Doll Costume Dress Up – Part One
Make believe play with 18″ dolls dressed in costumes is a great way to foster a child’s imagination! What child hasn’t envisioned being a princess, super hero, or even a mermaid? Joan Hinds, doll clothes designer and author of Doll Costume Dress Up, which includes 20 patterns, is my guest for this new two-part Sewing With Nancy series.
Lilac Fairy or a Ballerina Costume
Fanciful costumes are easily made with small pieces of fabric and trim, yielding creative results. The Lilac Fairy is our first doll dress-up idea. A combination of netting, stretchy knit, and a little time will result in a costume made to spark imagination. Learn how to add elastic in small spaces and even stitch over wire!
Once you know a few sewing basics, a Ballerina could be your next doll costume!
Cinderella, Bride, or Southern Belle Doll Costumes
Be the fairy godmother for your little girls’ doll when you create one of these lavish gowns. Satin fabric with sequins and rhinestones add the glam, you add the magic! The sewing steps for these three dresses are very similar. with flat construction for ease of sewing and playing. Which one will you choose?
Mermaid Doll Costume
Your little girl’s doll will look swimmingly in Joan’s Mermaid Costume. Sequin fabric, glittery and pompom trims, plus clever patterns make short work of this imaginative costume. I can’t wait for you to see how to sew the fish tail! Blog Exclusive: Sew a matching mermaid tail for your child. You’ll find the free pattern in my October 10 Blog Posting.
Watch Doll Costume Dress Up(Part One and Part Two) on Sewing With Nancy online.
Bye for now,
Vivienne Aho
I would make the Southern Belle Doll costume because it reminds me of ‘back home.’
Donna Robinson
My granddaughter would love to play dress up with the doll that belonged to her mother. These patterns are so cute!
peg
The first one would be Southern Belle but I would probably end up making all of them!
Maggie
The first would be the Southern Belle for my Southern Granddaughter. Love them all.
SusieCarole
I love the mermaid!
Carol P
I am sure my nieces would love the fairy and ballerina outfits. They just received the American Girl dolls and would love to have more clothes for them. The gown would be beautiful also.
Janet Brown
My granddaughter, Mallory, plays dress up as a mermaid and would love if her doll could join her!
Linda M. Larson
Our 4 yr old princess would love it if Grandma made her some sparkly clothes for her Ellie doll! Very cute patterns!
Jean Palionis
Adult “girls” have fantasies that were not addressed in childhood…this patternbook is just the ticket! Thank you for offering the chance to own one.
Martha Morgan
I love the southern bell costume and of course Cinderella. I suppose one of those would be first.
Gretchen Jaspering
I would make the mermaid first…a magical creature and the epitome of dress- up fantasy for girls. I can see it in lots of colors and variations.
Sharon Kirby
I have made some of these and have other doll clothes books by Joan Hinds. My granddaughters love the clothes and they are easier on Nana’s pocket book than the purchased clothes. The nine year old is starting to see them herself.
corrina
I would love to win the book. I adopted my 2 grand childern. The one being handicapped and total care. She is 8 yr old. Despite all her disabilities. And she has many. And on some days it is hard being a single parent. She is still my princess. And would love to make all the doll dresses for her. As I do not have a lot of sewing time. These are small enough projects. I could fit them in my evenings after the kids are asleep and I am down loading the day. Thank You.
Roberta Lloyd
I would do the southern belle, it reminds me of Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind.
Susan Crist
I’d make the Bride doll. I’ve made wedding dresses for adults in the past and I love making them. I want to get my granddaughters into collecting dolls. I love sewing for them!
Cindy
I love all of the costumes! I would probably make the Bride Doll Costume first. Who doesn’t love a bride?? No particular recipient in mind but it would be fun to win the book!
DAWN
I would make the southern belle first. My grandchildren would love it. They love dressing up in similar dresses. I want to make clothing for their dolls.
Jan
Probably the bride, because my aunt made a bridal outfit for my doll when I was a child, right down to the panties and bra. She also carved platform shoes from balsa wood (left over from her husband’s model cars). The straps were made of ribbon which she had painted silver. What a wonderful memory! I hope to make such a memory for my granddaughter.
Carolyn Ford
I spent a lot of time at Christmas making doll dresses for two of my darling granddaughters. These designs are just adorable. I would love to be able to sew some of these lovely dresses for their new dolls.
