Frugal Fabric
 

I sew a lot of American Girl clothes, but was running out of knit fabric, so went to garage sales and thrift shops and brought garments made with knit fabric and in good condition, wash them, cut them apart and use the fabric. I get real cute fabric that way, especially from kids clothing. I also found stuff with appliques on them and able to use them. What a fun and cheap way to make cute outfits.

I get some of my best fabric at garage/estate sales. I've gotten baby blankets and cut some of the animals and objects out and used as applique on other projects. Just wash really well. Get dresses with lace and some underslips with lace. bought an old wedding dress for $10 still in decent shape. Lots of lace.

Not only frugal but green. Good job.

i agree... we need to reuse more so there is less in the landfills

My granddaughter recently received an American Girl doll. She has plans for us to make a lot of clothes for the doll! I did use scraps and make a nitegown and prairie girl dress. The doll didn't have panties and I found a pattern online and made some panties. There was also a site that made clothes from Dollar Store undies. I went in our local Dollar Tree and they no longer carry ladies undies for a dollar. Must have been a run on doll clothes!! I did get a pattern book that will keep us busy!!

very neat idea!!!

A doll of AG size just came into our family at a recent birthday party......hmm, might attempt to make a few things for it....are there patterns/books available? Long time since I did doll clothes.....

Oh, yes there are lots of patterns from mccalls, simplicity,butterick pattern companies. You can buy books from Joanns and also a lot of free patterns online. Just google Free American Girl patterns. They are fun to sew....not so tiny like Barbie clothes. Enjoy.

Would you post some pictures of the clothes you made? I need some ideas. Thanks

Great plan

Look for your local thrift shop to do a bag sale.....all you can fit in the bag for a set price. I go right for the menswear department for great shirts, cotton, T's, cotton knits, and silk ties....they are cut on the bias so you can open them up and strip cut them for lush bias bindings. I also make my own patterns for undies and such. One good basic pattern with a selection of garments can be endlessly repeated with a selection of fabrics. Also check for denim and chambray shirts, wool skirts, and nice cotton dresses, all can be up-cycled for the fabric.

Yes, they have patterns, even for shoes!!

you can find a lot of cute fabric in scrubs as well....those worn by the medical field.....a lot are 100% cotton too

there is a thread started already if you would like to join us. you can also start your own thread. Many of us still enjoy dressing, sewing for, and collecting dolls! I have two dgd into them and a 3rd dgd in the future. YAY! years and years of dolls ahead of me!

I love sewing "green". It's challenging to make something new and beautiful from fabric that was used for another purpose. Most of us take so much for granted (me included) and are so wasteful. Instead of throwing out scraps, I take them to my guild for anyone who could use them. There are doll clothes, pot holders, mug rugs, confetti quilts, etc. that can be created from these fabrics. Please post pics of the doll clothes you make.

A friend of mine made some pillowcase dresses for AG dolls. They looked pretty simple to make.

I've posted pictures of the most recent dresses I have made on a thread, 18" doll clothes. they are from scraps but I do buy remnants as well. l've recently learned a technique to make t-shirts without the machine eating the fabric. living and learning as I go! lol

I went to Good Will store to look for men's ties. Was shocked at the prices! I bought 3 ties and paid $13 for them. No bargain there! Haven't gone back either.

Well I don't go to GoodWill anymore either. To my mind they are way over priced on their stuff. We have local shop run as a funding source for the Hospice. I pay about $1 or half that when they are on sale. Look for Thrift shops that augment local resources like the animal shelter or some such. As far as I am concerned, GoodWill has not garnered any good will with me. I am not sure they are a rehab resource or just a business that utilizes some really cheap, pennies an hour, labor.

I will try to post some oF
the outfits I've been making this week...Stay tuned...

Here are some so far....[ATTACH=CONFIG]489123[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]489124[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]489125[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]489126[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]489127[/ATTACH]

I went to one of the local thrift stores here last Thursday. They were selling all their clothes (except botique) for $1.00 each. I bought $345.00 worth of formal wear for $20.00. I will, and have started, cutting them apart and use them for doll clothes for my Neices 1st American girl doll. ChaChing!

Oh yes - I forgot - all the buttons, zippers, lace. I saved money there too.

Our local Salvation Army store sometimes has .99 cent Saturdays - all the clothes are .99. Also the clothes with the color of the week are .69. Last time I went I got about 10 silk ties for .69 each.

I also picked up some wool winter coats, mens suits, skirts & jackets for .99 or .69 cents.

Check them out in your town and see if they do something like that there.

Don't you just love garage sales and thrift stores...

Your models are precious. You did a great job on the clothes. They are all so cute, especially the little "Chef".

Oh sew cute...I've some dolls to make clothes for too....should get them started for Christmas. Thanks for the gentle nudge. Hope mine turn out half as darling as yours.