Sew Doll Clothes for Afghan Refugees

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Dolls & Fabric

Leggings, Hijab & Headband
Medium weight, cotton/Lycra blend t-shirt weight, four way stretch fabric works the best for the leggings, headbands and the hijabs. If it is too thin, it will curl. Stay away from shiny, "flashy" or foiI Lycra. Mix and match as you choose. For example, make a floral dress with solid leggings and head covering or the opposite. You can add lace to the collar and or cuffs or a ribbon band at the bottom. You can add a flutter sleeve as long as it has long sleeves. Children LOVE all of these kinds of details.

Dresses
You can choose to make dresses from just about any fabric, but the typical Afghan girl would wear a cotton broadcloth, calico or cotton knit dress. You can use basic quilter fabrics and spice it up with fun patterns and trim.

Dolls
If you wish to purchase a doll, we suggest Our Generation Dolls from Target. Abril or Cassie look most like the Afghans. Dark tone skins, brown or green eyes and wavy or loose curled dark brown or black hair.

Package
Package a set of clothing with a dress, leggings, headband and hijab in a gallon Ziploc bag.

Patterns & Sewing

Patterns
Free patterns for 18" Dolls from Frugal Abundance. no longer available
Make the end of the pattern 2" longer to allow for the doll's long hair.

Shorten the skirt of the dress by 2" so that it falls an inch below the knee.

Headbands
Typically, women wear a wide stretchy headband to hold their hair back under the hijabs. The dolls have very thick, long hair. The headbands make dressing the dolls easier. Cut a piece of double stretch knit 11" long and 4" wide. Fold over the width making a 2" x 11" piece and sew the length. Turn it inside out and sew the end using a 1/4" seam.

Leggings
You can purchase a leggings pattern for an 18" doll on Etsy called Stella Sue Digital Pattern for 18 Dolls.