How to Make Barbie Patterns From Your Own Sewing Patterns

Thanks to the reducing option on copy machines, anyone with basic sewing skills can duplicate sewing patterns to make Barbie doll patterns. Although any adult-size woman's pattern will work, patterns having few pieces and not a lot of detail will be much easier to handle because the pieces will become very small. Begin with T-shirt and pull-on pants patterns. If you have good luck with basic patterns such as these, try copying patterns with more pieces, including blouses and jackets with collars.

Things You'll Need

• Sewing pattern
• Scissors
• Pen
• Ruler
• Copy machine
• Scotch tape

Instructions

1. Choose a pattern size that is as close to Barbie proportions as possible. The exact size will vary depending on the pattern company, but a medium size is best. This will fit a Barbie bust, and if you are making pants, you can pull the elastic tighter in the waist to accommodate the Barbie figure.

2. Cut apart the individual pattern pieces from the main tissue paper. Trim close to cutting lines.

3. Cut the pattern pieces in quarters or smaller to fit on the copy machine surface. Mark the edges of the pattern pieces that go together.

4. Set the copy machine to the smallest reduction size. Make a copy.

5. Cut apart the copied pattern pieces and reduce again. Continue reducing until the pattern is the appropriate size to fit an 11 1/2-inch doll from neckline to hemline.

6. Reassemble the pattern pieces and tape together. Make one final copy at full size so you don't have to work with taped-together pieces.