Easy Felt Coat or Cape Pattern for Barbie Dolls

My favorite hobby is crocheting doll dress. Using what I've learned from reading existing patterns, I create my own designs for Barbie.

This is a luau outfit that I made a while back for the Barbie Nuts doll.

dezalyx

One of the most memorable toys girls have during their childhood years is the Barbie doll. I remember spending hours making up stories most my Barbies and always irresolute their clothes to adjust the story I concocted for the day.

This article is about crocheting wearing apparel for your Barbie doll. Information technology volition likewise tackle the different torso types bachelor to the doll throughout the years. Links will exist provided to help you get started on crocheting for your Barbie doll.

Types of Barbie Bodies Bachelor

Ever since it was first launched in 1959, Barbie has undergone many changes with her body due to the controversies surrounding her original body statistics (with Barbie being anorexic and unable to menstruate had she been a real live person).

The following is a list of the Barbie types made available since then:

• Vintage - vital statistics estimated at (36, xviii, 33), 5'9" alpine, and weighing 110 lbs.
• Twist n' Turn - the waist tin now be twisted and turned. Arms are either straight or bent at the elbows. Also, this is when Barbie started getting taller from the neck down to the upper chest area. From then on, the height stayed the same throughout the years.
• Fully Jointed Torso - all the joints of the doll are bendable. This was found in the ballerina or sporty Barbies sold then.

The waist of the bodies above is small, hence the controversy for a body change because girls might emulate Barbie past existence anorexic likewise. Since then, dolls made after 1997 have wider waists.

• Umbilicus - has a wider waist and a umbilicus item.

The next type is more like the Vintage torso in that information technology has a smaller waist again, but is taller. These were aimed more than for the adult collectors rather than girls who play Barbie.

• B2K - In 2000, Barbie had a major re-practise and was changed to look more like a proportional tall, slender adult female compared to its Vintage trunk.
• Silkstone - are also known as Manner or Lingerie Model dolls. They are named silkstone because they are made of a very hard plastic that is made to mimic porcelain. The face and torso are the nigh like to the Vintage doll compared to the other body types.
• Model Muse - has a very small waist (similar to Vintage), abs, collarbone, ankles, and cleavage. These dolls were non made for playing, but for display only.

In 2015, Mattel's new highly-articulated Barbie doll was released in a series called Made-to-Move Barbie dolls.

• Made-to-Motility - With 22 points of joint, this doll has more joints than previous articulated Barbie dolls. This also means that it is slightly more difficult to hide all the joints when making wearing apparel for this doll. From personal experience, this doll has much thicker thighs, bust, and waist. The proportions are also slightly off than Model Muse body types, so adjustments are definitely necessary when adapting patterns for this doll.

In January of 2016, Mattel has released a new line of Barbie dolls featuring four different body styles including: Curvy, Petite, Original, and Tall; besides as seven skin tones, which offers more diverseness than ever.

• Curvy - meant to reverberate a more realistic body image for young, impressionable minds. With a tummy that really protrudes, this trunk blazon is the most difficult 1 to adjust existing patterns for, since every body measurement will be bigger than the usual.
• Petite - contrary to how information technology sounds, this body type is not thinner than the original, simply is but a bit shorter than the original fashionista Barbie. Changes to the measurements won't exist as drastic every bit the Curvy body type. You just demand to brand the torso and the bottom shorter and the clothes volition fit.
• Original - i of the more than accessible body types at the moment, with a lower toll point than collector's editions. Patterns should fit this type more easily and would only require little adjustments.
• Tall - this torso type is taller than the original body type. Yous will demand to brand the torso and the lesser longer to make the wearing apparel fit.

Tip: If yous are looking at Vintage patterns, there are 2 things y'all need to worry nigh when adjusting it for your more than modern doll: the waist and the surface area from the neck down to the upper chest.

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Tip: In guild to deal with the different body types, it is good to merely have an actual doll near y'all for occasional fittings. With some practice, you lot'll recognize which patterns and in what area of the outfit you will demand to add or reduce a few stitches to in order to make it fit your Barbie doll perfectly.

Things Y'all'll Need to Start

1. There are different patterns available out there. The material ranges from crochet thread to sport yarn to worsted weight. Information technology just depends on how you want the apparel to await like. I personally prefer the crochet thread patterns, equally it can show all the details better than the thicker yarns tin.
2. Hooks to fit the gauge in the blueprint. Again, estimate will not really help if the pattern is for a doll with a different trunk model than what you lot have. So always accept the doll ready to fit what you lot are making. In time, y'all will recognize only how many stitches sure areas will need in gild to fit properly (e.k. the waist, bust, etc).
3. Basic knowledge of crochet stitches. Merely knowing how to brand the foundation chain, single crochet, and slip stitches are enough to make your own Barbie clothes.
4. Basic sewing skills. Nigh patterns inquire you to sew on snaps to fasten the clothes onto your dolls. Sewing on snaps sometimes helps in the plumbing equipment of the apparel, equally you can adjust them to close at the right places to make information technology fit perfectly. A few months ago, all the stores I buy snaps from ran out, so I had to buy velcro instead. While it is more economical to buy velcro, it is also harder to stitch, so I recommend going with the pocket-sized snaps instead. Just if you have a sewing motorcar, velcro might be more convenient for you.

This is another outfit I fabricated for Barbie. The pattern for this is plant in the weblog: Crochet for Barbie.

dezalyx

Finding Crochet Patterns for Barbie

There are lots of crochet patterns available for Barbie. Since writing this article, I have published several free patterns for the Barbie Nuts doll. Some of the more popular ones are: Barbie Uncomplicated Sheath Apparel and Barbie Basic Leggings.

