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I've been reacquainting myself with
an old love - Barbie size dolls !
Please join me for another challenge
- dressing all my sixth-scale dolls, one at a time, in outfits made by me from patterns I've never used.
Ten most recent outfits pictured here !
Older creations on the Barbie page.
| My first successful lace overlay ! |
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This is Peace Lilly. She was waiting for me at a - all together now ! -
flea market, about the time my life was going to complete %$#t. If you're curious, the sordid details are enclosed in my blog,
The Doll Diaries. Link on the left. But it doesn't matter much to Lilly, just that's where her name came from, a simple, honest
wish made at the time.
She's actually 2001's Rose Barbie, celebrating the release of the Barbie
pink rose that year. Her permanent necklace has a rosebud on it, on the other side. She was wearing a lovely pink lace Fashion
Avenue dress when I found her, and I'd originally intended to claim the dress and donate her - her strawberry blonde
hair was in an awful state ! But once brushed out, her calm nature surfaced, and I knew I needed her around. And you know
me, if she's 'rose' Barbie, I have to call her 'Thorne' or 'Hibiscus', anything but 'Rose'. I think she's getting off easy
with Lilly.
I needed a challenge, so I thought I'd try lace overlay again. My solo
prior effort was a misbegotten mess. This time, though, I could follow the directions included with Denise Devoto's "To
Have & To Hold", a lacy wedding gown pattern. Figured I'd try the bodice. I'm not a big-gown person, I'm
sure you've noticed. The pattern's featured in the Autumn '07 issue of the soon-to-be-lamented Barbie Collector.
It turned out well ! Surprisingly easy - you basically baste lace and fabric
together, and sew them as one piece. It helps if you iron 'em together, it bonds 'em a bit. There was only one problem.
Since I was using scraps and recycled bits from other projects, people clothes, and a worn-thin pillow ticking, I didn't read
the 'Materials' portion. I should have. The pattern is designed for a 2002 TNT body - which is one I don't have. I was fitting
it to yer classic 1966 TNT body...and it didn't work.
Well, the fit was great, actually. Curved around the hips and bustline beautifully.
It was just about a half-inch shy of closing in the back ! I salvaged it by using hook and eye closures (salvaged from a bra),
which extended just far enough to fit and look good in the front. I'll probably alter the pattern later, because I really
like that bodice !
Since I didn't want to make a big skirt - the fabric under the lace was
leftover tiny bits I didn't have much of - I printed out a Doll Shop Deluxe straight skirt and used basically the same 'iron
and baste' method for the overlay that I used for the bodice. Decided to leave the waistband without lace, for contrast. If
I do say so m'self, I love it, and I'm really happy with it.
And now, I can pretty much overlay anything ! With lace, or tulle, or netting,
or sheer curtain fabric...whooo-hoo ! Challenge met - and I learned something good ! That's about all you can ask of a pattern
and a quiet afternoon !
The challenge continues ! Now, I know what yer thinkin'. You *know* you've
seen a Malibu Barbie here already, and the challenge is something new for each doll, using new patterns. So what gives ? And
who's that redhead ?
Well, here's the deal. I found a wrecked-head Malibu PJ at a flea market
last month. Several months ago, I bought several Malibu dolls at the same flea, and ended up with good face/good body Malibu
Barbie and Malibu PJ dolls...and a spare Malibu Barbie head. I fully intend to reroot a M'bu Barbie as a brunette, something
I've wanted since I got my very first Barbie - that's right, a Malibu Barbie ! - in 1971. But it was nice to have one of my
fondly remembered dolls as-is. So when I found a good body M'bu, I swapped heads. I now have two M'bu Barbies and one PJ -
and a wrecked-head PJ. Eventually, one will be rerooted brunette. But for now, they're both blonde.
And the redhead also has head-swap tales to tell. She's Poison Ivy, reheaded
to a 'standard' Barbie body. The bendy body is OK, once you get used to it, but I wanted her to have a regular one, so she'll
pose and wear clothes with the rest of the crowd. Got Pamela at the same flea, found her replacement body at a thrift store.
