What Do You Say to a Naked Tammy Clone?

The thing about cheesy Tammy clones is that almost anything you do improves them. Knit a outfit, the doll is happy. Add a long skirt to a jacket made from a pattern for Ginny dolls, and she looks as if she is emulating Jackie Kennedy.

Stuffing a Tammy clone into a dress made from printed panels of Barbie clothing was not all that wise a choice. Most loose-fitting oufits meant for Barbie work very well on Tammy. I suspect that if you added a seam width the length the bodices of patterns for Little Miss Revlon, they'd work too.

These two Horsman Mary Poppins dolls outlived their clothing. I was charmed by the doll in original red and white striped dress and blue flannel coat. It suggested that blue was the color for these girls. Striped pants are generic clone; striped knit shirt is clever yarn and basic hand knitting. Dress came from a pattern in Top Outfits for Teenage Dolls. Yes, I think they like blue.

Mary Poppins tolerates knitwear, but is a bit less pleased with a skimmer from a Barbie pattern. The pattern claimed it was for Barbie and Tammy. Much hollow laughter. If you try the clothing on at each stage, you may be able to fix a too-big bust and too small sleeve opening. You may be able to enlarge the waist on pants and dresses. The dolls are less than 12 inches, but very different body types. Anything slinky designed for Barbie will look horrible on Tammy.

To pattern companies, one 12 inch doll was pretty much the same as the next. Tammy' s flat chest, large thighs and larger waist beg to differ.  Simplicity 4883 has a strapless top that works for Tammy. The McCall pattern that follows is strictly for Tammy, though of course that busty Mattel doll could wear the clothing.

The yellow dress in the center actually looks awful on all dolls. Other girl doll designs work well. Blogger is toying with me today, and has rendered things in multiple fonts, removed photos and other joys, so I will not attempt to show more pattern fronts.