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New easy (and free!) doll clothes patterns for the Dress Up Bunch rag dolls!

Before we get into this, I just want to let you know that this shirt is weird. If you have any experience making clothing for actual humans, the pieces are not shaped like you’d expect. Doll clothes are tiny, so you can’t handle them the way you’d handle clothing for people. Throw all your knowledge out the window and just follow the instructions and you’ll be fine. 🙂

Download the pattern pieces here.

Click here to jump to the skirt pattern.

Use 1/4″ for all seam allowances.

Doll Shirt Pattern

Step 1

Join the 2 shirt pattern pieces into one and cut it out. Place the shirt and shirt lining fabric right sides together and cut the single shirt pattern piece out of them at the same time. That way the pieces lines up perfectly. 🙂 .

Again – it’s a weird-looking pattern. Here are some quick labels to help you make sense of it.

Please note! This pattern only works with non-directional fabric. Since it’s all one piece, whatever is right side up on the front will be upside down on the back – so choose something that looks good both ways.

Step 2

Sew the main shirt and lining (right sides together) up one front side, around the neck, and down the other side. Clip the curves and corners.

This video has tips for handling tight curves, and also info on the how and why of clipping curves.

Step 3

Turn the shirt right side out.

Carefully smooth out the curve around the neck, poke out the corners, and press. From this point on you’ll treat the two layers of fabric as one.

Step 4

Hem the sleeves. Turn up the raw edge 1/4” and press. Turn it up another 1/4” and press. Stitch the hem in place.

You can hem to the outside, so the contrasting lining shows (like I did) or hem to the inside for a more traditional finish.

Here’s a closer look at one of my sleeve hems.

Here’s a little trick so you don’t have to measure that skinny 1/4 inch. Sew the two layers together 1/4 inch from the raw edge. Use that stitching line as a guide for turning up the first 1/4 inch.

No measuring!

Then turn the second 1/4 inch and stitch.

Step 5

With the shirt right sides together, sew the underarm/side seam.

Start sewing at the hemmed sleeve so that edge is perfectly lined up, and finish at the shirt bottom. Any unevenness there will be hidden once it’s hemmed. Clip the seam allowance in the curve.

Step 6

Turn the shirt right side out and press.

Almost finished!

Step 7

Hem the shirt bottom the same way you did the sleeves in Step 4.

Step 8

Press everything and add three snaps. I like using 5/16 inch (8 mm) snaps, but 9 mm are easier to find and work just fine.

For the youngest doll-owners you might want to use velcro instead. I like using 3/8 inch hook & loop tape, which can be harder to find, but it’s a good scale for doll clothes. You can find it on Etsy – even in pretty colors! There’s a link on my favorite tools and supplies page.

If you’re extra fancy you can use buttons. 🙂

Finished! But your doll can’t just wear a shirt!

Here’s Mollie wearing her new shirt with a pretty skirt. You can find instructions for that super easy doll skirt here. 

Doll Shorts Pattern

Step 1

Cut out two shorts pieces. Unlike the shirt – this fabric can be directional. 🙂

Hem the bottom of the two shorts pieces. Turn the raw edge up 1/2″ and press. Turn it up another 1/2″ and press. Stitch the hem in place.

Step 2

Sew the center back seam using 1/4″ seam allowance.

If you want critters with tails to be able to wear the shorts, leave the tail opening (as marked on the pattern piece) unstitched. Make sure to backstitch at the top and bottom of the opening.

Step 3

Press the center back seam open.

If you are leaving a tail opening, stitch a box around the opening to stabilize it.

Step 4

Start to make the casing for the elastic. Turn the raw edge at the top of the shorts down 1/2 inch. Press. Turn it down another 1/2 inch. Press.

Don’t sew this yet. It’s just easier to measure and press when it’s one flat piece.

Step 5

Unfold the casing creases you made in Step 4.

Match up the center front edges and sew, using 1/4″ seam allowance.

Step 6

Refold the casing creases and stitch it down almost all the way around the top of the shorts.

Leave a couple of inches open at the center back seam so you can get the elastic in.

Step 7

Cut a 12 inch piece of 3/8 inch elastic and thread it through the casing. Overlap the ends of the elastic 1 inch and sew them together. Slip the stitched elastic up into the casing and finish sewing the casing closed.

Watch this video for more info on using elastic in a waistband.

Step 8

Sew up the inseam/crotch of the shorts using 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Press anything you can get to with the iron. 🙂

Finished!

And here’s a view from the back.

It’s Spot the Puppy wearing these and he likes to have room for his tail to wag. 🙂

So there you have it – three basic doll clothes patterns – all super easy and free. The shirt, skirt and shorts will fit any of the Dress Up Bunch dolls.

Happy sewing!