Beginner Sewing Projects

Rag Doll Coat or Jacket

  • By Mikael Svensson

Jacket Hero.png

Every doll needs a cozy coat or jacket for chilly days! This beginner-level sewing project is both fun and functional. The fully lined front and back give a polished finish, and you can easily customize it by choosing fabrics for different seasons—light cotton for summer or fleece for winter. Skip the collar for a casual look or add pockets for extra charm. Simple to sew and easy to personalize, this is a great addition to your ragdoll’s wardrobe!

What you need: 
  • PDF pattern 
  • A small piece of fabric for the coat/jacket 
  • A small fabric piece for lining, just cut out back and front pieces. 
  • Sewing thread 
  • Optional:
    • Sew on snap buttons (optional) 
    • Buttons for decoration (optional) 
Instructions:
  1. Cut out the pattern pieces, seam allowance is included. 
    01 pattern pieces.png
  2. Make the fold at the back pieces on both lining and outer fabric matching the lines on the pattern. Fold the fabric right sides together and make a topstitch about ½” (1.5cm) down to hold the fold in place. Open and distribute the fold equally on both sides of the fold. 
    02 a fold fabric.png02b fold distributed.png
  3. Sew the front and back together at the shoulder seams on both lining and outer fabric. 
    03 shoulder seams.png
  4. Fold the collar lengthwise, right side together and sew the short ends together, Turn the right side out and press.  
    04 sew and press collar.png
  5. Pin the collar at the neck opening, matching the center of the collar with the center back. Pin in place. 
    05 pin collar.png
  6. Put the lining on top matching raw edges at the neck and front. Pin along the neckline and on front edges. 
    06 pin along the edge.png
  7. Sew together on both front edges and the neck opening, catching the collar in the seam. 
    07 sew together at neck.png
  8. Turn the right side out and press. 
    08 press turn right side out.png
  9. Make the hem on the sleeves: fold the lower edge where the edge gets wider. Press. 
    09 turn hem.png
  10.  Open and turn the raw edges to the fold line. 
    10 second sleeve turn.png
  11. Topstitch close to the fold. 
    11 stitch hem.png
  12. Zigzag the edges of the arm openings on the lining piece. 
    12 zig zag arms opening.png
  13. Match the shoulder seams with the center notch on the sleeve top. 
    13 match notch.png
  14. Sew the sleeve in place. 
    14 sew the sleeve in place.png
  15. Zig zag the sewn edges of the sleeve seam. 
    15 zig zag.png
  16. Sew the arm and side seams together on the coat. Zigzag the seam allowances together. 
    16 side seams.png
  17. Repeat with the lining side seams. 
    17 lining seams.png
  18. Make the hem on the coat and lining. Fold the edge up ½”(1,5cm) 
    18 fold back.png
  19. Press, open, and fold the raw edges back to the fold.
    19 fold.png      
  20. Topstitch close to the fold.
    20 topstitch.png
  21. Topstitch around the front and collar close to the edge. 
    21 topstitch.png
  22. Add sew on snap buttons on the front edge and sew them in place by hand (optional) 
    Finishing touches 
  23. Optional: Sew decorative buttons on the front edge 
  24. If you want to you can sew the lining and coat together at the bottom edge by hand, using a Blind Stitch 
  25. Your coat/jacket is now finished, well done!