Presenting the Lemon Bay Doll 1780s Chemise à la Reine Pattern for 18" Dolls, a downloadable, printable pattern with detailed, illustrated instructions for you to make a chemise à la reine for your American Girl doll and other similarly sized 18" dolls.*

Please note: This is NOT A PHYSICAL ITEM. You are purchasing digital files that require you to have software to read .pdf files and a printer to print the pattern pieces.

This 1780s chemise à la reine doll-scaled pattern includes patterns and instructions for a gown, petticoat and neck ruffle as well as digital embroidery files for the eyelets required on the underbodice. .PES and .Dst embroidery file formats are provided.

GOWN
An historically inspired gown with two gathered bodice options and two sleeve options, a four-piece fitted back, and unique laced underbodice with eyelets. Gown opens fully in the front (with snap or pin closures at the bodice). Back of gown has a slight train, gathered from waist.
• View 1: Double Gathered Bodice and Gathered Sleeves
This view has a bodice with three drawstring gathered rows: one at the neckline, one at the bust and one at the waist. The
sleeves are gathered into double puffs with two elastic channels.
• View 2: Simple Gathered Bodice and Straight Sleeves
This view has a simpler bodice with gathering channels at the neckline and waist only. The sleeves are fitted and straight
with a split cuff. The construction of View 2 is a bit more challenging and uses techniques which may be unfamiliar to less
experienced sewists giving this pattern its "Intermediate+" sewing level.

Note: Though the pattern has been written to follow through with either View 1 or View 2, the bodice and sleeve options are interchangeable, allowing you to use either bodice variation with either sleeve style.

PETTICOAT
A full, gathered petticoat with split sides. Petticoat ties with twill ties at the front and back of doll. This petticoat worn under the gown gives both volume and opaqueness to the ensemble.

NECK RUFFLE
A two layer, neck ruffle gathered with a drawstring. Drawstring can be made of either twill tape, perfect if you wish to hide the tie, or ribbon, for a more decorative look. You may choose to tack it in a few places (at center back and shoulders) to make it more permanent or keep it as a loose accessory giving you the option of changing the ribbon color/thickness for variation.

Patterns for the caps shown in the listing pictures are not included with this pattern but are available in the Lemon Bay Doll 1780s Cap and Split Rump pattern, offering you accessories to achieve the perfect 1780s silhouette for your Chemise à la Reine! See pattern here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1630218975/pattern-1780s-cap-and-split-rump-for-18?click_key=a451cd1a823c4b0d785dbe9318f5af48b46d0e6c%3A1630218975&click_sum=82a50f06&ref=shop_home_active_1&sts=1


Materials Required:

Gown and Neck Ruffle
Main Fabric: LIGHTWEIGHT fabrics such as cotton or silk batiste, cotton voile, cotton mull. (It is essential to use a lightweight fabric for this garment. The pattern has been expressly designed for this weight. You will find it difficult/impossible to gather the required widths of fabric used for this gown with heavier weight cottons such as quilting cotton.)
• View 1 or 2: (42”)—1 yard , (54”)—2/3 yard
Lining Fabric: Linen, muslin, quilting cotton–a fabric with more body than main for structure.
• Both Views: 24” x 6” scrap of fabric

Note about Neck Ruffle: I have included the neck ruffle in the main fabric layout, but please keep in mind that the way this ruffle is constructed requires both sides of the fabric to show. Consider this when choosing the fabric for your ruffle.

Notions
• View 1:
Twill Tape — 3 yards of 1/8” wide
Elastic — 44” of 1/8” wide
Sequins Pins, or Snaps — 3
• View 2:
Twill Tape — 2 yards of 1/8” wide
Sequins Pins, or Snaps — 2
Optional: 4-6mm Buttons or Hook & Eyes — 2
• Both Views:
1 yard of 1/8” wide twill tape, or ribbon (1/8” – 1 ½” wide) for neck ruffle
1 – 1 1/3 yard of 1 ½”-3” wide ribbon for sash
54” single fold bias tape, 1" bias stripes of your own making

Petticoat
Fabric: same as main fabric, or lightweight cotton
• (54”) —1/3 yard, (43”)—2/3 yard
Notions
• Twill Tape — 2 yards of 1/8” wide



This pattern was created for and modeled on American Girl® dolls. It will fit similarly proportioned 18-inch dolls, but please measure your doll and adjust as needed for best fit.

Original pattern designed by Lemon Bay Doll. All rights reserved. ©Michelle Weber, 2023

Lemon Bay Doll is not affiliated with American Girl® in any way. We are simply a family of doll collectors, crafters and sewists who have loved these dolls for two decades and share this love with others through the garments, toys, and patterns we design and create for them in our home-based business. You may use your purchased Lemon Bay Doll 1780s Chemise à la Reine pattern for your own personal use. You may sell items made using this pattern from your home-based business if you credit Lemon Bay Doll for pattern design in your listings. Pattern may not be used for large-scale commercial manufacturing.

Thank you and happy sewing!