Playing with (tiny) clothes
My Mom recently gifted her cherished Barbie doll to my daughter. The doll alone is special – her case says she was produced in 1961 – but when you see the handmade wardrobe she came with, your jaw will drop. All of the tiny knitted and sewn clothes were made by my great-grandmother, and most of them were designed by her as well.
The poor doll’s feet are permanently shaped for high heels, and her bust is mid-century conical, but she withstood the test of sixty years and now gets to be part of childhood play once again. My daughter is making up for the doll’s quiet years by including her in multiple pretend worlds replete with costume changes, all thanks to the creativity of her great-great grandmother. It’s rather breathtaking to consider the fiber that connects my daughter with her great-great grandmother, which spans many lifetimes and transcends death itself.
My Gram, whose mother made these clothes, recalls that her mother just delighted in designing, making, and even playing with the doll and her wardrobe. Apparently my great-grandmother didn’t have much opportunity to play as a child; her hands were necessary for farm work. I love that her sewing and knitting skills allowed her to rediscover her playful side as an adult. They are, after all, practical crafts, intended to clothe and keep us warm, but their fullest expression goes beyond that, entering the realm of art and creative play.
As makers, we can get caught up in our to-do lists. Making becomes a chore, or simply a practical act of clothing our bodies or the bodies of our families. Even if it once held a creative place in our hearts, after a while, it can be relegated to the chore category, even if we don’t intend for it to evolve in that direction.
There is nothing practical about this doll’s wardrobe – it’s just pure play, both in the creation and the outcome. It’s art for the sake of bringing a little beauty and fun into the world. We all need that kind of artistic practice in our lives. Something that we do for the fun of it. Embroidery can be like that. Designing little doll clothes or a scrap quilt can be like that. And sewing garments can be like that, too, if we approach it from a mindset of sewing for self care. It isn’t something we should do. It’s something that we must do, to enter into that creative flow or meditative state, for our own well being.
Even if the prospect intimidates you, try playing around with making a small design change on a pattern you’re planning to make. Hacking a pattern instantly elevates the project to the realm of “play.”
And don’t forget to play dress up with the clothes you’ve already made, just as you would if you were a seven year-old dressing up her dolls. It is an absolutely essential part of keeping your sewing hobby delight-driven rather than getting bogged down in the “shoulds” and the to-do list overwhelm. Playing dress up helps you find new and fun ways to wear what you’ve already made, which keeps that “to-sew” list to a minimum and takes the pressure off to make, make, make. Pressure and creativity are like oil and water.
My great-grandmother had the right idea, to make doll clothes for her granddaughter. I wonder if, as she held that fiber in her hands, she imagined her great-great granddaughter playing with the clothes she would make. What a creative rush she would have felt.
Jaw-dropping indeed! What an imaginative wardrobe and the combination of knitted and sewn items are just beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing this photos and story!
There were absolutely patterns for these clothes out there – especially the knits! So many of your clothes look like different versions of my mother’s Barbie clothes that her mother and Aunties made for her. This post took me back! So many lovely things. We even had a stunning wedding dress I had framed for my sister when she was married. It was the most beautiful thing. Barbie forever a barefoot (high heel arch, poor love) bride.
OMG, this is fabulous! I think this doll may be a Midge, a friend of Barbie. Or maybe a early Stacie. I had a similar one from the mid sixties.
Oh my goodness this is so precious!
wow. those darts <3
This looks like my Mom’s Barbie! My Grandmother also made a lot of her clothes too. My mom is not a maker at all, but my grandmother passed down sewing and knitting to me thankfully. (Is Barbie’s hair a wig by any chance? My Mom’s came with several wigs!)
I would absolutely wear all of those pieces if they came in my size. UH-MAZING!!
Amazing!! And so inspiring!
😍👌😍 Absolutely fabulous!
An absolute joy to see those clothes. And the vintage fabrics are amazing. Thanks for all the photos. My mother also painstakingly made clothes for my Barbie. Alas, in my teens I decided I didn’t need them anymore and sold the lot. I miss them, but I do still have the sweet memories.
That these are jaw-dropping created clothes is an understatement! Oh, you bring me back to my Barbies – I’m probably closer to your Mom’s co-hort. Thank you for such beautifully tender comments about the love-in-the-hands of mothers and grandmothers that is passed to daughters and grand-daughters. You’ve made my day.
Perfect miniature vintage wardrobe. Just beautiful.
