This pattern was the only pattern made by McCalls that specifically mentions the Crissy doll.

© 1969 by Simplicity Pattern Company, until the year 2064.

Simplicity 8519 is the first pattern they made for Crissy. There is not a counterpart for the 15” size dolls.

© 1970 by Simplicity Pattern Company, until the year 2065.

For their 1970 pattern books, Simplicity offered 9138, in two sizes, one for each size of doll.

© 1971 by Simplicity Pattern Company, until 2066.

The 1971 Simplicity pattern, #9698, was sized for both size dolls. It offered the first of two wedding ensembles for them.

© 1972 by Simplicity Pattern Company, until 2067.

Simplicity 5276 was again, sized for both doll heights.

© 1973 by Simplicity Pattern Company, until 2068.

A much more casual Simplicity 6061 was sold for both sets of dolls.

When one walked into the “fabric store,” as I used to call it as a child, these little cards were standing up here and there to churn up interest in certain kinds of patterns. The above is a counter card for a Crissy pattern. It is actually rather LARGE!

Many of the Simplicity counter books offered not only the current year’s pattern, but the previous one or two year’s patterns too. Here is the inside of one of my many counter books. This one is the Holiday book from 1969; it only featured #8519 from 1969. Isn’t it gorgeous to see all of these outfits made up!? And just look at those shoes. They were actually painted red for this photo shoot! One can see the paint strokes in the actual picture. It almost looks like red nail polish. I love sharing these marvelous things with you!

The picture from the Holiday 1969 counter book were reused in the January 1970 book, but it was used on two different pages.

This gorgeous layout appears in the February 1971 Simplicity counter book. Doesn't this make you just want to sew!!?? This book features all of the Simplicity patterns up to that year (1969, 1970, and 1971).

The January 1974 book features a precious two-page photo of a little girl surrounded by various dolls, all clad in Simplicity-wear. This book features the 1970, 1971, 1972 and the 1973 Simplicity patterns for the growing-hair gals.

The above is the 7th issue of Ms. Lakin’s 1970 booklets. Though this pattern does not have any patterns for Crissy and Velvet, there is a sweater set that will fit Velvet-sized dolls and Cinnamon. ©1970, Virginia Lakin

This is book 10 of 1971. Several outfits options were provided, including a cute crochet pattern for an 11" doll that will fit Cinnamon nicely. ©1971, Virginia's Needlecraft Books

This very small leaflet has a fabulous fitting dress featured in it. ©1971, Virginia Lakin

Book 11 of 1971 offered an outfit each for Crissy and Velvet. ©1971, Virginia Lakin

The 1972 booklets are presented next. This 9th issue (©1972, Virginia Lakin) comes to you courtesty Laura Craig, site owner of www.whos-that-doll.com

Thank you Laura for your generosity!!

Little Bo Peep was the theme of the outfits for Crissy and Velvet in this 13th issue. ©1972, Virginia Lakin

Though not pictured on the cover of this 1973 booklet, instructions for a dress, booties, and a hooded poncho were included for Crissy. ©1973, Virginia Lakin

Not every issue of Ms. Lakin’s patterns had a creation for Velvet and Crissy. Booklets that are known are listed above.

This one was usually sold for Velvet and Crissy sized dolls.
For legal reasons, this photo will not launch into a pattern when clicked.

Included with all of the pre-cut fabrics and trims was this instruction sheet.

Though this Sew Simple set was packaged for Barbie, it illustrates how Coats & Clark boxed the Sew Simple line for sale.

In the catalogs, this one (above) was usually described as fitting dolls a bit bigger than Crissy -- dolls such as Harmony.

Below are outfits, all uncut! Although this set arrived here without its original box, it is QUITE a find to get this set totally unmade. Included were snaps, buttons, thread, hangers, and inside each pre-packaged kit were all the trims needed to complete the garment!

Here are some pictures of those wonderful Sew Simple outfits. They were all purchased pre-made, some obviously by a child and some by an experienced sewer.

The two pantsuits on the right do not have their original sleeveless tops under the vests. They were lost and perhaps "replaced" by a child some years ago, before entering the archive.

The above is from the 1970 JCPenney catalog.

This collector has seen the hangers that came with the Sew Simple sets in pink and red. Here is a set of red hangers that came with a complete collection of Sew Simple outfits along with a Velvet doll found on eBay. They are identical to Tammy's hangers, though hers were generally pink.

See the below catalog pictures that illustrate which years these red hangers were sold.

This is from the 1971 JCPenney catalog.

Exactly like the 1971 offering, this is the same 1972 picture of Velvet modeling the clothes from the Sew Simple line in the '72 catalog from JCPenney.

Look! No Crissy or Velvet to model the Sew Simple clothes found in the 1973 JCPenney book. They were however, mentioned in the description, that the clothes would fit them. The '73 book is the last time Sew Simple is offered in JCPenney's catalogs.

Here is Crissy "presenting" the Sears Sew Simple designs, from the 1970 Sears Wishbook.

Sears exclusive "Tressy" models the 1971 Sew Simple set in the 1971 Sears Wishbook.

Crissy and Harmony (an Ideal doll, but not of the Crissy family) are shown modeling the two different sized Sew Simple outfits (from the 1972 Sears Wishbook).

Here they are shown constructed from the kit.

In the 1973 Sears Wishbook, the Sew Simple set was called "Teen Dream Set" and was not modeled by any Ideal doll. It does list the sizes that it fits (and they fit both Crissy & Velvet sized dolls). This is the last time the Sew Simple outfits were presented in the Sears catalogs.

What an adorable book! This 8 X 11 inch book from Australia, My First Knitting Book has a copyright date of 1973. And just who is that illustrated on the cover? This book was illustrated by Jan Howarth and written by Judith Dine. How cool is it that our Velvet is found on and within this book! Click on the cover photo above to launch a PDF copy of the knitting patterns found in this book.

Inside are the directions for a "Long Halter-neck Dress..."

...a "Long-line Cardigan..."

...and a pair of slacks!

Perhaps you'd like to try your hand at the knitted outfits for the Palitoy "Sheena" doll. If so, please go to this page.

One thing to bear in mind with using patterns from Australia, is that the measurement system is different. Our friend Teresa, a fellow Crissy family collector, writes: "I thought that you might want to pass this info along. A beginner knitter might not know that you need to convert the Australian needle sizes to U.S. for the patterns that fit Sasha or Sheena. Size 11 is size 3 U.S. and for size 10 you use either a 3 or a 4 U.S." We appreciate that Teresa!

And finally.... do your dolls need undies!? Please click here to launch into a pattern that I created from an actual pair of Crissy undies (they fit Velvet too). When you print this PDF page out, make sure you set your print options to print to actual size or your doll's new panties will either be too large or too small!