All Dolled Up: Sewing Clothes and Accessories for Girls and Their 18-Inch Dolls [Paperback]

This collection of clothing designs for 18 inch dolls and their owners is charming and sweet. The part that impresses me most is the simplicity of construction. Joan Hinds has streamlined a lot of techniques for this collection.
The collection includes dresses, skirts, aprons and accessories as well as tips for scaling designs to suit dolls and girls both. Even the most complicated outfits wouldn't take more than a couple days to make and many of them could be done in an evening.
Skirts include a darling pleated skirt sewn on a pair of old jeans with a matching vest and a tiered gathered skirt.The dresses are wonderful. There is a simple jumper set that's just too cute made with the right fabrics.
The techniques include a method for making straps that doesn't use interfacing and an alternative to basting to gather fabric that is very clever and quick.
The included video shows the sewing techniques that you'll be using to sew the outfits. Nancy Zieman hosts the video with Joan Hinds.
Many of the techniques and patterns are things that can be very easily sized up so that Mom and daughter can having matching aprons or dresses and match the doll as well.
It also makes a wonderful introduction to sewing for children who are just getting interested in learning how to use a sewing a machine. The adult can sew the child's dress, and help the child with sewing a matching outfit for their doll.
A lot of the clothes remind me of the things my mom used to make for me when I was 7 or 8. Classic designs that have stood the test of time, so if you do invest in the book,it's not unthinkable that you would make some of the same styles of clothes for your granddaughter that you might make for your daughter.

Most certainly this is the *only* negative review I have ever given on amazon but its worth it so others do not encounter the same problem as I did.
To begin with this is a pricey book for 18" dolls and matching patterns, I have other books written by the same author and they are quite wonderful ( I also knit and ravelry offers many free knit and crochet patterns if you are intersted also!)
Patterns for girls are ONLY sze 4, 6 and 8,so dont expect much in szing here
Additionall, ( wondering who's idea this was??) THE COVER dress is NOT included in the book, they " suggest" you purchase a similar pattern,,,,,OK that is ONe pattern not included ( cover pattern mind you) but no capri's for the matching capri girl /doll pattern ( again, its suggested to purchase something similar!) and of course,,,no leggings for the girls which is shown thru out the book,,,,so what, I ask you did I pay for??
We are sewing these patterns so we dont have to pay a whole lot of money for matching outfits but begin to add it all up and you have to wonder if its worth it anymore!
That made me make my final decision to order OTTOBRE magazine for childrens clothing and to order a different book that I will mention later in this review and now I am satisfied that I will be getting some cute childrens clothing and get away from the BOring" big 4" very overpriced patterns that we have offered in our pattern shops.

I have a 9yr old grandaugther who wanted a few matching outfits for her upcoming birthday so we could have lunch at one of the American Girl Doll resturants ( Chicago in my case) get her doll's ears pierced and have her hair done~ This was supposed to be a special Nana/grandaughter day for both of us. LO and behold,,,,,these outfits only go to a size 8! ( yes I did * read* the info) but that is not the problem! I can fudge clothing to make it fit her for a bit and there are 4 other gd's that will get plenty of use when the time comes for them,* however* I give each grandaughter their choice of American Girl doll on their 7th birthday because that is when I believe they can take care of them and really not before
( they have Bitty baby before that)
So what IS my problem if I know that these patterns end at size 8??
Well it kind of goes like this,,,,,,are we living in such fast times that we all give in to the fact that past size 8 our girls get into mini teen/ adult clothing?
Ever shop for a size 10 girls outfit and see nothing but bling and low cut articles of clothing that any grandmother (or many mothers!) would dread putting their size 10 girls in it??
I would!!!!! Just go shopping and see for yourself.
Since I do sew I am making a lot of the girls *good* clothing not keeping them in little girl clothing * but* trying to keep them in age appropriate clothing
I knit some of their shrugs etc and so far they have been happy to wear them
I am just sorry that any book w/ Nancy Zieman's name backing it would be buying into this !
( maybe she has no girls that have to deal with this problem?)
Just want to let you all know I did end up purchasing a book called SEWING CLOTHES KIDS LOVE" that goes into the upper sizes, has a very different approach to US clothing sytles and is put out by the upscale Tantrum studio/Farbenmix and has the best ideas I have seen after spending days looking at patterns , just check out the reviews on it, (its a gem).
THEN go to one of the basic American Girl doll books and use the same fabric and makesomething as close as you can.
This book however cute it is,is NOT worth the price for the amount of patterns you get ( w/o adding on the missing patterns like THE COVER DRESS??)
go ahead and look at some nice trendy ( but not so grown up!) girls clothing and match on your own.
I had to get this off my chest because I am SO upset at what I have seen but wanted to share with all those that are as frustrated as me and get a great book* THEN* match your dolls clothing!
( besides the new clothing book I purchased was WELL worth the money!)
Enjoy your sewing!!!!!!!!

So disappointed! My aunt bought this book for me as I was excited for it to be released so I could make outfits for my daughter and her doll Ruthie. I picked out fabric for the dress on the cover. Turns out only the pattern pieces for the doll are included and the instructions for the girl dress are to find your own pattern for something that look similar. I thought this was a pattern book! And I do expect the dresses of the cover photo to be in the book!