December 25, 2025

🎄 The 15th annual 12 Days of Christmas at Pixie Faire!

Christmas is one of my favorite times of year — a season of creativity, generosity, and reflection. This year I wanted to continue to celebrate in a way that’s meaningful, fun, and deeply connected to what we love most: design, sewing, and growing together as makers.

So today, I’m excited to announce the 15th annual 12 Days of Christmas Celebration, inspired by the 15th anniversary of the Design Academy-12 Principles of Design.

Here’s how it works:

For the next 12 days, we’ll be sharing:

✂️ One Design Academy Principle per day
💡 A practical Design Tip you can use immediately
💬 A daily blog comment prompt for you to earn entries in our giveaway
🎁 A $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card giveaway — announced on January 6th

Each day we'll jump back to this blog post to highlight one of the twelve design principles and invite you to join the conversation by leaving a comment. Every comment is an entry to win the $100 gift card. The more you participate, the more entries you earn!

And there’s more....

These 12 principles are also the foundation of something very special coming in 2026…

✨ Sewing With Cinnamon & Friends 2026 Theme

Design Academy Reimagined: A Year-Long Sewing Masterclass

Twelve principles. Twelve months. One unforgettable year of growth.

In 2026, Cinnamon Miles is opening the vault and teaching the Design Academy like never before—fifteen years after she first published the landmark series that inspired thousands of sewists worldwide. This is a complete, modernized re-imagining, blending Liberty Jane’s iconic design principles with Sewing With Cinnamon’s techniques, challenges, and creative opportunities.

We're bringing the Design Academy into Sewing With Cinnamon in 2026 using the core principles to guide our 2026 topics and this year, there’s even more:
Historical fashion deep dives with guest instructor Shari Fuller. Designer spotlight showcases. Sew Powerful Purse crossover projects. And a brand-new challenge every month.

If you loved the original Design Academy, you haven’t seen anything yet!

Read all the detail of the 2026 overview HERE. Existing SWC members are already in! If you're not a member yet, we invite you to join us, it all starts on January 6, 2026.

The 12 Days of Christmas is your preview of what’s coming — and a great way to jump back into thinking like a designer and getting the most out of your Pixie Faire pattern collection.

Let’s celebrate creativity, learning, and sewing together this Christmas season.

Merry Christmas,
Cinnamon & Team Pixie Faire

🎁 12 Day's of Christmas Giveaway

👉 Winner announced 1/6/26!

🎁 Day 1

Today (12/25) we kick things off with Principle #1: Proportion, and your first entry for the $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card.

💡Design Tip - Proportion: Scale is invisible when it's right and noticeable when it's wrong!

👉 To enter: Leave a comment under this blog post. Comment Prompt:
What’s your best tip for determining scale in relation to the doll you're sewing for?

🎁 Day 2

Today (12/26) we kick things off with Principle #1: Focal Point, and your second entry for the $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card.

💡Design Tip - Focal Point: Choose ONE star of the show. Whether it’s a bold fabric, a special embellishment, a unique neckline, or a pop of contrast — one clear focal point will always outperform several competing ones.

👉 To enter: Leave a comment under this blog post. Comment Prompt: What’s your favorite way to create a focal point — color, embellishment, trim, or fabric choice?

(Check back each day for the next comment prompt for additional entries!)

🎁 Day 3

🎁 Day 4

🎁 Day 5

🎁 Day 6

🎁 Day 7

🎁 Day 8

🎁 Day 9

🎁 Day 10

🎁 Day 11

🎁 Day 12

100 Comments

Ann

December 25, 2025

If the finished garment allows your eyes to flow smoothly from top to bottom, the garment is proportional to the size of the doll. Measuring is key! My mother had us creating and sewing for our dolls before we sewed for ourselves!

