Barbie's Dressmaker
Posted by Tina Kubala at 2/5/2010 9:00 PM 
Categories: analog
Tags: childhood Sabrina Kate Barbie crafty
Categories: analog
Tags: childhood Sabrina Kate Barbie crafty
My little niece, Sabrina, has gotten in Barbie in a big way in the last year. As her mommy, my best friend Kate says, they have more blondes than Hugh Hefner.
I've been waiting since they knew Sabrina was a girl to get to buy Barbies. Even more so, once I moved to Missouri and knew I'd get to play with them, too. The most important toy of my childhood was, by far, Barbie. I love the clothes and endless creative play. I had so much stuff for my Barbies. The three story dream house and the beach house, furniture, appliances, everything but plumbing fixtures.
As I've shopped for Barbies for Sabrina, I've found the options for clothes less than impressive. It's all small and shiny and overpriced. None of it appeals to a five year old. And even less of it appeals to two twenty-somethings enjoying the benefits of having a kid's toys to play with.
Months ago, I planned to take Barbie's wardrobe into my own hands. As with any of my craft projects, the inspiration and trip to the craft store often precedes the work by half a year. I finally have gotten a few things made. I hadn't sewn anything from a pattern since I was about ten. And that was Barbie clothes.
For your enjoyment, here is my personal model with the outfits I gave Sabrina for her birthday.
The purple dress isn't perfect. For one thing, it was meant to be floor length, but I didn't notice I needed two of the piece for the skirt until I'd already cut. That's what happens when you stay up real late crafting. I also didn't get the pleats in the skirt as the pattern intended. But I still like it. And so does my model.
The denim is from an old pair of my jeans. I was worried about the jacket - lots of pieces - but it came out perfect.
The stretch denim was easy to work with until it came time to putting the Velcro closure on the top. It's a hassle, but makes play much easier. Plus, with the newer Barbies are slimmer in the bust and thicker in the hips. The pattens, however, are made for the old style dolls.
I can't claim this outfit is less shiny than the commercially made clothes, but it is better.
My personal favorite is this orange number. I wasn't sure the cotton fabric would work with the fancy dress, but it was perfect. Who would expect a quilting square from Walmart could shine up so nice?
The dresses are really cute. You have a gift for sewing (at least for barbies
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