Interest in doll clothes appears already at the age of 2; in a playful way, children practice complex but necessary dressing and undressing skills. Older girls play more complex story games. They use doll wardrobe items as conditions for certain social situations.
Barbie is still popular among dolls. She was originally created as a fashionista, having a large number of clothes and accessories. Knowing how to sew clothes for Barbie, you can at any time please her owner with virtually no financial costs.
Material and tools for sewing
Since making clothes for Barbie is quite simple, there is no need to master complex patterns for constructing patterns and the basics of working on a sewing machine. The main thing is the desire to please the girl and a little imagination.
As a material for future outfits, you can use old things lying around in the closet: socks, knee-high socks, tights, mittens and all things that have become small, especially from knitwear.
Of the working tools you will need scissors, chalk or pencil, a needle and thread. As well as paper and non-woven fabric, in order to make patterns for clothes for Barbie. It’s good if there is a glue gun or just universal glue: with it you can easily decorate clothes or even fasten parts.
General recommendations
A few tips on how to sew clothes for Barbie with neat trimmed edges:
- It is convenient to cut synthetic fabrics with a burner, then the edges will melt and will not crumble.
- The synthetic edges of the parts can be processed using fire (lighters, matches) or manicure varnish. In addition, well-chosen colored varnish along the lower cut of the product can be an element of decor.
- Tape or tape can be glued to sections of the neck, armhole, sleeves, hem.
Before starting work, you need to wash all the things that will be used for sewing. If the garment is sewn from several parts, then it is worth using the iron as often as possible - this will help to make the thing neat and simplify the manufacturing process.
Skirts
The easiest wardrobe item to create is a skirt for a Barbie doll. DIY clothing can be created without the help of a needle and thread. The main thing here is to choose a beautiful sock or blouse with rubber cuffs. It is necessary to lay out the selected clothes on the table, attach the doll so that the elastic is at the waist, and mark the desired length with chalk. For a more accurate result when marking up, use a ruler. If you plan to process the bottom of the skirt with a turn, then add an allowance of 1-1.5 cm.
If there is no suitable sock or sweatshirts with a sleeve, then you can sew a skirt from a rectangular patch. To do this, you need to spread it across the table, attach the doll with a waistline to the upper cut and determine the desired length and width of the skirt, marking the flap with chalk. If you need a pleated skirt, then wrap Barbie with a cloth twice and cut off the excess. When sewing a narrow pencil skirt - once. Next, you need to sew the longitudinal sections, sew on the gum from above, and process the lower section.
Blouses
Before you sew clothes on a Barbie doll based on patterns, it is worth mastering a simpler way. Even such a complicated wardrobe item as a jacket can be made by applying a doll to the fabric.
Sewing will require a sock, or better yet a golf or sleeve with an elastic band. Attach a sock with a rubber band to the neck to the doll. Where the hands are located, make marks for the armholes, and cut them out. Put the sock on the doll, stick your hands in the holes and mark the desired length. To process the cuts of the armhole and bottom (hem, flashing, varnish or braid).
From the remaining sock, you need to cut out the sleeve patterns - two rectangles. Their width should be equal to the circumference of the armholes with a 1 cm increase in seam allowances. To determine the length, it is necessary to measure the distance from the doll’s shoulder to the wrist or elbow.
Fold the resulting patterns in half along the front side inwards, cut off the upper corners from the center (fold) to the edges so that the sleeve is inclined to the jacket, and not perpendicular. Perform stitching seams, process the lower and upper sections of the sleeves, turn and sew into the armholes.
Since you can sew clothes for Barbie without a separate pattern, periodically trying on and adjusting. In conclusion, you need to adjust the neck, having sutured the excess width.
Panties
You can complement the wardrobe of a doll fashionista with a pair of stylish pants. To make them, you need a long sock, since it is easier to sew clothes for Barbie from knitted fabric. You can also use socks, tights or a sleeve.
Toe trim over the heel. Put the upper part on the doll with the rubber band up and outline the cut between the legs and the length of the legs. Remove the sock, cut out the pants along the marked lines. Unscrew and stitch the inner sections to make the legs. Process the lower sections (preferably with nail polish or fire).
Dresses
Patterns of clothes for Barbie are very simple and versatile. You can make a dress for a Barbie doll based on a skirt. To do this, when determining the length, you need to put on a sock higher, pulling it on the chest. Trim the bottom and process it. Leave the top as is or sew on straps. A warm dress is obtained from a sweater: you just need to change the length.
An elegant dress is sewn of three parts: backs, shelves and hem (skirts). In order to make a pattern of the top, you need to attach shreds of non-woven fabric to the doll and mark the borders, as shown in the photo above and below:
Try on the resulting parts, fastening them on the shoulders and sides:
Transfer patterns to paper:
Now we cut out the details from the fabric, fold them with their faces inward, and we perform shoulder and side seams. As the hem, you can use any version of the skirt discussed above.
Even without sewing skills, you can please a child, since making clothes for Barbie yourself is very easy. In addition, all things will correspond to the wishes of the girl.