1. hobbies and interests
2. needlework

Dedication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Children’s Embroidery Sets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .149
Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Children’s Assorted Needlework Sets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .167
About the Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Children’s Sewing Card Sets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .183
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Children’s Knitting, Crochet, and Weaving Sets . . . . . . . . .203
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Dolls and Their Patterns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .218
Sewing and Embroidery Sets for Bisque Dolls . . . . . . . . . . .9
Children’s Sewing Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .266
Sewing and Embroidery Sets for Composition Dolls . . . . . 27
Popular Sewing and Needlework Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .286
Sewing and Embroidery Sets for Hard Plastic Dolls . . . . . . 42
Children’s School Sewing Books. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .330
Sewing and Embroidery Sets for Paper Dolls . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .348
Sewing and Embroidery Sets for Mannequin Dolls . . . . . . 86
Commercial Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .376
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .383
Sewing and Embroidery Sets for Celluloid, Cloth, and
Rubber Dolls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .386
Sets, Patterns, and Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .386
Sewing and Embroidery Sets Featuring Doll Clothing Only. .112
Publishers and Pattern Companies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .392
Millinery Sets for Dolls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128
Toy Sewing Set Manufacturers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .393
Children’s Plain Sewing Sets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .137
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Darlene Gengelbach has served as doll and textile conservator for the last 20 years to the more than 15,000 dolls in the collection of the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York. She has also traveled to a number of other museums and
institutions in the United States for consultations, restoration, and appraisals of their doll collections. Darlene has been published
in Doll Reader as well as being featured in an article in the magazine. She has been a member of the United Federation of Doll
Clubs for more than two decades during which time she has studied and researched dolls and toys extensively. She has been collecting and researching children’s sewing books, sets, dolls, and patterns for 20 years.
Her collection of children’s sewing collectibles has been featured in exhibits at numerous museums and was also showcased
at the 1999 National Convention of the United Federation of Doll Clubs in Washington, DC. She is a much sought-after speaker
and has presented numerous lectures on dolls, teddy bears, children’s sewing sets, and children’s sewing books at various museums and conventions on both national and local levels. She also worked as a needle arts instructor for 27 years at the Monroe
County Office for the Aging.
Darlene is presently a member of the UFDC (United Federation of Doll Clubs), the Margaret Woodbury Strong Doll Study Club
of Rochester, New York, and, due to her interest in needlework, she is also a member of the Flower City Rug Hookers.
Darlene lives with her husband Robert in Rochester, New York, where they raised their two children. She and Robert are now
the proud grandparents of five wonderful grandchildren who look forward to visits from “Nanny” with her “Craft-Case” filled
with kid-type projects, which naturally include some sewing projects too. Thus, she perpetuates the sewing instruction tradition.
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It’s funny how something becomes so ingrained in your
mind you don’t even notice it. About three years ago, I met up
with an old friend. In our conversation I was asked what was
new in my life and I replied that I was enjoying myself making doll clothes. My friend’s reply was, “I remember when our
daughters were in dance class together; you were sewing doll
clothes then.” I had forgotten that I had spent hours working
on doll clothing while waiting with other mothers in the waiting room. Back then I wasn’t a doll collector, more of a soccer
mom, spending most of my time driving my two children to
dance lessons, soccer, scouts, or whatever was in vogue at
the time. The doll clothing I was working on years ago was a
Christmas gift for my daughter Suzanne.
Looking back, I realize sewing has always been a significant part of my existence. I guess I never noticed it because I
adapted sewing to meet whatever needs I had at the time. The
first time I remember sewing was in the 1950s with a little
plastic doll sewing set. It probably was a Junior Miss Sewing
Kit or Little Traveler’s Sewing Kit, since they were the most
common. All I really can remember was the bright pink doll
and dresses cut out to sew up the sides. I also remember my
first real sewing class in junior high. I made an apron, pajamas, and a cotton jumper. When I was trimming threads on the
jumper, I accidentally cut a hunk right out of the center back.
Our home economics class had a fashion show scheduled to
model our garments for our parents and friends, so my teacher
made me put a square patch on the back where I had cut into
the fabric. I hated that patch! I can still remember modeling my patched jumper for the whole world to see; it was so
embarrassing. Another sewing experience I will never forget
is when I cut a strip of fur from my mother’s fur coat to trim
a skating skirt. (The coat was just hanging in the closet and I
never saw her wear it that much.) Needless to say, I didn’t do
much skating that year.
