If you’ve been sewing for dolls for very long, you’re probably aware that doll underpants patterns are hard to come by. Of course, I have free underpants patterns on this website, and my patterns will fit lots of dolls, including the 6 inch American Girl dolls, Skipper, Barbie, and many Barbie-sized dolls, in addition to my baby doll bloomers and 18″ doll underpants pattern. (Click on those links to find them.)
But today I’m showing you a vintage Barbie pattern that has a bunch of accessories, including a pattern for underpants, hat patterns, a swimsuit pattern, and the biggest surprise of all: a pattern for a pair of shoes for Ken!
The underpants double as bloomers for the nightgown shown on the front of the McCall’s doll clothes pattern #6420, as you can see here:
What’s really surprising about this old pattern, which is marked with a copyright dating back to 1962, is the fact that it contains not just patterns for making the six outfits shown on the front, but also the six outfits shown on the back too!
I need to make my disclaimer statement now: As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. To learn more about how my website uses affiliate marketing, please visit the website’s Privacy Policy page.
Normally, the flip side of a pattern will come with instructions for making the outfits, like what type of fabric is suggested and how many yards of fabric (or ribbon or lace or whatever) you’ll need to make the outfits.
Here’s an example of what I mean… The pattern back below belongs to the Mattel Pattern #2896 that I posted images of some time ago. Click here to look back at that post.
Granted, that was also a vintage pattern, so there aren’t a lot of details given on the back of that doll clothes pattern either, but at least they tell us we’ll need 1/4 yard of fabric for most of the outfits.
I love the wording there, too: “Barbie has an outfit for every occasion: work or play, night or day.” How cute is that?
I just found it interesting that the McCall’s 6420 pattern didn’t have any guidelines on the package itself. In fact, it says, “For materials required, see enclosed easy sewing guide.” So you would have had to purchase the pattern first, open it up, and then go shopping for your fabric and notions. It seems a little awkward at best, but I wasn’t even born yet in 1962, so maybe shopping for sewing materials and patterns worked differently back then.
Finally, I’d like to conclude with the statement that although this set of patterns is packed with great accessories, it doesn’t come with a pattern for the clutch purse shown in view G:
I’m finding this to be true time and time again with doll clothes patterns. They will often display a purse that isn’t part of the pattern set. I have several doll clothes patterns that do this.
But thankfully, you can always make a clutch purse with the pattern found in the Barbie gallery, right here on ChellyWood.com!
Do any of you own doll clothes patterns that have a lot of great accessories, like shoes, hats, purses, bow ties, socks or stockings, and underwear? Feel free to let us know which ones in the comments.
And if any of you are wondering how to safely purchase the vintage McCall’s Pattern #6420 that I’m showing in this blog post, please look back at an earlier post about “Buying Used Patterns.”
Today’s blog post is a re-post from 26 June 2023.
*Please note: when you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include Amazon, JoAnn Fabric, Etsy, and the eBay Partner Network.
Most of the commercial patterns I display and talk about here on ChellyWood.com are also available for sale on eBay. However, if you’ve never purchased a pattern on eBay before, it’s a good idea to read the article I wrote called, “Tips for Buying Used Doll Clothes Patterns on eBay.” It will save you time, money, and will likely prevent buyer’s remorse.
And by the way, if you use the links I’ve provided to make your eBay purchase, this website will receive a small commission, which helps fund the ChellyWood.com website, so I can continue to provide you with all the free patterns and tutorial videos offered here.
For more of my free tutorials, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, ChellyWood1.
If you would like to make a donation to this free doll clothes pattern website, please click here. There’s also a “Donate” button in the main menu.
For anyone who would like to expand their dolls’ wardrobes, you should really check out my “How to Alter Doll Clothes Patterns” course and my “Design Your Own Doll Pants Patterns from Scratch” classes on the Creative Spark online learning platform. Here’s my bio page on their website, where you can learn more.
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 my free patterns and tutorials.
To read more about my free sewing patterns and tutorials, please visit the “Helpful Tips” page.
Disclaimer/Credit/Affiliate Marketing Link:
*Please note: when you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include Amazon, JoAnn Fabric, Etsy, and the eBay Partner Network. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. To learn more about how my website uses affiliate marketing, please visit the website’s Privacy Policy page.
Chelly Wood and the ChellyWood.com website are not affiliated with the pattern company or companies mentioned in this blog post, but Chelly finds inspiration in the doll clothes designed by these pattern companies. To purchase patterns from Simplicity, McCall’s, Butterick, Vogue, or other pattern companies shown and discussed in this blog post, please click on the links provided here. These links below the “Disclaimer” section do not help raise money for this free pattern website; they are only offered to give credit to the company that made these patterns.
Back then, nearly everyone was an expert in sewing techniques. They could just look at a pattern and know what was needed in terms of fabric & notions.
Students were taught in school. Supplimented by mothers and grandmother’s. Today, too many don’t even know what a needle is much less, how to make a seam!! Statement from personal experience with today’s seamstresses. I refuse to use that awful expression “sewer.”
Good subject column today.
You said, “Back then, nearly everyone was an expert in sewing techniques. They could just look at a pattern and know what was needed in terms of fabric & notions.”
I’m told my great grandmother could look at a picture of a dress in a Sears catalog and cut out the pattern to make herself one just like it! I’ve often wondered if my ability to design doll clothes patterns comes from her innate gift. But maybe it was more common back then.