Elizabeth Nightgown by Sally Robertson
Teaching Sewing To Children

The nightgown on the doll pictured above looks difficult to sew but the techniques in this pattern make it easy.   View 4 is a good choice when teaching your child to make garments for her 18-inch doll.  The lace insertions are made from a heavyweight lace found in stores that sell decorator fabrics so it is easy for small fingers to manipulate.  The sewing techniques are simple and can be mastered easily.  The direction on the pattern are very clear.  Each major step is illustrated with drawings.

The most difficult seam on this pattern is the seam between the nightgown body and the yoke.  It does require that the young seamstress is able to gather.  Even if your child has already gathered and handled such things as skirts and sleeves, she may still have some difficulty attaching the lace ruffle that goes around the yoke.  This ruffle could easily be omitted.  If you think gathering is too difficult for the child, we recommend you sew the body/yoke seam for her and let her stitch everything else.

If you have not helped your daughter create garments for her doll before, have her practice with the sewing machine before she begins this pattern.  Usually stitching on a single layer of fabric to get the feel of the sewing machine and then practicing seams is enough.   She should be able to handle a 1/4" seam pretty well before she attempts to make this nightgown.  (It works well to use fabric scraps and make a practice nightgown first so nothing is lost.)  With my own children and grandchildren, when they first began sewing I would handle all the difficult, curved seams and let them do the rest.   That way things were set up for success and they could complete something they were proud of.

Think how satisfying it would be for your young seamstress to work with a pattern with an antique clothing design that she can successfully complete with your help.  Doll sewing for 18-inch vinyl dolls is fun and the results with lace insertion are especially satisfying!

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Individual Sewing Pattern "Elizabeth Nightgown" by Sally Robertson - $8.95

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where all have the resources they need to sew...
and no strife or war can touch anyone who wants to sew.

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