I remember sewing clothes for myself when I was in
high school, and sewing curtains and a bedspread for our first
apartment when I was newly married. My first born, a son we
named Robert Jr., had clothes like John F. Kennedy Jr. because
I could sew. I would clip pictures of John-John and find patterns I could alter to make Eaton suits and short pants just
like his. It didn’t stop with my son; my daughter was always
in lace and eyelet. Both my children wore handmade sweaters and coats. I made pillows, wall hangings, cushions, and
anything else my first homes needed. As the children got older,
they wanted designer jeans and polo shirts (not what Mom
made), I went back to sewing for myself, and my own wardrobe started expanding. I always found a reason for sewing: a
charity bazaar, hospital bears, and special Christmas presents,
(all of my daughter’s dolls had large wardrobes).
After my children grew up, I started collecting antique
dolls. What a bonanza for sewing! If there wasn’t a garment
to be made, there certainly was something to be mended. As I
learned more about the hobby of doll collecting, a whole new
aspect of sewing came into focus. The books, the vintage patterns, and the wonderful early presentation sewing sets were of
another world. I remember the first time I ever held a presentation sewing set with a china doll. It was at Francis Walker’s
house, sometime in the 1980s. I had never seen anything like
it, and at that time, thought I never would again. Never even in
my wildest dreams, did I think I would actually write a book
about children’s sewing sets.
My first children’s sewing set was one of dear Frances’s.
When she passed, I went to an auction of her estate and bought
Schnittmuster Baby-Kleid shown in plate 2. This book is the
ultimate outcome from that first presentation set purchase.
Thank you, dear Frances. Frances was a wonderful lady that
loved dolls along with sewing. Frances collected dolls that
related to sewing among many others. Frances and Margaret
Whitton were responsible for the book Playthings by the Yard,
a wonderful book about printed cloth dolls.
Learning to sew has served me well; both my jobs involved sewing. I worked for Monroe County in New York for
27 years and taught sewing and needle arts to senior citizens. I
loved the job; the government had to cut the program to get rid
of me. I have also worked at the Strong National Museum of
Play in Rochester, New York, for 23 years in the conservation
department as conservator of dolls, conserving and taking care
of the dolls and their clothing. I hope to continue doing so for
a good while yet. I feel truly blessed in having had two jobs
and a hobby that I have truly enjoyed.
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Sewing and Embroidery Sets for Bisque Dolls
Plate 2. Schnittmuster Baby-Kleid translated from German to English is Baby Dress Pattern. The box measures 111⁄2" x 8" x
21⁄2". An allover tan mottled decorative paper covers this hard-sided sewing box. A small lithograph picture of two sweet children is applied in the center. It is circa 1910. Inside the cotton-tape-hinged lid is a paper pattern marked Schnittmuster Baby
– Kleid containing 30 pieces. In the center of the set is a 6" bisque-head doll with a five-piece jointed composition body, black
painted stockings, tan two-strap shoes, stationary blue glass eyes, open mouth with two teeth, and a mohair wig. She is marked
with the sun type mark of “Gebrüder Kuhnlenz” with numbers “44 – 15” and is dressed in a gauze chemise trimmed with lace.
Tied securely to the bottom of the box are numerous fabrics, laces, buttons, threads, and miniature sewing accoutrements including a wooden measuring stick, a bone ribbon threader, a tiny button hook, a metal needle holder, a tiny metal thimble, and
tiny silver scissors marked “Germany.” The lace on the doll’s chemise is the same type of lace that is also tied into the box for
trimming. Complete: $1,000.00 and up.
Plate 3. The Little Dressmaker ///GE///B is stenciled in gold on the
lid of this plain black cardboard-boxed set. The interior is done in
the French presentation manner, but has patterns printed in English.
