Sew a Barbie apron, oven mitt and matching chef hat

 
Sewing Barbie doll clothes is something I did for years and years and years and---well, you get the picture. I began selling my creations as a young teen and my little part-time business continued for another fifteen years or so.

Over the years I learned a lot about sewing tiny fashions. Recently I shared some of my knowledge over at TheCircle.org. with a three part series on sewing Barbie clothes.

In part one I discussed preparing the pattern and appropriate fabrics. In part two I give you tips and tricks for sewing the tiny fashions using a sewing machine. The last post, part three, covers trims and closures.

And I'm giving you an incentive to return to this blog after you've read the articles. Here's a tutorial on how to sew a lined Barbie apron with pockets, oven mitt and chef hat. Something every fashion doll needs so she will look fabulous while baking and decorating trendy cupcakes.


How to sew a lined Barbie apron

The first step is to draw the apron pattern. You can draw directly onto the wrong side of your fabric or on paper if you plan to make more than one apron.

Draw a horizontal line 1" long, a vertical line 5" long, another horizontal line 2" long and another vertical line 3-1/2" long (see left side of photo). Now connect the 1" line to the 3-1/2" line drawing a slight curve (see right side of photo).

Cut two aprons - one face fabric and one lining - with the 5" line placed along the fold of the fabric.

Next cut a piece of fabric 4" wide by 2-1/4" tall. This will become the apron pocket. Measure in 1-1/2" from each side edge and mark lightly with a fabric pen or chalk. This is the stitch lines for the pocket.


Bind one 4" edge with narrow bias tape.


Place the wrong side of the pocket on the right side of the apron matching the bottom raw edges. Pin in place.

Stitch along the stitching lines you marked earlier creating three small pockets.

Cut four pieces of narrow ribbon 8" long for the ties. You can adjust the length of the ribbon for the ties if you like. I found this length to be one that most little fingers are able to tie on their own.

Measure 1/2" from each edges and pin ribbons. Baste in place.

Take all four ribbon ends and place to the side of the apron as show. Pin the lining to the apron right sides together matching raw edges. Pin in place. The ribbon will come out of that opening.

Stitch along all edges using a 1/4" seam allowance, leaving a 1-1/2" opening along the side edge for turning. Very carefully clip the curves.


Turn the apron right side out. Press lightly, pressing the opening in 1/4". Edge stitch around all edges of the apron catching the opening.


Here's the lining side of the finished apron.

Here's the right side of the finished apron.


How to sew a Barbie Oven Mitt

Make the oven mitt pattern. Again, you can draw this directly onto the wrong side of your fabric or onto paper.

Draw one 1-1/2" horizontal line and two 1-1/4" vertical lines. Connect the two vertical lines curving down 1/2". Cut two from your fabric.


Using a fabric marking pen, on the wrong side of the fabric, free hand draw the stitching line, including the thumb.


With right sides together sew one side seam stopping at 1".


Finger press the seam to one side. Encase the upper edge with narrow bias tape.

Cut a piece of narrow bias tape 1" long.

Fold the 1" bias tape in half and place just below the upper bound edge of the mitt. Baste in place. A dap of fabric glue will help you control the placement of the loop.


Place right sides together and stitch along the stitching lines. Don't forget the thumb!


Very carefully, clip the curves.


Turn right side out.

How to sew a Barbie Chef Hat

Make the chef hat pattern by drawing on the wrong side of the fabric or on paper.

Draw a circle with a 4-1/2" circumference.


I found the top of a 32 oz. yogurt container to be the perfect size for tracing.


Draw a rectangle 5" long by 2" wide for the bottom band.

Cut one circle (hat top) and one rectangle (hat band).

Gather the outer edges of the circle (hat top) by sewing two rows of long stitches - one 1/4" from the edge, the other 1/8" from the edge.


With wrong sides together, sew one 2" side of the band using a 1/4" seam allowance. Finger press the seam open.


Fold the band in half with wrong sides of fabric facing each other. Baste the upper edges together.


Fold both the circle and band in half and place a pin at the fold. You are marking the center front of each piece.


Match the center front and center back of the hat top and the hat band. Pin in place.


Adjust the gathers so the hat top fits into the hat band. Pin in place.


