Barbie to Match

Check out barbie's new duds! Look familiar?

Remember this dress? If you missed this post, see the tutorial on how to make this cute One Hour Sundress HERE.

Now, you can make a matching one for Barbie! Read on, I'll show you how...

What you'll need:
-Fabric scraps
- 1/4 inch elastic
- Ric rac trim or ribbon
- Scissors and/or rotary cutter, measuring tape and/or ruler

Your pieces:
- Main body of dress- cut one piece 8.5 inches X 6 inches
- Top ruffle- cut one piece 8.5 inches X 1.75 inches
- Bottom ruffle- cut one piece 12.25 inches X 3.25 inches
Use 1/4 inch seam allowance unless otherwise stated.

You will also need two pieces of ribbon for the straps measuring 2.5 inches each and a 5 inch piece of 1/4 inch elastic.

Note: My daughter wanted Barbie's dress to be long. This would be cute a couple of inches shorter as well- if shortening I would shorten the main body of the dress and not the ruffle if you want it to look like it resembles the big girl dress.

Start by marking where the straps should go. Mark the center point of the dress body and then make two marks, one 1/2 inch on either side of the mid mark. This will be where the front of your straps will attach. You should do this on the wrong side of your fabric, and not the right side (which I did).

In my photo I also marked where the back of the straps should attach, don't worry about these marks- you don't need to do this.

With the wrong side of your main fabric facing up, put your ribbon or ric rac at the marks you just made and layer on top your top ruffle piece. Align raw edges and sew together. It's always a good idea to pin. Don't be like me.

Flip ruffle piece over to the right side of the fabric and press.

Flip your dress over as shown and press up the ruffle towards your seam 1/2 inch.

Flip back over and give it a good press. There will now not be a raw edge there. While you have your iron out take your bottom ruffle piece and press up 1/4 inch and then up again another 1/4 inch. Set the bottom ruffle aside.

using the edge of your presser foot as a guide sew along the top of your dress. This will create your casing for the elastic as well as catch the raw edge you pressed under.

Using a small safety pin, insert your elastic into the casing.

Stitch the ends of the elastic so it does not get lost in your casing. This is what you will have at this point.

Grab your bottom ruffle. You have already pressed up the hem, so the hem is ready to sew. Also sew two rows of gathering stitches along the top edge. If you are unsure how to do this, or how to gather see my Ruffle Jeans Tutorial HERE.

Gather your ruffle to the same size as the bottom of your dress. With right sides together attach ruffle to dress and then zig zag your raw edge. Remove the gathering stitches.

Press your seam up towards your dress, turn over and topstitch about 1/8 inch in.

Take your dress and fold it right sides together and sew down the side forming a tube. Zig zag your raw edge.

Turn right side out and put on Barbie to determine strap placement on the back. Using a needle and thread attach the other end of the straps.

Barbie couldn't wait to get home to show Rockstar Barbie and Miley Cyrus her new outfit!

This will take you 20 mins and gaurantees a smile on your little girl's face. I think matchy dresses would be a cute gift idea too!