Here in the northern hemisphere, we’re in the heat of summer, so it’s a good time for a swim… Let’s sew a doll’s swimsuit!

This doll swimsuit / bathing suit sewing project will fit the 28″ Best Fashion Friend Barbie (and other 28″ fashion dolls). You’ll find the free, printable sewing patterns below:

• MS Word downloadable pattern for a 28″ doll’s swimsuit or leotard
• PDF pattern download for a 28″ doll’s swimsuit or leotard

Today’s tutorial video (at the top of this page) shows you how to make this lovely swimsuit with a keyhole closure in the back. It also makes a perfect tutu or ice skater’s and/or gymnast’s leotard for these lovely dolls.

There’s one thing you should note though: this pattern is not for the beginners out there… I’ve given these patterns four out of five flowers on my difficulty scale, which means it’s got some tricky stitches and piecings.

Also today’s video is an updated version. I’m a little embarrassed to say it, but I found a mistake in the original video’s instructions and had to delete that video. However you may remember that the first video included stop-motion footage of my 28-inch Barbie ice skating, wearing today’s swimsuit with a sweater and tulle tutu, as if she were a professional figure skater!

You can see the figure skater image pictured on the pattern itself:

You may wish to use my sweater pattern for leotard alterations. This sweater was part of an adorable sweater-and-argyle-skirt combo (again with free patterns) to fit 28″ dolls like Best Fashion Friend Barbie.

And if you need a little help making a tulle tutu for a doll, Froggy has a fantastic tutorial on that topic. (Click on that link to access her tulle tutu instructional video.)

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