How to make a plush toy dress

1. Materials & tools

Materials (20 cm plush toy)

• Main fabric (lawn, broadcloth or double gauze — thin) — about 40 × 30 cm (16 × 12 in)
• Tiny snap fasteners or narrow hook-and-loop — 2–3 sets
• Narrow bias tape (about 6 mm / ¼ in finished) — about 50 cm (20 in)
• Optional: narrow lace or ribbon

Tools

• Sewing machine (or needle and thread)
• Fabric marker or pencil
• Ruler and scissors
• Iron
• Pins or clips

2. Make the pattern (auto-generated in Katagami)

With the Katagami pattern tool, you just enter the finished size and it drafts a seam-allowance-included pattern, tiled to print at actual size on Letter or A4.

1. Open the tool
   Open the pattern tool and choose “Accessories” → “Plush toy dress” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter the plush toy's chest, bodice length, skirt length, shoulder width, skirt fullness and ease. Presets cover 10 cm and 20 cm plush toys and a 30 cm doll.
3. Set the seam allowance
   Use the slider at the bottom (beginners: 1.0–1.5 cm / about 3/8–5/8 in).
4. Print
   Press “Print (actual size)”, then in the print dialog set Scale = 100% and turn “Fit to page” OFF. Check the 50 mm calibration box on the first guide sheet with a ruler.

3. Cutting the fabric

1. Measure the toy
   Measure the chest at its widest, the shoulder width and the length you want. Lay the tape on gently — plush toys compress.
2. Trace the pattern
   Trace the front bodice (on the fold), the back bodices and the skirt. Use a mechanical pencil.
3. Cut
   Cut one front, two backs and two skirt panels.
4. Finish the edges
   Seam allowances are 5 mm — pinking shears handle this better than a zigzag.

4. Sewing

4-1. Sew the shoulders

1. Sew both shoulder seams with a 5 mm allowance.
2. Press the allowances to one side rather than open.

4-2. Bind the neckline and armholes

1. Sew narrow bias tape around the neckline, turn it in and topstitch.
2. Bind the armholes the same way. Wide tape will not follow these curves.

4-3. Make and attach the skirt

1. Sew the two skirt panels together at both sides to form a loop.
2. Run two rows of long stitches along the top edge and pull until it matches the bodice hem.
3. Pin the skirt to the bodice right sides together, spreading the gathers evenly, and sew.
4. Match the center front, sides and center back first, then even out the gathers between those points.

4-4. Finish the back and hem

1. Turn each back opening edge under twice — 5 mm and 5 mm — and stitch.
2. Hem the skirt the same way.
3. Fit two or three snaps, or narrow hook-and-loop, down the back.

✏️ Use a 5 mm seam allowance throughout and thin fabric. A standard 1 cm allowance on something this small makes the side seams so thick the dress will not go over the toy.

5. Tips & variations

• Hook-and-loop: much easier than snaps if the outfit is going to be changed often.
• Tiny prints only: a large print puts no complete motif anywhere on the garment.
• Measure your own: two toys both described as 20 cm can be completely different widths.