Mary Hope

December 25, 2025

It really depends on which doll I’m sewing for… lately I’ve been sewing a lot for mini mias which are 9” tall but have shorter bodies and bigger heads. I know that the bodice is going to be about 2 1/2” across but only about 1 3/4” long so I think about how much of the fabric will show in that measurement. If a particular pattern gets cut off in that small size, I won’t use it ( like a 3” long cat that’s 2” high). The kids that I sew for like novelty fabrics best so I do pick out fabrics with those cute items on them, I just try to make sure they’re going to fit in the design. I fussy cut the bodices so they work out. If I sew for a doll like Ruby Red, I do take proportions into account though because I usually am sewing for adults and adults want clothes that look appropriate. I do love sewing both kinds of outfits because I get to try all kinds of different ideas and make them work. It’s a challenge for someone like me who gets bored easily! I’m learning a lot and I enjoy trying out new ideas.

Janet

December 25, 2025

You really can’t go too small. Many of my own clothes have very tiny prints. If I’m unsure about a print being too big, I just drape it on the doll and decide if it looks good that way.

Diane G

December 25, 2025

I drape a corner of the fabric across/around the doll to see if I like the size of a print with the doll and the planned pattern. Some eras need smaller prints, some, like the 70s, can shine with bolder proportions.

Karen

December 25, 2025

I agree with earlier posts. To-scale buttons, ribbons, lace and trims are critical to an outfit looking correct. I think they are particularly important with period clothing.

Anna

December 25, 2025

I like to use plain fabrics and contrast them to avoid having to look for really small print. Or if I’m sewing for the little kids (like my 4yo) she is happy to have the same fabric for a dress for herself and dolly – even if it looks really wrong.

Béatrice

December 25, 2025

I prefer fabrics that are without print and small buttons. If I knit l prefer thin yarn and thinner needles so that the stitches are smaller.

Sewbig

December 25, 2025

Sometimes those licensed prints that the kids identify with are too large for an entire outfit. But they can be cut out and appliqued to a bodice, a pants leg, or a bag.

Kathleen A

December 25, 2025

I go by eye if it doesn’t look right, or feel right, I have to change it.

Kelly

December 25, 2025

When making doll clothes , I look for smaller print fabrics or if it is a larger print I’ll imagine what it would look on a doll to determine if it will work or not.

Susan Contreras

December 25, 2025

Looking forward to learning

Linda D

December 25, 2025

I sew mainly for 18” dolls so I just keep the largest item in the print under 1/2”

Martha

December 25, 2025

I think keeping the lace and buttons and all of that to scale is very important.

Jan

December 25, 2025

I think proportions on doll clothes are extremely important! I sew for 18”, 11 1/2” fashions dolls and also right down to tiny Barbie babies. If a waistline is a little short it looks more like an empire waist, if it is too long it looks like a dropped waist. I learned a bit about proportions by sketching out the 9 head Croquis using Zoe Hong’s You tube video. It helps one understand proportions of the body.

Deb Helfrich

December 25, 2025

I feel like it just takes a good eye and a little editing to get the right scale and proportion.

Susan

December 25, 2025

l look for very small prints, ribbon, lace etc. that are in proportion to the size of the doll. I often end up using 30’s reproduction prints for the smaller dolls..

Heidi

December 25, 2025

For some two-piece dresses, such as a dress with a pinafore, I often use a small print for the dress and a larger print with the same colors for the pinafore.

:Lois

December 25, 2025

Small scale print – always keep an eye out when at fabric shops and even thrift stores. Seems like they are harder to find – but for doll clothes so essential!

Karin

December 25, 2025

Proportion is very important to me so, even though I sew doll clothes for charity, I am very aware of the size doll I am giving away with the clothes and compare the fabric, lace and all items to match the proportion of the doll as though she was a child.

Sue Gunther

December 25, 2025

Definitely consider the size of buttons, zippers, trim and even hem width in proportion to the doll.

Elaine

December 25, 2025

I start with 1/3 2/3 vertical scale. . Then I go with how it looks. Scale can be top to bottom, side to side (is collar too big), size of print on fabric, and how pleasing it looks overall. Observe scale in children’s clothing (in real life or pictures). Before choosing final choice of fabric I even “showcase” my choices on a flat surface. It is surprising what combinations are pleasing.

