After the challenge of completing the 4th of July top that was supposed to be a dress, our dolls needed some shorts to cover their tush and keep them cool in the hot summer weather. I searched different patterns for doll clothes and found one that I liked. Off I went to make some American Girl doll shorts.
Making doll shorts is not a super hard task, but it helps if you pay attention to the directions and are careful as you go. My first attempt I didn’t fully pay attention and I ended up with shorts that looked like this…
So totally not the look I was going for. I accidentally did the welt pocket on the right side of one piece of fabric and the wrong side of the other….so I ended up with funky shorts when I went to put them together.
The positive and negative of this is that I realized I could end up with 2 pair of white shorts now because I had 2 halves that were the same. Therefore, I could just make 2 opposite halves and end up with an unplanned extra pair of white shorts. The bad news about that is that then jealousy reared its ugly head and I had to make 2 pair of the blue shorts rather than the planned 1 pair so that things would be “fair” and “even.” What felt like 15 hours later, but was probably 4 hours later (I don’t really know….I don’t ever just sit down and start and finish a project in one sitting) I had 4 pairs of AG doll shorts.
This pattern creates some really nice shorts….as in, they are such nice quality, if they were A LOT bigger, I would wear them. They have welted pockets, a waistband, and a topstitched fly front. Lots of detail. I used the Liberty Jane Capri Pants and Shorts Bundle pattern. The pattern contains directions and patterns for making Capri pants, Bermuda shorts and these short shorts. I figured this way I was getting my money’s worth out of the pattern. Our dolls don’t seem to have many pants or shorts, so I am sure I will make things from this pattern again.
That being said, I like simple quick patterns. This is not. It is a fantastic and well written pattern but for my taste it is a little fussy. So many details and such. Though, I think you need those details and such when making shorts and pants. The pattern is listed on the Liberty Jane site as being a Medium skill level and I agree with that assessment. This is not a super quick and easy pattern like the reversible wrap skirt I have made so many times. It is a do-able pattern and I did really like it. I just want to make sure you know it isn’t a super quick and simple pattern. The end result is a fantastic pair of shorts.
I had a little trouble understanding one part of the pattern with the first two pair of shorts I made. I got it figured out with the second two pair I made, so I thought I would show you in case you find this part a little hard to understand.
Can you see above how the white shorts are not fitted very well in the waist? See how I got it more fitted with the blue shorts. It has to do with the final steps of the pattern, which involves adding elastic to the waistband. I didn’t understand that the elastic is supposed to go from side seam to side seam.
This pair of shorts was done correctly and fits the dolls well. Can you see how the elastic goes from the side seam to the side seam? The pattern states that the finished elastic should measure 6 inches. I found that was too long and yielded the unfitted look that I had in the white shorts. I think my elastic ended up being closer to 5 inches. Can you see how I have about 1 inch extra on each side? That worked better for me. Then just trim the excess like the pattern tells you to do.
Whew…after all that sewing and detail work, Julie now has a cute pair of shorts to compliment her 4th of July top. She is ready for some 4th of July fun.
Felicity also got a pair of shorts to compliment her 4th of July top. She was just running out to play in the sprinklers and didn’t have any shoes on when I got her picture.
Love the details on these shorts. The welt pockets were really not hard to make. The pattern walks you right through how to make them with pictures and everything. I was a little nervous to try them, but I found them pretty easy to make.
McKenna and Saige benefited from my shorts sewing frenzy as well. Don’t they look cute? All ready for the summer heat and humidity.
McKenna and Saige were willing to show off the differences in the two sets of shorts I made. With the blue shorts I was more careful to follow the seam allowance of 1/4″ and I shortened the elastic in the waist. With the white shorts, I went more narrow with my seam allowance and didn’t get the elastic from side seam to side seam. I also left the elastic at the recommended 6″. Which pair do you like more? I think I like the body of the white short and the waist of the blue. Next time…next time, right?
The dolls were so glad to have shorts and be cool and ready for summer. Don’t they look cute?
Want to make this but don’t know how to sew? Try this Online Sewing Class course from Craftsy. It goes through the basics of learning how to sew.
Have you made shorts for you 18″ doll? What pattern did you use? Any tips or pointers for us? I would LOVE to here about it.
Adorable! The pattern does seem like it is a bit stuffy! I am not sure I would want to go thrum that much work but yours look great! By the way, in your search for shorts patterns, did you find any that were free?
I have not tried to sew with this pattern but “all dolled up” has a free simple shorts pattern (very simple, no details, 2 pieces)
https://www.alldolledup-dollclothes.com/patterns.html
at the bottom of the page, after the patterns available for purchase.
Thanks, Amy! I didn’t find any free patterns, but another person linked up a free pattern link on the blog.
Take care,
KC
Very cute!!
Thanks!
Saw your project on the RealCoake site. SUPER CUTE! We have an American Doll store at the Mall of America and I love seeing all the kids strolling through with their dolls in all their outrageously cute clothes.
Thanks, Allie! We are strolling into a different AG store tomorrow…my girls are super excited. Have a great weekend.
KC
Cute shorts! The Liberty Jane patterns can be very detail orientated but at the end, you get some cool clothes, that can stand up to AG clothes… I am glad you did not give up after your first attempt! I bet you are quite good at it now, after 4 pairs! It is nice to see that I am not the only one who sews too many doll clothes! The skinny jeans version makes nice short and cut-outs, but there have also a lot of details!
I didn’t know that most Liberty Jane patterns are detail oriented… but I do like the end result. It does feel like AG quality clothes for sure. I love the site you linked with all the cute patterns. Thanks so much for sharing it. Yes, our dolls don’t want for clothes. We need more space for storing all the clothes thought. I may have to try those jeans pattern because we could use a few more pair of jeans.
Have a great weekend…tomorrow is the Saige premier, my girls are so excited!
KC
Darling!! 🙂
Thanks!
KC
I love this! I’m pinning this to Pinterest so I can share it with my little girl who loves American Girls and loves to sew!
Thank you! I hope she enjoys it and loves the end result.
KC
I have this pattern & can’t wait to use it!! I love the welt pockets!
Aren’t those welt pockets fun? My daughter has some little AG money poking out of one of her pockets…it looks so cute.
Take care,
KC
Cute shorts! My daughter had quite a few American Girl Dolls that she enjoyed very much! Unfortunately, she’s outgrown them now!
Thanks! I have a feeling I will be very sad when my girls outgrown the AG phase, but maybe I will just have to blog about it and keep the fun alive! 😉
Take care,
KC
Such well dressed little dolls!!! You could make matching shorts for the girls.
Thanks, Pam! I totally need to make some things for my girls and I am totally intimidated to sew for real people. The dolls don’t have anything but smiles for my sewing! lol!
Hope you had a great weekend.
KC