Marie Williams
I love making doll clothes. At sixty years young I still play with my dolls and make clothes for them. I love the bride doll costume, I’ve never made one for my girls. I think I would work on that first and then do the southern bell.
Barb
I would make the fairy first then start on Cinderella or the Bride.
debe
I really like the fairy & wedding dress costumes. I”m a romantic at heart, I guess!
Mary Green
I have daughter’s original Jenny/Mandy dolls from 30+ years ago and would love to make the princess costume for one of them. Granddaughter has just returned from celebrating her 5th b’day at Disneyland.
Carl Wichnman
I would make a princess costume. I sew outfits for dolls provided by a local bank for a Toys for Tots program at Christmas time. I’ve already started some outfits for this Christmas.
Estelle
I would make the Lilac Fairy for the little girl still inside this 77 year old.
Mammaw
“Oh please make my doll a princess dress, Mammaw.”
My Granddaughter is the PRINCESS of all princesses! She is having a Beauty and the Beast birthday party. Belle will be in the spotlight! I’ll be making the princess dress in yellow gold for this royal occasion.
We can all live as a princess in the right dress.
Linda
I love them all but if forced I would pick the southern bell.
Sheila
I would like to make the wedding dress for my granddaughter’s American Girl Doll.
Dottie Macomber
I would make the princess or bride dress. I used to love dressing up my bride doll when I was a little girl, and I have a step-granddaughter who is ALMOST old enough for an 18″ doll. I hope to make many clothes for her doll, which I plan to give her when she is old enough to be able to play with her.
Marjory Cordoza
When I was a child, I learned to sew making clothes for my doll, Betty. When my girls were little, I made clothes for their dolls although it is hard making clothes for Barbies. These gorgeous patterns will be very special gifts for my grand daughter and her doll. I am sure she will love them all.
Jan
Princess. My grand loves to dress dolls for the prom.
Susan Spiers
The doll costumes are all so sweet! Of course, as I live in south MS, I would love to make the Southern Belle costume. GREAT giveaway-great ideas!
Carol Kuntz
For many years, I made girls’ clothes and doll clothes, now I have grandsons, just waiting on a granddaughter to start sewing for!
Linda M.
I would make the Southern Belle dress because I am a southern belle at heart…
Wendy
Cinderella! Oh my, she is beautiful. My granddaughter would love to have her doll dressed in this costume. What a creative pattern!
Debby Batroni
This book is wonderful. I make doll clothes for needy girls, and the one thing all girls like is princess dresses so this would definitely be the one I would make first. I look for 18″ dolls at thrift stores,sales and then make 4-5 outfits for each . They are then put in a tote bag and given to an organization that provides childrens’ items for low income families.
Winning this book would be a dream!!
Cari-Ann K
I love all of the costumes! I would make the Cinderella. She is the favorite of Everyone.looks like an amazing book.
Winnie Krajnek
I love making doll clothes for my granddaughter almost as much as she loves getting them. This book would mean great fun for both of us.
Susanna Hogan
Always wanted to make a bridal gown. It is beautiful!!!
P Pardue
I don’t think there is a woman alive who outgrows their love for dolls. I hate to admit that I was green with envy when my husband and I gave our granddaughter an American Girl doll. There is just something about them! Would love to win this book. Thanks for the chance.
Kimmy C
I love the Lilac Fairy! I like that the dress can be worn for multiple dress-up events, just change the setting and she’s ready to go! The flower head garland is adorable!
Priscilla Snider
I would have to start with the Lilac Fairy. My grandmother’s yard included many varieties of lilacs. Not only were they beautiful to the eye, the smell was wonderful. Many happy memories at grandma’s. She also made me doll clothes for my doll!
Kathie Lawrence
Many years ago my Mother made me a trunk full of Ginny doll clothes. Now I am making a trunk full of clothes for my Grand daughter’s 18 inch dolls. As I create each one, I take time to remember her and her love of sewing. My favorite is the Cinderella dress. Cinderella reminds me that each of us has a fairy godmother.
Diana
I would make the mermaid costume because my grown daughter’s favorite would be the mermaid and she has a set of 15 month old twin girls now that have a very cute mermaid bathtub toy that they just love. But I would have to make two of course with different colors for each twin!
Debbie Collins
My little princess granddaughter would have to have the princess dress for her doll, followed by the mermaid outfit so her doll can swim with her dolphins! She is 6 and learning to sew, so she’ll be able to have a hand in making the outfits which will be really special for both of us!