Jan P

December 25, 2025

I’m always on the lookout for tiny patterns either at fabric shops or thrift stores. One of my favorite thrifted finds was an XL sleeveless blouse that had tiny light blue stripes and tiny red lobsters. I was able to make four of the Mulberry Street Summer Romper pattern. Then I found a lobster print at Hobby Lobby that was a little bigger scale, but worked perfectly for making sun hats. I love it when things work out like that!

MaryC

December 25, 2025

I usually use my ‘own hand’ and the dolls hand to ‘compare’ items to determine if it’s ‘too big’ for the doll or not. I often work in threads (crocheter)… so I compare what a ‘yarn’ looks like on my hand to what it looks like on the dolls hand…which often ends up being a ‘sewing thread’ size on smaller dolls – yes – I crochet with sewing threads…. heavier threads just don’t ‘look right’ and there’s SO many colors available with sewing thread it makes it ‘fun’! :-) (that and a great lamp and magnifying glasses! LOL!!)

Barb

December 25, 2025

My friends give me their fabric scraps. If the prints are too big or not suitable to use for doll clothes, I use the fabric to make a quilt backing, a sleeping bag, or a tote bag for the little girl.

Jennifer

December 25, 2025

I try to look at a 5″×5″ section of the fabric. If the print show up well on that small patch, then I’m good.

Susan Fritz

December 25, 2025

Lots of great comments! I have resorted to taking a pattern piece or tracing to the fabric store to check for design size. On the size dolls I sew the most for, cutting the piece out of clear plastic like a clear page sleeve for a 3-ring binder works great and can be reused many times.

Lori Conn

December 25, 2025

Love all the comments! Trying to find small scale fabrics for 18 inch dolls helps the outfits look more proportional.

Marie

December 25, 2025

Pay attention to the size of the EYES. Also, to a lesser extent the size of the hands and mouth. A doll like Blythe can look great with bigger prints than say, Barbie, even though the height is in the same range.

Debbie West

December 25, 2025

I don’t think I can add to any of the already good comments and suggestions. Thanks Ladies!

Janice

December 25, 2025

I like to shop for children’s clothes in 2nd hand stores. They usually have smaller designs. When I can find baby whale corduroy, I grab that, too. I deconstruct the clothes for my “girls.”

June

December 25, 2025

I don’t really have a design tip to determine proportion, I just image it on the doll. If it overtakes the doll, it’s to big.

Nicki

December 25, 2025

In historical garments, I like to study the silhouette for each era as closely as possible, so I can get the bodice and skirt lengths, sleeves and trim widths to fit like the original garments, with a balance of shapes that were appropriate for the time.

Cassandra

December 25, 2025

Would I wear a print, buttons or trim the size I am considering for the doll if I was the size of the doll.

Cynthia W

December 25, 2025

Size of print is so critical, and sometimes easier to use multiple solids to create colorful outfits without worrying about prints.

Julia

December 25, 2025

When trying to design for my American Girl doll, I get thrown by the imbalance of her head and body. Her head is huge for her body. I have to reduce the scale of the hats and emphasize the outfit details so it looks balanced. If I scale the hat to her head size, she will look like she’s about to topple over!
Is there a formula to use for the 18" dolls?

Julie Vasbinder

December 25, 2025

I look for small prints and lighter weight fabrics for my 14 inch and 18 inch doll clothes projects. I sometimes hold the print fabrics next to the doll, but mostly I just eyeball it. I will use larger prints for something casual like, pajama or lounge pants. Boxers for boy dolls look good with a biggger print.

Ernestine Jones

December 25, 2025

I use small prints like a lot of post civil war fabrics have small print and works fine for doll clothes.

Jacquie Corrigan

December 25, 2025

The buttons or snaps are a giveaway – if they are too big the outfit just doesn’t look right.

Carol

December 25, 2025

Bring a doll with you, hold the fabric up to the doll- use you eyes for confirmation. Also place the dolls hand over part of the fabric, like a flower. If it doesn’t cover the entire flower it probably is to big.

