Our oldest daughter recently had her sixth birthday, and I wanted to make her and her 18 inch doll matching summer dresses. However, my daughter’s dress didn’t turn out quite how I had hoped (I always overestimate my sewing skills). But her doll dress did turn out, so that’s what I’m going to show you today! This is how I made a reversible wrap dress for an 18 inch doll.

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Supplies

• Maureen Cracknell Flower Child Fabric
• Sewing scissors
• Measuring tape
• Pins
• Sewing machine
• Quilting foot
• Ruffle trim
• Double fold bias tape
• Thread

The fabric

I was given this fabric through a collaboration with Wikibuy, and I thought it was so beautiful with the pink and blue colors. I love the floral patterns, and I figured they would be perfect for a summer dress. The fabric collection is called Flower Child, by Maureen Cracknell. I got about a yard of 6 different colors, which would be enough for a dress for each of our daughters, plus several doll dresses using the scraps.

Cut the pieces

First I cut the dress pieces for the skirt and the top. The skirt part is a rectangle 30 inches long and 5.5 inches high. I cut a rounded part off one end of each of the skirt pieces. The bib part of the dress I cut using the doll clothes pattern I created, which you can download at the end of this post.

Add trim to the bottom of the skirts

On one skirt I bought some white ruffle trim and top stitched it to the bottom of the skirt. This is an easy way to add some interesting detail rather than trying to hem a straight line. You’ll need about 36 inches of trim to account for the rounded corner.

One the other skirt part I sewed on some double fold bias tape in a contrasting color. I like to use my quilting foot for top stitching because I can set the distance, and don’t have to worry too much about sewing straight.

Sew together the straight end of the skirts

Then sew one end (the straight end without the half circle cut out) of the skirt pieces together. Sew right sides together, then turn and press.

Sew the top of the skirt pieces together

Using a basting stitch, sew the top length of the skirts, WRONG sides together.

Then pull the bottom thread gently to create ruffles along the top. Gather the skirt until it’s about 15 long. This is enough length to go around the doll, plus a few inches for overlap. Then sew along the edges to hold the ruffles in place.

Sew the bib pieces to the skirt

Next sew the two bib pieces right sides together, and sandwich the skirt parts in between. I did these bib pieces close to the side of the skirt with the swoop.

Add bias tape for the straps

Finally, to finish off the edges sew it all together using double fold bias tape. First sew a piece along the top and topstitch.

Then sew the straps along each side of the bib, and along the top of the skirt. Leave a few inches on each end of the straps to tie it in a bow. Packs of bias tape usually come as 3 yards, which is plenty for this doll clothes pattern.

Reversible dress doll clothes pattern

And that’s pretty much it! Make sure the bias tape is long enough for one ribbon to wrap around the front, and then tie a bow in the back. With a few scraps of fabric you can make this reversible wrap dress, that’s two dresses in one. And it helps that this fabric is so fun and colorful too!

Check out some of my other sewing tutorials:

• Easy envelope cushion cover
• Quilted Christmas stocking
• Drop cloth cushion cover