The first patterns I ever bought for AG dolls were the ones Pleasant Company sold. I don't recommend them for beginners just because the seam allowance doesn't allow for any error in a beginner. But to me, the finished garments fit the AG dolls better than any other pattern I've found on the market.

To make my own patterns, I start by drawing a sketch of the outfit I want to make. Then I look through all my purchased patterns to see if there is a piece that might be a good starter piece for my garment.

I'll take a couple purchased pattern pieces to use as a "rough draft" for my garment and lay them on paper. Then I'll draw around the purchased pattern and make up my own pattern piece. There's usually a lot of drawing and erasing until I get the paper pattern to look like it will work.

Next I cut the paper pattern and pin it to the doll. Paper is rather stiff and doesn't pin neatly to a doll but it gives me a general idea of whether the piece is wide or long enough for the doll.

I always test out my pattern pieces by sewing the garment in muslin first. Sometimes I'll redraw the pattern and sew a garment 3 or 4 times before getting it the way I want it.

For example, I'll take the sleeve pattern piece from a Pleasant Company pattern and carefully compare it to a Butterick and McCalls sleeve pattern. Then I'll figure out what I want my sleeve to look like and draw my own pattern.

Julia