Bermuda Shorts Free PDF Printable Sewing Pattern- for 18-Inch Dolls

I'm happy to share another free PDF printable sewing pattern today---Bermuda shorts for an 18-inch doll. You can alter the length as per your preference.

Click the link below to browse all the free PDF sewing patterns for women:

Free PDF Sewing Patterns for Women

Click the link below to browse all the free PDF sewing patterns for kids:

Free PDF Sewing Patterns for Kids

Click the link below to see the complete list of Free PDF Sewing Patterns for 18-Inch Dolls:

18-Inch Doll Clothes Free PDF Sewing Patterns

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.

Click this link to download the pattern.

Seam and hem allowances:

Seam and hem allowances are included in the pattern: 

0.75 inch at the waistline and hemline

0.25 inch at the side seams, center seam (crotch seam), and inseam (leg seam)

How to print?

It's a two-page pdf.

Print the page on a 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.

How to sew?

1. Join the sides.

2. Join the crotch seams.

3. Join the leg seams.

4. Finish the hemline of each leg.

5. Create the casing at the waistline and feed in the elastic.

You have to fold the waistline by 0.25 inch and then again by 0.50 inch, and sew over the folded edge leaving a small gap to feed the elastic in. Insert a 3/8-inch-wide, 10-inch-long elastic through the casing, and overlap the ends of the elastic by 0.25 inch and sew them together. Sew the gap in the casing closed.

Then, fold the hemline of each leg by 0.25 inch and then again by 0.50 inch, and sew along the folded edge. And you are done!

Check this page for the step-by-step sewing tutorial with pictures.

If you want to create a special wardrobe for your daughter's 18-inch doll, here are some free PDF printable sewing patterns for you.

Reversible bolero vest

Full circle skirt

A-line skirt

Empire waist dress

Spiral skirt

Night pants (pajama pants)

I have posted loads 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 below links to browse through all the pattern drafting and sewing tutorials on my blog.

Pattern drafting tutorials

Sewing tutorials

These links appear at the top of my blog on the navigation bar as well.

Happy sewing!  

---Flora

How to Draft Bermuda Shorts for an 18-Inch Doll---Pattern Draft

Today, we will see how to draft a pair of Bermuda shorts for an 18-inch doll.

You need the following measurements to draft this pattern:

1. Full length of the shorts (from waist to the desired length) (This is usually about 5 inches for an 18-inch doll.)

2. Hip round (This is 11.75 inches for an 18-inch doll.)

3. Crotch depth (This is 3 inches for an 18-inch doll.)

Click the link below to browse all the free PDF sewing patterns for women:

Free PDF Sewing Patterns for Women

Click the link below to browse all the free PDF sewing patterns for kids:

Free PDF Sewing Patterns for Kids

Click the link below to see the complete list of Free PDF Sewing Patterns for 18-Inch Dolls:

18-Inch Doll Clothes Free PDF Sewing Patterns

Shorts front pattern draft:

A to B = full length of the shorts from the waist.

A to C is the crotch depth measurement. 

Draw horizontal lines from A, B, and C.

C to E = hip round/4 + 0.25 inch (which is 3.19 inches) (C to E is the crotch line)

A to D is same as C to E.

E to F = hip round/12 (which is 0.98 inch)

E to H = hip round/8 (which is 1.47 inches)

E to I = half of E to F + 0.10 inch (which is 0.98/2 + 0.10 = 0.59 inch)

Shape H-I-F as shown.

B to G = C to F minus 0.25 inch (which is 3.92 inches) (B to G is the hemline)

Shape inside seam F-G.

Shorts back pattern draft:

Back pattern can be drafted by using the front pattern and then adding these extra measurements: 

F to J = half of E to F = 0.49 inch

F to K = 0.25 inches

Join K and D.

K to M is same as E to H which is hip round/8 (that is, 1.47 inches).

Shape J-M  as shown.

D to L = 0.25 inch

Join A and L.

G to N = F to J = 0.49 inch

Shape inside seam N-J.

Seam allowances to be added:

Add 0.75 inch at the waistline for casing for the elastic.

Add 0.75 inch at the bottom edge of the legs for hem.

