How to Sew a Barbie Shirt (No Velcro or Snaps)

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You can make a Barbie short sleeve shirt in less than five minutes with a scrap of fabric. This Barbie shirt sewing pattern can be customized to be longer, creating a tunic to wear over leggings.

A doll with long black hair is wearing a colorful flower-patterned dress that complements her stylish Barbie shirt, standing gracefully against a white background.

This easy sewing project is just one of a big list of free Barbie clothes sewing patterns we have!

A fashion doll with long dark hair, wearing a colorful floral dress and a stylish Barbie shirt, smiling.

While the t-shirt ends at Barbie’s waist, you could also make a tunic (as seen below) that comes down farther over her hips.

A doll with long, dark hair wearing a blue dress adorned with colorful flower patterns stands against a plain white background, as if waiting for her next adventure in a stylish Barbie shirt.

Both of these clothing patterns are shown in our YouTube video at the end of this tutorial.

What Type of Fabric to Use

You will need to use a stretch knit fabric for this shirt. That just means that the fabric needs to be stretchy (no quilter’s cotton).

While you can buy stretch jersey fabric, you can use old t-shirts or leggings for scrap fabric to make these dresses. So you don’t have to pay any money for a new fashion doll wardrobe.

A doll with long dark hair, wearing a blue dress patterned with yellow and blue flowers, reminiscent of a classic Barbie shirt style. — I repurposed knit leggings to make these shirts. The fabric was worn, but it is a free way to make Barbie clothes and practice sewing skills.

How to Sew A Barbie Shirt with Short Sleeves

Supplies

7 X 3 inch (18 X 8 cm) stretch knit fabric (9 x 3 in. for tunic length)
Thread
Sewing machine
Scissors or Rotary Cutter and Mat

Directions

Step 1

Cut the fabric.

A measuring ruler lies beside a swatch of dark fabric adorned with a vibrant, multicolored floral pattern, reminiscent of a playful Barbie shirt.

The stretchiest part of the fabric should be the 3 inch width. The stretchiest part is usually the width that goes across the stomach on shirts and leggings, or the selvedge side on fabric by the bolt.

If you are using a directional fabric (such as lines or plaid), keep in mind the longer side of the fabric will be the one going up and down the length of the shirt.

Step 2

Fold the fabric in half, with right sides together, to make a 3 1/2 in X 3 inch rectangle.

Pin fabric to secure.

Step 3

Measure 3/4 inch (2 cm) down from the folded top and make a mark or pin on either side.

A rectangular piece of blue textured fabric with pink and white floral patterns, reminiscent of a Barbie shirt, secured with two pins.

Step 4

Start stitching below the 3/4 inch mark.

Stitch together the open long edges using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. You can usually just use the width of your presser foot as a good judge for a 1/4 inch.

Fabric square with a floral pattern and zigzagged edges, featuring stitching lines for creating a Barbie shirt; remember to leave one side open.

Be sure to backstitch at the beginning and end of your stitching.

Close-up of a finger holding blue fabric with white and pink flowers, reminiscent of a classic Barbie shirt. The reverse side reveals navy fabric adorned with yellow flowers and green leaves.

Helpful (and Necessary) Tip: These tiny bits of fabric can easily get caught under the presser foot and dragged into the bobbin thread area. If that happens, it’s okay, but not ideal.

To prevent this, I start stitching about 1/2 inch down the fabric. Then I backstitch almost to the edge, and then start stitching again. Towards the end of my stitching, I start doing a few stitches of backstitching about 1/2 inch from the edge, and then continue sewing forward.

It’s not a perfect solution, but it will save you a LOT of frustration!

Step 5

Cut a neck hole out of the folded top of the fabric. I like to fold the fabric in half and cut out a 1/4 circle shape for a rounded neckline or a small angle for a v-neck neckline.