Sew the Contemporary Wardrobe for 18-Inch Dolls: Complete Instructions & Full-Size Patterns for 35 Clothing and Accessory Items [Paperback]

Joan Hinds (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2002

This book provides 35 patterns for clothing and accessory items that can be mixed and matched to create an infinite number of outfits to fit the ever-popular 18-inch dolls. The wardrobe includes all the latest fashion items for girls, such as a jean jacket, flared jeans, all styles of t-shirts, special occasion dresses, nightwear, purses, and hats. Suggestions for other fabric, embellishment, and color changes are given to help the reader to personalize the wardrobe for each doll. Illustrated with 50 photographs and over 200 illustrations to guide the reader through the sewing process. Each pattern is full-size and on pull-out tissue sheets - no need to trace or photocopy patterns! Also includes tips throughout for helping children to sew the outfits themselves.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Hinds has to her credit eight books of sewing patterns for 18" dolls and is a widely recognized expert in doll costuming. What, you might ask, are 18" dolls? These include a number of brand-name dolls such as the American Girls, Creative Friends, and the Springfield Collection, which are all approximately that height. In planning for this book, Hinds gathered together a focus group of girls from ages five to 11 and asked them what type of clothing they wanted for their dolls. Their overwhelming desire was for doll clothes patterned after comfortable, fashionable clothing they might wear themselves. Included in this compendium are illustrated step-by-step instructions and full-size tissue pattern sheets (in a pocket in the back of the book) for sewing 16 mix-and-match outfits such as khaki cargo pants and a fleece vest or a tank top and boxer shorts. Eleven accessory items add spice to the collection. Public libraries with a demand for books on dolls and sewing for dolls will want to purchase this one.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Clear instructions with plenty of diagrams and advice..." -- Galatea Magazine, Autumn 2002.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Krause Publications; 2 edition (March 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873493753
• ISBN-13: 978-0873493758
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,951 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

72 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, August 16, 2003

By 

L. Braun "hsm25" (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Sew the Contemporary Wardrobe for 18-Inch Dolls: Complete Instructions & Full-Size Patterns for 35 Clothing and Accessory Items (Paperback)

I've borrowed several of Joan Hind's books from the library to use in teaching my eleven-year-old daughter to sew. The patterns are numbered and simple to read, and the directions clear and easy to follow. This book was my daughter's favorite because the clothing styles are "what girls wear." I liked that it was an easy text from which to teach. There's a section on "Helping Children Learn to Sew," and at the beginning of each project is a little blurb stating whether this is a good one for the beginner sewer. My daughter could go through the book and decide for herself which designs she wanted to try. She started with the Triangle Scarf and moved on to the A-Line skirt. I needed to help her a bit with the waistband on that one. The Pink Top was also simple, and we substituted ribbon for the shoulder straps to make the project even easier.

Sewing for the 18" doll is enjoyable because the projects are small enough to complete in a few hours, but large enough to work with comfortably, unlike sewing for smaller dolls. The teacher may need a bit of experience herself, but I'd recommend any of Joan Hinds' books for igniting in the older child an interest in sewing.

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great patterns! A real money-saver!, May 18, 2006

By 

Moni Bookworm (Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sew the Contemporary Wardrobe for 18-Inch Dolls: Complete Instructions & Full-Size Patterns for 35 Clothing and Accessory Items (Paperback)

I love the American Girl Dolls, but the clothes can be expensive--more than $20 per outfit! The outfits in this book look at least as nice as what you can find in the catalog, and with a little imagination I'm sure you could duplicate a lot of their outfits. All of the patterns are included in an envelope in the back, which is nice but I could never figure out how to fold the gigantic sheet so it fits back in there! I'm not a very experienced sewer, yet I was still able to make 3 really cute outfits from these patterns. As a bonus, there are crochet patterns for a hat and purse.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Can't Complain, January 21, 2008

By 

JC Hertzler - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sew the Contemporary Wardrobe for 18-Inch Dolls: Complete Instructions & Full-Size Patterns for 35 Clothing and Accessory Items (Paperback)

My daughter (who is 10 years old) got her American Girl doll for Christmas this year...and after spending all that money on an 18" doll, I wasn't about to pay $24 per outfit.
I have some sewing experience. I can hem up jeans, sew pillows, fix a seam or button if need be...but that's about it. I've never used a pattern before.
The hardest part was finding the pattern pieces. There are two large tissue papers tucked away in the back of the book. Each piece appears to have hundreds of little patterns. Once you find the pieces for what you are making, it is a breeze.
I will warn you, there are some things that just can't be sewn with a machine. Invest in a thimble and proceed.
Half the fun is teaching my daughter how to sew. She loves her doll and wants it to have a wardrobe exactly like hers. I warned her that the deal was if she got the doll, she would have to help make the clothes. She agreed and we've been able to sew many outfits that closely resemble hers.
This book, in my opinion, contains the most modern clothing patterns. It also has very easy to follow instructions. I would recommend this book to anyone who has an American Girl doll.