A question arose asking if there was a doll that matched our half-size DemiFashions dress forms and patterns.
Heather and I at Truly Victorian developed DemiFashions by hand fashioning a half-size dress form similarly found in the fashion industry for half-size displays. We modeled our dress form to have a Victorian curved shape and added shoulder width for off the shoulder designs. Our dress forms are: Bust 17” Waist 12” hips 17”. Our patterns are designed to fit well over these dress-forms. And there are future patterns planned for our DemiFashions line.
I have always considered that a 32-inch to 34-inch soft bodied porcelain doll would similarly match the size of our patterns. However, I have not owned a doll that large to try it. A member on Facebook recently suggested the largest My Size Barbie Dolls. I purchased a 32” My Size Barbie Doll and dressed her in clothes I had already made for the DemiFashions dress form and I must say, I am pleased with the results.
This is a Disney Princess Rapunzel 32-inch My Size Barbie Doll made in the 1990’s I purchased her used on ebay. I dressed her in Pattern DF03 Victorian Corset, chemise and drawers. It fit wonderfully. The corset closes just a little bit smaller on the top than on the dress form, which is beneficial when dressing a doll with arms. The height under arm and to hip is perfect
Pattern DF 02 Hoop and Petticoat are the correct waist to floor length on the doll and look adorable.
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The pink dress that I dressed My Size Barbie in is a modified version of Pattern DF11, where I added ruffles to the flounced hem and cut the over skirt in straight loose rectangles. I was looking to copy the full-size hoop pattern of DF246 Petal ballgown skirt. The Pink bodice that I show is incomplete, but I intend to finish it soon. For the My Size Barbie, the only fitting change I may make is to take the top of the shoulder strap in just a little bit as the doll shoulders are not as tall as the dress form shoulders. Nevertheless it is very close.
My one observation is that my doll has articulated arms and I noticed that not all of them do. Dressing this doll was not difficult, however the dolls with straight arms might pose a little more difficulty putting on the bodice. And it would need to be a back opening bodice closure.
My experiment was a success. I think she is adorable.
Good luck if you give this a try. And send pictures.
by Laura McNaughton
