Today’s blog post will be brief for me, but I’d really like everyone who reads this to PLEASE add to the comments section. So this is more about what you have to say than what I do, okay?
I’m designing a new course for C&T Publishing, and I need to know these things as I build my class:
- What doll or dolls do you sew for most often?
- What do you honestly wish I would teach?
- How much can you easily spend without it breaking your budget?
Please leave your answers to these questions in the comments.
I had made a comment a few weeks ago about classes but somehow it got lost where I mentioned 4 classes in order of difficulty. But I will answer these questions in hopes that this comment won’t get lost.
Actually haven’t sewn for any dolls yet; but I am more interested in the larger dolls (not 18 inch) like 16 inch fashion dolls and 14-15 inch girl dolls because that is what I purchase most often. However, I have purchased 5.5 inch, 8 inch and 12 inch girl dolls (not Barbie). I also have a Sindy but I have enough clothes for her from Amazon purchases.
If you are speaking about cost of the class, $49.99 is not outrageous to me because I can use Paypal in 4 or Shopify in 3 or outright purchase using credit card or Paypal.
The question on what you should teach probably goes more toward design rather than sewing. I recently purchased a 12.5 inch Poppy Parker fashion doll and would like more towards how to adjust the Barbie pattern to fit her. This is just an example of how to use current patterns for other dolls around the same size (same goes for 12 inch girl dolls where I already have patterns but want to fit a different 12 inch girl doll). Another example would be the AG babysitter doll pattern adjusted to fit the slightly larger cloth body doll from Target. I purchased them a couple of years ago but the Target dolls are longer than the American Girl doll.
On another topic I noticed you did 5 videos on Halloween skirts for Barbie. I don’t remember you having such a long topic before so I am going to go back and view all 5 topics and make a comment.
Thank you again for sharing your knowledge freely with all of us doll-loving collectors out here in Internet land.
Hi Judy. What an awesome response you gave! Thank you! 🙏
In your comment, you said, “I recently purchased a 12.5 inch Poppy Parker fashion doll and would like more towards how to adjust the Barbie pattern to fit her.” I do have a class that will help you alter your Barbie patterns, so they will fit Poppy Parker. It’s called, “How to Alter Doll Clothes Patterns.” (Just go to that link and scroll down a bit to find it.)
This “How to Alter Doll Clothes Patterns” online course shows detailed methods for making changes to a pattern (like lengthening or shortening pant legs or shirt sleeves), and it offers a simple math formula which helps you adjust a Barbie pattern so it will fit a different doll with a similar body type — like Barbie and Poppy Parker — and once you’ve done the math, you can then photocopy your Barbie patterns at the correct percentage for Poppy Parker, using your local photocopy center.
It sounds like this already-existing class is exactly what you need, and it’s within your allowable price range. Maybe ask a family member to buy you the class for Christmas this year, if your family celebrates Christmas.
Thank you for all the feedback. This was a very helpful response!
Beach Barbie with the painted on Swimsuits. I make clothes for them so they are accepted in other countries in the Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. I am especially looking for a top or dress, quite a Southwestern look with puffy raglan sleeves that the neckline is higher, more modest than most.
Hi Sue. I do get requests for more conservative patterns for Barbie. I’ll add yours to the list of requests for free patterns.
But was there anything you wanted to learn, as far as paid classes go?
_ I sew mainly for Vintage Barbie, Ken, Allan, Midge, Skipper, Julia. 1960’s dolls.
Seam finishes, also how to embelish clothes with added details, eg pocket with hankie for Ken suit jacket, etc.
$ 40.00 canadian would be affordable for me.
Sources for zippers, buttoms, elastic etc.
Pricing the outfits for the barbie market. Place to sell outfits.
Hi Deborah. These are all great topics for my website’s blog posts. I have covered sources for zippers, buttons, and elastic, and in fact, if you click on my store button (available from the home page), I give you links to my favorites. These are affiliate links for the most part, which means that if you shop using my links, I often get a commission to help me pay for the running of this website. So please keep that in mind.
I appreciate these ideas, and I may use some of them for future articles on my site. Since I already offer blog posts on these topics though, I don’t think my editor will allow me to teach paid classes on these topics.
You might want to sign up for my newsletter, so you’ll see my blog topics come up when I cover (or re-post) on these topics.
Thank you for letting me know what you want to learn though. It lets me know that these topics are still fresh for my audience!
I usually sew more often for Barbie vintage dolls and her family (Ken Skipper etc), but it depends. I would like to have more time to make a Heidi dress for my Shirley Temple!
What do you honestly wish I would teach?
I don’t know exactly, with your free videos and tutorials you are teaching so much! And with your free patterns you offer so much that we should thank you on a daily base for that.
Maybe how to make a dress just from the doll measurements? (Or said better how to make a pattern from doll measurements and then realize with it a cloth?)
How much can you easily spend without it breaking your budget?
It depends, budgets can be elastic and the cost can vary depending on what is offered.
Marco
Thank you for these ideas, Marco. You’re always helpful in the comments section!