You have undoubtedly heard the expression, “Put any man in a suit or tuxedo, and he will look great”. Well, the same is true for your 12-inch Ken-size doll. Girls go crazy for a sharp-dressed and man, and Barbie is no exception. She will be thrilled to stand alongside Ken when he is wearing a classic, 3-piece tuxedo. But, it can be a challenge to find one in the stores, so I decided to make one myself.
I started with the pants because they were the easiest to design. Actually, I used my standard pattern that required an elastic waistband. I then selected ¼-inch wide elastic for Ken-size doll pant waistbands, because it was thin enough to avoid a bulky appearance yet maintain resilience. Also, I used black cotton fabric and made sure to iron the pants for a neat appearance.
The jacket required that I take a few considerations into account. Most quality jackets have linings. But, I could not spend the time, nor did I have the desire to add a lining to such a small garment. By choosing to use black felt, I was able to avoid the need for the lining. I love to use felt for doll clothes because it is strong, durable, flexible, and does not fray like so many other fabrics do. I designed a sort of mock tail style coat and used black felt for the main body. After that, I added a collar made of faux black leather-looking vinyl. This was done in order to add another texture to the coat. It also served to break up the plain and monotonous look of the ordinary black felt. The collar really added a special “something” to the jacket. I finished by securing the jacket in front with Velcro closure.
Finally, I sewed a classic collared shirt with white cotton fabric. I chose to follow a sleeveless design, which allowed for a more comfortable, less bulky fit underneath the jacket. Now, I should note that many fabrics fray, causing a challenge when sewing such small doll clothes. I have found that I can reduce the fray and give a thinner fabric more substance if I first spray it with a fabric stiffener. Once dry, I can then sew up the shirt with fewer stray threads or frays causing a nuisance. I secured the front of the shirt with Velcro closure, and topped off the design with a decorative white vertical trim and a black bow tie.
Whether you want your Ken doll to accompany Barbie to a ball, a wedding, or a prom, you can rest assured that he will look handsome in a carefully designed tuxedo made especially for him.
