Kids may not like a bedtime routine for themselves, but they love getting their dolls ready for bed tucked in for a good nights sleep! And what better way for a doll to get her zzzzs than a cute pair of doll pajamas? I’ve got a free pattern you can use to make a sweet sleep set for an American Girl or other 18” dolls.
I’ve got a free sewing pattern below to make doll pajama pants and a sleep mask. And you can use my free crop top pattern to make a t-shirt to finish out the sleep set.
If you’ve never made doll clothes before, don’t worry. All of the pieces are easy to sew.
They’re also made to be easy for kids to dress the dolls. The flannel pants have an elastic waistband and are the same in the front/back. No need for kids to figure out what is the front or back of the pants when putting them on the doll.
The top has a hook and loop closure on the back so there’s no fussing with getting the doll head through the neck of the top.
The sleep mask has an elastic strap and is just what doll needs to block the light so she can get her sleep.
Cut the pants and the mask from the same fabric to make a matching set. For the top, you can use a scrap of knit fabric. I used white because white goes with everything. For the pants and mask, you can use flannel or quilting cotton. If you use quilting cotton, you can get both pieces from one fat quarter.
Be sure to also check out my tutorial to make a doll sleeping bag and pillow. Between the sleeping bag/pillow and pajama sleep set, your child’s doll will have everything she needs for a good night’s sleep!
Doll Pajama Top
Use my free crop top tee pattern to make the pajama top.
Doll Pajama Pants
Supplies
- ½” yard (or fat quarter) flannel or quilting weight cotton
- ½” wide elastic – 1 piece 11” long
- Free Pattern – Doll Pajama Pants and Sleep Mask
All seam allowances are ¼” unless otherwise noted. RST = Right Sides Together
Sew the Hem
Normally when you sew pants, you leave the hemming until the last step. But if you wait until the end with doll pants, you’ll have to sew around some very narrow circles. It’s easier to just do it first thing.
Press the bottom edge of each of the pants pieces ½” to the back.
Press another ½” to the back, encasing the raw edge.
Sew close to the folded edge to secure the hem.
Sew the Crotch and Inseam
Place the two hemmed pants pieces RST. Sew at both sides, from the top down to the point. These are the crotch seams.
Open and rotate the pants so the crotch seams are lined up on top of each other.
Sew the inseam, starting at the bottom of one leg and going up all the way around the tight curve at the crotch and then back down to the bottom of the second leg.
Sew the Waistband
Press the top edge ¼” to the back.
Then press the top edge over another ¾” to the back.
Sew all the way around close to the edge to create a casing, leaving 1.5” open at the back to insert the elastic.
Thread elastic through the casing.
When I thread elastic through a casing, I put a large safety pin in each end of the elastic. I use one of them to push the elastic through the casing, while the other one keeps the end of the elastic from sliding up into the casing.
Overlap the ends of the elastic by 1/2”. Stitch back and forth across the elastic several times.
You’ll need to pull the ends pretty far out of the skirt in order to overlap them and place them under the presser foot.
Now that the elastic is sewn together in a circle, let it get pulled back into the casing. Top stitch the opening in the casing closed.
Turn the pants right side out. Your doll pajama pants are done!
Doll Sleep Mask
Supplies
- Scrap flannel or quilting cotton
- Scrap fusible fleece
- ¼” elastic – 1 piece, 9” long
- Steam A Seam ¼” Wide Double Stick Fusible Hem Tape
- Free Pattern – Doll Pajama Pants and Sleep Mask
All seam allowances ¼” unless otherwise stated. RST = Right Sides Together
Follow manufacturer’s instructions to fuse the fusible fleece to the back of one of the mask pieces.
Baste the ends of the elastic to the mask front at the sides, right sides together with a 1/8 seam allowance. Be careful not to twist the elastic. Go back and forth over the elastic several times so it’s good and secure.
Gently fold the elastic across the middle of the mask. Sew a line down the middle of the elastic with the longest stitch on your machine to baste it down and keep it out of the way.
Place the other mask piece on top, RST. Sew around all sides with ¼” seam allowance, leaving 1 ½” open at the top to turn it right side out.
Clip curves, then turn right side out.
Remove the basting stitches from the elastic.
Press the edges of the turning hole even with the sewn edges. Use a bit of Steam a Seam fusible tape to close the hole.
Your doll sleep mask is finished!
If you love this sewing tutorial, you will also love these doll clothes sewing tutorial from Anne:
DIY Doll Sweater Made from Socks
Crop Tee and Skirt for 18″ Dolls
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I am so impressed with the quality of your pattern instructions and illustrations. I’m just getting back into sewing doll clothes, after a sixty year hiatus. So many people attempt to show how to construct a garment, leaving me absolutely confused. I know that I can make your pajama pants and top with no worries. Thank you for doing an outstanding job. You have helped me make a little girl very happy this Christmas!
I’m new to zippers in my sewing. For the 18″ doll sleeping bag
pattern, is the separating zipper a two-way?
It’s actually a 1-way separating zipper, which is like a standard jacket zipper. It has one slider but can fully separate at the top and bottom. –Anne