PENGUIN Heritage Doll Clothes: Sew 20 American Outfits for Your 18-Inch Dolls

I didn’t notice that the patterns in CD player,, I wish if its printed or included in the book pages but Overall I like this book

I LOVE this book! The doll clothes are excellent and the patterns from the disc are easy to use. Anyone who appreciates the days of long ago will enjoy this book for making dresses for their dolls.

I love all the pattern choices and the instructions. It fit our doll even though she's not an American Girl doll

Un très beau livre sur les poupées Américan girl, de très jolies modèles de tout genre, très bien expliquer, bon en anglais, mais on peut tout à fait se débrouiller sans problème, je le conseil aux couturière qui veulent changer un peu de style de vêtements.

Joan Hinds nunca decepcionaba.

My American Girl doll’s original clothes were all yellowed with age and threadbare from play, so I thought she could use some new clothes. Bought this book while I was stuck home with COVID in isolation, and using mostly scraps, I whipped out several dresses. Now I had never made clothing of any kind before so some of the instructions took a bit of figuring out (‘gather the sleeve’ and ‘gather the waist’ needed youtube to explain how to gather,) but overall the instructions and illustrations were easy to follow. I had piles of scraps from quilt making, so went for ‘patchy’ looks to use up pretty fabric I love. The skirts can require huge chunks of fabric 11’’x44’’ so if you don’t have pieces that size feel free to get creative with scraps. I loved the result!! But then I love scrappy quilts best too. I am wishing I had someone to have a doll tea party with now. 😂 The patterns are on CD, which is a bit of a hassle, esp as most laptops now don’t have CD slots, but I managed. Your local library will probably have computers with CD drives where you can print the patterns, if you don’t have one yourself. And just ask your librarian for help if needed!!! They might have only select computers with CD slots in the back, but would be VERY happy to help!! My final images here are of my planned next dress fabrics and the book image of it. The book has lots of inspiration in the photos for trimmings and fabric matching. Again I just hunted through my boxes of old ribbons and trimmings to find pretty things, so you might have what you need at home. The shift I made from an old shirt, and the green dress from an old pillowcase! Look for what you might have in your cupboard!! Or try a thrift store/charity shop for pretty second hand fabric for cheap! I started with the simplest pattern, the undergarment shift dress, then moved to a dress with sleeves, then a fuller skirt dress, and a shawl. The dress with the inset stomacher piece will be my next try. I recommend starting with a simple project before leaping into the complicated dresses. Learning the bodice before sleeves was a huge help to me. I cannot recommend this book enough!! Such fun to learn this new skill!