"It’s art for the sake of bringing a little beauty and fun into the world. We all need that kind of artistic practice in our lives." I agree completely. It is a much-needed practice especially in times of stress and when responsibilities or life demands are high. It is a reminder that we are indeed human, and need fun and beauty in our lives. This post really resonated with me because I have high workaholic tendencies. Thank you for reminding us of this. It really does look like your great-grandmother enjoyed making these outfits and that this process gave her joy!
.hi
This collection makes my heart full. Thank you for sharing.
Wowser! Heirloom city! What a treasure.
I remember my own mother’s attempt to make a few hats and skirts out of felt for our Barbies. They were stiff and nearly unwearable, but we used them whenever she was around. I think this might have spurred me on to wanting to make more useable objects in my fiber/crafting life. Evidently her mother was very crafty – an expert sexist, etc., but I never had a chance to meet that grandmother.
Sewist – not sexist!!!!! Oy vey!
They’re just exquisite! What an inheritance.
All of these clothes are amazing and so stylish and chic🙂
I had barbies very like this one. A Christmas, circa 1960-62 , whenever “Barbie” was introduced. my Aunt in San Francisco sent 3 large wrapped boxes for my sister and I with a Barbie, Ken and the clothes made for them. All of the clothes made for them! Everything from the fishing outfit complete with real woven fishing basket to wedding clothes. The next year a local woman was selling hand knitted Barbie wardrobes and our mother immediately supplemented our collection. Those original clothes were amazing.
The red and white striped top with the blue skirt is from an ensemble called Roman Holiday. It was produced in 1959 by Mattel. I thought it looked familiar- I worked for Mattel and specifically on Barbie for many years. Back then, I think the costumes were made in Japan.
It must have been the outfit the doll came with! On examination, the construction is different from the other sewn outfits. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
That brings back memories! I had the same doll, way back when. Now, I have 15" and 18" ball jointed dolls, plus a dress form for the 18". I use them to try out sewing, knitting, and crochet patterns, before I make them sized to fit me.
But I think I still, at my age, like to play with dolls!
Omg, those clothes are simply wonderful and what a magical contection through the years.
I love this! I want to play with this Barbie!! Such a cool gift to be able to pass down.
I think Barbie needs some modern wear like her own Otis overalls or a Hinterland dress! LOL
Wow, what an amazing gift for you and your daughter! I learned to sew making clothes for my barbies when I was around 9. Brings back memories
What a wonderful gift for you and your daughter. I learnt to sew making clothes for my dolls – I had a Sindy -the UK version of Barbie. But none were as stylish as the pictures you have shown, but I was maybe 7 or 8 when I started.
What a fabulous wardrobe your great-grandmother created! This is so special, and I’m sure she would be beyond thrilled that this Barbie and her wardrobe are bringing so much delight all these generations later! (And hey! I had that Barbie once upon a time!)
Seeing this has brightened my day immensely! When I was young I was lucky to be gifted an original cabbage patch doll. She came with only one outfit, a yellow frilly dress. My mum crafted up some jean overalls and a cute little green floral print top. I have since then added several handmade wool sweaters and socks that my oldest son wore for the first 3 months of his life. I tried to have my youngest wear it, but he was much too big by the time it got cold enough to wear. It is so endearing to watch the boys cherish the doll as their little sister who wears "their" hand-me-downs. These generational gifts are what we are lacking in fast fashion and it brings great hope and warmth to my heart to read through all the comments on this post. We all must honor our great grandmothers by keeping the spirit alive by continuing to add to the gift of re-gifting. Thank you everyone for sharing!
I learned to knit and sew making clothes for my dolls. I had Tressie, remember her? The fabric shop sold offcuts for dolls clothes and I got oddments of yarn and odd knitting needles from the LYS. Relatives gave me scraps too, and I’ve still got a few of my grandma’s knitting needles. I’m so taken back to those days by your photographs that I wish I still had Tressie and her wardrobe. Gone donkeys years ago but not forgotten.
Today I finished a lovely cardigan for my own mindful wardrobe. It’s the Be Thankful cardigan in Cascade 220 Heathers in Razzleberry. It’ll be soaked, spun and blocked tomorrow and then I can sew in a label and sew on the buttons. Item number 1 ticked off. ✔
How very lovely. My grandmother, “Sweetie Pie,” also knit many tiny clothes for our Barbies. Alas, they have gone with the years, but how vividly I remember the joy of dressing those dolls in their miniature finery and playing with my sisters. Thank you for evoking those memories!