Add 0.25 inches at the side seams (if you prefer to have side seams).

Add 0.25 at the crotch curves and inseam (i.e., leg seam).

I have also posted a free PDF printable shorts sewing pattern for kids' sizes 6 to 12 years on this page on my blog and for kids' sizes 1 to 5 years  on this page on my blog. Hope it's useful for you.

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

pattern drafting tutorials 

sewing tutorials 

. 

    

Elastic Waist A-Line Skirt Free PDF Printable Sewing Pattern for 18-Inch Dolls

I have uploaded a free PDF printable sewing pattern today---Elastic waist A-line skirt for 18-inch doll, at this link. This skirt is so easy to sew and is suitable for beginners in sewing. 

Click the link below to browse all the free PDF sewing patterns for women:

Free PDF Sewing Patterns for Women

Click the link below to browse all the free PDF sewing patterns for kids:

Free PDF Sewing Patterns for Kids

Click the link below to see the complete list of Free PDF Sewing Patterns for 18-Inch Dolls:

18-Inch Doll Clothes Free PDF Sewing Patterns

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.

It's a one-page PDF document.

Seam allowances are included in the pattern itself and have been marked with dashed lines. I have mentioned the seam allowances at the bottom of the PDF page.

Print the page on an A4 paper. 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.

Cut out 1 front and 1 back piece on fold using the pattern template.

How to Sew?

1. Join the side seams.

Place the front and back right sides facing. Sew the side seams with an 1/2 inch seam allowance.

2. Finish the Hemline.

Then, fold the hemline by 1/4 inch and then again by 1/2 inch, and sew along the folded edge.

3. Finish the  Casing and Feed through the Elastic.

There is no separate waist band in this pattern. You need to fold the waistline by 1/4 inch and then again by 1/2 inch, and sew over the folded edge leaving a small gap to feed the elastic in. Insert a 1/4-inch-wide, 10-inch-long elastic through the casing, and overlap the ends of the elastic by 1/2 inch and sew them together. Sew the gap in the casing closed.

Click this link to see the step-by-step sewing tutorial of this skirt.

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

pattern drafting tutorials 

sewing tutorials 

Happy sewing!

---Flora

How to Sew a Summer Top with Yoke and Ruffled Sleeves---Method 1

Front

Back

Click the link below to browse all the free PDF sewing patterns for women:

Free PDF Sewing Patterns for Women

Click the link below to browse all the free PDF sewing patterns for kids:

Free PDF Sewing Patterns for Kids

Click the link below to see the complete list of Free PDF Sewing Patterns for 18-Inch Dolls:

18-Inch Doll Clothes Free PDF Sewing Patterns

In this method we will sew the top without using a serger. Let's see how to do it.

Step 1: Lay out the pattern pieces you have drafted using the drafting tutorial posted here.

Front and back yoke pieces cut with the outer fabric and lining fabric

Front skirt

Back skirt

Sleeves

Bias strips for armhole

Step 2: Let's start sewing.

Gather the top edge of the back and front skirts by sewing two straight lines of stitches parallel to the top edge, using the longest stitch length setting in your sewing machine. 

Leave a few inches of threads at both the ends.

Then pull the threads to gather the fabric until the top edge of the skirt part is of the same width as the bottom edge of the yoke part. Use your fingers to distribute the gathers evenly across the seam. 

Step 3: With right sides facing each other, join the top's front gathered part to the top's front yoke outer fabric and the top's back gathered part to the top's back yoke outer fabric with a 0.375-inch (0.9525-cm) seam allowance.

Step 4: Then, with right sides facing, join the shoulders of the front and back yoke outer fabrics.

And then repeat this step for the front and back yoke lining fabrics.

Step 5: We will make the ruffled sleeves now.

You can finish the hemline of the sleeves by folding it or by doing a rolled hem by hand or machine. I did the rolled hem by hand. I will soon post a tutorial on how to do rolled hem by hand.

Sew two parallel rows of stitches around the sleeve cap (the curved edge of the sleeve) (I did only one row here as I couldn't manage to sew the second row!) Use the longest stitch in your sewing machine. Leave a few inches of thread at both the ends of the sleeve cap. Pull them to create ruffles until the sleeve cap matches the top's arm hole.