Sew the hat top to the hat band using a 1/4" seam allowance. TIP: Sew slowly or you will have a difficult time controlling this tiny circle. I like to finish the seam by sewing a second row of narrow zig zag stitches.


Turn hat right side out and place on doll's head.

Of course you don't have to sew only white chef hats. Be creative and sew your Barbie a variety of coordinating aprons, mitts and chef hats in colorful prints.

And I leave you with one last tip. P-A-T-I-E-N-C-E. Be patient as you create these darling little fashions and you'll be rewarded with a big smile from your little one as they enjoy the one-of-a-kind treasures you sewed just for them. Pin It

Simplicity 4118 - sneak peek

Look what I found cut out and tucked away in my closet. Simplicity 4118, a lovely lined sheath dress with attached front belt. I was able to spend a bit of time in the studio this weekend so the dress is partially sewn just needs to be lined (and to find a 2" ring for the belt) and hemmed. Looking ahead at my calendar I suspect I won't a free evening for sewing again until next Friday. Sigh...and the weather is finally warm enough to wear a sleeveless dress. Pin It

Refashion a man's dress shirt into a woman's ruffled strapless cami

Near the beginning of the summer season, I saw an adorable menswear top at Anthropologie. It was a simple strapless cami with an elastic waist and ruffled edge. When I saw the price of the top (originally $68, now marked down to $29.95) I immediately thought that a similar strapless cami inspired by the design could easily---and more economically---be sewn using a men's dress shirt.

So here you go. A super quick tutorial on how to refashion a men's shirt into a cami.

One man's dress shirt + elastic + bias tape + thread + a few hours = ruffled strapless cami.


Begin with a men's button front, long sleeve dress shirt. Best to choose a size L or larger.

Lay the shirt on a flat cutting surface.

Draw a horizontal line from underarm to underarm.

Cut the shirt along the line you just drew.

If your shirt had a breast pocket, carefully remove the remainder of the pocket. Don't worry if a bit of the stitching lines still show as it will be covered by the ruffle.

Baste the top of the front plackets together.

Trim away excess placket on the backside to remove some of the stiffness if your shirt has a firm interfacing on the placket like mine did. This will make it easier to create the casing.

Sew the front placket closed, unless you want the front buttons to remain functional.

Press under 1/4" on the upper edge.

Press under another 3/4" on the upper edge. This will be your casing.

Baste in place, leaving an opening at the side seam to insert your elastic.

Measure the upper edge of the shirt and multiply by 1.5 to determine the length of the ruffle you will need--- my shirt measured 52" x 1.5 = 78".

Cut the sleeves off of the upper portion of the shirt. Remove the cuff, and cut the sleeve open so it lies flat. You're going to use the fabric in the sleeves for your ruffle.

Cut enough strips of fabric to measure the total length of your ruffle by 3" wide. I used four strips 19-1/2" x 3". Note that the stripes on the ruffle will be horizontal, not vertical.

Sew the strips together along the short edges until you have one long strip of fabric. Mine measured 78" x 3".

Narrow hem the two short edges and one long edge.

Press under 1/2" on the remaining long edge and run a gathering stitch along this edge.

Pull up gathers to fit top of cami.

Pin the wrong side of ruffle to the right side of the upper edge of the shirt positioning the ruffle 1/2" from the top edge.
From the top side of the shirt sew the ruffle to the shirt about 5/8" from the edge. This will also create your casing. Don't forget to leave the opening on the casing for your elastic.

Once the ruffle is sewn on you can remove the gathering stitches for a cleaner look.

Measure from your underarm to your waist to determine where to create your waist casing. Mine was 9". If you want the casing higher than your natural waistline, measure from your underarm to where you want the elastic and use that number.

On the inside of the shirt, measure 9" (or whatever your measurement is) down from the top edge of the shirt and make a mark. Continue around the entire circumference of the shirt.

Using bias tape, place the bottom edge along the line you just marked and pin in place.

Sew very close to both edges of tape to create the casing. Don't forget to leave an opening at a side seam to insert your elastic.
Measure and cut two pieces of elastic, one for the upper casing and one for the waist casing.

Insert elastic into casings. Lap the two edges and sew securely together. Sew the casing closed.

Evenly distribute the elastic in the casing and you are done!

A sweet summer cami in mere hours. Happy Sewing!

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