The Comical Scale of American Girl Items: Backpack Edition

[@melangellperry5984]

AG scale has always been all over the place. I’ve never been able to figure out why their clothes take up so much room when packing. If you try to use a suitcase, you’re lucky to get 1 change of clothes in it. Always fun to see your mini me. I really enjoyed that you had so many comparable human sized items to AG items. The direct comparison was fun.

[@agtakesover]

So true - I wonder how big the suitcase would have to be to hold the number of items a human suitcase could hold lol!

[@KeepQuirky]

This is such a fun video idea! I have always been boggled by the strange proportions of AG accessories.

[@agtakesover]

Glad you liked it!! Luckily I'm able to find it amusing rather than frustrating lol.

[@eliseelliot]

Honestly, kind of impressed that you got all that into the bag! I think it's the hoodie that takes up more room, proportionally. Something about clothes at that scale and folding them, I think. Also, curse that water bottle! It's the problem! But also still very cute, though. This was a great video, thank you for sharing. My fav AG proportion comparison you've ever done, though, is the laffy taffy to popcorn machine ratio in the 90s twin set, lol.

[@agtakesover]

Oh, the family sized laffy taffy!!! Sometimes you just have to wonder who looks at two things like that side by side and says, "Looks good. Send it to production" Give that person an espresso and an updated glasses prescription!!

[@LadyThunder910]

Fun video! I've noticed the scale being off before, but this was still fun to see. Also, I had the girl sized version of Casey's backpack in second grade, so seeing it was a fun throwback for me!

[@agtakesover]

Oh, how cool that you had that same backpack in human size!! And I'm glad you enjoyed it :)

[@starryeyeschick]

You actually did choose the doll notebook and pen that came together, coincidentally! Both CYO accessory items from the same set.

[@agtakesover]

Well, look at that! As professor McGonagall would say, it was "sheer, dumb luck!"

[@colakelvins]

This is so cute! I love this kind of nerdy stuff lol. I’ve been building a doll bedroom and collecting doll scale items to fill it (specifically plushies and books at the moment) so AG scale has been on my mind! It can be so hard to tell whether something is the right size or not 🤔 I’ve found that for mini plushies, anything up to around 6-8 inches seems acceptable, but 8 inches is a little big, and smaller ones around 3 inches seem a little small. For books, I’ve found that 6 inches is MUCH too big, and around 2-3 inches is better, but harder to find! I’m trying to fill a bookshelf with mini editions of actual books, and I’ve decided that up to 5 inches is okay because I can just pretend it’s a big coffee table version, lol! American girl scale is weird and I think it can definitely be stretched larger or smaller depending on your needs. Their water bottles are definitely off scale, though. Maybe they’re just a smaller bottle that only holds 400ml! I find that using a mini 6 inch AG doll can be a better indicator of doll scale, because you can compare the size of a real life item and a full size doll to the mini item and mini doll, and it’s more consistent.

[@colakelvins]

Oh geez, this was a long comment! 😂 oops

[@agtakesover]

That's a good approach. I've gotten mini-brands stuff and off brand stuff for the AGs and I sometimes say, "Welp, we'll just say this is the Costco bulk size version" or "Welp, we'll just say this is the travel size/snack size version" lol. I think you're right - you can stretch it a bit or be a bit smaller than scale and still pull it off.

[@agtakesover]

I never mind them :)

[@kristinadotzler-ty1uv]

Love this video!

[@agtakesover]

Glad you enjoyed it! I filmed it a while ago and was happy to finally post it :)

[@clairewatkins1720]

Thank you for always encouraging us to spend time with our dolls! In this busy crazy world sometimes I’ll realize I haven’t spent time with them in weeks. Then when I do, I feel so much better! Very calming and therapeutic, just makes me a happier person. 😊 Great video, thank you so much! ☺️

[@agtakesover]

I'm so glad the reminders help. We need to take time to do something strictly for us, something that is innocent, brings us joy, comfort us, etc. They are calming, indeed

[@CraftyMagicDollz]

Oh sorry for a totally separate second comment but I meant to mention... I love this kind of video but the one thing I do wish is that you told us we're all these things came from because I am completely fascinated by miniature everything and I'm always looking for good new accessories for my dolls and especially for my mini me. For 12 years my family has traveled and actually posted photos of our family in Lego version... We have every prop you could possibly need for our Lego family... But now that I'm posting both doll and Lego content.... I need to bulk up my accessories big time.