With right sides facing each other, pin the sleeves to the armholes of the outer fabric and then sew them in place.

Step 6: Then place the lining fabric over this, with right side facing down. 

Match the necklines of the outer and lining yoke fabrics. Pin and sew together.

Make small slits in the neck seam allowance as shown below, to get a perfect neckline.  

Turn it inside out and press, and you have got a perfect neckline.

Step 7:  Fold the hemline of the yoke lining fabric by 0.375 inch.

Step 8: Burrito roll method to finish the armholes:

Start rolling the fabric from the left side armhole until you reach the right side armhole.

Bring up the yoke lining fabric from down.

Tuck in the sleeve inside and sandwich the sleeve cap in between the armholes of the yoke's outer and lining fabrics. Sew them all together.

Hope you can see it clearly in the below pictures.

Turn it inside out by gently pulling out the fabric inside the roll.

The armhole will have a clean finish like this on the right side as well as on the wrong side.

Repeat these steps for the other armhole, this time rolling from right to left. 

Now the raw edges of both the sleeve caps and the armholes till the yoke line are neatly enclosed between the yoke outer and lining fabrics by using the burrito roll method. 

Step 9: Join the sides.

Join the sides with an 0.75-inch seam allowance. 

We will now conceal the raw edges by opening the seam allowance and pressing them. 

Then fold them inward by 0.375 inch and press.

Bring the edges close together and sew along the edge to like so.

This is how your side seams look like with the raw edges hidden inside.

Step 10: Attach bias strips to the armhole under the yoke line. 

Now, we need to cover the raw edges of the armhole under the yoke line.

To do this, first take a 1.5-inch-wide bias strip. Fold one edge of the bias tape 1/4 inch inward and sew along the folded edge.  Next, we will attach the raw edge of the bias strip to the raw edge of the armhole part on the outside the main fabric under the yoke line, with a seam allowance of 3/8 inch. Fold the bias tape entirely inside and sew along the folded edge.

We need to hide both the ends of the bias strip under the yoke lining fabric before the yoke hemline is closed.

(If you don't want to use the burrito roll method for the armholes, you can finish the entire armhole using the bias strips.)

Now sew the hemline of the yoke lining fabric closed at the yoke line to conceal the raw edges of the yoke main fabric and the top's gathered front main fabric.

Step 11: Finish the hemline of the top.

Fold the hemline 0.25 inch. Then fold again 0.50 inch and sew over the folded edge.

Step 12: Insert button and buttonhole plackets at the center back of the top.

First we need to decide how long we want the slit to be.

Measure your kid's head circumference.

Then measure the front and back neckline of the top and add the measurements together. If this total neckline measurement is lesser than your kid's head circumference measurement, then decide the slit length accordingly to avoid the neckline being too tight when popping the top over the head. 

For example, my kid's head circumference is 22 inches and the front + back neckline measurement is 17.5 inches. I have kept the slit length to 7 inches (which means 7 inches on the button placket side and 7 inches on the buttonhole placket side) to easily pop it over the head and take out.

Next we will attach a continuous bound placket for adding in the buttons and buttonhole.

The placket's length is twice the slit length plus a few inches for folding at the top. Mine was 17 inches long. Width was 2 or 2.5 inches. I was running out of the fabric. So, I joined small pieces of the main fabric to get the 17-inch-long placket piece.

With the right side of the placket facing the wrong side of the slit. We will start 0.25 inch away from the top of one side of the slit and come down closer to the V point of the slit and then go up and end 0.25 inch away from the top of the other side of the slit.

Now flatten the seam, fold the outer edge of the placket to the right side of the fabric by 0.25 inch and then fold again to cover the seam line on the slit.

On the right side of the top, fold the placket inside. This is where we will sew the buttonholes.

On the left side the placket, we will sew the buttons.

Turn it to the wrong side. At the V end of the placket join the plackets diagonally like so, to keep them in place. 

Let's sew in the buttons and buttonholes.

And hurrah! We have made a new breezy summer top with a clean finish without a serger.

Happy sewing! I will see you all soon with yet another tutorial or free pattern.

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

pattern drafting tutorials 

sewing tutorials 

---Flora