I received an email from Kitty who wanted to make some doll clothes for her Granddaughter’s 17 inch (43cm) Baby Born doll and she asked ‘Are any of the American Girl and Cabbage Patch patterns suitable or adaptable to this size doll?’
Because I had a Baby Born doll I sat down with my daughter and tried all the outfits that I have patterns available for on my Baby Born doll – it sort of took us back a few years and we had a little bit of fun! Anyway, I was thrilled to be able to tell Kitty:
All the following American Girl size patterns will fit without adjustment
Then with just a few small adjustments, the following 18 Inch American Girl patterns will fit too!
- Summer Dress – Shorten bodice ½” (12mm) and shorten hem ½ – 1” (12-25mm)
- Summer nightie – may need to shorten the elastic used in the straps about ½” (12mm)
- T-shirt – make neck slightly bigger and if making the long sleeves they will need to be shortened about ½” (12mm)
- Frill Hat – you may need to add about ½” (12mm) to bottom of hat and add elastic to hold on dolls head
- Winter Pyjamas – shorten the top front, back and sleeves ½” (12mm) and pants 1” (25mm). Add about ¼ ” (6mm) to top of pants. You may also like to lower the neck 1/4″ (6mm) all around.
- Wedding Dress – Shorten long sleeve ½” (12mm) and hem of dress ½ – 1”
- Funky Fur – shorten sleeves 1” (25mm) and pants 1” (25mm)
- Winter Nightie – Shorten hem 1 ½ – 2″ (35mm – 55mm)
- Fifties Vintage Dress – Shorten hem 1″ (25mm)
- 3 Way Shoe – Shorten top of boot ½” (12mm)
- Overalls for All Seasons – Shorten American Girl long hem 1¼” (30mm)
These alterations are just a guide and you may need to alter them slightly depending on the fit you like on your doll.
All the following 18 1/2 Inch Cabbage Patch Kids size patterns will fit without adjustment
- Angel – use Cabbage Patch pattern
- Witch – use Cabbage Patch Pattern
- Peasant Skirt – use Cabbage Patch Pattern
Then with just a few small adjustments, the following 18 1/2 Inch Cabbage Patch Kids patterns will fit too!
- Fur Trimmed Jacket – Use Cabbage Patch pattern and make sleeves 1” (25mm) narrower, make armhole smaller and add ½” (12mm) to sleeve length.
These alterations are just a guide and you may need to alter them slightly depending on the fit you like on your doll.
So if you’re looking for patterns to suit your 17 inch (43cm) Baby Born Doll, then you can confidently use my doll clothes patterns as mentioned above. If you have a doll that is similar and want to compare her measurements to those of the Baby Born doll, you will find these measurements on the Doll Sizing Page.
If, like Kitty, you are sewing for a different sized doll and using my patterns, please let me know which doll you are sewing for, how you go using my patterns and what adjustments you have made so I can share this information with others on my blog. Don’t forget to send me photos too, I love seeing what you have been busy creating!
Happy Sewing
Thank you, I have been looking for doll clothes for my great grand daughter’s doll. She has a 16″ and an 18″ found clothes to knit for the 18″ thank you she will love these.
That’s wonderful to hear Heather. Don’t forget to send me some photos if you get the chance 🙂
Happy sewing
You make so beautiful doll clothes
This is going to make a nice little Christmas present and I love the jelly shoes.
Awesome! Would love to see some photos if you get the chance to email them to me or share in my Facebook group.
I am looking for simple patterns for Baby Born boy doll or I may have to use the girl ones and adapt.
Hi Andrea, you may find this blog I wrote about boy doll clothes patterns helpful.
Hello, I’m Looking for patterns to fit the Ashton Drake premie and new born baby dolls. I’m a novice sewing trying to make baby doll clothes for my granddaughter. Can you help to find me some fairly easy patterns
Hi Mary. I’m not familiar with the sizing of these dolls, however you may find some blog posts I wrote on resizing doll clothes patterns helpful. You will find links to these and lots of other helpful blogs on my Free Resources page. You will find the measurements of my 18″ doll on my Doll Sizing page so you can use these to work out your percentage for resizing. All my patterns come with step-by-step video instructions which are perfect for novice sewers, you may even like to start with my How to Make Doll Clothes course as it covers a lot of the basics for sewing as well as lots of helpful tips and tricks that make sewing the smaller doll clothes easier. The Summer dress pattern is a great basic pattern and I have a series of videos where I show you how to alter it to create lots of different looks. Hope this information helps get you started.