What we now call Ideal Toy Corporation’s vintage Tammy dolls was the original fashion doll, back when the idea of a “fashion doll” was still pretty new. She was called, “The doll you love to dress!”
The image above shows my Tammy doll and the Chelly doll holding up vintage Simplicity pattern 4883 for sewing a wardrobe to fit Tammy dolls. This pattern (not this exact one, but one identical to it) was the first doll clothes pattern I ever owned, and I used it to make each of the doll clothes shown on the front of the pattern.
I didn’t actually own a Tammy doll at the time, so I had to learn how to take a doll’s measurements and use them to alter the patterns. That way I could create the same outfits, but for a different doll. In sewing terms, we call that “making alterations.”
I remember how challenging (but fun) it was to make pattern alterations, even though we’re going back a ways to search my 50-something-year-old brain for memories of being in the 6th grade. Yep, that’s how old I was when I first learned to make pattern alterations.
And you have to have doll body measurements to make those alterations.
So if you like to sew for Ideal’s Tammy, you may find these Tammy doll measurements useful for sewing purposes:
- Neck circumference… 6.5 cm
- Neck to shoulder seam… 2.5 cm
- Collar to true waist… 5.1 cm
- Underarm to true waist… 2.9 cm
- Sleeve inseam (underarm to cuff)… 6.5 cm
- Sleeve from shoulder seam to cuff… 7.7 cm
- Sleeve circumference (upper arm bicep)… 4.8 cm
- Bust… 13.5 cm
- Waist… 9.7 cm
- Hip circumference… 14 cm
- Pants inseam (crotch to just below the ankle bone)… 13.0 cm
- Pants outseam (waist to just below the ankle bone)… 17.2 cm
- Pants leg circumference (upper thigh)… 8.8 cm
- Height not including hair… 11.5 inches or 29.2 cm
So how can you learn to do pattern alterations? It’s best to use an experienced sewing instructor to learn that skill.
My Creative Spark class, “How to Alter Doll Clothes Patterns” may be just what you need to make the doll clothes patterns you already own into the patterns you see in your mind’s eye.
For any class on Creative Spark, you don’t have to follow a schedule. Just sign up when you’re ready.
It’s a one-time fee for the course, and there’s no specific time limit to finish your course. You can just take your time and learn at the pace that suits you. So go check out my paid courses on Creative Spark, using this link.
As always, feel free to pin, like, or tweet about any images on my website. Here’s an image you’re welcome to share on social media:
To read more about my free sewing patterns and tutorials, please visit the “Helpful Tips” page.
Today’s blog post is a re-post. To understand why Chelly Wood is taking some time off, reposting older blog topics, revisit the end-of-March blog post entitled, “There’s a cat in my sewing room!”
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To honor the trademark rights of the doll companies mentioned in this blog post, I am including links to their websites here. Please feel free to visit their website and consider purchasing one or more of the dolls mentioned.