LouAnn

December 25, 2025

Definitely a small print fabric. If a solid then can always add an applique, cute patch or embroidery design.

Jacqui Starr

December 25, 2025

My proportion tip is the make a trial piece to adjust for size and shape of item.

Samdra

December 25, 2025

Small pattern fabric for doll clothes.

Guinivere

December 25, 2025

When choosing prints for.doll items, I use my thumb nail for reference. Unless I’m totally in love with a print, if its bigger than my thumbnail I will pass

Laura

December 25, 2025

If the scale of the pattern design fits in the palm of their hand I find it to be a good size.I tend to look for tiny prints like those you would use for baby clothing.

Cathy

December 25, 2025

I’m a little bit fanatical about the size of buttons for doll clothes. Unless it’s a statement or a design feature, I try to keep the buttons or snaps as tiny as possible especially if they’re not going to be functional. It ruins the look of an outfit to me if the button or snaps are too big.

Samantha

December 25, 2025

I measure the width of the palm of the hand of the doll I am sewing for, and this seems to be a very good print scale for my projects. However, stripes always seem to be to a personal preference, and/or what other material, or materials are involved with the project, and depends on the article of clothing too.

Barb

December 25, 2025

SO many good practices here! I sew 18" doll clothes only for my 5 granddaughters. In fabric designs, I look for dots or small flowers. I’m probably the only person here who didn’t know that an American Girl doll is 1/4 to 1/3 size!

Ruth Ann

December 25, 2025

Take the weight of the fabric in addition to the scale of any print into consideration when choosing a fabric, especially if it needs to be pleated or gathered.

Sherry

December 25, 2025

I measure my doll’s waist and any type print should be the size of their hand or smaller.

Betty

December 25, 2025

I don’t have a special scaling technique….I just eye it…for prints or fabric weight…usually works out fine

Eva

December 25, 2025

Still working on proper proportions and scale.
Don’t want a print so large it detracts from the design.

Nancy S.

December 25, 2025

I look for designs that will appeal to the girls I’m sewing for first, but I also make sure the size of the print is in keeping with the size and shape pieces I’m cutting. I just made a dress out of an outgrown girl’s dress with a wide border print on the skirt. Instead of the curved skirt pieces called for in the pattern that most resembled the girls’ dress, I opted for a rectangle piece to keep the border print intact.

Connie

December 25, 2025

I use tiny designs to help keep the scale small to fit the dolls.

Stephanie

December 25, 2025

Scale just depends about how you use it. I used a border print to make my Seraphina sun dress. It looks so cool with the larger tier on the bottom. When I cut down a very cool dress my daughter wore when she was little, I used the elasticized ruched back for the bodice and the large scale flower for the skirt, I was winging it, and it turned out great

Anja

December 25, 2025

I check against the size of my feet and the doll’s.

Pamela W

December 25, 2025

I love the guiding comment I heard a long time ago – that fabrics prints should have elements smaller than the doll’s hand. On average, that works very well – for AG or Ellowyne or Barbie. It definitely improved my selection of fabric.

Allegra

December 25, 2025

I’d love to see more Freebie Friday’s in the next year!

Priscilla Witwer

December 25, 2025

Draping, solids, and smaller prints are all important! Simple designs can be more attractive too!

Kitty

December 25, 2025

I look at fabric prints that are the right scale on me and compare the scale of the print to my hand size. Then I compare the print I want to use for a doll outfit to the size of the doll’s hand to see if the scale will work well for the doll’s size.

BrendaK

December 25, 2025

I sew for charity using donated fabrics and 18” dolls, usually left overs from quilting projects. So often I don’t have a lot of joices. I prefer small prints for dresses; stripes, dots, solids and abstract prints for casual clothes. I often combine coordinating fabrics in order to have enough to make a garment.

Julia Christman

December 25, 2025

When using larger scale fabric can be difficult, placement and visual perception are things I take into consideration.

