15" Doll Pajamas Tutorial

I've been busy this week perfecting my doll pj's for Peyton's 15" Disney Princess Toddler doll.  I am quite happy to have it all wrapped up and ready to share.

First off you'll need the two pattern pages.  For the shirt click here and for the pants click here to download them.  If you haven't used google docs before you click the arrow in the left hand corner to download the files.

For the shirt you'll need knit fabric.  With the pants you can use pretty much anything.  I did a couple with flannel and then a pair with corduroy.  I am thinking about slimming the pattern down and trying leggings with a knit fabric in the future.  Your other materials will be about 4" of velcro.  I cut some wider stuff I had in half, but really any width between 1/4" and 1/2" will work.  And Fold Over Elastic (FOE).  You'll need 14.5" total.  I like to pick mine up when Pick your Plum has a sale but you can get it at JoAnn's.  It seems to be popping up more all the time.  I used it for this project since it does the binding and gathering all in one step and gives a nice finished look. (Plus I have lots of it, and just ordered more!)

Once you have your pattern pieces all cut out we are ready to go!  We will be making the pants first.  All seams are 1/4" unless I tell you otherwise.  Also I do have a serger, so I used it to finish my seams.  But it isn't necessary.  The top is knit so that won't fray and for the pants if it frays it's not a big deal, if you are picky like me you could do a zigzag stitch to finish your seams if you want.

1) First sew a 1/2" hem on the bottom of each pant piece.  It is much easier to do this now than when it is a tiny circle later. :)

2) Next we will sew the pant legs down the inseam.  Start at the point and sew to the hem.  Don't sew up the crotch in this step!

3)  Now turn one leg right side out and insert it into the other leg with right sides together.

4)  Next we'll sew the crotch, this will give you a nearly finished pair of pants.  I didn't take a picture of this step, but just go slowly and work the rounded seam through your machine.

5)  Moving on, take your 7.5" piece of elastic and sew it into a circle with a 1/4" seam.  Then mark the half way point of the circle.  You want a front and back mark (back mark is your seam) to help with lining it up on the pants.  I mistakenly marked 2 other points but since their isn't a side seam on these pants that isn't necessary.  The place where the circle is sewn together matches to the back of the pants and the other mark goes on the front seam of the pants.

6) Now pin the elastic to the pants right sides together and sew the elastic on. The top of the pants should match up with the top of edge of the elastic.  Sew with a 1/4" seams, that should be matching up with the center line on the elastic.  Stretch the elastic as you go to make it lay flat against the pants.  I didn't get a picture of the pinning part.  (working late at night has it's downfalls)  Here is the pants once the elastic is sewn on.
 

7) Finished! I like to iron when I'm done to make everything look nicer.  If I was really good I'd iron after each step but I usually forget!  The raw edge of the pants will fold down leaving a nice finished waist.

Now we'll work on the shirt.  Let me also mention that while I am calling these pajama's depending on the fabric you pick and how you finish them they are just a basic pair of pants and shirt.

1) First cut out your pieces and start by sewing the shoulders together using a 1/4" seam.  (Again all seams are 1/4" unless I mention something different.)

 2)  Next we'll sew the sleeves onto the bodice.  Take your time here, when sewing tiny things you have to be patient. :)  (At least that is what I tell myself)

3)  We can now hem the sleeves.  Use a 1/2" hem here.

4)  Now we sew down the arm and side.  Pin first, make sure you put a pin in the armpit matching up your seams.

 5)  Next we'll sew the hem at the bottom of the shirt.  Do this with a 1/2" hem as well.

6) Things are coming along nicely. We should have something that looks like a shirt.  Onto the FOE for the neck.  Take the remaining 7" piece of elastic and mark the mid-point.  Next with the back of the elastic and the back of your shirt touching pin it together.  Match the center mark on the elastic with the center of the shirt.  Use the line in the center of the elastic to match up the edge of the fabric with.  I first pin the mid-point and then the ends and then stretch to pin the rest.

7)   Now sew that on, stretching the elastic as you go to make it lay flat.  See my fingers at the bottom of the picture, I'm pulling gently on the elastic.

8)  Then fold the elastic back over the edge of the fabric to enclose it.  Sew that down, stretching the elastic as you go once more.

 9) All we have left is the back!  Fold over each side by 1/2" and sew it down.

10) Finally we'll attach the velcro.  Take one of your pieces and pin it to the outside of the shirt and the on other on the inside as shown.  Sew the velcro on and your done!  Again I would iron it so it lays nicely.

You can add a design on the front if you want.  I did it for one shirt.  To do it I simply cut out the image I wanted and used Wonder Under to adhere it to the shirt and then sewed around it.

 Here are the 3 outfits I made.  The are wildly popular with my daughter but of course now she has a whole list of other clothes she wants. :)

I hope the pajamas you make are well loved too :)  Please let me know if you have any questions.  I always wonder how much to say and how much people already know.  Thanks for stopping by, feel free to leave a comment they truly make my day!