This DIY American Girl Doll birthday dress is perfect for any 18″ doll celebrating her big day. Create it in one afternoon using your Cricut Maker.
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Leila loves when I take the time to make her American Girl Doll clothing because it can get so expensive. But cutting those small pieces is not easy for me to do by hand so I love that the Cricut Maker can cut the fabric pristine and I'm able to sew an outfit that actually works! Create this easy American Girl Doll Birthday Dress and maybe you can figure out how to make a grown-up version.
They even have a jumpsuit pattern in Design Space that I couldn't pass up. Using these Art Gallery Fabrics scraps I had on hand, I just had to grab the tulle and felt balls. Use inexpensive pom poms to make this less expensive but still just as cute.
I teamed up with Rudy from the blog and YouTube channel, American Girl Ideas, to bring you some awesome party ideas for American Girl dolls using our Cricut Maker. She makes the most amazing things for your American Girl doll. When I met her at the Cricut Make-a-Thon in August, she had a mini Cricut for these dolls and I was blown away.
But, if you read my blog, you know that I'm not much of a seamstress. This DIY American Girl birthday dress was more for my daughter than it was for me. I tried to get the best shots as I could while I made this but it was rough. Of course, you can use whatever you have on hand and whatever colors you want.
Supplies for your DIY American Girl Doll Dress
- Cricut Maker
- Pink Fabric Mat
- Cricut Design Space Cut File
- 12×24″ pink fabric
- 12×24″ blue fabric
- Blue Tulle
- Mini Pom Poms
- Pink Thread
- Pink Trim Ribbon
- Silver Glitter Paper
- Better Together Font
I began by getting some blue tulle from Michaels that measured about 4 yards. I folded the tulle in half so that it was still 6″ wide. I used some binding clips to hold the pink trim on while I sewed it on. Once you're done, you'll have a long pocket about 2 yards long that you can put your mini pom poms inside.
I also had little “Happy Birthday” quotes on the inside cut out of glitter paper. If you choose this, scatter them first rather than clumping them in the corner. I clumped them in the corner and they didn't separate as well so it just stayed in one place.
Pour the pom poms into the tulle pocket and then set your sewing machine so that your tulle will ruffle. To do this, place your bobbin thread to the tightest setting. For me, this is 9 on the top rotating dial usually on top of the machine.
Then you'll place your top thread to the largest setting, for me this is 5. So you'll have the bottom thread tight and the top thread lose. Place your tulle into the machine and ruffle the edge. This will make it long enough to fit onto the dress pattern from Design Space.
Next, put together the dress pattern according to the directions. It's pretty straightforward except for the top of the straps. I could not figure that out so I just hand stitched them together so it didn't look like the mess it really was.
For the bottom, I attached the blue fabric so that it would be facing outwards under the tulle. I then attached the tulle to the other tab of the fabric. It's not the way it's supposed to be done but hopefully, you can tell by the photo how to do it. For the back of the tulle, I sewed it together before I stitched up the back.
A lot of my sewing is me trying to figure it out while I go along. It's not something I'm proud of but I'm working on it. I definitely learn better by watching so sometimes I assume you guys do too.
I also just sewed the back seam together which made it a little tricky getting it onto our Maryellen doll but it's for one day a year that she gets to wear it so I'll just shove her in it. Hell or high-water, she's going to wear that dang dress for her birthday!
Using your Cricut to make 18″ Doll Clothes is easier than you think and they're a breeze to cut exactly how you need it. Check out Artsy Fartsy Mama and the outfit she made for her 18″ doll using the Cricut Maker.
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Emily says
OMG!! I tried this, and I got soooooooo many compliments about it. This happened 3 months ago, and people are still talking about how pretty it is. But I made one for myself by adjusting the measurements. I wear it to school almost every week! I love it, and thanks so so so so so so so much! I’m 12, and I bet you know how mean 7th and 8th graders can be, but everyone says that it’s so awesome! I didn’t use the pom-poms because how uncomfortable it would be to walk around with pom-poms on your legs all day . But I did use extra pom-poms for my doll. Thx sooooooooooooo much for putting this on the internet. You. Are. Awesome.
Lindsay says
That’s so great to hear. I’m glad you love it. Kuddos to you for figuring out your measurements and adjusting it. That’s hard work!