Dress Pattern for Nutty Nag Plushies

Dressing up a stuffed animal adds another layer of imagination to active play for children…or at least it prevents having a naked horse sitting on your couch.  This dress is simple to make with or without the base trim.  It is reversible, so basically you get two dresses for the time to make one!  

This dress is designed to fit my Nutty Nag Plush Horse Doll, as well as my Giraffe and Llama Dolls which are coming soon!

 

What You Need

The base trim is optional, you can easily save time and fabric by not putting a trim on your dress.  If you opt to not have trim, simply omit it and follow the instructions accordingly. 

Step 1: After cutting the template pieces from paper (grab the free templates at the bottom of this page), follow the cutting instructions on each template and cut the dress pieces from the cotton fabric.

Step 2: Work with one side of the dress at a time.  For the first side, grab the yoke and front panel.  Find the center on both and mark it with a straight pin.

Step 3: Place the yoke ride sides together with the front panel and align them at the center points you just marked and pin together.  Continue pinning the yoke to the front panel, working out from the center to each end of the yoke.  

Sew together using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Step 4: Flip the yoke up to the right side, iron the seam and topstitch using a scant 1/8 inch seam allowance.

Here is a close up of the topstitch.

Step 5: (optional) Add the base trim by first marking the center on the base of the dress and the top edge of the trim.  Flip the trim onto the front panel, right sides together.  Pin in place at the center and at each end.  Then pin the remaining edge together.

Step 6: (skip if not making your dress with trim) Sew the trim to the front panel using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.  Fold the trim down to right side facing up.  Iron and topstitch using a scant 1/8 inch seam allowance.

Step 7: (skip if not making your dress with trim) Sew the trim to each side panel as you did on the front panel.  Pin at the edges first.

Then pin the remaining edge and sew using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.  Iron and topstitch.

Check Point: You should have three panels created (with or without trim)

Step 8: Pin one side panel to the correct side of the front panel.  Line the notches at the top of the front panel and side panel and align the trim seam edges together at the base (or the base corners if not using trim).  Then pin the remaining edge together.

Repeat with the other side panel.

Step 9: Repeat steps 2-8 with the other side of the dress.

Step 10: Place each side of the dress right sides together and align the edges.  Pin in the key locations identified by the short white arrows in the image above.  Once you have aligned these points, continue pinning the edges.  Leave one of the sides open for turning (indicated by the connected long white arrows in the image above).

Step 11: Clip the curves and turn right side out.

Step 12: Turn the raw edges of the opening in toward the inside and pin in place if needed.  Iron to smooth and flatten the edges then topstitch with a scant 1/8″ seam allowance.  Sewing the topstitch will also effectively close the opening.

Step 13: Cut a strip of Velcro to a 6 inch length and another to 1/2 inch length.  Place the velcro in position and pin in place.  The hook (scratchy) part of the velcro will be on one end of one side and the loop (fuzzy) part of the velcro will be on the opposite end and opposite side.  Sew using a scant 1/4 inch seam allowance along all edges of each piece of velcro.  

When you look at one side of the dress, you should only see either the loop part of the velcro or the hook part of the velcro.  Each side of the dress should have one end with velcro.

Your dress is finished and ready to put on your Nutty Nag! The dress fits my Giraffe and Koala too! (the Llama is coming soon!) 

Since fabric selection, seam allowances and how firm and full you stuff your plushie the dress may be more loose or tight than designed.  You can certainly make any adjustments needed to accommodate for sizing needs.  

Such a darling accessory!!

Here is a great image for Pinterest!  Pin now and come back when you’re ready to start this project.