotton jersey to make it easier to slide the top over your the doll's head. 

Seam and Hem allowances:

Seam and hem allowances are included in the pattern.

Seam and hem lines are shown with dashed lines.

Front and back: 0.25 inch for the neckline, raglan armhole, and for the side seams, 0.50 inch for the hemline

Sleeves: 0.25 inch for the neckline, raglan sleeve cap, and for the side seams, and 0.50 inch for the sleeve hemline.

How to Sew?

Step 1:

Glue or tape the pattern pages together.

Step 2:

Cut out the front, back, and sleeve pattern pieces.

Step 3: 

Pin the pattern pieces to the fabric.

Cut out the front, back, and sleeve pieces from the fabric.

Step 4:

Join the sleeves:

With right sides facing each other, pin the sleeves to the front and back pieces. Make sure to match the front of the sleeve to the front piece of the top and the back of the sleeves to the back piece of the top.

Step 5:

Finish sleeve hemline:

Fold the sleeve hemline under 1/4" twice, and sew 1/8" from the folded edge. You can also do this before Step 1.

Serge the raw edges of the sleeve seams.

Step 6:

Join the sides.

Join the sides with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Serge the raw edges. If you don't have a serger, use the zig-zag stitch in your sewing machine or use pinking shears.

Step 7:

Finish the hemline of the top:

Fold the hemline of the top under 1/4" twice, and sew 1/8" from the folded edge.

Step 8:

Sew the keyhole back neck closure with ties.

Mark the center of the top's back piece.

Cut a 4 inch by 1.5 inch fabric piece. 

I wanted the keyhole depth to be 2 1/2 inches, so that it the top can be easily slid through the doll's head. I wanted to leave an extra 1/2 inch above the back neckline, so that after the fabric piece is attached, we can shape this according to the shape of the back neckline. Also you may have to leave 1/4 to align the fabric piece with the neckline seam, and you need some 3/4 inch extra fabric to leave at the bottom end of the keyhole.

So let's do the math to determine the length of the fabric piece we are going to attach at the center of the blouse's back:

Length: 2 1/2 + 1/2 + 1/4 + 3/4 = 4 inches

Width: 1.5 inches

Serge the sides and bottom of this fabric piece.

Find the center of this fabric piece by folding it in half lengthwise. 

On this center fold, leaving a 3/4-inch space from the top (1/2 inch extra fabric which we will later cut and shape to match the neckline and another 1/4 inch for the neck seam), mark down a 3-inches-long straight line.

At the top of this straight line, mark 1/4 inch on both sides, and at the bottom mark 1/8 inch on both sides. Connect these point as shown in the picture below.

With right sides facing, pin the fabric piece to the back of the blouse matching the center lines. Cut the extra fabric to the shape of the back neckline. Place two fabric cords (each 8.5 long) at the center of the back neckline under the fabric piece as shown in the picture below.

Use a pin to hold the cords in place. 

Sew over the lines you have drawn. I have shown it with dotted lines in the image below. 

I sewed it by hand as it was easier.

Cut through the center line stopping at 1/8 inch above the bottom line.

Fold the fabric piece to the wrong side and press well.

Now, turn the top inside out. And this is how it will look on the outside.

Step 9:

The last step is to finish the neckline of the blouse.

Take bias strip longer than the neckline of the blouse. Width should be 1.25 inches.

Fold it in half and attach it to the neckline on the right side, leaving an 1/2 inch trail at both the ends.

Fold it to the wrong side, and hem by hand. 

This is how it looks on the outside.

And that's it! You have made a simple yet beautiful top for your doll!

Happy Sewing!

---Flora

Raglan Sleeved Top for 18-Inch Dolls---Free PDF Printable Sewing Pattern

Here is another free PDF printable sewing pattern---Raglan top for 18-inch dolls. This top will fit 18-inch dolls such as the American Girl® Doll and the Our Generation® Doll and dolls with similar body measurements.

The measurements of the doll I used are

Chest 11.5 inches

Waist 11 inches

Hip 11.75 inches

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

I have posted loads of free PDF printable sewing patterns for kids, women, and 18-inch and 12-inch dolls 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 

Download Link for the Raglan Top Free PDF Pattern for 18-Inch Doll:

How to Print and Assemble the PDF Pattern Pages:

Click here to learn how to print and assemble the PDF pattern pages. 

Print the pages on A4-size papers. Make sure you have set page sizing to "Actual size" before you print the pattern. 

You can measure the 1 inch x 1 inch square in the pattern page to check whether the page has printed correctly.

Seam and Hem allowances:

Seam and hem allowances are included in the pattern.

Seam and hem lines are shown with dashed lines.

Front and back: 0.25 inch for the neckline, raglan armhole, and for the side seams, 0.50 inch for the hemline

Sleeves: 0.25 inch for the neckline, raglan sleeve cap, and for the side seams, and 0.50 inch for the sleeve hemline.

How to Sew:

Click here to see the step-by-step sewing tutorial with photos for making this raglan top for your 18-inch doll.

Here is the shorter version of the tutorial below:

Step 1: Join the sleeves with the front and back pieces.

Step 2: Fold the sleeve hemline under 1/4" twice, and sew 1/8" from the folded edge.

Step 3: Join the sides with a 1/4-inch seam allowance.

Step 4: Fold the hemline of the top under 1/4" twice, and sew 1/8" from the folded edge.

Step 5: Finish the keyhole closure of the back neck. I have attached two cords to make a bow knot. (I have explained this step in the detailed sewing tutorial here.)

Step 6: Attach a bias tape to the neckline, fold it inside, and hem the neckline by hand. 

Done! You have made a beautiful top for your doll!

Happy Sewing!

---Flora

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