My guess is that it was made in France for the American market circa
1905. The box is 15" x 12" x 21⁄2". Inside the center recess, surrounded
by pink cloth flowers, is a 7" Simon and Halbig bisque-head doll,
marked “S & H” on the back of her head. She is dressed in a white
chemise and a large white mobcap hat. Both are trimmed in lace and
red ribbons. She has blue sleep eyes, an open mouth with four teeth,
a silk fiber wig pulled into two braids, and a five-piece composition
body with painted two-strap orange shoes. Still attached to the lid is
the original pattern sheet that reads, Dressmaking pattern for dolls
size 51⁄2" – 61⁄2". In early doll clothes patterns only the body was measured, omitting the head. The pattern sheet has patterns for 12 articles
of clothing. Securing the pattern to the lid are cloth flowers, hanks of
lace, ribbon, metal and glass buttons, 5/9 needles, and a cloth tape
measure. On the platforms on either side of the doll are eight lengths
of fabric and pieces of lace, buttons, spools of thread, a wooden needle
holder, a metal thimble, snaps, and a miniature drop spindle. The fabric and the doll are still tied in with the original red silk ribbons. Complete: $1,000.00 and up.
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Sewing and Embroidery Sets for Composition Dolls
Plate 37. Sewing Set is in a 14" x 9" x 2" cardboard box and is
made by Victor Eckhardt Manufacturing Company, circa 1935. It is
rather plain on the inside with no decoration. The contents consist of
two skeins of embroidery floss, metal blunt-nose scissors, a strip of
flannel for pins, thimble, three cardboard spools of cotton, and four
pre-cut dresses. One dress has already been finished. The unmarked,
all-composition, jointed, 61⁄2" bent-limb baby doll rests in the center.
This is a somewhat interesting presentation, as there are not many
sewing sets that feature baby dolls; the dolls are usually straight-leg
little girl dolls. Complete: $100.00 and up.
Plate 38. Jean Darling Sewing Outfit #150 comes in a 15" x 10" x 11⁄2"
box with a castle graphic. The set was copyrighted 1936 by Standard
Toykraft Products. Included is a 61⁄4" unmarked all-composition doll with
molded, painted features and hair, and molded shoes and socks. The doll
is dressed in a pre-cut dress that has been sewn by the previous owner.
Above the doll are three cardboard spools of sewing cotton, a small metal
thimble, metal blunt-nose scissors, and a packet of needles. Along the
sides, still stapled to the insert, are six pre-cut dresses. Complete: $75.00
and up.
Plate 39. Jean Darling Sewing Outfit #1100 is housed in a 17" x 13" x 2"
cardboard box. Standard Toykraft Products copyrighted the set in 1936. The
inside insert is undecorated. In the center recess is a 71⁄2" all-composition
doll with jointed arms. She has molded, painted features and hair. Her shoes
and socks are also molded. In the box are seven pre-cut dresses, including
the one she is wearing. There are also two pieces of flowered fabric and a
pattern. “Standard Patterns for Doll’s Wardrobe” is undated, printed on thin
pink paper, and has the Standard Toykraft Products, Inc. name and logo
printed at the bottom of the sheet. The patterns consist of a dress with collar,
shorts with bib, and a coat, hat, and bag. To complete the set are metal bluntnose scissors, two twists of assorted color thread, metal thimble, and a paper
with two needles. Complete: $75.00 and up.
Note: See plate 60 for a Jean Darling Sewing Kit #1100.
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Sewing and Embroidery Sets for Celluloid, Cloth, and Rubber Dolls
Plate 184. Button and Bows #10630 sewing set is circa 1953. The luggage-style case
is covered in a red alligator-print paper and has a plastic handle and metal clasp. It
measures 15" x 12½" x 4". The inside of the lid holds a ready-made dress and bonnet
in a blue pique, along with die-cut clothing to be sewn by the little seamstress. A bright
yellow banner states “#10630 Sunbabe ‘Buttons and Bows’ Sewing Set. Sunbabe ‘Betty
Bows’ doll *Drinks *Wets *Cries *Sleeps.” The blue recessed insert in the bottom of
the case holds Betty Bows a rubber doll with molded hair and a molded hair loop for
tying her yellow ribbon. She is wearing a diaper and comes with a glass bottle with a
rubber nipple. On raised platforms on either side of her are ribbons, rickrack, buttons,
safety pins, tape measure, Betty’s sewing kit, bows, flowers, and a paper pattern. The
pattern sheet offers the same clothing that is found on the lid. Complete: $200.00 and
up.
