From a Sow's Ear

Top designers have been creating ensembles for Barbie for decades, but in real life many of us shop for our wardrobes at Walmart and Target.  Similarly not all of the characters in my doll world can afford to shop at exclusive boutiques like Ni'Chalet’s in Morristown.  Last year I snagged a number of $1 fashion packs at Dollar Tree and then set out to make silk purses from these sartorial sow’s ears. 

 

Our model today is Greta Behan, a gift from Debbie Behan Garrett of Black Doll Collecting who knows my fondness for dollar store clones. 

 

I upgraded her to an articulated Mattel poser body that had previously belonged to a Barbie cheerleader or athlete.

The black and white striped top had unfinished neck, hem, and armhole edges.  I wanted to stop the fabric from developing runs so I stitched black rick rack around the neck edge. 

 

I also cut the back open and added a Velcro closure so my ladies can put it on and take it off without having to pull it over their heads. 

The skinny jeans show off Greta’s long, shapely legs but did not fit snugly at the waist so I added some belt lops and made a braided belt from red embroidery thread.

Greta has flat feet and can’t wear any standard fashion doll shoes so I made her a pair of suede sandals. 

 

 

I also opened the side seam of the jeans and stitched rick rack around the hem to coordinate with the other rick rack accents.

Greta's hat was borrowed from a Dolls of the World Barbie and her purse is a Kari Michelle accessory.

Several of the Dollar Tree fashion packs included shapeless tube dresses made from cheap velour.  The orange and lime green ones were so bad I couldn’t salvage them but the red and black ones yielded just enough fabric to make the coordinating bolero jacket with ¾ length sleeves that completes Greta’s ensemble.

Greta will be wearing other Dollar Tree ensembles in an upcoming photo story about LaQuita Jackson, a remarkable young woman who is determined to make a better life for herself and her son even though she wasn’t born with a silver spoon in her mouth. 

À Bientôt