[@agtakesover]

I did tell where quite a few of the items are from (water bottle, beanie, keychain, pick, compact, and hand sanitizer, for example). I didn't mention that the sunglasses are from Kavi's trunk, and the kleenex and nasal spray are from the Allergy and Asthma Set. Were there any others specifically you were wondering abut?

[@SadieAbby]

I love this video concept! Even back when I was a child I would try and pack my Barbie’s clothes in her suitcase and I never knew why she couldn’t fit all her stuff in like I could 😆

[@agtakesover]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it. It's crazy how little you can fit in these dolls' suitcases!

[@anikacasanova9954]

packing the backpack is frankly the best part

[@agtakesover]

of dolls?

[@gretchennahas5994]

I have never packed for a trip for my dolls .I have just taken their clothes and American girl doll cases.Don’t have a book bag for any of them. I just don’t think my husband would understand.

[@agtakesover]

Their bookbags and suitcases barely hold any doll clothes anyway - they're best for the other goodies (phone, laptop, etc)

[@gretchennahas5994]

@@agtakesover I have very little accessories for my dolls. I am more into clothes and accessories that go with the outfits. I have a few accessories because my storage is limited.

[@junecutting2512]

Love this, and it definitely made me chuckle. Just this week, I was attempting to make a metal detector for one of my dolls for a photo challenge. I made the mistake of telling my husband what I was doing. I chose a pill bottle lid for the head of the detector and right away, he said it was way too big. My argument was that if it was directly proportionate to a human sized one, it would not show up in any pictures. Following a silly 2 day standoff, we compromised. I used a smaller lid (which was still too big in his eyes). In the end, he did like the photo I took (when he wasn't around.....lol). Thanks so much for your fun and informative videos.

[@agtakesover]

Is it for an Obsessed photo challenge? Have you posted it yet? I'd love to see! :)

[@junecutting2512]

@@agtakesover Yes, for the Summer Challenge. It was today's entry.

[@starryeyeschick]

I still love packing my dolls’ bags. It’s so fun! The tiny accessories, even if sometimes off scale, are so cute. At least AG accessories are better scaled than Mini Brands…

[@agtakesover]

Agreed!! With MiniBrands, I'm always like, "Welp, maybe we'll just say this is the trial sized version" or "I guess we'll call this an individual portion of cereal." But then there will be some random large thing and I go, "OK...looks like the girls get a king sized candy bar" lol.

[@starryeyeschick]

I had that same or very similar water bottle as you…but it was impossible to clean. Even with a bottle brush, there were always hard to reach blind spots. How do you clean yours? 😅 I only ever put water in it and yet still it got gross.

[@agtakesover]

Good question - that was a freebie from work and I rarely use it because it's not insulated, so I don't think I've had it get gunky yet. But thanks for the heads-up. I'll keep a close eye on it each time it gets washed :)

[@Katesaprincess]

This is so cool. I love that you found the stuff to be comparable. There is a water bottle that comes with the gaming set that I think is more normal size! Also I’m a raven claw too! (I don’t know much about hp but I took the test lol)

[@agtakesover]

Yeah, we have a few different water bottles - I suppose I could see if different ones are that different from each other. (and Grace is the Ravenclaw - I was sorted into Gryffindor when I took the quiz years ago)

[@stephanieshawn4002]

There is a legitimate reason for things like backpacks, suitcases, purses, etc. When you look at AG dolls 18 inches is there size compared to a human child. In their world EVERYTHING would have to be shrunk down to her size for things to fit like ours do. They wear clothes sewn with our size thread, our thickness of material our size fiber and each material used is our size but the final product is minimized. If it were possible to shrink down every fiber, weave, thread, even down to how much glue is used. The result would be a proportionate item that would take up as much space in a backpack constructed with tiny materials as our items would in ours. It would likely be difficult to handle teeny things so delicate.

[@agtakesover]

Fair point, for sure! Still, there is inconsistency even within the brand and it makes me chuckle :)

[@lisbetsoda4874]

I was going to mention that.

