How to Sew Chanterelle Pants for Barbie

Note from Sew Liberated: A big THANK YOU to Cindy Luby for sharing her miniaturization instructions and pattern pieces so we can all follow along!

We might have gotten just a tiny bit pulled into Barbie mania … but in our own way, of course, by sewing! So many people told us that the first things they learned to sew were doll clothes. Dressing our dolls nurtured a love of fashion for many of us. And the Barbie movie really brought that pleasant nostalgia to the surface.

We thought Barbie might want to join in on the Chanterelle Pants love, so I made her a pair of wide-leg and barrel-leg pants. And they were so much fun, I made her an Estuary Skirt too.

You can download the free pattern pieces for all three and follow along with the instructions on this page.

Sewing tiny doll clothes is not without its difficulties. The seam allowances are very small, and turning things under is a bit tricky. Take your time on those tiny seams, and we recommend a fresh, sharp needle.

Fabric Requirements

• 1/4 yard (45cm x 55cm) or 1 fat quarter of fabric (the pattern pieces can be cut from fabric scraps).
• 8” (20.5 cm) length of 1/4” (6 mm) elastic

Cut pattern pieces from the fabric and mark pocket placement and the tuck lines along the pant hem.  Pockets are optional.

All seam allowances are 1/4” (6 mm) with the exception of the waistline casing which is 1/2” (1.2 cm).  Reduce the seam length to 2.25 stitches.

Please note that the pattern piece download includes both the Chanterelle Pants, View A & B, as well as the Estuary Skirt.

Doll-Size Chanterelle Pants Sewing Instructions

These instructions apply to both Views A and B. Just choose which pieces to use from the pattern piece download and follow along with these steps. 

1. Prepare the pocket pieces by stitching around the pieces at 1/8”. The stitches will help the edges to turn in easily.  Press the seam allowances to the wrong side using the tip of your iron or finger pressing.  Edgestitch along the front pockets.

2.  Pin the front and back pockets in place and edge stitch around the pockets.

3.  Sew the front pieces together along the crotch seam.  Press the seam open.  Sew the back pant legs to the front pant legs along the side seams.  Press the seam open.

4.  Stay stitch 1/8” (3 mm) along the waistline.  Fold down 1/2” (6 mm) along the waistline casing to the wrong side.  On the elastic mark 1/2” (6 mm) in on the left side and mark 4” (10.2 cm) from the 1/2” (6 mm) mark.

5.  Place the elastic in the waistline fold with the 1/2” (6 mm) marking at the outer edge of the back crotch seam.  Stitch in place through the elastic and waistline casing.  Turn under the 1/8” (3 mm) raw edge and edgestitch the casing in place making sure not to catch the elastic in the stitching.  The elastic should lay up against the fold.

6.  Pull the elastic through the casing to line up the 4” (10.2 cm) marking along the edge of the seam allowance.  Pin in place and stitch through the elastic and casing. 

7.  Pin and sew tucks in place along the pant hem.  Turn up 1/4” (6 mm) for hem along the bottom of the pant leg and stitch in place.  Stitch the back crotch seam together and press open.  Stitch the pant front and back legs together along the inseam.  Press open.  Turn pants right side out.

And that’s it for some cool doll-size Chanterelle Pants! Let us know in the comments how it went for you – or, even better, share on social media with hashtags #ChanterellePants and #ChanterelleDoll.

If you’d like another little project, our doll-size Estuary Skirt instructions are here.