Showing posts with label Crochet for Barbie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Crochet for Barbie. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Ken Sweater and Slacks



Years ago long before the donation I had my Aunt teach me to crochet so I could make doll clothes for my now adult nieces' dolls. Back then I bought a Nicki Epstein Crochet for Barbie book but I never made anything from it. I couldn't find any of the yarns in the book and it was before I discovered Yarn Sub which has truly helped me since then to find althernatives when designers list a yarn nobody seems to sell by the time I've purchased the pattern.

I've challenged myself in the last few years to tackle patterns that I've purchased but never made. I was looking for a Valentine outfit for Barbie and remembered there was a sweater with hearts in this book and it might be worth looking at it.

I checked Yarn Sub but it even shrugged when I put the yarn name in and that's when I decided to experiment with what I know about Barbie clothes. It didn't sound like this was made with size 10 thread so I decided to try an experiment. I used size 3 what I believe was Knit Picks Curio thread but I couldn't find this shade of green when I looked. I chose not to add the chart as this style of pattern was different from the way I usually make shirts and I wanted to focus on construction without needing to deal with a chart as well. I chose green rather than pink because as it happened if it was too large green was a better choice for Ken.

I've chosen to try size 10 yarn for Barbie. Not having lots of patterns for Ken sweaters I'd try this again but I might try size 5 thread as this one is still bulky with size 3. I suspect it would be tight with size 10. I could also try a smaller hook size.

I used the suggested C hook for this project

The pants are simple construction I've been using across the doll brands. I measured elastic for Ken's wasit, sewed it together and then sc around it with no longer available Red Heart Sport Yarn. I then dc rows until I hit the crotch decreasing rows until I reached 30 stitches. Each leg then had 15 stitches and I continued the legs for I believe a total top to bottom of slacks of 17 rows. However I measured the first leg until it was a length I was happy with and then counted from the top down and completed the second leg to match. I finished the slack legs with ss around..

Monday, March 14, 2011

Barbie Irish Dress



Annie's Attic has created e-patterns for many of their patterns, but I wish they would revisit their old doll and toy patterns. I keep searching the vintage markets, but the competition is fierce and the prices can be intimidating.

This dress is my adaptation of the Irish Lass pattern from Annie's Attic's Fashion Doll Wardrobe International, 87D10. People are often frustrated that I cannot offer them all the patterns I write about here. My suggestion is to lobby Annie's Attic to offer these patterns as e-patterns. I respect copy writes and will not violate them. These books are still available on vintage and auction sites. Check with friends and relatives that make dolls clothes. I suspect I am not the only collector of these booklets. You may find people who are willing to loan you the pattern.

This dress was one of the most challenging Barbie outfits I have made. The pattern calls for Knit-Cro-Sheen. I used Knit Picks Finger Yarn and Bernat Baby Yarn. I ended up decreasing the stitches in the skirt. The top fit as written. The details were fun to try. The vest came out better than expected. The apron needs more work for me to be satisfied. I will try again. I will be revisiting this pattern. It made a nice addition to my St. Patrick's Day package.

Barbie and American Girl Doll Free Patterns are listed on my blog at these locations:

Barbie Crochet and Sewing Page

Barbie Knitting Page

Ken Page

Kelly/Skipper Page

American Girl Doll Crochet and Sewing

American Girl Doll Knitting

Additional Doll Patterns also Available on the Holiday Blogs:

Valentines

Easter

Graduation

Patriotic

Halloween Page

Thanksgiving

Christmas

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