[@azeverinarizona1931]

So fun!❤ New to AG, my first is due to arrive tomorrow! Please let me know which doll is the one in the background with long pulled back hair. She looks so adorable!

[@agtakesover]

Welcome to the world of AG! Who did you buy? And the doll in the back is a custom - she's a Truly Me 62 base with a different wig. :)

[@azeverinarizona1931]

@@agtakesover Truly Me #120😊 The combination of face and hair got me, lol. Love your videos! Looking forward to bing watching when I have city Wi-Fi again, I’m off grid at the moment. I will only “like” so you don’t have to go thru comments again unless you want them. Thank you so much for answering ❤️

[@jessicaarend]

Where did you get the cute lil AG pack of tissues? Love this comparison video!

[@agtakesover]

The tissues are from the Allergy and Asthma Set.

[@Paradespc]

There was a scale article years ago about this and it’s kind of enlightening. I’ll try to find it

[@agtakesover]

I'd love that! Thanks :)

[@clairep3688]

The key is probably proportional for a 10 year old’s finger

[@agtakesover]

You're probably not wrong - I don't have any spare 10 year olds around the house to verify ;-)

[@charlotteamaro7165]

This was fun!

[@agtakesover]

Thanks - I LOVE all the tiny doll things regardless of the occasional inconsistencies in scale

[@buffmontana4203]

Snacks matter....so funny! Oh when you read this don't forget the apple! The average 10 year old girl is about 50-59" so most of the AG furniture is not quite the right size for an adult. Imagine the back ache you'd have washing dishes and we'll need a crane to help us off the toilet. Fun video.

[@agtakesover]

Someone else pointed out that the comparisons would be more accurate on an 8-10 year old and I agree. I just don't happen to have any handy and don't want my neighbor thinking I'm a weirdo (might be too late for that) if I ask to borrow her child lol. And I did remember the apple - thank you!!

[@lisbetsoda4874]

The "average" size scale is 1:3. But as you showed us it is a very loose concept. I just use that as a guideline for when i find something i might be able to use. So fun to see how much you actually were able to fit into the backpack.

[@agtakesover]

Yes, I know the 1:3 is less common that 1:12 (and seemingly less consistent). I don't get miffed by the lack of consistency - I just find it very funny.

[@CraftyMagicDollz]

I've been getting everything together to start my AG tube channel for a while now.... Trying to get my health issues in order as well so that I can actually be reliable. Whats crazy is that we are like pretty much the same age, dress the same way, We both have kids, We both have massive doll collections, We're both married, And we both spell our name exactly the same way. Like for real.... Every time you post I'm like why am I going to bother because I'm just going to be a carbon copy and everybody's going to be like Oh you're just copying Kristie from AG takes over.... Sigh!!

[@agtakesover]

Bah! Don't let that stop you. If they're AG-related, I'll watch 'em :)

[@TrobertABQ]

Funny and thought provoking! I love the AG backpack for Casey and your matching jackets and hats! You have a big water bottle! I wonder if AG models their doll water bottles on 16 oz plastic bottles instead of 32 oz bottles. I do believe that AG dolls are proportional for 8-12 year olds. (Head size compared to body size). What is not proportional is that they have big heads and big bodies that would not match the proportions for a 10 year old in a healthy weight range. The width of the sunglasses ear to ear look like most of the length of their backs! I don’t know your height or hand size. I am wondering about the hand size comparison with an 8-10 year old. Some of what I saw in your comparisons also had to do with the hands of children being able to handle small items. I do absolutely believe you about sizes. Isn’t Courtney’s cage for her guinea pig bigger than her TV? I am also the Josefina collector with the too small horno (they normally are closer to mid-waist to armpit height).

[@agtakesover]

I laughed imagining borrowing a neighbor's child just so I can use their hand as a comparison. No 8-10 year olds in our home lol.

[@iriskranenburg9508]

The dolls are supposed to be 8-10 year old kids. If you compare them with rl things it would be more reasonable to compare them with kids ands and things. If I hold my kids glasses next to my kids bottle, I they are also the about the same height. Try getting a kids backpack and get everything in.

[@agtakesover]

No argument here - I just didn't have a spare 8-10 year old child lying around the house, so I had to make due ;-)