Features:

Everything old is new again!  Drop-seat pajamas have been around for 100 years.  Your great-grandparents may have referred to them as Dr. Denton’s, Trap-Door Pajamas, or a Union Suit.  Now they’re a fashion statement!  This specially designed version for 18″ dolls features a working “Trap Door,” ribbed leg and arm cuffs, a bomber-jacket style neck, and a button-covered front and back that close with snaps or Hook-and-Loop.  Options for hemmed pant legs and a plain back without the Trap Door are also included for those who want a simpler project.  Also, good news for those with older, chubbier dolls:  the pajamas have been cut generously, and will fit most larger 18″ dolls.  ( They easily accommodate an 11″ waist and 12-1/2″ hips, but do check your doll’s measurements to be sure.) 

The directions have been written comprehensively with many explanatory details for those who are newer to sewing. An experienced seamstress will probably be able to construct the jacket just by reading the instructions highlighted in bold text.  Happy sewing! 

 Some Notes on Fit:

When you print this pattern, check to make sure that the scale is correct by measuring the 1” square scale on each page.  Set the page margins on your printer to narrow and the print scale to none.   This pattern was sized on a recently purchased American Girl Doll (Chest: 11”, Waist: 11”, Hips: 12-1/2”). If your doll is smaller/larger, you may need to make adjustments to the pattern for an optimal fit.  The most critical measurement is the hip size.  If your doll’s waist and hips are larger than the doll the pattern was fitted on,  you may need to add extra width to the pattern for those areas.  Add the extra width at the side seams.