Barbie doll clothes yarn advice needed

[cjknitter]

Hello all,

I am embarking on knitting some barbie clothes and I have found some fantastic patterns but I seem to be getting no where as far as these clothes fitting the doll - lol. There is no gauge listed and I have nothing to compare to since I have never had a barbie dress before.

I was wondering what everyone uses for yarn. The pattern just states 4 ply yarn. I have used worsted weight - dress was WAY TO BIG - lol. I used a lighter weight (don't have original label) and that was too small. I just purchased some #1 (superfine) and I'm going to try that.

Any suggestions what be appreciated.

Thanks,

c.j.

[Jan in CA]

Please link to the pattern if it's a free one on the internet. It helps us help you.

I looked up Barbie patterns and most of them say fingering weight and small needles. The number of plies is a less useful term since modern yarns can be various plies for each weight.

This one you can use any yarn, but have to do a gauge swatch to see how many to cast on for your particular yarn. You may have to do that for your pattern since it doesn't say what yarn.
http://tiajudy.com/barbtube.htm

Here's a few patterns if you're interested -
http://barbiebasics.tripod.com/knits.html
http://www.abc-knitting-patterns.com/1070.html
http://www.abc-knitting-patterns.com/1071.html

http://www.geocities.com/iluvdlls/knitstr.htm

[cjknitter]

Hi Jan,

Thanks for the response. I hit a goldmine of patterns on this site (I hope to make tons of these dresses). I found in on Knitting Pattern Central (newly added patterns section).


http://www.stickatillbarbie.se/Patte...%20English.htm

I now know that when they mention fingering yarn its for #1 weight yarns and so that issue I resolved.

Check out pattern #145.

I am assuming since there are 4 different contributors for these patterns that fluffy yarn means fun fur?????? I've been comparing the different pattern directions for one knitter to the next.

But I am still lost As to what 4 ply yarn I should use.

thanks jan,

c.j.

[Arielluria]

I've never made barbie doll clothes, but it seems that sock yarn would be perfect for that.

[Jan in CA]

This is a translation which can often cause problems. So let's work backwards and go by the needle size and see if that helps.. 4mm is a US 6 and 2.25 mm is a US 1.

They are using the US 6 on the fun fur and then switch to the US 1. A US 1 is usually used with thin yarns so probably fingering weight would work. That's what you are using now with the #1 designation.

This is a fitted dress so it's supposed to be rather tight, but if you find it too tight you can go up a needle size. That's usually the best way to do it rather than changing yarns.

Thanks for the link btw. That's a lot of Barbie clothes!

[cjknitter]

thank you Arielluria. I purchased some #1 yarns today and a skein of sock yarn and I think it's helping.

Your welcome Jan. That is a ton of barbie clothes. Remember the days of the sears toy catalogs ???? Well I can envision a young girl spending hours on that link (website page) and making out her wish list for xmas. Just think of all the knitting someone would have to do - lol. I know if I was a child again, it sure would have been fun to see all those beautiful barbie clothes.

Thanks for your advise.

Best wishes,

c.j.

[Jan in CA]

I used to love Barbies when I was young. I often made them clothes myself, but I didn't knit then so they were mostly fabric and I didn't follow patterns. It was all a guessing game.

My girls loved them, too. We have something like 50+ Barbies in storage.

[Simply_Renee]

I just wanted to say my mom made my sister & I a bunch of crochet barbie clothes. The yarn was either crochet thread (for some of the dresses) and sport weight for the others (ponchos, pants, etc.) We loved them very much.

I even found a vintage book on ebay (the same one!) and she made some for my daughter when she was little.

Have fun!

[sue in canada]

What a great link for Barbie clothes, thanks. You could also try baby yarn.