Plate 185. Sleeping Beauty Sewing Basket #2205 was manufactured by Pressman Toy Corporation, circa 1960s. The basket is soft plastic and has “Pressman Toy Corp.” embossed on the
bottom. There is also a tag on the handles that reads “Pressman Sleeping Beauty Sewing Basket
#2205.” The basket is 7¼" in circumference and 4½" high. Inside, attached to the lid, is a 7"
bendable cloth doll. In the basket insert tray are two pieces of cloth, a tomato pincushion with
emery, plastic thimble, metal blunt-nose scissors, paper of needles, a spool of thread, and a paper
tape measure. Lifting the tray insert reveals a pattern that has a bra, panties, and skirt for an 8"
doll. Complete: $50.00 and up.
Note: I believe the doll in this set is just a decoration; it is not a doll that you would normally
dress and the pattern included in the set doesn’t fit the doll.
Plate 186. Doll Basket. This little paper-woven sewing basket was made in Japan circa 1960.
It measures 9½" x 6" x 4". The basket has a rayon-lined interior with a pincushion lid and a
place to put your metal and plastic blunt-nose scissors, which are included. The little doll
inside is 7" tall and made of a very soft vinyl. She has rooted synthetic hair, an open mouth,
painted eyes, and is jointed at the hips and shoulders. She is dressed in a bra and panties.
Waiting to be sewn for her are a skirt and blouse in a snappy plaid with lace trim and a red
felt coat. The clothing is already cut out and included are buttons, snaps, and trims. There is a
sewing sheet with easy instructions and pictures of all the finished garments. Also included in
the set are two little spools of thread, a needle, and a plastic thimble. Complete: $25.00 and
up.
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Sewing and Embroidery Sets Featuring Doll Clothing Only
Plate 206. Teri Doll Materials was marketed
by Teri Doll Materials in 1956. The package
measures 10¼" x 5½". In this set are fabrics precut and ready to sew for an 8" doll. It contains a
complete wardrobe including a circle skirt and
liner, double skirt (two layers) and liner, two
blouses, three slips, three panties, and bridal
hat. Trimmings, needle, elastic thread, and cloth
flowers are also included. The instructions are on
the back of the package. There is also a pattern
sheet inside to identify the cut pieces, which are
full size, so they could be used for a pattern. The
instructions are repeated again on the pattern.
Complete: $25.00 and up.
Plate 207. Presson Pattern #116 was manufactured by J & J Novelty Co., Inc.
and was copyrighted in 1958. The package is 12" x 11". Written on the package is
“Revolutionary New Type Pattern for making dress, cape and bonnet for 12" – 14"
– 16" doll. No pinning press paper to cloth. No mistakes sew right through paper.
No guesswork paper peels off when finished.” It looks like the pattern is printed
on freezer paper. In the kit is the press-on pattern with simple step-by-step instruction sheet for assembling Sanforized fabric into finished clothing, satin ribbon and
rickrack for trimming. Included in the pattern are a dress with a collar and a cape
with a matching hat. There is a large warning sign printed on the pattern not to use
too hot of iron, if a hot iron is used the paper will be hard to remove. Complete:
$50.00 and up.
Plate 208. Pfaff Sewing Machine
Sew by Color #3360 circa 1950 is in
a 12" x 7½" x 3½" box. The contents
include a Pfaff plastic sewing machine with a metal clamp, a wooden
spool of thread, plastic thimble, a
sheet of color printed clothing including a dress, hat, bra, panties, and half
slip. There is also an instruction pamphlet on the Pfaff sewing machine and
a pattern sheet with the patterns for
each garment and instructions on how
to cut and sew them. The patterns are
for an 8½" to 10½" doll. The patterns
are adjustable by using dotted or solid
lines depending on which size doll
you have. Complete: $50.00 and up.
Plate 209. Sew by Color #1142 was manufactured by Pressman Toy Corporation, circa 1950s. The
box is 13½" x 8¼" x 1". The box states “Just Cut ‘N Sew Ravel Proof Material.” Inside is a panel of
cloth with colored patterns already stamped to cut out and sew. This is pattern #1142, the Lingerie
Ensemble. It consists of a bra, panties, girdle, baby doll pajama, robe, slip, and Oriental pajama.
To complete this set are five pieces of ribbon, a wooden spool of thread, and a needle. The clothing
fits an 8½" to 10½" high-heeled doll. The instructions are written on a pattern sheet with diagrams
of each article. The pattern sheet has all the shapes in full size so you could use this as a pattern to
make more doll clothes. Complete: $25.00 and up.
