Hi B. Dolls of a given height are rearely the same body shape. An 18 inch doll can be baby, toddler, child, teen or adult (lady) Each of these body shapes vary dramatically. I suggest that you buy the doll you thing your grandaughter would like and draft directly from the doll. Basic patterns can easily be tizzed with a bit of lace and gathering. Hope this helps - Peter Here is a link that might be useful: some of our dolls

If you have a good eye for patterns and know how to alter them, you can make enough changes to commercial patterns to make them unique. Many commercial patterns are easy to alter - once that's done you have a unique pattern and no-one can accuse you of theft or misuse. If you take a look at several patterns (for dolls or humans), you will see that they are all based on a few basic shapes which are then made into different pieces of clothing by adding darts, different sleeves, different lengths, etc. Also, some of the people who provide free patterns on the Internet may be willing to allow you to use their patterns if you simply ask for their permission. It might mean you paying them a small user's fee or royalties, or they might even allow you to use the patterns for free.

Hi Virginia, I too make dolls. I enjoy doing one-of-a-kind dolls. I make a lot of my own patterns. I once made E. T. for a woman I worked with. I'll have to say he turned out really well. (complete with the red finger-tip ;c) I only wish I had taken a picture. I am showing you a picture of some purse babies I created years ago.

Here's another one : www.joliebarbie.com