Barbie Boutique

Just for the record, I have no grandchildren.  So I rather enjoy other people’s grandchildren.  One of my friends has a daughter who had a beautiful baby girl 5 years ago.  !!!  Really?  5 years?  yes. 

Although she now lives far away, through the magic of face-book I have kept up some of the “moments” of her life. 

Enter; her first Barbie.

OMG, my “grandmotherly instincts” have me designing and sewing Barbie clothes.  Insane.  But loads of fun.

So, first, I bought myself a Barbie. I didn’t want to spend too much money, (I’m retired you know, and on a pension) so I chose the lowest priced one at Walmart.  Her bathing suit is painted on so her straps sometimes show.

blue dress

 

I’ve had sew much fun making 2-hour tunics for me that I knew Barbie would like some, too.    This one’s dress length.

 

 

blue hi low top

 

 

 

Here’s a shorter one with a pair of navy leggings.

 

 

 

 

And a red one, with red pants , too.  Click the links below for the patterns.red pants and top

loose pants for barbie

knit pants 

denim dress

simple fleece jacket

leggings

 

 

strapless
coat outfit dress

A couple of strapless dresses, and an evening coat.

coat outfit front
coat outfit
coat outfit side

I found a piece of sequined trim, and here’s where that ended up.

dress with sequins

And of course I had to crochet something.

crochet sweater and long skirt

A few partially assembled garments ended up in the garbage.  You sure don’t sew Barbie clothes in the same sequence as human clothes.

Some tips:

  • Use a new needle
  • Use the smallest needle you can thread
  • I used a stretch 75/11 (and the needle threader on my machine wouldn’t thread it.)
  • Keep it simple.  Pants do not need side seams.
  • Sew the front seam, then make a casing for the elastic.
  • Add the elastic, anchor it at both ends, then sew the back seam.
  • Clear elastic is wonderful, I used the 1/4″ wide stuff.
  • Hem the pants before you sew the inseam.
  • Hem the sleeves before you sew the side-seams.
  • Some knit fabrics are too stretchy.  In the garbage.
  • Add a center front seam if you want a V-neck. 
  • Finish the neck first, then sew up the center front seam.
  • Velcro comes in lots of colours.  I used 3/4 inch and cut it in half length-ways.
  • You’ll never look at your fabric scraps the same way again.
  • Wonder Tape is a lifesaver.
  • Fine glass headed pins are a lifesaver.
  • Twizzers are a lifesaver.
  • One of my cats drove me insane.  He kept running away with the new clothes.  And tried running away with Barbie.  He was dragging her by her hair!!!!!! Rock.
  • If your sewing machine wants to eat your fabric, slide a piece of tissue paper underneath your seam.

Have I inspired you?  I’m going to put the patterns up in PDF’s.  Want them?

Have you made Barbie clothes?

Are you going to? 

I’d love to hear from you.

 

 

 

Yvette Chilcott

I'm a mother of 3, stepmother of 3. My hubby and I share our home with 2 cats, and my hobbies, including my food experiments.

14 Responses

  1. Beautiful Yvette. Yes, I once made Barbie doll clothes and sold them. Made enough money to buy my husband a suit for Christmas. That was in 1968.

    Could not, would not do that now

  2. I have 22 great great grandkids/ nieces and nephews. I always make then something for Christmas. When they turn 18 i stop but there seems to always be new ones coming on at the bottom end. LOL. anyway I may try some of these Barbie clothes for next year. Thanks for the patterns. Do you have a pattern for the beautiful gathered skirt dresses?

  3. Thank you Linda! There’s a lot of love goes into our sewing projects isn’t there? And you have a lot to sew for, lol. So far those are the only patterns I have, but I never know when inspiration will strike. All the best!

  4. Thanks Yvette. Unlike some others, your patterns and instructions are spot on. How do I get the dress with long jacket patterns? My granddaughter will be so happy

  5. Thanks Carin, I never did digitize those, and am not sure when I will, sorry. But, I learned a long time ago, “never say never” so keep checking in. all the best to you 🙂

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