Throwback Thursday Knitting for Barbie Retro Kit

I took this photo at the Heinz History Center in March 2016. The canister is from c.1962. There are a couple of these old canisters at eBay or Etsy.I found this photo in the archives tonight. The kit could make a “fitted coat and a pillbox hat”.

I’ve knit basic tube dresses for my granddaughter’s Barbies, using leftover sock yarn but I’d like to see what the fitted coat looked like.

The dress I knit

Paper Dolls Found in Downtown Pittsburgh

The other day I took a bus downtown (Senior Citizen perk= free bus pass) and went to S.W, Randall Toys Store on Smithfield Street.  I climbed to the the doll floor on three, looking for a fresh doll outfit for a 14 year old doll when I came upon a two sided display of a variety of paper dolls.

I remember cutting out paper dolls when I was young. So careful not to ruin them and cut off the little white tabs you needed to fold over to hold the clothes onto the doll. Sometimes tape was involved.

A looooong time ago.  I had no idea all these different paper dolls were available in 20I asked the sales clerk if I could photograph them and she said sure but now I’m wishing I opened them up and peeked inside and photographed the dolls and clothes.  Going to have to plan a return trip downtown.

I considered buying a book of them- many choices.  Wondered who is playing with paperdolls nowadays.

Do kids even know about paper dolls? I talked with a friend today and she said she cut out magazine fashion and made up clothes out of the magazines. I relied on the printed and dotted lines to cut around.  I can picture a little doll with a full white slip on- waiting to be dressed.  Modest!