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Millinery Sets for Dolls
Plate 230. Although this red-paper-covered cardboard
Doll Millinery Set with Tray has no name or maker,
we do know the date. Written in pencil on the lid is,
“Given to me by Dan Fraser, 1914.” The box measures
16½" x 11½" x 3¼". Applied to the cover is a softly
colored lithograph of two angelic children dressed in
their finery. A small metal clasp opens the box to reveal
a lace-edged cardboard in the inside lid with hat trimmings, flowers, chenille, silk ribbon, spools of thread,
and netting all artfully arranged and tied in with ribbon
trim. In the bottom of the box are two layers. The first
is a tray holding additional flowers, sequined and braid
trimmings, silver and gold stamens, spools of thread,
pieces of velvet, silk, lace, and two hats ready to trim.
The final bottom layer displays three felt and four
straw bonnets. Complete: $1,000.00 and up.
Plate 231. La Velle Millinery #30 was made by La Velle Mfg. Co. and copyrighted in
1924. The box top says: “This outfit for girls between ages of 6 and 12 years.” There is
also a picture of Miss La Velle with a poem:
“My what a charming Dolly’s hat!”
“I made it myself.”
“Did you really do that?”
“Yes—and it’s surely loads of fun,
Get your own set, and see how it’s done.”
The box measures 18" x 10" x 1¼". Arranged on a green platform are two paper hats, a
card of pins, cloth flower, metal thimble, wooden hat stand, two lengths of colored straw,
three pieces of colored tarlatan, one piece of printed cotton, and feathers and ribbons. I am
not sure all the contents still remain in this set, but hat sets are very hard to find and I felt
it necessary to include this one. Complete: $75.00 and up.
Helene Marlowe collection.
Plate 232. Simplicity Miniature Hat Maker Set #601 was
manufactured by Latexture Products, circa 1940s. The box
top is covered in a white paper with a red bow pattern and the
bottom of the box is in a plain blue paper. The box measures
11" square and 3" high. Inside, resting on a blue insert is a 7"
tall, composition mannequin head. The unmarked head has
molded, painted hair and features. Below the head, threaded
through slots, is an 18" cloth-backed tape measure. Above the
tape measure on each side are two hat-shape cut outs in the
insert, each with two hanks of fabric underneath, showing the
top piece of fabric in the cut out. Also, under the raised insert
are muslin, ribbons, and felt. There are three Simplicity hat
patterns, one on each side of the head and one above. These
are Pattern #3651 Sectioned Beret with Ribbon Binding; pattern #4089 Bow Hat and Beret, and pattern #4700 Small Hat
and Designing Cap. The designing cap is to be made of muslin and the instructions stated: The purpose of this cap is for
marking the line where the hat sets on the head. This is done
with chalk, pins or tape. For example, the drawing to the right shows how the Simplicity hats were marked on the cap. The solid line (—) shows
the beret of number 4089 and number 3651. The dotted line (………..) shows the bow hat of 4089. The dot and dash line (.-.-.-.-.-.-) is for hat number 4700. The hats are to be made of fabric or felt with ribbon or felt trim to fit the mannequin head. The hat patterns were also available at pattern
counters in leading stores to fit teenagers and women in the same styles. Complete, as shown: $300.00 and up.
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Children’s Sewing Card Sets
Plate 336. Little Girls Sewing Set, manufactured circa 1920 by
Parker Brothers Company, is in a 10" x 7" x 1¼" paper-covered
box wit h a lithographed picture applied to the top. The cards inside are 7" x 5" and are pinpricked for sewing thread. There are
four cards, as depicted on the front of the box. Two have been
finished and two have been started. There is a decorated insert
with two cards and eight tiny wooden spools of cotton thread
attached, but I believe originally there may have been 12 spools.
Also attached to the card is a tiny 2¼" metal scissors and a small
metal thimble. Complete: $50.00 and up.
Plate 337. Animal Sewing Cards manufactured by J.W. Spears &
Sons, Ltd. (Spears Games), circa 1920. The box measures 14¼" x 9" x
1". The box top states it is an “improved editon.” The cards are 7½" x
6", each is beautifully colored, and signed “Spears.” Every card in this
set has been finished with a backstitch using twisted floss. The subjects are a camel, dog, sheep, horse, cat and kitten, and ostrich. There
is one hank of floss that was not used. Complete: $50.00 and up.