Flo
The mermaid doll costume would be my first project. I made my 4 year old granddaughter a mermaid costume, and I’ve made other orincess costumes. I made an 18 in. Doll Elsa costume.
Thunder
Mermaids !! I have 2 granddaughters with red hair, and they love mermaids; )
Maureen R
I am a court appointed special advocate (CASA) and the foster child I support would enjoy having some costumes for her doll.
Monica Babcock
I would make the Southern Belle costume because it reminds me of Gone With The Wind – my favorite movie
Brenda Boucher
I would love to made the mermaid costume for my great granddaughters. All the patterns are so cute.
Starla
My little granddaughters live on the East Coast, close to the shore. I think they’d love the mermaid outfit!
nicky
it would be hard to choose, would end up making them all. but would start with the brides one I love lace.
Becky H
I saved my daughters 18″ doll. My granddaughter is now playing with it. She is into making fairy gardens. This fairy garden dress will be the one to make to go with her giant fairy garden. Our local botanical association has fairy gardens throughout the children’s’ gardens.
Debbie
I would make the wedding dress for my granddaughter, so they could play dress up together
Shirley Horn
I would make the Cinderella and the mermaid costumes. My grand daughter loves to play dress up with her dolls and just returned home from Hawaii. I’m sure she would want to play mermaids with her dolls.
Nancy Bake
My 7 year old granddaughter, Rylee Anne, loves to dance with her best friend- her 18 inch doll. After viewing this show I am now excited to make matching Ballerina dresses so the show will go on!!
Tonya
I would make the wedding gown because it is every girl’s dream to be married one day.
Mimi52
I have two grand daughters ages 4 and 6. Both love fairies and ballet. I would make one of each for them to share.
Mary S
Gorgeous! The costumes are all lovely but my first pick would be the wedding dress. I crocheted a Barbie doll wedding dress and train for our daughters wedding and I’m sure her daughter would love to have this dress for her doll. Mom would have wedding memories, too.
Bev M
I like all of the patterns. I would first make the Cinderella ball gown to match a similar dress-up outfit that I have made for my granddaughter.
Susan
I would like to make the Cinderella costume, b/c my granddaughters are all about Disney princesses.
Diane Mills
I love the doll costumes, and my preference would be the Lilac Fairy, she is lovely. Knowing my 6 yr. old granddaughter as I do it would have to be the Cinderella dress. Everything with her is princess, from each birthday party to Halloween she is always dressed as a princess. It would be fun to make her doll pretty costumes for her to play with. Thank you for sharing your knowledge of sewing with us.
Julie O
İ would make the Scarlett O’Hara dress for my daughter. She just got her first American Girl Doll for her birthday.
Brenda
I would make 4 of the Cinderella dresses for my 4 granddaughters. The dresses are beautiful.
Peg S.
OOOh! My first project would be the Bridal costume. Just happen to have some leftover fabric from a recent dress. So very cute. Thanks for picking me!!
Carol S
What little girl doesn’t like a bride doll? I would start with the bride, then the mermaid, and then the ballerina. What fun it would be to win the book, “Doll Costume Dressup”. The patterns will make endless cute and inspirational outfits for my granddaughters dolls .
Rhonda D in KY
I’m sure my granddaughter would love the mermaid costume. I’d probably have to make her an outfit too.
Judy
I would love to make the mermaid doll costume for our adopted grandchild from Guatemala. She loves anything mermaid.
She would just love it!
Thank you
Linda Vetter
I would love to make the wedding dress. I have started sewing 18in doll clothes for friend’s granddaughters and they would love it for sure!!! Maybe I need to buy a doll, I love all of them!!!
Cynthia Cox
I would love to make the mermaid costume for my granddaughters. They just love their American Girl dolls and are so thankful when nana creates anything new for them.
Suzanne. Tetreault
I lové the Lilac fairy costume. My grand daughter would lové to play
With the doll !
Jacki
I would make every one of them. They are so adorable!!
Teresa Celusta
I would make the bride doll. I made my own wedding dress, and would love to have a doll outfit to remind me of it. I love dolls, and have 2 of my own in my sewing room. I’m sure I would not stop with just the bride doll dress, it would just be a starting point for me! I would want to make all of them.
Patti W
I would Make a Fairy Costume for a little girl at church, and a Cinderella Dress for my Grand daughter who loves being a princess.
RKryglik
I would make the Southern Bell as the outfits from that era are so elegant, what girl (Small or Big) could not imagine dressing up like in such a beautiful dress.
