I asked my daughter what my granddaughter, Ali, would like for her birthday. The quick reply was for pajamas for the doll I made her earlier this year. And, of course, when making a nightgown for a doll, one must also make a matching nightgown for the girl. I took Emma, Sophie and Silas fabric shopping with me, and they picked out the fabric, each declaring it perfect for Ali.
I used a New Look pattern 6334. Because Ali has very sensitive skin I didn’t want any exposed seams on the inside of the gown, so I needed to use french seams to enclose all the seam allowances. The hardest part of that was to remember to sew wrong sides together first. I had to repin several times because I’m so accustomed to sewing right sides together. Even with the french seams, the seam stuck into the inside so i stitched it down. It ended up a little bulky, but much better than raw edges with bothersome threads.
For the doll nightgown, I used a pattern I had made for a shirt for the doll I made my son (which I apparently never shared here), and extended the length. I think I’ll spend some time working on an actual doll nightgown pattern soon so that it fits a little better and make more for Ali (and Norah, and Emma and Sophie). But for now, this birthday gift is on its way to a sweet little girl who’s turning seven. Seven! How quickly the years go by.