Sewing doll underwear is very easy when you use a one-piece pattern. Even more so with a step-by-step photo tutorial and now a fast-paced video that will teach you to do just the thing. Let me show you!

In this tutorial post I'm going to show you how to sew doll undies, using nothing but a bit of jersey and some "fancy elastic". You can use other types of elastic, but don't use "fold over" elastic, as it doesn't work the way I am using it here.

Step 1. 

Cut your pattern piece like this, from jersey or interlock, any thin knit fabric will do. A bit larger for the bum part, a bit lower for the front. This helps your doll have a covered bum when she sits, no butt crack or bum showing off.

You can download the pattern pieces at the bottom of this post. 

Press down about a 1/4" towards the wrong side along the leg openings. 

Step 2.

Cut two pieces of fancy elastic a little bit shorter than the length of your leg opening. 

Step 3.

Fold one piece down the middle, and pin it to the middle of the leg opening, and to the beginning and end of your leg, as shown. 

You will be stretching the elastic a little bit, to match the leg opening, as you sew it down.

Using the widest and longest zigzag stitch, sew the elastic to the leg opening. 

Repeat the same procedure on the other side. 

Step 4. 

Right sides together, pin the underwear on one side as shown. You will be closing one of the side seams. 

Step 5.

With straight stitch sew this side seam close. Then using a medium length zig zag stitch, finish the raw edges of your seam. 

Step 6. 

Press down a 1/4" towards the wrong side, along the waist of your underpants. Cut another length of elastic a little bit shorter than the length of the underwear waist, fold it in half and pin it at the side seam you closed on Step 5, and at beginning and end of the waist.

Using the widest and longest zig zag stitch, sew the elastic to the waist.

Step 7. 

Right sides together, pin and then sew the last seam with straight stitch. Zig zag the raw edges and you are done!. 

See how easy it is? Now, if you would like this to be even easier, and you want the pattern pieces and the whole thing as an easy and downloadable PDF pattern, just enter your email address and you will receive a link to download lickety-split.

The pattern pieces are sized for a doll with an 8" waist and a 13" waist, and the tutorial comes with amounts needed both of jersey and elastic, so no guess work involved.

If you want to see this in ultra fast speed, you can check out this little video [I initially shared this with my Patreon subscribers]on my YouTube channel.

That's it. See how easy that was? I have to admit, when I started sewing for my dolls, I had to send them out into the world with no underwear of any kind. I was just terrified of using knit fabric and the whole thing scared me.

However, I got brave and attempted drafting a pattern and here we are. Over the years I have made little mods to my undies pattern, I add ribbing bands some times instead of elastic, or use an entirely different pattern that looks more like bloomers (for the antiquity-inclined dolls). Most of the time I hand-sew a lacy rose or a satin bow to the front. You use such little amounts of fabric and they always add up a lot of sweetness to the doll's outfit…never mind that they are horrified to be sent home without proper under garments. 

I hope you make some for your dolls using this little pattern and if you have any questions just let me know in the comments. I’m happy to help!