One of my personal favorites is the blog, Crochet for Barbie. This is considering she is the merely 1 that I have seen who indicates her Barbie's torso type: the belly button model. Almost sites only say, for mode doll or xi 1/two inch doll. It is a blog which can besides help yous learn how to design apparel, as the writer herself is learning how to design new things regularly. Also, she uses thread to crochet the clothes.

Another site which offers free Barbie patterns is Crochet Design Central. This is a collection of links with free patterns for Barbie apparel. If you're interested in working with yarn to make the dress, and so this might be a better choice for you lot. Only browse through the Barbie section and detect a blueprint you lot similar.

Lately, I have been looking for patterns from vintage newsletters like Annie's Attic. The patterns hither are a bit more hard to adapt to the torso blazon yous might have, but there are a lot of nice things bachelor out there.

At that place is also a book out by Nicky Epstein, Crochet for Barbie Doll. There are several older books bachelor in the Amazon capsule to the right.

If you find yourself liking a pattern for a real live person instead of a doll, you can also adapt those to fit your Barbie. You will demand to adjust the pattern and continue plumbing equipment it on your doll to make sure information technology fits, just it is doable. Just have fun and bask crocheting doll clothes.

Questions & Answers

Question: I am new to crocheting. Do you accept a pattern and the measurements for a Barbie bed coating?

Answer: The measurements will depend on the bed. You should do a stitch sampler of whatever sew together yous want in the size you desire to practice your crocheting skills and likewise for your finished projection.

Vickie R Birds on August 23, 2020:

these are really good . I recently started designing knlt doll clothes for tiny dolls..iii-5 inch simply apply to crochet Barbie and bed doll clothes. Thank you for sharing these .

Joyce on December 30, 2019:

I've sewn and crocheted many Barbie outfits, and I LOVE your crocheted Barbie patterns on Felt Magnet; I Pinned most of them! ;) Although I was never really interested in playing with Barbie, I've always (since I was six years old) enjoyed creating furniture, accessories, and clothing for her (I'm 53 at present). Thanks for sharing your generous and artistic souvenir!

dezalyx (author) from Philippines on January 22, 2019:

Try making the lacy sleeveless top, as that is the easiest of my patterns.

Maria Kelly on Jan 07, 2019:

Hi is in that location a way of converting the dolls wear sizes into real peoples sizes similar 8,10,12 etc if you could get dorsum to me I'd be very grateful

Peggy Snyder on January 07, 2019:

Hi I loved your article on Barbies. I am very beginer at making clothes for Barbie.Im glad I institute your sitr. What would yous recommend for a beginer? Tia,Peggy

Rebbecca on February 24, 2018:

I dear Barbie and I'm definitely going to make these patterns

Darina on January 26, 2018:

I similar what You do very much! Thank you a lot!

nancy on Baronial 01, 2016:

nice crochet clothes..im making my crochet dress collection at present

Suzanne Day from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on January xvi, 2014:

Dear your photos and the patterns are really cute! My daughter has all the latest Barbies but I retrieve the erstwhile vintage Barbies my mother owned. One of them fifty-fifty had hairy eyelashes! Voted interesting.

Victoria Van Ness from Fountain, CO on January sixteen, 2014:

This is such a creative article! I loved crocheting when I was younger. i might take to pick it back up again in the hereafter.

dezalyx (author) from Philippines on September 07, 2013:

Hi, dadra. Unfortunately, if you want to download the patterns, you will accept to re-create paste the instructions manually. I usually write the patterns on newspaper and transfer them direct to the site. I don't keep a soft copy on my hard drive.

dadra henry on September 06, 2013:

howdy beloved your patterns but my computer won't let me download a lot of them like the leggings and and socks.I was able to become a few to crochet for my thou daughters. pegasus_luvs_unis@yahoo.com give thanks you very much for sharing

Heather from Arizona on September 07, 2012:

These outfits are super cute! I wish I had the time and patience to learn this arts and crafts. You lot actually did a fantastic job with this commodity and the fashions.

How-to-crafts from Ireland on July 05, 2012:

Another bully hub on crocheting Barbie doll clothes. The example yous have shown in a higher place is actually skillful. The fashion you take fabricated the whole outfit is unusual and works!

Shared on Twitter. Voted up, crawly and interesting

Jasmine on June 22, 2012:

Such a great thought! I love your examples for Barbie doll crochet dress! I wouldn't mind having a dress like the ane in the 2nd photo myself :)

Roberta McIlroy from Ontario, Canada on June 20, 2012:

A trip down retentiveness lane. thank you :)

dezalyx (author) from Philippines on June 16, 2012:

Thanks! They are also quite fun to make. :)

Michelle Simtoco from Cebu, Philippines on June 16, 2012:

I take never seen a Barbie with crochet clothes, they are cute! Congratulations on your Hubnuggets nomination. This manner for Barbie to smooth https://koffeeklatchgals.hubpages.com/hub/Discussion-Sal... sure to read and vote!

Veronica Lewis from Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania on May 22, 2012:

Very informative. I have fabricated lots of doll clothing just never for the fashion dolls like Barbie. I've been considering it though. I like your idea of using a pattern for a existent person. And I like the site for the free patterns. Voted up1

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Source: https://feltmagnet.com/textiles-sewing/Finding-Free-Crochet-Patterns-for-Barbie