Short Sleeve Doll Shirt Sewing Pattern Free

Tee shirts are a versatile addition to any wardrobe.  Even a doll’s wardrobe!  Sew a short sleeve doll tee shirt using my free doll shirt sewing pattern.  It includes options for a basic short sleeve tee and a ringer tee.

Doll clothes are one of my favorite things to sew.  I’m kind of obsessed with all things miniature, and of course doll clothes are miniature versions of people clothes.  Plus they’re quicker to make than people clothes and require far less fabric.

My go-to doll clothing item to make is a basic short sleeve t-shirt.  Because t-shirts are a building block for any wardrobe, and that includes a doll’s wardrobe.  I’ve got a free doll shirt sewing pattern for you below.

The free doll shirt sewing pattern includes two variations – a basic short sleeve tee shirt and a ringer tee.  The basic tee would be cute in a solid but I had fun sewing it up in a print!  You could take it one step further and use Heat Transfer Vinyl to add fun graphics to the front.

And how cute is this ringer tee?  I do love the retro vibes of a ringer tee.  I had just a few small scraps of the green knit. Just enough to make the neck and sleeve bands on this ringer tee.

If you’re looking for more 18” doll clothes sewing patterns, check out my simple sleeveless dress pattern.  It’s a free pattern and a doll wardrobe basic.

If you’ve never sewn a doll t-shirt before and think it will be too hard, I’ve got you.  And if you’ve never sewn a set-in sleeve before, don’t worry.  The pattern is simple and step by step instructions will walk you through the whole process.

What Type of Fabric To Use

You can use any stretch knit fabric for this project, though I’d probably stay away from super light weight knits as they can be difficult to sew with. 

Honestly, the best fabric to use might be actual tee shirt fabric.  As in, go to your closet and pull out a tee shirt you don’t wear any more.  Or perhaps your child has outgrown some shirts?  They would be perfect for upcycling into doll shirts. 

The fabric for the floral shirt came from just the SLEEVES of an adult short sleeve t-shirt.  Granted, it was a tight fit to get those pieces laid out.  I had to unpick the hem from one of the sleeves to get the fabric for the neck band – but I did it.  How’s that for making full use of a scrap?

Supplies

¼ yard or large scraps knit fabric

For Ringer Tee variation – small scraps knit fabric in contrast color

7” hook and loop tape – Soft & Flex or any other soft variety of hook and loop tape is best.

¼” wide Steam a Seam fusible web adhesive tape

Free pattern – Doll Tee Shirt

All seam allowances ¼”, unless otherwise noted.  RST = right sides together.

Cut the Pattern Pieces

This free doll shirt sewing pattern includes two variations – a basic short sleeve tee shirt and a ringer tee shirt.  The basic short sleeve tee shirt has a traditional neck band and hemmed sleeves.  A ringer tee shirt has a contrast neck band as well as a contrast band to hem the sleeves.

For the basic short sleeve tee shirt, you’ll need to cut:

• Front
• Back
• Sleeve
• Neck Band

For the ringer tee shirt, you’ll need to cut:

• Front
• Back
• Ringer Tee Sleeve
• Ringer Tee Sleeve Band – cut from contrast knit fabric
• Neck Band – cut from contrast knit fabric

Hem the Sleeves

The only real difference between the Basic Tee Shirt and Ringer Tee Shirt is how the sleeves are finished.  So let's go ahead and do that now.

When sewing doll clothes, it’s a good idea to hem sleeves before they’re sewn together so you can avoid having to sew around teeny tiny wrist openings.

For Basic Tee Shirt:

Use Steam a Seam or other fusible hem tape to press and fuse 3/8” to the back along the bottom of each sleeve. 

Then sew the seam in place with a ¼” seam allowance.

For Ringer Tee Shirt:

Press Ringer Tee Sleeve Band pieces in half lengthwise, wrong sides together.

Sew the Ringer Tee Sleeve Band pieces across the bottom of the Ringer Sleeve pieces, RST and raw edges aligned. 

Press seam allowances to Sleeve side of seam.

Sew the Shoulders and Sleeves

Sew the Back pieces to the Front at shoulders, RST.

Press seams open.

Rotate the shirt so one of the armholes is facing up, with the armhole making a wide U-shape.

Place one of the Sleeves on top of the shirt RST with the center of the sleeve cap (the curved edge) lined up with the shoulder seam. The raw edges will be touching only at the center because the curves are facing opposite directions.  Pin at this spot.

Now bring the left edge of the armhole down so the end meets with the left end of the Sleeve.  The armhole will stretch to fit the shape of the Sleeve curve.  Pin at this spot.

Then repeat with the right edge of the armhole.

Now, sew around the top of the Sleeve.  Because the armhole had to stretch to match the curve of the Sleeve, it won’t lie completely flat under the Sleeve.  Just feel for the bumps as you sew, adjusting the extra fullness out of the way of the needle as you work your way around the Sleeve curve.

Repeat all of this for the second Sleeve.

Sew the Neck Band

Press Neck Band piece in half lengthwise, wrong sides together.

Sew the Neck Band around the neck opening, RST and raw edges aligned.  The Neck Band is shorter than the neck opening so you’ll need to stretch it to fit. 

If you’re not sure how much to stretch the Neck Band as you sew, err on the side of stretching more.  If you don’t stretch it enough, you may end up with a Neck Band that doesn’t lie flat

There’s a LOT of variability in how much knit fabric will stretch.  It’s entirely possible that you will end up with more Neck Band than necessary to go around that opening. If so, just cut off the excess at the end of the seam.

When you’re done with the seam, the Neck Band should naturally curve around that neck opening. 

The seam allowances are kind of thick here.  You may want to trim one ore more layers of the seam allowance in order to reduce bulk.

Sew the Side Seams

Fold the tee shirt at the shoulder seams, RST, lining up the raw edges along the sleeves and bodice.

Sew the side seams from Cuff, through the seam at the armpit, and then down the bodice to the hem.

Sew the Hem

Use the Steam a Seam (or other fusible hem tape) to fuse a 3/8” hem around the bottom of the tee shirt.

Then sew the hem in place with a ¼” seam allowance.

Sew the Back Closure

Your doll tee shirt is almost finished!  All we need to do now is sew a back closure.

Use Steam a Seam or other fusible hem tape to fuse a 1/4” hem down both sides of the back opening.  Sew the hem in place with a scant ¼” seam allowance to secure.

Now to sew the hook and loop tape to create the closure.

First, cut the hook and loop tape in half lengthwise so you have two long skinny strips.  You’ll only use one strip for this shirt.

You can use the other strip to make another tee shirt!

Turn the tee shirt right side out.  Lay it so the back of the shirt is facing up.  Sew the hook side of the tape along the FRONT side of the right opening.  Use a box seam so the tape is good and secure.  (Sew down one side, across the bottom, up the other side, then across the top – essentially stitching around all 4 sides of the tape.)

Finally, sew the loop side of the tape the WRONG side of the left opening.  (Diagram shows the shirt turned wrong side out.)

Your doll tee shirt is finished!! 

Now go ahead and use that left over strip of hook and loop tape to make a second shirt!  The more shirts your doll has, the better.

If you enjoyed this doll shirt sewing pattern, give my free sleeveless sundress sewing pattern a try!