When my grandma decided her mink trimmed coat was no longer stylish, she sewed a tiny mink stole for my Barbie. I was over the moon! This was around 1967. My Barbie looked similar to your daughter’s ♡♡♡
Those clothes are amazing!! What a treasure. 💕
Timeless and beautiful miniature wardrobe! This post resonates, thank you. You are so right when you write about play sewing instead of chore sewing, I’ve been making basic pieces that I need in my wardrobe but I love it when I hack a pattern or draft my own. It’s like the brain wakes up, gets focused and the endorphins kick in because of the joy, excitement and interest. Because it’s no longer on auto-pilot mode. It’s also why I find mask making a dreaded chore.
What a treasure for your family. Thank you for reminding us all to keep the ‘fun’ in sewing. Sometimes it does feel like all I do is alter and repair but then my grand daughter/son will ask me to help them make a toy or doll clothes or even something for themselves to wear and it becomes a joy again. I hope my ‘makes’ stand the test of time like these wonderful clothes have.
Thank you so much for sharing this – a wonderful story and such wonderful clothes! It should give us grandmas ( and moms should they ever have any extra time…HA!) encouragement to put in the time and effort to create for the kids in our lives – you just never know – they might just get passed on to the generations that will come long after we are gone.
Lovely, just lovely, thank you for the ray of joy & play that appeared in my inbox this morning, here in cold, rainy, locked down Sydney. Had me smiling about my own dolls clothes making in the 1970s with my beloved Sindy in England 🙏
My earliest memories of sewing are my mother making clothes for my Sindy doll on my grandmother’s old treadle Singer when we were staying with her in England. A few years later, my mum helped me to cut out and handsew clothes for a slightly bigger doll before I was considered qualified to graduate to her machine – a heavy metal 1950s black and gold Singer with the electric motor bolted on the back. I still have that machine and still use it occasionally when not using my electronic Singer, and I can still see the tiny red check of the dolls dress I handsewed. I think that I had cards with punched holes to guide bootlaces through as a toddler to learn how to use thread.
This is so nostalgically wonderful…thanks for this post! I love her red hair!! And of course the lovely handmade wardrobe!
I had same model Barbie, only she came with considerably less clothing. She was wearing a one-piece red swimsuit – and high heel sandals, of course. I think she came with a little thin beach towel as well.
I have to brag that my own mom made an awesome wardrobe for my Barbie too – even underwear and a bra… and somehow she even made some tiny nylons for her, with perfect seams up the back! It all just seemed "normal" to me back then! What a lucky little girl I was!
Wish I had photos to post!
These are all so incredible. What delightful family heirlooms!
What a delightful little wardrobe! And oh, this brings back memories. My first foray into refashioning was reworking the more dated 1960s-era Barbie clothes, made by my grandmother, that my grandparents kept in the basement playroom. As the oldest cousin and a fashion conscious teenager, I thought that my younger cousins would enjoy having them brought into the 90s, at least!
How wonderful! And such treasured memories. I was almost 15 when I got my Barbie (blonde ponytail, which would have been a little earlier than yours), and at that time they all came in swimsuits. Mine came in a black and white striped strapless one. Yours Might have come in a red jersey tank suit.
The dress was a purchased one (don’t remember what it was called, but you can look these things up), and came with a plastic belt, shoes, and maybe a purse or glasses. As I recall, it was $1.50! I have it for my own doll.
Because of my age (mom thought it would be okay for me to have it because Barbie was a "teenager" doll!), I was more interested in sewing for her than playing with her, although the neighbor girl and I did have great fun doing "fashion shows" with what clothes I had and a bunch of small silk scarves, wrapped in creative ways! I did, however, buy several of her outfits, including "Busy Gal", one of my favorites, and the nurse outfit. Yes, I still have ALL the pieces!
There is a lot of info online; just look for things like "vintage Barbie", "vintage Barbie clothes", etc. Thanks so much for sharing!
I agree with Mims,this appears to be the shorter haired "teenage" Midge. I had one like this also and a family high school student that sat with us so parents could go out made clothes for her. Brings back fun memories! Seems like yesterday but it was a long time ago. Paula
These outfits are stunning little pieces of whimsy. What a treasure, to have them still! I have several "household" items from my great-great, great-, and grandmother. They’re lovely to have, but mostly impractical for daily use. I would love to have such a tactile direct line was these doll clothes–something quite literally passed from hands to hands to hands, and imbued with that care from lifetimes ago.
Those clothes are incredible! What a treasure to hand down over generations!
Oh my gosh! I’m loving over your great-grandmother’s sense of style. I would wear so many of these outfits! I do love knits. This is such an amazing heirloom.
