Alice Brooks Mail Order Pattern

For this week and the next two, I have patterns from an Alice Brooks mail order pattern; Design 7355.

Alice Brooks (and Laura Wheeler) patterns were advertised in various newspapers, magazines and other publications from 1933 to 1982. These design offerings were more than just crochet. There were also lots of quilt patterns along with sewing, knitting and other needlepoint work. I have several Alice Brooks and Laura Wheeler design patterns that I’ve acquired from friends and estate sales but I did not have any of the Barbie aka “11-1/2” doll” patterns. I purchased the one for these posts from vintageknitcrochet.net and I have no idea what year it’s from. We can probably narrow it down to sometime in the late 60s or early 70s.

This pattern came with a bikini, shorts, vest, "dramatic" jacket, dress, pants and a cape. For this week I've made the bikini. In this case, the pattern gives a weight of yarn and the amounts you'll need for groups of the patterns. It said I would need 2 oz of fingering weight yarn in the main color and 5 yds in a contrasting color to make the bikini, shorts, vest and pants along with a C hook. The pattern has a gauge given for the different wardrobe pieces but I didn't really check my gauge. I did make sure I could get it on the doll though.

I gathered a bunch of fingering weight scraps I had but after trying a few of the wool scraps I ended up using some cotton 8/4.  The bikini came together very quickly and I think it took me just as long to weave in the ends as it did to crochet the pieces. I skipped the elastic in the waist band of the bottoms since those seemed to stay up pretty well. The top doesn't stay up very well but it's cute when it does.

Here's the finished bikini:

I'm giving this one a 5!


Next week I'll have the vest and shorts!

Have you ever made anything from a Laura Wheeler or Alice Brooks mail order pattern?