This costume was a Christmas present for a relative who collects Barbie® dolls.  This is the second one I've made and naturally had to exceed my first try by including Ken® in the costuming effort this time.  My boyfriend joined in the fun by making a suit of plate armor and a shield to compliment the outfit.

The doll itself is a Princess and the Pea Barbie® Doll.  I chose her for the closed mouth and long hair, a combination that is harder to find than most.  The horse itself is a Butterfly Meadow Mare™, one of a series of Barbie® horses.

Dress D  

I sewed the dress (underdress) in white cotton with gold fleur de lis, using the remnants from a full sized costume.  The trim around the cuffs is an off white lace cotton, with the trim sewn on the cuffs so that the loops extend past the edge to create a picot look.    

Deviations from the pattern: The pattern does not call for trim, but I felt the lace would add the illusion that a chemise was underneath.

Notes on the pattern: The pattern does not fit at the bust, were the hair not covering it you would see a gap in the back where it doesn't even meet to close.  I was pretty amazed this happened, as Barbie's measurements are the same the world round, so why was this pattern not sized correctly?  If this were a full sized pattern that fit this poorly, customer's would be enraged.  So be forewarned when making this piece that the pattern needs to be enlarged at the bust.

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Hair and Jewelry

I braided the crown of the hair down the back and wrapped it into a large bun on top of the head, securing it with thread and sewing an emerald shank button in the center.  The rest I left loose and flowing down the back.

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Headpiece D 

I sewed the hat crown in hunter green panné velvet, wrapping it with a gold metallic trim.  I then hand sewed the veil cut from a sheer hunter green.

Deviations from the pattern: I didn't sew in a hat crown as I didn't want to cover the button in the hair and also left off the hat sides.

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Robe D 

I sewed the robe in hunter green panné velvet, lining the sleeves in an accordion gold lamé.  The trim at the sleeves as well as the collar are made from a mottled tan felt.  Additionally there is a metallic gold trim at the sleeves, a different metallic gold trim at the waist and a braided metallic gold trim at the collar.  The  buttons at the front a just gold beads sewn on and the fleur de lis charm at the waist is actually half of an earring.

The shoes peeking out at the bottom are just some standard brown mules that were spray painted hunter green to match the dress.

Lessons learned: I didn't like how the collar behind the head overlaps to meet without any finished edges, although it's covered up by the hair so is known only upon close inspection.  If I were to make this again I would create a one piece collar and make the dress opening start a little below where the collar meets the robe fabric in the back.  Or if I made the robe from a stretch fabric again I would close the back entirely and just put it on the dall by slipping it over her head.  I did not have any fitting problems when closing the back unlike the dress, either because this pattern was sized correctly or because the velvet stretches, I'm not sure which.

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Cape B 

I sewed the cape in hunter green crushed velvet, lined with gold crepe back satin. The fleur de lis are gold metallic conches sewn on by hand.

Deviations from the pattern: The pattern is for a full length train, like what I made for this, I just shortened it to make a half cape. 

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Pants C, Shirt C, Shoes C 

I sewed the leggings in hunter green panné velvet.  I sewed the tunic in green cotton blend 'suede' with off white lace trim at the cuffs and collar.  The sewed the shoes in brown cotton broadcloth

Deviations from the pattern: The tunic pattern is actually a bit longer, I shortened it so that the leg armor would be fully seen.    

Lessons learned: In the process of turning the shoes right side out after sewing, I frayed the unfinished edges quite a bit.  In the future, I would made these from a soft light weight leather or at the least a fabric that doesn't unravel.

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Armor & Shield 

The armor and shield were created from a custom made pattern fit to Ken®, all created by my boyfriend so I can't take credit for any of it.  The chain coif was put together from a sheet of jewelry chain mail, also done by my boyfriend.  One day when he creates his own web page with all his armor projects, he'll post the details of making plate in miniature.  It sure looks good and it's a definite original!

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Horse 

I sewed the horse blanket from strips of hunter green and off white cotton fleur de lis flat trim, with gold metallic conches fastened with pearl beads in the center. 

The saddle is the original Meadow Mare™ saddle that my boyfriend spray painted hunter green and then gave a crackle finish by painting on a wash.  The gold metal chain at the neck and on top of the head is attached to a variety of salvaged jewelry pieces.

The horse's tail has been wound at the base with gold metallic thread to make it stand out better.