This packet of McCall's home sewing patterns is for doll's clothes for the 9¼ inch fashion doll, Skipper, Barbie's little sister. Skipper was first made by Mattel Inc. in 1964. For over 50 years Barbie and her extensive range of family and friends have been the world's most successful fashion dolls.

When the first Barbie dolls were produced from 1959 mothers and daughters were actively encouraged in the small catalogues, which came with the dolls and outfits, to sew extra clothes for their dolls. Home sewing patterns by the Advance Pattern Co. and the McCall Corporation of New York could be purchased for as little as US 65 cents. In the late 1950s and 1960s sewing clothes for the family was a common activity for mothers and grandmothers. Daughters were often taught to sew by making clothes for their dolls. These patterns may have encouraged and inspired girls to be interested in sewing. However, by the beginning of the 21st century with the increased availability of inexpensive clothing, especially from China, and the fact that most mothers work means that clothes are now no longer made at home and daughters rarely taught to sew.

Skipper's clothes reflect the smart elegance of early 1960s fashions for girls.

Margaret Simpson
Curator, Transport & Toys
October 2011

Information provided by Daphne Kingston, 2011.

McCall's from Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCall%27s

The patterns were made by the well-known pattern manufacturing company McCall. This firm was established in 1870 by a Scottish immigrant to America, James McCall. McCall designed and printed his own home sewing patterns and advertised them in a four-page fashion magazine called "The Queen". It is now a worldwide company which designs, manufacturers, markets and distributes sewing patterns, and instructions for women's, men's and children's clothes, accessories, costumes, craft items, home décor and doll's clothes.

This McCall sewing pattern was used in Sydney by Daphne Kingston and her daughter, born in 1959, to make extra clothes for her Skipper doll in the mid-1960s.

Sewing pattern, doll's clothes, Barbie's Little Sister Skipper, McCall's Printed Pattern No.7840, for a 9-inch doll, paper, made by the McCall Corporation, McCall's Patterns, New York, United States of America, 1964, used by Daphne Kingston, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1964-1968

This paper sewing pattern comprises an envelope featuring coloured drawings of the eight Skipper dolls' clothes which could be made with the tissue paper patterns supplied. Inside the envelope is a paper instruction sheet on how to cut, assemble and sew the eight doll's outfits as well as the actual patterns themselves which have been cut. The outfits comprise ski pants with a jacket and fringed hat; an unlined coat with stitching trim and hat; a middy dress and shorts with a jacket, hat and bag to match; a summer print dress, with scarf and shorts trimmed with baby rick rack; a party dress with attached petticoat and lace trimmed panties; and a lace trimmed dressing gown with matching pyjamas.

The packet notes the patterns are the official Mattel Inc Dolls' instant wardrobe for Barbie's little sister Skipper. The patterns are for a 9-inch size doll. The cost is 65 cents (US), 75 cents in Canada and 6/3 (6 shillings and 3 pence) in Australia.

Made: 1964

2012/5/4

1964