E. Ann
I would live to make the Bridal gown. I sew for my granddaughter and her doll. I love it so much I bought my own “little friend” to dress!!! Would love the book.
Bernadette Webre
I’d mke the ballerina costume. My dancer granddaughter would love it.
Gail Beam
Definitely the mermaid as both of my granddaughters have the American girl doll and they are both avid swimmers and water skiers. One of my granddaughters has won many medals swimming for her team and I know she would love this costume for her doll,. All of the costumes are Awesome and I would love to win this book. Thank you for the opportunity.
Melody Hill
I would love to learn how to make all of them, but definitely the Cinderella dress!
Debra
I think my granddaughter would love the mermaid dress for her AG doll as the Disney movie about a mermaid is one of her favorites. Next the fairy!
Kelly Sasman
I would love to have this book. My granddaughter lives 30 minutes from Disneyland. I can’t wait to make doll cloths for her (she is 2 years old) and want to make the Cinderella outfit first. Both my daughters had these same dolls and I know my granddaughter will too!
Pat
I’d make the Southern Belle costume because it reminds me of Scarlett in Gone With The Wind.
Carol Morris
My first sewing projects were doll clothes when I was a little girl myself (Ginny dolls, Toni dolls). I’ve continued to sew all my life, and my daughters had the best-dressed dolls (Fisher Price Mandy dolls) in the neighborhood! Now I have a granddaughter, and she already has an American Girl doll that needs to be dressed! I’d start with the ballerina outfit, as her mother was a dancer, but I’d probably end up making all of them – every little girls fantasy. Thanks!
Tari
I would absolutely make the Cinderella, it’s just gorgeous!
Shari F
I have two great grandaughters would have to make them all
cford
Lovely
Winnie
I would love to challenge myself with either Cinderella or the bride. Haven’t made doll clothes in a very long time, but it would really be fun.
Judy Salvi
I especially like the violet fairy, but would make several dresses for the hundreds of dolls that my bank system donates, for Christmas, to needy children
Judy Salvi
I especially like the violet fairy, but would make several dresses for the hundreds of dolls that my bank system donates, for Christmas, to needy children
Mary
I would make the mermaid costume for my granddaughter …..she’s a little fish and would be totally delighted with this costume! And then of course I would follow unmaking all the other costumes!!! Isn’t that what grandma’s are for?????
Judy Kirkpatrick
I’d like to get the book and work with my grand-daughters to make wedding dresses for their “girls”.
Rosemary Rissler
We have 15 girl grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren love all of her books and have mademost of them. She is one great designer. Where can I buy this book I have to have it just so cute
Linda
Oh my, I don’t know which one I would make first. It would be between the Southern Belle, the Bride, or the Princess. Regardless of the order in which they were made, all would be made. I would love to receive the book.
Jeanne Jannette
The lilac fairy–to begin, then Cinderella. What gorgeous dresses. I might even make something for my granddaughter 🙂
cathy mcgrath
I have been married almost 50 years and still have my wedding dress which my daughter wore when she got married. I think I would like using some material from my wedding dress and make a doll dress for my granddaughter as a keepsake. I like making cloth dolls and I would do one for the wedding dress also. The mermaid would be next and from there wherever my creative eye takes me.
Shirley Clark
I would make the mermaid costume and the wedding dress for my little granddaughter. All little girls love for their dolls to dress like she’s getting married.
Joan Wallrich
Hi, I would have to make the beautiful wedding gown. How gorgeous! My granddaughter would be ecstatic! Thanks for always sharing.
Margaret Graczyk
I would love to be able to make many of these doll dresses! My Grand Daughters BOTH asked for doll dresses for their dolls this year. Being the Grandma who sews pajamas for them, they figured I should be able to just whip them up with ease 😉 Well, this Grandma needs help, patterns and professional advice, and she’s not afraid to ask for it!! HELP!!!
Judith
I would love to make the Mermaid costume. My granddaughters love that princess.
nance moore
The Lilac Fairy is so sweet. I love the colors.
Cyndi
What great patterns! I would love to make the Princess outfit for my great niece because I always refer to her as Princess!!!!
Thank you for the give away!
Karen Crary
I would make the Mermaid outfit because my granddaughters love the movie “The Little Mermaid”.
Susie Hurst Hart
Would like to make several of these. Like the mermaid and fairy best.
Sandy MacWilliam
I would make the mermaid costume for my 5 year olds Baby Bitty doll. She loves The Little Mermaid movie and it would be fun to make this little costume for her little baby. And it looks like I could make it bigger and make a matching one for her to wear, too.
