Doll Sweater Cardigan free pattern and tutorial

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This adorable doll sweater cardigan is the perfect layering item for you 18-inch doll. With these easy to follow directions you’ll be able to sew it up in no time!

YOU WILL NEED:

1/4 yard of sweater knit or light weight fleece. Other light to medium weight knits are also appropriate as long as they have 25% stretch.
Sewing Essentials
Be sure to check out the matching girl’s pattern here.
Get the free pattern here.

Doll Sweater Cardigan tutorial

Step 1 – Sew the Shoulder Seams

Seam allowance is 1/4″ unless otherwise stated

Sewing the shoulder seams. This cozy cardigan pattern is the perfect layering piece for 18-inch dolls—complete with a shawl collar, long sleeves, and soft stretch. Sewn in a sweater knit with a touch of gold thread, it’s comfy, stylish, and ridiculously cute. Follow the step-by-step tutorial and give your doll that “sweater weather” moment.

Sew front to back at shoulder seams, right sides together.

Step 2 – Hem the Sleeves

Hem the sleeves.

Fold the sleeve edge to the wrong side by 1/2″ and hem.

Step 3 – Attach the Sleeves

Sew sleeve to armscye. This cozy cardigan pattern is the perfect layering piece for 18-inch dolls—complete with a shawl collar, long sleeves, and soft stretch. Sewn in a sweater knit with a touch of gold thread, it’s comfy, stylish, and ridiculously cute. Follow the step-by-step tutorial and give your doll that “sweater weather” moment.

Sew sleeve to armscye, right sides together.

Step 4 – Sew Side and Underarm Seams

Sew underarm and side seam.

Sew underarm and side seam, right sides together.

Step 5 – Hem the Bottom Edge of the Doll Sweater Cardigan

Hem the bottom edge. This cozy cardigan pattern is the perfect layering piece for 18-inch dolls—complete with a shawl collar, long sleeves, and soft stretch. Sewn in a sweater knit with a touch of gold thread, it’s comfy, stylish, and ridiculously cute. Follow the step-by-step tutorial and give your doll that “sweater weather” moment.

Fold the bottom edge to the wrong side by 1/2″ and hem.

Step 6 – Sew and Turn the Collar

Sewing and turn the collar.

Fold collar in half with long edges touching, right sides together. Sew the short ends, then turn right side out.

Step 7 – Pin Collar to Neckline

Pinning the collar to neckline. This cozy cardigan pattern is the perfect layering piece for 18-inch dolls—complete with a shawl collar, long sleeves, and soft stretch. Sewn in a sweater knit with a touch of gold thread, it’s comfy, stylish, and ridiculously cute. Follow the step-by-step tutorial and give your doll that “sweater weather” moment.

Pin collar to neckline and front edge on the WRONG side of the cardigan.

Step 8 – Press the Collar on the Doll Sweater Cardigan

Pressing or topstitching the collar on the sweater.

Press the collar toward the front of the cardigan. Optionally, topstitch to secure it in place.

Download the free Doll Sweater Cardigan pattern:

You can get a free copy of Adobe reader here– it is the ONLY reader I recommend. By downloading you are agreeing to pattern terms of use. Click the picture below and fill out the form to download the free pattern .pdf !

a Doll Sweater Cardigan, perfect for doll fashion and gifts for kids, made with free pattern and step by step tutorial, from fleece fun, with the text "CLICK TO GO TO DOWNLOAD" displayed at the bottom.

More FREE American Girl Doll Patterns:

DIY Doll Sweater Cardigan with FREE Pattern! This adorable doll cardigan is the perfect layering item for you 18 inch doll. With these easy to follow directions you’ll be able to sew it up in no time!

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Jess DeWit

Gracious Threads began as a place for Jess to share all the sewing she did for her friends and family. It soon grew, as other sewists shared her love for simple, practical clothing for kids. Jess lives with her husband and 3 children on their Canadian dairy farm.