Donated the body and head I didn't need, so everyone's a winner !
So. They both arrived nude and pretty winded and weary from all their surgeries.
Something comfy was clearly in order here. Since I'd had some success with DebbieFS in Australia's dress pattern with
the Ariel girls, I thought I'd try her pajamas. They can (sometimes) be found at http://members.boardhost.com/DollDivas/msg/archive/1195868542.html . But not always. I may write her, ask if I can host the pattern here.
That way, it won't play peek-a-boo so much.
Malibu's cherry print was the first try. I can sew collars now ! Her directions
were good, but I didn't use 'em. Just futzed with it until I understood. Whoo-hoo ! Unfortunately, her image and my results
didn't much look the same. Hers was much baggier, and the sleeves weren't three-quarter ones. And I couldn't find the pants
part, so I used a shorts one I already had. Still, it sewed well, and I liked the results - but the facing for the collar
was kind of small. It just barely had enough fabric to fold.
So I expanded the facing and sewed Pamela's. This time, the pants pattern
was there, so I used it. My adaptations came out much larger and baggier - it'll probably fit Ken now. And the pants were
HUGE ! Since I was using bits for the pajama top, I only had enough to do sort of an inset patch on the pants, but it came
out OK, I think.
Upshot is, she uploaded another photo. This time, the sleeves were short
and the collar was much smaller. I'd done it right the first time, after all ! But now I have two versions of it ! Kind of
like the Malibu Barbies !
| You can't keep these girls away from the beach ! |
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'Bout time I sewed something, huh ? Fact is, I've been sewing a lot, but
it's not been stuff I wanted to post here. Christmas projects, other doll sizes, people-clothes repair...December is always
so busy ! And the Han outfit I made didn't turn out well yet... But here's a pattern you can download and try yourself for
free !
This is 'Sexy Stretch Mini Dress' for Barbie, by DebbieFS in Australia.
While my first effort didn't fit a standard Barbie, the second and third did, and the first one looks darn cute on an
'89 Tyco Ariel ! DebbieFS posted the original pattern, directions, and a photo of her creation on Doll Divas, a doll chat
board. If you'd like to download a copy, here's the link ->
It calls for a stretchy knit fabric, and this was a pajama top Friday morning.
Printed as downloaded, the pattern's first effort didn't even close in the back of any doll but Arienne (Tyco Ariel)
in the middle here. Sleeves fit fine, but it was still much too short for a Barbie dress - blouse, maybe, but
her molded-on panties would show regardless. So I figured the pattern didn't print out at the right size, and with
no marked seam allowance or 'this block equals one inch' reference, it stood to reason. Especially since computers
and patterns can vary...well, decided to try again.
Abigail, on your right, got the second trial. I increased the pattern 130%, and sewed it again. It's a bit
big, but fits both her and standard Barbie, so I'm happy. I did this one completely by the directions, even the collar, and
I still didn't get that 'bend' in the collar shown in the source photo even when I gathered it a bit. Sleeves and length is
also longer than the source, but I like what I got.
Adelaide, on your right, got separates, using the same pattern. Shortened the sleeves an inch,
and the bottom edge shortened an inch and a half to make a nice high-hip length blouse. Instead of adding the collar,
I simply hemmed it for a new look. This time, I drew the seam allowance for the sleeves on the wrong side with a pencil -
easier to follow and better fit. The skirt is doll's waist + .5 inches (for seams) long and an inch wide, folded and
sewn for a waistband, with a gathered rectangle of a skirt sewn to it. Took a bit less than two hours total.
Since all these girls are thrift-store finds, I can only guess which Ariel
dolls they used to be. Arienne in the middle is clearly a Tyco Ariel , one of the first Disney 'Little Mermaid' dolls.
With her fin, she's about 11 inches tall - without it, she's 9 petite inches, with a Super Teen Skipper type body. While Tyco
bought Ideal/ViewMaster in 1989, and Matchbox in 1992, Mattel purchased Tyco in 1997, and got all the candy in their basket.
I wonder if they simply got Ariel with Tyco, or if they had to renegotiate with Disney...
