Sewing Tutorial: Upbeat Doll Jacket

Hello, fellow doll enthusiasts! Welcome to our exciting sewing adventure.

Today, we’ll be diving into the fabulous world of doll fashion by creating the Upbeat Jacket designed for American Girl and Our Generations dolls. I’m Bella, and I’m thrilled to guide you through this fun and stylish sewing project.

Before we start stitching, let’s take a closer look at the star of our show—the Upbeat Jacket. You can purchase this fantastic pattern here at  bellakatella.com or puperita.com. The jacket comes in two equally charming versions—

View A, featuring a cozy hood, and View B, with a classic collar. Both versions are fully lined, ensuring a polished finish with no visible seams.

**Kindly be aware that the instructions/patterns for sewing the extras, shown in the pics…a hat, earmuffs, mittens, and boots are not provided within the upbeat jacket pattern.

One of the best parts about this pattern is its versatility. Depending on the fabric you choose, your doll’s jacket can serve various purposes. Whether it’s a light spring/fall windbreaker, a water-resistant raincoat, or a warm winter jacket for those chilly New England winters, this pattern has you covered.

It will work sewn in either woven or knit fabric. Here are a few examples of fabric :  fleece, flannel, minky, cotton, french terry, sweatshirt, medium weight stretch fabrics, sweater fabric among others. 

The jacket ( doll or child version)  is also gender neutral! Looks cute and stylish on everyone! 🙂 

Now, let’s talk hardware. To give your doll’s jacket that professional touch, you’ll need a #3,  8-inch separating zipper. This detail not only adds functionality but also elevates the overall look of the jacket. If you can find a reversible zipper, the jacket becomes fully reversible which gives you two different looks from one jacket! 

While the Upbeat Jacket is designed specifically for American Girl and Our Generations dolls, I’ve experimented with other brands like Journey Girls, Adora Amazing Girls, and My Life Dolls. Keep in mind that you will need to make some alterations for these brands of  dolls, as they have unique measurements.  The jacket is too large for them the way it is.  However, I’m happy to report that it fits perfectly on Swiss brand “I’m a Girly” 18″ dolls. 

**One more note: You can find the matching Child’s jacket on Puperita.com ( nb to size 10) Wouldn’t it be cute to have matching child/doll jackets? Children love to twin with their favorite doll. Tip: If you sell, those sets always seem to go quickly. If you’re sewing the child’s jacket using this tutorial, the process remains identical. T In other words, all the steps mirror those of the doll version of the jacket. The only difference is the seam allowance, which would be 3/8″ for the childrens jacket

Now that we’ve covered the basics, it’s time to dive into the sewing process. I’ll guide you step-by-step through the construction of this adorable doll jacket.  So, gather your materials, and let’s get ready for a delightful sewing journey together!