Stunning! Thank you so much for sharing this!
What a treasure! I had early Barbie’s too but alas with no handmade clothes. I didn’t have daughters though my boys had “babies” (a cabbage patch for one and a baby doll for the other). I made a few clothes but they weren’t that interested in that aspect of doll play. I have a granddaughter who is now the recipient of her own clothes as well as some matching outfits and other doll clothing, it warms my heart the fun your mom had with her “toys” and what good care she took of them. My granddaughter sewing does have that multigenerational feel…hoping it helps form a connection between myself and any children she has. I did not have that thought when making things for my kids other than their baptism clothes. The reality is that most of the handmade things that end up passed down and cherished were not created with that intent the creator was fulfilling a “need”…in this case a wardrobe beyond a swimsuit and the desire to create.
A post full of delight – thanks!
OH my gosh. I, too, love this post. I actually have a collection of Barbie patterns sitting here that I’m debating whether anyone would want to buy. Many of them were from late 60s or early 70s McCall’s Needlework magazines. I still have a suitcase that my daughters and previously, my younger sister, played with too. This makes me want to pull it out and do a little fashion photo shoot with them. So fun! Thanks for sharing this post.
These are amazing! That’s one very lucky little girl inheriting these wonderful outfits, in pristine condition too. Hope they spark a creative spirit in her too.
I so enjoyed looking at your great grandmother’s Barbie and all the clothes she made! I knit and sew and this is making me think about making clothes for MY granddaughters Barbies. I love the tiny knitted outfits!!!! I just need to figure out HOW to do that! Thanks Anne
LOVE this! My daughters play with a doll that was mine as a child that has a most enviable wardrobe entirely hand-sewn/knit/crocheted by my grandmother. The outfits are incredible; the fabric unmatched. I really want to learn to make small clothes now.
Thanks for sharing,
Nadia
I knit several of those patterns for my sisters doll. I found old knitting magazines with patterns in my grandmothers stash and made them one year for my younger sister. Very classy.
Wow , they are amazing! As a knitter and would be sewer…cloth maker? I know and appreciate the amount of love and work that goes into these projects , thank you for sharing!🧶🕊
Sewing and creating for self care is something I was “forced” to learn almost 10 years ago due to the beginning of what now is extensive degenerative disc disease and the arthritic changes throughout my spine. Prior to 2011 I sewed with the outcome in focus; a set of valances for the family room, an adorable clown costume for trick or treating, a soft pink flannel nightgown for my 2 year old.
Learning to live with a painful chronic degenerative disease ripped me open and exposed how little control I really had over this part of my life. Each day seemed more painful that the previous ones and I spent several years living with my daughter; I was unable to work, earn an income and could barely take care of my basic needs.
I started sewing again, up cycling remnants and thrift store finds, initially creating an Ohio star baby quilt for my first granddaughter. I discovered then, that this incredible creative process of transforming assorted pieces of fabric and fibers into an item with actual use, was healing my soul, stitch by stitch.
My easy concise explanation of my daily need to sew is to maintain my sanity. Yet, it’s much more than that. My soul and spirit are renewed each time I sew, no matter if it’s the initial stitches of a simple garment or the finial backstitch of a tote bag strap.
I’m blessed with 3 granddaughters I sew for now, with my 4th arriving in a few months. Purposeful sewing has changed my life almost as much as being Mimi to my precious granddaughters has.
Thanks for always sharing from your heart and encouraging us to view sewing and creating from various angles. Your words bring hope, joy, and healing.
I love this post!
I love the stream of comments that followed this blog post! Like others, I got my first Barbie right around this time–I think maybe 1959 or 60. This one was the version they called the ‘bubble-haired’ Barbie. My grandmother, who was a legendary knitter, took my younger sister and me to the toy store in her town to get us our Barbies, and I remember her commenting on her “bosoms.” That grandmother made some knitted sweaters for our larger baby dolls, but I remember seeing and collecting the many patterns for hand-knit Barbie clothes. Much later, I sewed garments for my daughter’s American Girl doll–Kristin. I remember using an old piece of muslin to create her nightgown, tucks and lace and cuffs and all, and feeling very proud that it actually looked like a pioneer girl’s nightgown. I love making doll clothes.
Oh such memories. She looks exactly like my Barbie. My father always chose dolls for us who had auburn hair. I learned to sew by creating outfits for my Barbie.