In any case, Mattel soon made taller, and rather sexier, Ariel dolls. Abigail, I believe is a
1989 'Valentine Ariel', as she was wearing the swimusit (no fin, unfortunately) when I found her. Adelaide seems to be a '00
'Seaside Holiday Ariel', since that vivid lip color is pretty rare. Her hair is also thicker and wavier (collector doll) than
Abigail's (grocery store playline).
Would you believe I have *six* Ariel dolls, of varying sizes, ages and manufacturers ? Just can't
resist 'em !
| Not-quite camoflaged, Chel ! |
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Aaand, Chel here brings us to the last of the Simplicity 6097 outfits, View
2. The rest of the pattern's garments are either too fluffy (wedding gown) or too simple or similar to other projects for
me. It's been a great pattern, though - especially considering I only got it because it was in a lot containing a pattern
I really wanted !
'Chel' is a My Scene Chelsea doll - not sure which one, it's kind of a guess
when you buy dolls at flea markets ! - and while she came with shoes that'd work with this ensemble, I wanted to use her 'regular'
feet. The MS dolls are actually quite clever - they appear to have the big, chunky foot-shoes of yer standard Bratz doll,
but she doesn't have the peg feet. Nope, under the huge shoe is a regular Barbie foot that'll fit most any Barbie shoe. One
thing I've noticed, though, is that the legs on MS dolls tend to bend in somewhat, beginning around the shin or ankle,
and it's often more pronounced on the doll's right. Probably due to those heavy shoes !
About the only thing I changed here is that embroidery floss ties gather
her sleeves at the wrists, not elastic thread. I simply don't like elastic thread, and I think the bows look better. The lace
collar is sewn on gathered lace, and the blouse's jabot is the same lace, just two pieces sewn together, one a bit lower
than the other, then hand-sewn to the blouse front, gathered a bit by another bow. All three bows are removeable and
changeable, in case she decides she wants a skirt of that red and black check next.
The pants are recycled peachskin fabric, from a long-ago pair of torn pants
donated by my favorite recycler, my Mom-in-law. Peachskin frays like anything, and sucks in light and dust at about the same
rate. But it is lovely stuff with a beautiful sheen and texture. Chel's gone from belly-baring party girl to a young lady
on her way to an evening chamber music concert or a touring production performance of "Wicked" !
I like her better like this.
| No matter where you are, sweatsuits are comfy ! |
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No matter where the Rebellion takes you - to distant planets of vast oceans,
desert flatlands, or huge honkin' forests - you'll always be comfy and barely recognizable in a sweatsuit ! Yup, today our
beloved Leia gets new clothes. This is- the sweatsuit from Simplicity 6097, view 3. First time she's ever fit into clothes
designed for Barbie without major alterations. It helps that it's soft, stretchy knit fabric (courtesy of Carol, from www.perestroika.ca patterns) in a loose design, but I think it's looked good on almost all my dolls.
The small-bodied ones tend to get lost in it.
If I was sewing this strictly for Barbie-size dolls, though, I'd have shortened
the jacket elastic from five and a half inches to five or maybe four and a half. I really had to take my time with this
one - stretchy knits require patience and stabilizer, plenty of both - but I was more than happy with the final items.
You know what this means, don'tcha ? Pretty darn soon, I gotta make something
for Han !
And now, may I introduce you to 'Erin' ? She's a former Happy Family Midge,
but as I already have Midge (1962 vintage) and California Dream Midge ('Cali'), she got a new name, too. Guess it was
her red hair speakin' to me ! She was in the same flea-market group of dolls that netted me Meg, Poison Ivy (still needing
a rebody), Christie, Derek (brunette 'Rockers' guy) dolls and our son a Jesse (Toy Story 2) doll.
