18" Doll Skirt - Classic A-line Style

I wanted to do some appliqué so after a bit of thought I printed out my basic A-line skirt pattern.

I used my computer to create this cute lion appliqué but it is just as easy to draw onto your skirt pattern.

Just remember that you have to reverse your appliqué design before tracing it onto the fusible appliqué paper.

If you have your design drawn on the skirt paper pattern you can hold it up to a window and trace over the design on the back of the paper.

The lion skirt is just one of the patterns available in the Newsletter Pattern and Tutorial folder. When you subscribe to the newsletter you get an access link to the Newsletter folder and a direct link to the Basic A-line skirt with a waistband so you can get sewing fast.

If you don't like newsletters you can get this pattern from my shop 

The lion applique skirt doesn't have a waist band. The waist edge is finished with a wide facing on the inside. I was experimenting with just leaving off the waist band of the basic A-line skirt and cut identical shorter pieces for the facing.

There are no darts or any tricky bits. So quick and easy to make.

When you subscribe to the newsletter you get a direct link to download the basic A-line skirt. This one has a waistband. Just a little more construction required compared to the one with the yoke but still quick and easy to make.

There are lots of pattern hack ideas for this basic design. Box pleats and front pockets are just two hacks I am working on adding to the newsletter folder so you can download and print out.

Below I have outlined some ideas for customising you skirt design. I hope you get inspired to get sewing.

• Thick fabrics need an adjusted pattern
• Add 1/8" to the centre front and centre back
• Lengthen the waist band by at least 1/2"

This latest skirt is close fitting. This is a problem when you use different fabrics. I love solving such problems. With a little bit of adjustment to the pattern pieces it becomes suitable to make in denim or corduroy. 

If you already have an A-line skirt pattern for your doll and you want to make it in a thicker fabric you will need to add 1/8" to the centre front when you cut out the front and add 1/8" to the back facing on the backs. 

If it has a waist band you will have to add at least 1/2" to the length of the waist band but possibly even more since there are folds at each end that take up quite a lot of fabric around the fold in thicker fabrics.

• Use fancy facing fabric 
• Decorate the skirt with appliqué motifs

I love having the facing on this skirt because it looks so cute with the facing in a fancy fabric. My Micky Mouse facing fabric is very course and stiff and not really suitable for a nice doll dress so I used it for the skirt facing where the Micky pattern is what stands out not the feel or drape of the fabric.

There is lots of potential to decorate the skirt in little appliqué hearts or flowers using the same facing fabric.

If you like appliqué you may even find some items from your pattern stash of appliqué items that will fit perfectly on the skirt. Things like birds or animal heads or bugs and butterflies would be perfect.

I designed a lion face and body to fit onto the side and be stitched into the side seam. I really love the disembodied tail coming in from the side. Appliqué is such a perfect artistic outlet that combines well with my love sewing.

• Use patterns you already have to come up with new designs
• Use second hand or bargain clothes to get small amounts of fashion fabrics for doll clothes

When I set out to design this skirt I found that the free sign up skirt was a good fit if I just left off the waist band. I then created pattern pieces for the facing and played with the appliqué idea. Rearranging things and coming up with new ways to put them together is what I love about doll clothes designs. It doesn't take all day and metres of fabric to alter and test a new design.

To make my denim skirts I used old jeans. I find that using men's jeans is better because the denim is not stretchy like most of the women's denim clothes. The stretchy denim does not age well and looks wrinkly like old elastic. Especially when you have small pieces representing a whole doll skirt. It seems to amplify any imperfections in the fabric.

Don't just get stuck on denim or quilting cotton. I used cotton sateen for the lion skirt. It is a bit stretchy and has a nice sheen to it.

The pink skirt with the box pleat is more of a canvas weight fabric that looks good pressed into a pleat. I must have picked it up in the curtain department of Spotlight.

No matter what skirt pattern you have you can have some fun with it using different fabrics, different trims and appliqué and special features like the box pleat.

Happy Doll Dressmaking,

Val