Modern Baby Doll Top || Free PDF Pattern

Did you know September is national sewing month? I pretty much sew all the time, all year long, so having a whole month dedicated to the craft is wonderful. I teamed up with Joann Fabric and Craft Stores for the #sewyourstyle campaign. It’s a month long contest sponsored by Joann Fabric and Crafts and Pellon. The challenge? Use quilters cotton fabric in a non-quilting project. You can enter to win all month long. For my project I decided to make a baby doll top for Abbey, but I wanted to give it a bit of a modern twist.

I did a hi-low hem because, well I love them, and especially for Abbey who often has a problem keeping her bum in her pants the low hem hides her plumbers crack. I also added an exposed zipper to the back.

Quite possibly my favorite element is the leather shoulder patches, because… well why not. I love leather, it gives it a nice fall element.

I have a free pattern for you in a size 5/6 (24″ chest)

You will need:

Modern Baby Doll Top || PDF Pattern (sewn with 3/8″ seam allowance)

1 yard of fabric

1 7″ zipper

small scraps of leather or accent material (optional)

Small scraps of interfacing (optional)

With right sides together sew the front and back together at the shoulders. Finish seams as desired.

Press shoulder seams flat. Then place the shoulder accents in place matching up the necklines. Sew along the angled edges to secure in place.

Sew the zipper facing to the back by matching up the center of the facing to the center of the back. Sew a rectangle shaped opening by sewing down, across, and then up. The stitched lines should be spaced by 1/2″. Cut a slit down the center and then angle into the corners. Careful not to cut your stitches.

Turn the facing around to the inside and then fold the sides and bottom under and press.

Place the zipper behind the opening. It will be too long for the space, that’s fine. Match up the top of the zipper so it is 3/8″ from the top edge. Then sew along the opening securing the zipper in place.

For the neck facing sew the front and back together at the shoulder line much like you did for the bodice. Then finish the outside edge.

Place the facing right sides together with the neckline. Match up the shoulder seams and then fold the center back edge inward. Sew the facing to the neckline. Clip notches into the curve.

Turn the facing in toward the inside and top stitch into place.

With right sides together sew the sleeve into the arm opening. Finish seam as desired. Repeat with other sleeve.

Press the edge of the sleeve under by 1/4″. With the bodice right sides together sew from the sleeve edge down. (It’s a small amount) Repeat with other side.

Press the sleeve edge under again by 1/4″ and sew along the fold to secure. Repeat with other sleeve.

For the skirt. I didn’t include a skirt pattern piece. Instead I cut 2 rectangles 24″ across and 15″ down. Then I cut a curve up in the front and curve down for the back. More details on doing a hi-low hem skirt can be found HERE

Then with the front and back skirt pieces right sides together sew along the the sides and finish the seams as desired. Then run a basting stitch along the top and pull to gather.

With the skirt and bodice right sides together sew along the waist line. Be sure to match up the side seams of the skirt to the side seams of the bodice, then spread the gather evenly.

Lastly hem the bottom by turning the edge under twice and sewing it in place.

Then you are done with a lovely modern baby doll top. I really love the exposed zipper and shoulder accents.

And that hi-low hem is just my favorite addition to the baby doll silhouette.

Fabric || Cotton || Joann Fabric

Leather || MOOD

Jeans || Old Navy

Shoes || Old Navy