Frequently asked questions

You pick your doll’s size when you design: 18-inch dolls like American Girl® and Our Generation®, 16-inch, 14½-inch and 14-inch dolls, 11½-inch fashion dolls like Barbie®, or Blythe®. If your doll isn’t on the list, enter its measurements instead.

Every pattern is drafted from those measurements, so the pieces scale to your doll. Dolls of the same height vary in shape, so the fit may differ between brands.

A woven cotton fabric panel (it doesn’t stretch) with every piece of your outfit printed in the prints and colors you chose. Each piece has a solid cutting line, a dashed sewing line, notches to line pieces up, and its name. Short sewing steps and your order number are printed along the bottom. Most outfits fit on a fat quarter (29 by 18 inches); bigger dolls or several garments print on one yard (56 by 36 inches). The designer picks the size and shows the price as you go.

Thread and closures (like hook-and-loop tape, elastic, or snaps for overalls) are not included. Any craft store has them.

Designing is free. You pay only for printing your panel and mailing it: $32.00 for a fat quarter, $59.00 for one yard, with US shipping included. Every print and picture costs the same, the Christmas collection’s too.

Have your own fabric? The same pattern is $8.00 as a PDF: you download it right after paying, print it at home on Letter or A4 paper, tape the pages together and trace the pieces onto your fabric. It has every piece and sewing step, but not your prints, names or pictures.

The garments use straight seams and a few gentle curves, with the seam allowance (1/4" on an 18-inch doll, less on smaller dolls) already included on the panel. A sewing machine is quickest, and small doll garments can also be sewn by hand.

Because the pieces are printed, there is no tracing, pinning paper patterns or measuring.

Yes. In the designer, add a name (up to 16 characters, in one of 7 lettering styles and the color you pick), choose one of our 80 clip-art pictures, upload your own picture or logo, or put the name under the picture. Each garment has set spots for it, like the center or left chest of a tee, and it is printed right on that piece of fabric.

You need to own the rights to anything you upload, so no cartoon characters, brand logos or other people’s photos. Designs with your own name or picture stay private and can’t be shared to the community.

Every panel is printed to order. Most orders are printed and shipped in about a week, and we email you tracking details as soon as yours ships.

To addresses in the United States for now.

Because each panel is printed just for you, we can’t accept returns if you change your mind. If your panel arrives misprinted or damaged, contact us within 30 days and we will reprint it or refund you.

A PDF pattern can’t be returned once it’s downloaded. If the file won’t open or prints wrong, contact us and we will fix it or refund you.

No. DollThreads panels are sewing supplies for crafters. Finished garments can include small parts such as snaps and hook-and-loop tape, so keep them away from young children and supervise kids who sew.