A T-shirt with embroidery for a 18-inch doll - Advanced Embroidery Designs

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T-Shirts with Embroidery for 18-inch Dolls

Learn to sew and embroider simple t-shirts for 18-inch dolls using our free template! This tutorial shows each step to cut fabric, sew the pieces, and add embroidery designs like flowers, shamrocks, or spirals.

The process works for beginners and takes little time once you start.

These t-shirts are designed to fit 18-inch dolls with a soft body, such as American Girl, Our Generation, My Life As and similar dolls.

We used embroidery designs from the Doll Clothes/Embellishment Section of our Catalog and small designs from different sets.

7 t-shirts with different embroidery patterns on the front.

For the t-shirt you will need:

embroidery thread, either polyester or rayon (you choose the colors),
about a fat-quarter of solid-colored lightweight, lightly stretchy fabric, such as lightweight cotton jersey, cotton-polyester blend jersey, etc.,
lightweight no-show embroidery stabilizer,
either sew-on snaps or ultra-thin Velcro tape,
chalk or graph pencil,
small rotary cutter or scissors,
sewing pins,
iron,
#11-12 sewing needle for stretch fabrics,
bias tape (optional),
fray check glue (optional),
printer and paper.

Patterns:

Download the template file for the t-shirt. To open and print the template, which is a PDF file, you will need Adobe Reader or a similar program. Adobe Reader is free to download and install.

Template Download (PDF file)

Print out the templates and cut them out.
Note: Seam allowance of 1/4" is included in the templates.

Embroidery:

For the doll t-shirts we used the designs from the Doll Clothes/Embellishment Section of our Catalog.
Choose any design you like and upload it into your embroidery machine.
Stabilize the fabric with lightweight no-show mesh stabilizer.
Hoop tightly and embroider the design of your choice.
Cut away all excess stabilizer.

A stitch-out of a small rose design on a piece of fabric.

Cutting:

Position the paper template of the front on the stitch-out. The central vertical line on the template will help you decide whether to place the design in the center or off-center. Trace the template and cut out.

Use the templates to cut out the remaining pieces:

2 back pieces,
2 sleeves.

Assembly:

With right sides together, pin and sew the shoulder seams.

The front and back parts of the t-shirt sewn on the shoulders

Finish the raw edges with zig-zag or serger.

Press them to the back and topstitch in place.

Finish the hem of the sleeves with zig-zag or serger. Fold 3/8" back and topstitch the edge.

Sew a row of gathering stitches between the gathering lines on the sleeve cap.

A row of gathering stitches on the cap of the sleeve.

With right sides together, pin the sleeve to the bodice, matching the center of the sleeve with the shoulder seam. Pull the gathering threads of the sleeve cap and distribute the gathers evenly.