That you for this. My mom and paternal grandmother crafted an exquisite Barbie wardrobe, which was, truly the envy of every child I played with with the early 60’s. Fast forward…I don’t have children of my own, but my husband has two sons that have married lovely women, and they have daughters I “borrow” as my granddaughters. I was excited to be able to finally pass along these dolls with their lovingly and carefully constructed wardrobe, but alas, Barbie’s cultural baggage has led these thoughtful mom’s to eschew the dolls, leaving me at a loss as to what action to take. But now, your blog is my action – I’;m sending them a link, with a few photos to sample that wardrobe, and maybe, just maybe, they will see my Barbie’s in a different light, a light cast by the amazing women that stitched, knitted, and crocheted a wardrobe that also fueled my love of following a path well stitched.
This brings tears to my eyes… My grandmother taught me to sew. How intergenerational doing hand work is! I have a shawl crocheted by my Aunt or grandmother back early in the 1900’s-I didn’t know what to do with it. I am planning a new sewing/art studio, now I will display it and when I need inspiration or connection I will hold it. Thank you. And oh yes I wish I still had my 1961 Barbies and the clothes they were so fun. But my daughter doeshave the American Girls dolls and the clothes I made after drafting the patterns myself. Some day maybe my great-grands will hold them and do the same.
Oh, what a treasure! I love the fact that this was passed from one generation to the next. I, myself, rediscovered my joy for dolls through my nieces. Being a mother of three sons, totally opened up my world to a different kind of creativity with science projects and the outdoors, but my nieces reawakened my feminine side. Which also lead me to my current fascination with weaving. Who knows, maybe my creations will be shared with future generations too
I have my doll, very similar to yours but with blonde hair. My mom made clothes from pre printed panels but alas, I only have a couple of those dresses left. What I do treasure is a hand knit dress and shrug made for my by the grandmother of some children I babysat for. Your great grandmother was indeed supremely talented and the talent carries on. Thanks for sharing.
Oh my! My mom made my sister and I outfits for our Barbie and Midge dolls from the preprinted fabrics! These included a mustard yellow and red bandanna dress that looked like it could be a square dancing dress, “denim” shorts and a red top, and a long form fitting black and white formal with a mermaid skirt. My mom was very meticulous, and the stitching is perfect! My maternal grandmother crocheted a pink nightgown and a blue and cream dress with a draped collar and full skirt—beautiful! I got my first Midge doll for Christmas when I was in kindergarten in 1963. I got another one later, as well as an Allan doll. My older sister got Barbies and a Ken. I still have my collection!
Barbie sure has lived through many rough times – lots of criticism about her unrealistic figure. But it has finally occurred to me that her appeal to young owners is that her waist is the perfect size for grasping – and it thus makes it so easy to play with her. I think thats why she was so well loved!
Beautiful clothes she knitted and sewed for Barbie. I mean I’d love to wear some of those outfits!!! What talent and it is truly precious that her great great granddaughter is now playing with them❤️thx for sharing this!
I spent so many happy hours making doll clothes with my sister. Not quite like these though, haha.
We were not allowed to have Barbie because they had those conical shapes! My sister and I had Skipper and Scooter. And I made the clothes for her! I even carved a tiny hammer for one of their work outfits. I still have everything and I even have my sisters stuff to. She had 2 boys and I had 3 girls, so they got handed all to me. How fun!
I make Luna Lapin clothes. I have learned some amazing techniques. And I am able to utilize scraps to make some pretty cool things. This week I made a kilt out of the cutoff hem of my own kilt. I prefer midi to maxi dresses. So, shortening things in my closet leaves just enough to make fun things. Some of the techniques I have learned help me pattern hack. Plus, it’s pure play. I made a cousin of my rabbit for my cousin. Once a year I send her a new outfit. She says her Hazel Lapin has a better wardrobe than she does. Rabbits should have lots of cousins. She even has some friends from Anne Woods. Play, life is short.
What a delightful retrospective ! My grandmother on my mothers side also sewed most my mother clothing in Italy during the war. She was able to see a picture or dress on a mannequin and reproduce what she saw. I find it sad that many of those talents were not passed down AND that schools stopped teaching things like this. I feel like the circle of life has begun to find it’s start and we’re beginning to re-learn things that every woman (because times HAVE changed~it was primarily women that did most of the home sewing) knew or was taught. In creating a book of my life for my two children, I came across a little “booklet” made up of calico pages. Each page was a different hand stitch. I was in fourth grade (in Italy) when this was done. Now I find myself relearning those basic stitches from DECADES ago. Your blog made me smile, thank you.