Ken Farmer

This is one of Shirley Jean Wright's free fashion doll patterns that can be found with the help of the Wayback machine here. Sadly the machine doesn't always save pictures just text.

I made this pattern for the donation a few years back and clearly it was a different Ken because I had to play with the pattern to get it to fit the It Takes Two Camping Ken I'm currently donating.

Notes:

This note was added to my pattern copy but I'm placing it here because I often read these notes before even grabbing the pattern to start. The shirt is a tougher fit for this doll. I'd suggest starting with the shirt, getting it to fit and then deciding if the waist for the overalls should be wider. I didn't do that for this project but I would do it next time as I plan on continuing with this doll for the donation for a while.

Overalls:

I used a D hook with Red Heart Super Saver Light Periwinkle for this project. I ordered a three pack from Amazon after completing the project because I can't get the color locally and they are a great pants color for the boy and girl dolls along with other projects. Lately I've picked up great shades only to have them never appear locally again.

I had previously done 17 rows for the legs, I increased to 18 this year and would consider 19 for a future project.

As I mentioned this Ken is a different build then the previous doll so he needed a longer bib so I had to add a row to the bib.

Shirt:

The shirt has never really been an issue for this project until this year. The shirt is made as one piece not buttons or snaps required. However this requires that it can be slid on and off the doll.

My first attempt using previous directions was too small. I then thought about not joining it but that looked terrible.

After various attempts I decided to change to using an e hook until row 5 when the armholes are created switching back to the D hook I originally used for this project.

Note to self that the projects stops joining at row 5 as this is when both the armholes and the collar begin to form. Without this the shirt will not pull on and off.

The sleeves were huge as written so I did a decrease round of sc which also finished off the arms to make for a better fit. I then did 3 rounds of DC finishing with a ss around the edges to keep them from fraying. Hat:

I have yet to get her hat directions to work as written and each time I've made the hat it has been different. This year's hat was made with Hobby Lobby sport yarn.

Ken Christmas Caroler

I was able to track down links for the out of print free Ken Caroler pattern. Page 1, 2

While I'd made Barbie previously I'd never made Ken. The original pattern gives Ken a Christmas green coat and hat. It is a festive outfit but having already made a Santa outfit for Ken I was hoping for a more winter look that he could use to carol with Barbie but also might work for other winter play fun. Therefore I chose blue and black as my primary colors with some red highlights.

As I was cleaning my yarn stash I found a crate of Red Heart sport yarn and I am going to be putting it to use for projects like this one this year. I'm also hoping to replace the colors I finish off with Hobby Lobby's sport as it has a similiar weight.

Notes:

I used the suggested e hook for this project.

All the yarn except the hat was Red Heart Sport. I learned from making holiday yoga skeleton hats using Ken's holiday patterns that I need worsted 4 yarn so the hat is made with Red Heart Super Saver Black and an e hook.

The first thing that surprised me as I started this project is the coat is not a traditional coat but more of a tunic that attaches a cape to it.

As with Barbie in order to give the arms room to fit into the holes I did not join the first three rows and then used a snap to close the opening.

I followed the directions as written except I crabbed stitched around the hat edges and surfaced stitched the red trim around the hat.

I also followed the same directions for the book that I used with Barbie sewing the book together.

Having found the original pattern link I went back to look to see if I'd lost the directions for Ken's pants but I couldn't find any. I'm still playing with my directions because I don't love the crotch but this is what I did for this pair of pants.

Cut an elastic to fit Ken's waist.

Sc around elastic 24 stitches

Dc around for 3 rows

Split for legs dc in 12 stitches chain 3 and join

10 rows of 15 stitches

sc around

ss around

I'm thinking about trying the next pair of pants I make without the chain 3 to see if they sit better.

Finally I couldn't resist a picture of the two of them together caroling. I never know how the toys are distributed but I do like to think of the Barbie's heading out together.

Barbie Christmas Caroler

This is an old out of print pattern that was always free. Page 1 is available here. Page 2 here.

My suggestion is if you are interested in this pattern save it and print it as the last time I tried finding it I couldn't locate it. This time I almost missed it. I'm still trying to locate a link for Ken's companion pattern.