Holly

December 25, 2025

Remember, type of doll can affect proportion as much as size! Large designs on a baby doll will look less out of place than on a similar sized girl doll, and curves will make them look more obvious on an adult-shaped doll (either sort).

Jen

December 25, 2025

Playing with scale is fun! I don’t always use tiny prints for dolls. Sometimes a large print can look very couture. When using a large print, I like to lay the fabric on the doll to see where the pattern of the fabric will look best.

Bridgette Shippy

December 25, 2025

I like to use small prints,on fabric and small ribbons.

Sarah H

December 25, 2025

Take a photo first; many times, a photo can help clarify issues that wouldn’t necessarily be noticeable just by examining the materials in person.

Ava

December 25, 2025

I mostly sew for 18" dolls, and for those I generally choose prints with repeating motifs less than 1" in size. So if the fabric has floral motifs I make sure the motifs are under an inch in size, and no more than an inch or so apart from each other. If it’s a striped or plaid fabric, I make sure each stripe or square of plaid is no wider than an inch.

Emily

December 25, 2025

For things like buttons, buckles, etc. I measure a real one, like the button on my jeans, and divide by 3, because AG dolls are approximately 1/3 scale. I’m not too exact with it though, because as long as it’s in the neighborhood of 1/3 real size, it will usually look ok, and sometimes the exact right size of something isn’t practical or it might not even exist. For fabric prints, I look at about a 5 inch wide rectangle to simulate the approximate size of a doll tshirt. If the print looks reasonable, it’s good to use. If almost, it could be a fussy-cut situation. If it looks weird or I can’t even tell what the print is, it’s a no-go.

Ginger Dykes

December 25, 2025

Be sure to use smaller prints/checks/stripes and lighter weight fabric. If in doubt I may use solids for the main pieces and a smallish print as just the accent. You can use color to liven your garment up. And measure the doll!

NancyB

December 25, 2025

I typically look at the space between the thumb and first finger, and envision what the element looks like in relation to this space, i.e., buttons, closures, jewelry, design elements on fabrics. Also, whether the element, although “too large”, may be the only one, such as on the front or back of a garment, and will that support it even though it is typically off scale.

Vicky Smith

December 25, 2025

I always measure first..sometimes I even make the pattern a little larger to get the right fit even though I scale to 1 inch on the original pattern.

Maggie

December 25, 2025

If I notice the print more than the doll’s face when the fabric is beside it, the design is too large a scale.

Janet Fenton

December 25, 2025

Time to start new

Karyn

December 25, 2025

The hard part is to remember that your doll, generally, is a child, and the adult is how scale measures. An 18" doll is about 1/4 scale, but as a child, it would probably have a 24" adult, which is 1/3. While fabric shopping, I cut 3×5 and 4×6 cards into 3×3 and 4×4 to make a quick measurement.

Norma

December 25, 2025

Scale is a fun thing for me. Most of my sewing is done with scraps of fabric from various garments that I have made over the years. When I have a fabric with a rather large design, or even large design, considering the size of the doll, I tend to blend it with solids so as to reduce the impact, or I cover it with a lace to distract. Yes, sometimes it works well and other times it fails but it is fun to try and my great granddaughter loves them and does not consider scale an issue.

Anne

December 25, 2025

Measure – measure again – then cut. This will avoid unnecessary headaches and will help in the making of a well fitted article of clothing.

Leslie Jo

December 25, 2025

Choose a print no larger than the doll’s hand.

Julie P.

December 25, 2025

People always compliment me on my doll clothes. I like to visit quilt shops for my fabric because they carry smaller prints, the correct size for doll clothes and also the durability for lots of play.

Patty

December 25, 2025

I hesitate to use any florals and stick to solids, small stripes and small checks

Jackie

December 25, 2025

Measure twice and write it down, cut once.

Barbara Menninga

December 25, 2025

Always use a very small print, small dots, and tiny stripes when sewing for dolls so the doll is not overwhelmed by out of proportion patterns.

Pamela Duxbury

December 25, 2025

Always be sure to measure the waist and chest of each doll you sew for, and keep it nearby when cutting out !

