Great news if you love our A Lil’ Bit Country and Ruffled Romper patterns for 18-inch dolls such as American Girl™! These patterns were specifically designed to be used together to create even more cute summer outfits for your favorite little friend! We call this a “pattern duet,” and in this post, I’ll explain exactly how to extend these patterns by combining their pieces!
How It Works
Each of the two patterns in our duet was designed so that the top and bottom portion of the outfit are created as separate modules. The top portion (shirt) of each outfit is one module, the bottom portion (skirt or pants) is the other. These modules can then be interchanged from one pattern to the next.
For example, you combine the halter-style top from the Ruffled Romper pattern with the skirt from the A Lil’ Bit Country dress pattern to create a cute halter sundress such as the one Matilda is wearing on the left.
But that’s just the beginning … the A Lil’ Bit Country pattern includes cut lines for two different skirt lengths, as well as an optional ruffled hem.
Just imagine how many different combinations are possible when you start mixing and matching all of those options with the Ruffled Romper top!
Of course, your substitutions work in the opposite direction as well. For instance, you can combine the stretchy ruffled top from the A Lil’ Bit Country pattern with any of the pants options from the Ruffled Romper pattern to create all sorts of rompers, such as the one modeled on the right by Matilda’s friend.
You can even use the ruffle from the A Lil’ Bit Country pattern with the halter top from the Ruffled Romper to create a cute ruffled halter top, which can be worn with your doll’s favorite skirt, shorts or pants.
(Like the gray skirt that my daughter’s doll Grace is wearing with her pink gingham halter top? It’s a knit skort made with my Beach Babe On-the-Go pattern!)
Ready to start playing? Read on for specific instructions on how to combine these two patterns to create each of these looks…
Ruffled Romper TOP + A Lil’ Bit Country SKIRT
1. Sew the TOP using Steps 1-28 from the Ruffled Romper pattern instructions. 2. Sew the SKIRT and attach it to the TOP using steps 28 through 58 from the A Lil’ Bit Country pattern instructions.
A Lil’ Bit Country TOP + Ruffled Romper PANTS
1. Sew the TOP using Steps 1-25 from the A Lil’ Bit Country pattern instructions. 2. Sew the PANTS and attach it to the TOP using steps 29 through 68 from the Ruffled Romper pattern instructions.
Ruffled Romper TOP + A Lil’ Bit Country SHIRT with RUFFLES
1. Sew the TOP using Steps 1-28 from the Ruffled Romper pattern instructions.
2. Sew the SHIRT RUFFLE and attach it to the TOP using steps 64 through 76 from the A Lil’ Bit Country pattern instructions.
Matilda’s Closet is not affiliated with American Girl® or Mattel®. No endorsement is implied.
These two patterns are adorable.