I found these patterns over 20 years ago when I was looking for Barbie patterns for my nieces. I started thinking about them again when Barbie made it back into my doll rotation for the donation. With the addition of a Christmas challenge both Barbie and Ken have benefited from the older patterns. If all goes well Ken will be leaving with a Santa and a Caroler pattern. After all Barbie isn't going to go caroling by herself.

I didn't take as many notes in the past so I am getting more dilegent about documenting my work for future projects: Notes:

I used Hobby Lobby's Sport Yarn for the dress and Bernat Big Baby for the trim. I haven't used a great deal of their sport yarn but it is incredibly soft. The one challenge with yarn, especially soft yarn and Barbie are her hands that can be claw like when putting on clothes. Other than that I really liked this and will be looking to get more for other patterns from this designer that I haven't visited in a bit.

I had a note on the pattern from the original time I made this not to join until finishing the first 3 rows. That worked for me and I added a snap to close. It is really hard to get the arms through the arm holes without the extra space.

I'm using the same technique for Ken's tunic like coat for his caroler outfit. I joined after row 3 and continued as written. Again to make it easier to get the arms in and out of the dress for the straps I chained 6. Without this the arms are just don't fit through the holes.

I finished back with sc around the straps.

I chose to use Bernat Baby for the trim.

The bottom of the skirt is done with surface crochet remembering to sc between stitches. This is not a formal stitch instruction but the only way it works for me.

The upper trim is ss chain 3 ss across.

The neck is sc

The cape is trimmed with crab stitch.

Note for the future do not decrease on dress sleeves. As noted Barbie's hands catch on yarn so a little width makes it easier to get clothes on and off. I added a 2dc trim around the end of the sleeve to widen the sleeve and this helped a little.

I ss to one side of the book and chain the length of the side of the book on each side as this gives Barbie handles to hold the book. I sew the white pages to the black music cover.

I included this picture as a reminder that this hat only fits hair through the hole first. I put the tail through first and then pull it up on to head. It haven't been able to get it to fit any other way. I've thought about experimenting with leaving it open instead of joining as it would be easier for a child to get on and off.

Ken Farmer

My motivation to learn to crochet was having both a niece and a great niece who got into dressing their dolls about the same time. In some cases there really wasn't much available at the time to buy for the dolls. In other cases what was available was a bit pricey for kids who weren't happy with a few outfits but wanted complete wardrobes. When they outgrew dolls I started donating dolls and clothes because I had found a hobby I really enjoyed.

Shirley Jean Wright was one of the first designers of Barbie clothes I tried because the clothes were made with bulkier worsted yarn and not thread, which at the time I didn't have the proper hooks to make working with thread practical for me. After I stopped making clothes for the nieces I moved more towards the larger dolls for donation as the outfits were easier to make.

I believe it was 2021 when I finally started donating Barbie's family and started returning to my binders to find projects that would work for the dolls. However, I never did go back to these patterns, likely because I had discovered thread. Thread is great but finished outfits are still a better option for kids who like to dress up dolls.

As I was looking for ways to add items to Ken's donation this year I came across a free out of print pattern for called Ken's Overalls that is still available through the Wayback machine.

She has a huge treasure chest of Barbie and Ken outfits still available through the Wayback machine. The downside is the Wayback Machine doesn't have the pictures for the patterns. I'm trying to locate the patterns I originally downloaded so I can continue making more of them, but I may have to think about resorting to trying some without the pictures if I can't find the Ken ones as I really don't have many Ken patterns to begin with and many are just not quick and easy. I tend to rely on pictures when I crochet to confirm I'm following the directions so I'm hoping that somewhere in my Barbie binders I have the copies of the patterns.

With help from the Wayback machine you can find Ken's Overalls pattern here.

Notes:

I would make this again for the donation. It fits my quick and easy project goal. I would think about another shirt for this project just because this pattern is bulky but it works.

I used a D hook with Red Heart Super Saver for the Overalls and the Shirt. The hat is made with Herschnerrs Baby Worsted Peachy.

To get enough length in the legs I went from 14 rows to 17 rows.

I used a C hook for the hat and ended up playing with the pattern to get a look I liked. After row 4 I did a row of dc post stitches. It gave the hat a little more form.