When my mom asked me if I would like to help her make a purple Barbie outfit for a friend’s daughter, I jumped at the chance. I was OBSESSED with Barbie as a child- she was my ultimate- I had the Barbie house, the Barbie car, and a huge wardrobe of all Barbie’s clothes from ball gowns to swimwear, along with a few more questionable outfits that I made for her myself.
Now with more sewing experience, I tackled the project right- with a vintage Barbie sewing pattern:
The only thing that disturbs me slightly about this pattern cover is the fact that the proportions of the models (that are meant to be Barbies) are the same as the regular people patterns I have…
We decided on this jazzy green number, full of glamourous purple dress potential!
I wish that I had every piece from the 1964 Tressy* Wardrobe!
We decided on a beautiful purple cotton velvet – look how cute those little pattern pieces are! Why does everything miniature look cute?
Here is the bodice and the skirt cut out, we decided to omit the strap and make it strapless- full on class. It was simple enough to sew together, just two bust darts, some front pleats, snaps up the back. But then on to the embellishments!
Does your sewing area ever end up like this during a project? Between my mom and I we both managed to find every bit of purple anything from all areas of our sewing stash and heap it all over the table- For the top of the dress, however, I decided on a very simple silver rick-rack but with two pieces entwined- and it gave a very nice look.
While I was stitching up the dress- which was pretty straight forward, Mom managed to make a tulle over-skirt, and a matching velvet jacket with marabou trim!- Quite the ensemble.
So what do you do when you want to show off a Barbie outfit? – Make a Christmas-in-Paris theme background and have a photo shoot of course!
This is the ensemble all together- along with a Christmas snow-beast who refused to leave the frame…
Once the beast was coaxed away with liver treats I was able to get a couple shots of the dress with overskirt.
The dress solo
And the coat solo, which I can really imagine being on the streets of Paris! So posh!
BUT THEN- the snow beast returned!
And refused to leave until he had his own Parisian photo-shoot! So vain!
Such a drama king- I could have sworn I heard “paint me like one of your french girls Jack” pass his furry little lips!
Anyways…
Only two more sleeps until Christmas!! Merry Christmas everyone!!
xo erin
You're probably too young to remember Tressy. She had this ponytail kind of thing in the center of the top of her head/hair and you could make it longer or shorter if I remember correctly. It was a long, long time ago. Very cute outfit, too.
No I never had a Tressy doll, only Barbies, I was a Barbie girl through and through, but I think I would have liked the changing hair on Tressy!
So cute!
Thanks! 🙂
I just found your adorable purple Barbie ensemble on Pattern Review, and I just had to find your blog!! I have 2 grand daughters who would love for me to make them some clothes for their Barbies, but I am terrified to work with such tiny pattern pieces! (American Girl doll clothes are as small as I've attempted.) P.S. I LOVE the Christmas snow beast!!)
Thank so much!! This pattern didn't have too many seams and very simple lines- so I don't remember it being too difficult- bit they are really small! 🙂 🙂