Calico Critter Sister Dress

Mother and daughter have now entered the Christmas doll outfits for 2026. Sister is sporting a free shell stitched dress pattern that can be found here. The pattern includes directions for Mother and Sister.

I hope to include non-Christmas outfits for both using this pattern for the 2026 donation.

Notes:

One of the reasons for documenting these projects each year is to remember what worked and learn from the challenges. Last year I used a 1.25mm hook for Sister's dress and while it fit it was tight and it was challenging to fit the tail through the back opening. This was corrected this year with a 1.5mm thread hook.

This was made with size 10 crochet thread. This color has been discontinued.

Lots to Love 10 Inch Baby Doll Christmas Dress

I had been considering what pattern to use for the Lots to Love 10 Inch Baby Doll's Christmas outfit. I saw a pattern for a Baby Steps doll and loved it for this challenge. I'd found previous patterns with patterns for both the 10 inch baby doll and the Baby Steps so I knew they were compatible with some adaptations.

You can purchase the pattern here.

Notes:

When I've purchased patterns listing the Baby Steps doll there have been separate directions for the baby doll as this one is more of a toddler doll. Thankfully I'm used to adapting patterns to meet my needs.

The pattern calls for size 10 crochet thread and a size 5 thread hook. This always throws me as numbered thread hooks don't transfer the way a G hook would on most patterns. I started with my closest guess but it was rather small and I ended up moving up to a C hook for everything but the shoes. I needed a 1.8mm thread hook for the shoes. They were huge with a C hook.

Note for dress I always struggle with working into ss, around, behind so where possible I try to give myself an opening. Round 2 of the dress requires ss but round 3 requires working behind ss. TO make this easier I worked the ss into the front loops of stitches of the previous row leaving the back stitch open for round 3.

I added rows 13-14 to red before adding white shell edging for length.

The panties fit as written with no adaptations needed other than hook size.

The designer suggests multiple options for trims and colors and I'd like to add at least one more dress from this pattern to the donation this year.

I love that it requires no snaps or buttons.

Lil Cutesies Sleep Sack

I had targeted the one of the 16 Inch Baby Dolls to be the next travel sleep sack projects. However, I was cleaning up and found a collapsed skein of striped Red Heart yarn and while rolling it decided why not just use it and another sleep sack was finished for the 2026 donation.

As I said December was a busy, productive month for getting stuff done for the next donation year.

You can find the free pattern here.

Notes:

I need a G hook to get this to finish the Lil Cutesies doll.

I want to make one more of the small sleep sacks to put in an Operation Shoebox donation with one of the Lots to Love 8 Inch dolls next year. It should fit in with the bassinet I make for the doll. If it doesn't I have another sack ready for 2027.