Maggie M

December 25, 2025

Measure the dolls body not just height

Sue D

December 25, 2025

I don’t have a lot of experience with designing my own so I like the tips of choosing the right fabric weight and print size.

Jeana Riley

December 25, 2025

If I absolutely love a fabric with a design that is larger than I usually choose for doll clothes I select a pattern with minimal pieces and fewer details.

Cynthia

December 25, 2025

I think in terms of 1:12, 1:6, etc, and then choose prints and designs that complement the scale I am working towards.

Cindy

December 25, 2025

Use small printed fabrics

Carolyn

December 25, 2025

Keep scale of prints on material small for doll clothes.

Diane Blaurock

December 25, 2025

Remember fabric weight as well as print size. To drape right, we usually need thinner fabrics than we would use sewing for ourselves.

Laura

December 25, 2025

Fabrics don’t always scale down well for doll clothes. Like regular corduroy is going to be too bulky for most doll clothes but pinwhale can work just fine. Usually the lesser weight of fabrics will work better for small sizes.

T

December 25, 2025

Love to sew 14" and 18". Pick fabrics that work for both.

Cheri

December 25, 2025

Thanks Barb it also reminded me when making long sleeve to measure that they will fit over the spread of the doll’s fingers…some are wider than others making it hard to get the top/dress on the doll.

Elaine

December 25, 2025

I believe I read on your site to use the eyes of the doll. The flower or whatever should be no larger than their eyes.

Laurie Gregg

December 25, 2025

Take a look at the clothes in your closet. Usually the prints have much smaller scale than we think.

Linda

December 25, 2025

Use the appropriate scale of print on fabric.

Liza

December 25, 2025

When printing an online pattern, be sure to select “actual size” when printing or it may be the wrong size.
Merry Christmas!

Helen

December 25, 2025

Sometimes a design that is too large can be placed so just a portion shows and adds a dash of flair! For example, I did an embroidery flower for a bodice. It was too big. So I placed it where a portion of the embroidery design went off the bodice. It looked great!

Candice Frederick

December 25, 2025

Use tiny prints to keep things to scale.

Barb

December 25, 2025

Remember that the 18" doll’s head is sometimes larger in proportion than on a human. And also the doll’s limbs don’t bend like humans. Keep this in mind when making a pullover top or dress. I’ve made a doll turtle neck top that was nearly impossible to get on!

Deanna

December 25, 2025

The rule of thirds and balance

Dawne Ester

December 25, 2025

Love this!

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December 25, 2025

Recent Articles

The 2026 12 Days Of Christmas Start Now!

🎄 The 15th annual 12 Days of Christmas at Pixie Faire!

Here’s how it works:

✨ Sewing With Cinnamon & Friends 2026 Theme

Design Academy Reimagined: A Year-Long Sewing Masterclass

🎁 12 Day's of Christmas Giveaway

🎁 Day 1

🎁 Day 2

🎁 Day 3

🎁 Day 4

🎁 Day 5

🎁 Day 6

🎁 Day 7

🎁 Day 8

🎁 Day 9

🎁 Day 10

🎁 Day 11

🎁 Day 12

100 Comments

Ann

Mary Hope

Janet

Diane G

Karen

Anna

Béatrice

Sewbig

Kathleen A

Kelly

Susan Contreras

Linda D

Martha

Jan

Deb Helfrich

Susan

Heidi

:Lois

Karin

Sue Gunther

Elaine

Jan P

MaryC

Barb

Jennifer

Susan Fritz

Lori Conn

Marie

Debbie West

Janice

June

Nicki

Cassandra

Cynthia W

Julia

Julie Vasbinder

Ernestine Jones

Jacquie Corrigan

Carol

LouAnn

Jacqui Starr

Samdra

Guinivere

Laura

Cathy

Samantha

Barb

Ruth Ann

Sherry

Betty

Eva

Nancy S.

Connie

Stephanie

Anja

Pamela W

Allegra

Priscilla Witwer

Kitty