Plate 338. Sewing Set #3 was manufactured by American Toy Works,
circa 1920. The box measures 10" x 6½" x 1¾". Inside are three sections, one with four 6" x 4" pinpricked cards of a dog, steer, pears and a
painting easel. Another section has thread, and the last has metal bluntnose scissors, a needle, and a tiny thimble. Complete: $50.00 and up.
Note: The graphics on this box were also shown on embroidery set Embroidery &
Needleworkd #7 ART. See plate 264.
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Dolls and Their Patterns
Betsy McCall Doll
Betsy McCall was officially born in print in the May 1951
issue of McCall’s magazine (plate 453) with her picture on the
cover. Betsy started out as a little girl of five years old, going on
six. Introducing Betsy McCall is on the last page of the magazine. There is a picture of mother, father, Betsy, and Nosy McCall. The introduction reads: This is a design for Betsy McCall.
Betsy is five, going on six and she lives in a little white house
with a porch and a yard to play in. Her mother and daddy and
Nosy, her puppy, live in the white house too. Nosy is six months
old. Betsy and Nosy and Betsy’s friends play together all the
time. And every month from now on they’ll come to play with
you too.
Betsy’s creator was Kay Morrissey, but in 1958 the Betsy
McCall feature passed to Ginnie Hofmann. Betsy was a typical little girl in the ’50s who traveled extensively and for each
destination, she modeled the appropriate clothing for McCall’s
magazine.
Betsy was a fun paper doll but she was also created to
advertise children’s clothing. She helped sell actual Betsy McCall style dresses made by Cinderella, Kate Greenaway, Young
Land, Mary Jane, Nanette and White Stag Sports among many
others. She also promoted Betsy McCall toys and McCall’s
dress patterns for little girls. In the beginning Betsy was simply
a McCall’s magazine paper doll for children to cut out and play
with, however in the June 1952 issue of McCall’s magazine
there was a story about Betsy at the beach that changed Betsy’s
and little girls lives forever (plate 454).
Plate 453. McCall’s Magazine Introduces Betsy in May of 1951. “Your children will love
to play with Betsy McCall” is printed on the front cover of the magazine. Inside is the first
paper doll and an article about the little girl shown on the cover meeting Betsy, the paper
doll. The cover girl is four year old Peggy McGregor of Westfield, New Jersey. Complete:
$5.00 and up.
Note: See Betsy McCall paper doll sets (plates 136. 137 and 138) in the chapter on Sewing
and Embroidery Sets Featuring Paper Dolls.
Plate 454. Betsy McCall Goes to the
Beach the June 1952, paper doll page
was titled “Betsy McCall Goes to the
Beach.” Along the left side are four
pictures with captions telling the story
of Betsy’s day at the beach. “Now
Nosy,” said Betsy, “You’ve had your
lunch so sit down and rest a while with
Fluffy and me.” Then a big wave rolled
up the beach and washed Fluffy, the
duck, out to sea. Nosy swam to the
rescue! He brought Fluffy back. “Oh,
Mummy, he’s ruined.” “Don’t’ cry,”
said Mummy, “we’ll get a new toy.” “I
want a doll that looks like me.” “Well
maybe that’s what it will be,” promised
Mummy. “Wait and See.” Complete:
$10.00 and up.
Plate 455. Betsy McCall Gets a Doll. Finally in the September 1952 issue Betsy gets her
wish, but not, without advertising three new dresses. The title of the paper doll page was Betsy
McCall Gets a Doll: Betsy and her mother were buying a new dress. “Eeny, meeny, miney,
mo.” said Betsy. “Oh, Mummy,” she broke off, “they’re so pretty! Can’t I have all three?”
“All right.” Mummy relented, “and you may wear the red dress home, but let’s save the others for school.” “Now,” she said, “shall we see about that new doll?” They took the escalator
to the toy department. “I want a doll” Betsy told the clerk. “Now this is a ‘lovely doll,’” said
the salesgirl. “No,” said Betsy, “she’s too big. Besides, I want a doll that looks just like me!”
“Why I have ‘just’ the doll!” — and the clerk led Betsy to a counter where there was a row of
dolls — and they all looked “just like Betsy.” And they wore dresses exactly like Betsy’s. “Oh
my,” she said. “Let me have the one in red so right away everyone will see she’s mine.” In the
same issue there is a photo story about the new doll. The doll was made by the Ideal Toy Corporation and was sculpted by Bernard Lipfert to McCall’s specifications. Page: $10.00 and up.
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