She's wearing View 4 from Simplicity 6097, a loose, drop-waist dress with
slight gathering at the hips and a lace collar. As you can see, I still need work on collars and necklines ! I printed out
most of View 4 while printing View 7 for Charlene yesterday, so decided to use it. Printing out 4 also got me all but one
piece of Views 2 and 3, so you may see them soon. It's a thicker fabric, and you know how those go - the thicker the material
or wilder the print, the simpler the cut has to be. And this is dirt simple. Front, back, sleeves. It also called for elastic
thread again for the cuffs, but I used regular ole elastic. Call me a stick-in-the-mud !
Erin's enjoying some of our lovely, if cool, weather as Fall settles into
approaching winter. And I have plenty to keep me busy inside where it's warm !
"Charlene Hyatt" was found recently at a flea market, with missing hair plugs and a pair of decomposing
leatherette 'Rollerblade Barbie' shorts on beneath a sexy greeen Christmas dress. I picked off all the flaking white bits
stuck in her skin, transplanted hair from the back to the front, tried to fix her almost-broken neck and figure out what the
flip-switch in her back used to do, gave her a good bath, and made her a new dress. Not a bad restart for a doll who
may potentially be 29 years old ! That's right - the SuperStar Barbie head mold debuted in 1978. I feel like I should
have a birthday party for them next year, Mattel made so many of 'em ! It's like there's definite Barbie eras that don't really
go by decades - Vintage, Mod, Malibu, SuperStar, and Mackie.
Well, anyway. Her hair cleaned up beautifully, but hair back then wasn't rooted as thickly and abundantly
as it was in the mid-80s. The bald, never-rooted spot behind her missing hairplugs really made the absence noticeable. And
other hair colors just didn't look right, so she got the 'transplant' reroot. It's amazing to me how good her hair looks -
it's even at the bottom and still waves prettily. Her dress is View 7 from Simplicity 6097. I was supposed to use elastic
thread to gather the top and bottom edges of the sleeves, but I liked how the sleeves looked as-is. And I didn't have elastic
thread. I've gotta start reading *all* the directions and supply list before I start sewing...
I'll make this dress again - I like it. Probably next time, I'll actually do the sleeves the way the pattern
says !
Don't forget - only the most
recent ten outfits are here !
The rest are on the Barbie page -
index is on your left !
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Obligatory Disclaimer : I'm not affiliated with Mattel, Hasbro, Ideal, Tonner, Madame Alexander,
Bella Productions, Playmates, PlayAlong, Pleasant Company, Kenner, Matchbox, KidKore, Fisher-Price, Galoob, Remco, Superdoll,
Tomy, Tyco, Applause, Coleco, BanDai, Irwin, Lovely Patsy, Integrity, Dollar Tree Distribution, M & C Toys, Sony,
Jakks Pacific, Takara, R&D Dolls, MGA, Mego, or any other toy company (heck, half of these are now out of business). I
just like dolls, and enjoy making stuff for 'em. I hope they don't mind that, once I buy their stuff, I play with it and take
pictures for a silly, rambling website. Or I don't buy their stuff, but talk about it anyway. So there.
| A great comic series - free online ! Clickies !! |
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Some banners - if you'd like 'em !
| If you'd like to link to this confusion - |
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The Last Ten Updates :
*March 01, 2008 - New page ! Painted a 'My House' barbecue set,
and documented it. Go see !
*February 02, 2008 - We're on a roll now ! Lilly models my first
successful lace overlay creation ! Whoo-hoo !
*February 02, 2008 - New Challenge photos ! Malibu2 and Pamela
enjoy their new pajamas !
*February 01, 2008 - Finally updated the Home page - I'm only a
month late !
*December 16, 2007 - 'Arienne' gets her sisters into the act, so
enjoy 'Abigail' and 'Adelaide' up above !
*December 14, 2007 - Finally, I post something new ! Hope you weren't
worried 'bout me !
*November 18, 2007 - Chel finishes up the last of the S6097 patterns
- and looks darn good doing it !
*November 11, 2007 - Leia gets a soft new sweatsuit ! And I get
a bit more confident with knits and the good fabric.
*November 08, 2007 - Installed a new 'Welcome' sign on Timey Tell
and Hi, Dottie's page !
*November 06, 2007 - Finally remembered to change 'October' to
'November' up top. What ? That counts as an update ! :)
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