Doesn’t my “28-inch Best Fashion Friend” Barbie look fabulous as a figure skater? Wait ’till you see the stop motion movie I made of her skating! It will appear in this week’s tutorial video.
This week, for #TapeMeasureTuesday, we’re taking measurements of a 28″ Barbie, but while we’re on the subject of Jumbo-sized dolls, I’d like to mention the 36-inch Barbies too.
Every now and then I get a request for 36-inch Barbie doll clothes patterns. Although my daughters used to have one of these very large Barbie dolls when they were in grade school, we got rid of it long ago. So all I can say about 36″ doll clothes patterns is this: I’ve heard rumors that you can put a 36″ Barbie in a Onesie and make tutus to go with it. That seems simple enough…
Therefore, as part of this week’s sewing adventures, I’m going to offer you some links to tutorials showing how to make a simple tutu for dolls, using elastic and tulle. So that will help, if you’re sewing tutus to go with a Onesie for a 36-inch Barbie doll.
But I digress. Today we’re actually going to measure a 28-inch “Best Fashion Friend” Barbie, which has been manufactured and distributed by the Mattel toy company.
Here are the 28″ Barbie “Best Fashion Friend” doll’s measurements for sewing purposes (seam allowances not included):
- Neck circumference… 10 cm
- Neck to shoulder seam… 3.7 cm
- Bust 31 cm
- Collar to true waist… 13.5 cm
- Underarm to true waist… 8.5 cm
- Sleeve inseam (underarm to cuff)… 20 cm
- Sleeve from shoulder seam to cuff… 21.8 cm
- Sleeve circumference… 9 cm
- Waist… 22 cm
- Hip circumference… 31.2 cm
- Pants inseam (crotch to just below the ankle bone)… 35 cm
- Pants outseam (waist to just below the ankle bone)… 45.5 cm
- Pants leg circumference (upper thigh)… 17.5 cm
- Height not including hair… 28 inches or 71 cm
I love to dress my 28″ Best Fashion Friend Barbie, so I’m sure this week’s sewing adventure won’t be the last of its kind. Feel free to leave a request in the comments. What would you like me to design for 28″ dolls after this?
And please remember, website renovations are going on behind the scenes, so be patient while I try to re-design the site to allow easier access to the patterns you really want to sew.
Meanwhile, don’t forget to tell the world about my FREE sewing patterns:
- You can pin them on Pinterest.
- You can post or like them on Facebook.
- You can tweet about them.
- Use any other form of social media that appeals to you!
To read more about my free sewing patterns and tutorials, please visit the “Helpful Tips” page.
ADDENDUM:
I got several comments on this page, asking for foot measurements for the 28-inch tall Barbie dolls. My doll has painted-on shoes, and I’ve been told that other versions of this doll do not. Their feet are shoeless, with plastic shoes that can be worn over the top of their bare feet.
So please keep in mind that these measurements are for the doll with painted-on shoes, not the barefoot version of the doll, but with that said, these are the measurements I’ve taken:
• 68 millimeters toe to heel
• 156 millimeters in total circumference around the bottom of the foot
• 30 millimeters wide at the widest point of the foot
• 70 millimeters from ankle to bottom of the foot, for making a short boot
In the photo shoot for this blog post, my 28 inch Barbie is wearing a pair of American Girl ice skates over the top of her painted-on shoes. The doll’s heel pokes out just a little above the boot of these ice skates, but otherwise her foot does fit in the ice skates.
Credit:
The Best Fashion Friend 28″ Barbie doll is offered by Mattel, which holds the registered trademark for it (™). Please visit the Mattel Toys website to learn more about their company and its trademarked toys.
This is some good information. Thank you for sharing.
Yes, I really enjoy sewing for this doll. It surprised me how much fun it was to sew for Best Fashion Friend Barbie because I normally prefer sewing for the smaller dolls. But this week’s ice skating leotard project was a lot of fun to create!
Hi do you have a resource for shoes for the 28″ Barbie?
My 28 inch Barbie has painted-on shoes, but I have found that my 18 inch American Girl doll shoes actually fit over her painted-on shoes. Other than that suggestion, I don’t have any actual patterns for the 28 inch Barbie. I wish you luck finding them though!
Could you please post patterns for boy 18in dolls and more clothes for 28in Barbe. Thanks
Hi Bert. Thanks for leaving a comment.
I do have patterns for a pair of pants, a collared shirt, and a pair of shorts that you could adapt for male 18-inch dolls, but I’ve also added your specific request to my list of requests.
Currently all Barbie clothes requests are on hold while I wait for Mattel to give me official permission to use images of their dolls on this website.
Thank you so much for all this detail and the article!! I’ve found it most helpful as I’ve been looking for the doll measurements!! Do you know the length and width of the feet? 🙂
My doll wears high heel shoes that are painted on, so I didn’t include the feet as part of my sewing measurements. It would look odd to put handmade shoes over the top of painted ones in most cases.
However, in some of my blog postings, I was able to slip a pair of American Girl ice skates on her feet, and they covered up the painted-on high heel shoes without looking terribly awkward. But I’m certain that not all American Girl shoes will fit her feet, due to the nature of the painted-on shoes.
Glad you like the article though. Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. 🙂
Hi do you have foot measurement
Hi Cheri. I can give you a measurement of my doll’s foot, but my 28 inch Barbie has painted-on shoes. So it’s kind of a weird measurement.
It’s my understanding that some of the 28 inch Barbies do not wear painted-on shoes. Those feet may have significantly different measurements.
Give me a few minutes. I’ll get her out of storage and take a quick foot measurement for you.
Alright! I’m back with my measurements! Again, this is for a painted-on-shoe version of the 28 inch Barbie, so it’s kind of a strange “foot” to take measurements on it.
• 68 millimeters toe to heel
• 156 millimeters in total circumference around the bottom of the foot
• 30 millimeters wide at the widest point of the foot
• 70 millimeters from ankle to bottom of the foot, for making a short boot
Hi Chelly
I just got my 28” Barbie the one I bought has removable shoes and I am happy to report she can we’re so bjd doll shoes they fit great with socks I plan to repaint her and even try to add joints to her knees so if it all works out I will post pics of her and send you some pics if you like thanks so much for responding to my question Charie
Before you make alterations, can you take some measurements of your doll’s feet for people who visit this post and have questions? Because it seems to be a common question — “What are the measurements of the 28 inch Barbie’s feet?” Since you have one with removable shoes, you can answer the question better than I can.