Sandy MacWilliam
I would love to make the mermaid costume for my 5 year old’s doll. She loves the movie, The Little Mermaid, and it would be fun for her dolly to be a little mermaid, too. And, I bet I could enlarge the pattern and make one for the 5 year old, too.
Rosalind Gutierrez
I would make the “Cinderella” gown so my granddaughter can pretend her doll is Elsa from the Disney “Frozen” movie.
Susie D
I would love to win this book! I’ve been collecting remnants of satins, lace, and “fancy” fabrics to make princess dresses for all of my grand/greatgrand daughters’ AM dolls. I have 3 granddaughters and one great granddaughter (and finally a great grandson). And i have several AM dolls of my own who could use some princess gowns too! 🙂 This looks like a wonderful book.
Sandra G Donnell
My daughter would love the mermaid, the tutu, and the fairy costumes for her doll, Rachel. I enjoy making any kind of doll clothes for her doll. When I was about 10, I made clothes for my “look-alike” Barbie doll; wanted to be a fashion designer when I grew up; instead, I am a mother and seamstress.
Jodi Bowlden
I would love to make the mermaid dress. What a great original look for the summer months ahead.
Gwynn McKenzie
I would make the Lilac Fairy for my daughter’s doll. What girl wouldn’t want to be a fairy and be able to fly. Watching the video has inspired me to make a wardrobe of clothes for our Angel tree at Christmas. Can you imagine the office providing the doll and wardrobe to some little girl for her special Christmas!
Gwynn McK
I would love to make a wardrobe of clothes for our Christmas Angel tree. Several of us could go together and purchase a doll and provide the clothes. Can you imagine a little girl playing Lilac Fairy with her doll. Could even make a large skirt with the same techniques for her.
Melody DeGraziano
I’d make the fairy costume because I love those wings!
Jan
The Bride, of course. Every little girl loves a bride doll.
Erma
i would make the brides dress. My 4-year-old niece is always pretending to be a bride and pretending her dolls are the wedding party.
Mary Jo Abel
I would make the Cinderella outfit. Just found out my first granddaughter is arriving in June. Can’t wait to buy her a doll and make some clothes from Grandma.
Lynne Wahnefried
I would love this book! I have 4 granddaughters and would make a different costume for each girl for her doll! My favorite is the bridal gown!
Lillian K
Lilac Fairy is really pretty. My 10 year old grand-daughter would love any of these doll clothes patterns.
Lillian K
My granddaughter would love Lilac Fairy for her doll.
They are all so cute – so – – I am sure she might receive many in this collection.
Phi
I would make the Cinderella for grand nieces for starters, then would let them pick out more styles. It would be a very fun book to have.
Linda Thompson
Ah, I would have to convert the Cinderalla dress to Elsa’s of Frizen. But, if I have to play by the rules, the Little Mermaid is a hands down winner!
Sharon Janhonen
How timely is this post!! My granddaughter’s birthday is next month and I have been checking out doll dress patterns. Of course I would make the Princess outfit. Georgia Grace is all about princesses.
Ann C
I have loved dolls all my life & have my own American Girl doll to sew for. I would start with the Southern Belle costume as I think the gowns from that era are absolutely gorgeous! I would then make the Bridal gown (for practice) because next year my husband & I will be married 40 years & plan to reaffirm our vows. Since I didn’t have a real wedding gown for the first ceremony, I plan to make my gown this time! (Wish me luck.) I would SO love to win this book. 🙂
Kathy Nelson
I would like to make the lilac fairy outfits one for each of my granddaughters but in different colors. I’ve made a fee costumes and one doll bed. It’s fun for me to make them and for the girls to play with the dolls.
Jill H.
I would make the Southern Belle dress. My friend’s son loves Civil War history and has an American Girl doll from that era.
Mary Carrington
I would make the mermaid, because our granddaughter just adores everything mermaids. Thank-you so very much for offering such a wonderful prize for one of us to win.
Mada B
The costumes are beautiful. I would love to make the wedding dress fcor my 10 year old granddaughter. The very first Barbie Doll that I was given wore a wedding dress made by my sisiter-in-law when I was ten and I cherished it-she had used material from her own wedding gown and iit had that doll and dress up until I moved 13 years ago. The book sounds like it is very easy to fall in love with.
Dee
Love the patterns!
Karen Dietert
Would love them all. I have a granddaughter, she would love them.