American Girl sized doll as a mannequin

[teller80]

My friend makes clothes for her granddaughters American Girl dolls, but since they live three states away she mails them. To make sure the clothes fit she is looking to buy an inexpensive doll to use as a model / mannequin.

Does anyone have a suggestion for a good substitution? Does each doll have its own measurements, or would the clothes generally fit each doll? Thank you!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I'm not sure why she needs a mannequin. You can buy patterns which will fit AG dolls; you need a pattern for 18" dolls.

 

[teller80]

I think she priced patterns and they were in the $12 range (!). Luckily she's pretty good at doing w/o.

 

[Gorechick]

You can get patterns for 18 inch doll clothing at Joann's on sale.

 

[poohfriend77]

Target has "Our Generation" dolls that are the same size as AG. There are some on sale right now for $21. The AG dolls are all the same size.

 

[Iowajes]

The AG dolls are all the same size.

I sew for my 12 American girl dolls. I don't have my measurements handy but my dolls have a huge range in size. The chubbiest has like a 2-3 inch waist difference than the skinniest. And a few of them have quite the bubble butt. I can't use the same clothes for all of them. Many things bought from AG are too tight to fit well.

Pleasant Company dolls are chubbier than Mattel, but the Mattel ones vary too.

I'd get a cheap my generation doll then ask for measurements of the AG dolls in question to double check.

 

[poohfriend77]

I sew for my 12 American girl dolls. I don't have my measurements handy but my dolls have a huge range in size. The chubbiest has like a 2-3 inch waist difference than the skinniest. And a few of them have quite the bubble butt. I can't use the same clothes for all of them. Many things bought from AG are too tight to fit well.

Pleasant Company dolls are chubbier than Mattel, but the Mattel ones vary too.

I'd get a cheap my generation doll then ask for measurements of the AG dolls in question to double check.

Hmmm, interesting. I've never actually measured any of ours, but all the clothes fit all the dolls (including non-AG brand clothing). My girls have a total of 9 different AG dolls, but they've all been purchased within the last 5 years. It sounds like some of yours are older than that, but I'm still surprised there is that much difference. 2-3 inches is pretty huge! It sounds like good advice to double check measurements, especially if it's going to be something with a waistband.

 

[RitaE]

American Girl used to sell one, I'm not sure if they still do. I believe several of the other 18" doll companies also have them. But as others have said even within the American Girl product line the measurements have changed slightly from time to time over the years. I have one of the White Body Samantha dolls from West Germany and nothing current will fit her.

Suggest she go to EBAY and search for American Girl Dress form and she'll see several options.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=american+girl+mannequin&_from=R40&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR6.TRC1.A0.H0.Xamerican+girl+dress+form.TRS0&_nkw=american+girl+dress+form&_sacat=0