16 Inch Baby Doll Diaper

One of the clear signs a new donation cycle has started is when the new diaper bag items start showing up on the blog. I started purchasing the diaper bags a few years ago but I still make the filler that I find to be the most useful. While crochet diapers don't look as realistic as the plastic disposable diapers they are more practical for pretend play as with snaps they can be used for pretend play until they get lost.

I've mentioned it before but my reasoning for making the diapers came from watching how disapointed my nieces would get when the disposable diapers wouldn't work after a couple of plays times and finding replacements when we could find them was not a cheap option and sometimes they just weren't available leaving to frustrated little girls. These diapers while not as realistic looking perhaps do keep the play going.

I make two diapers for each of the 16 inch donation dolls so you'll see four diapers before this year's project is done. It's my way of tracking my progress. If I forget to post it it is very likely I've forgotten to make it as well.

You can find this free easy diaper pattern here.

Notes:

I use a J hook

This has been a great way to use up left over balls of white acrylic worsted yarn I have from last year's projects.

16 Inch Baby Doll Diaper 4

There is a feeling of accomplishment when I finish off sets of items for the donation. I feel like there should be celebratory music or horns. This is the last of the 16 inch doll diapers I need for the 2023 donation and I couldn't be happier to have them finished off. I now have the diapers, the bibs, and the wipes done. While not the most exciting projects in the world they do add to the play value of the dolls the children receive. Having these finished in January means they won't be forgotten as other stuff comes up during the year.

The diaper is made using a free pattern you can find here. I've adapted it to fit the 16 Inch Baby doll by using a K hook. I use snaps to close my diapers not buttons so I don't skip stitches in the first row for the button holes. I also add a reduction row at the crotch to make the diaper fit a little better.

16 Inch Baby Doll Diaper 3

I feel like I'm coming into the home stretch for the diaper bag accessories for 2023. The wipes are finished and I now have 3 of the 4 diapers I need made for the 16 inch baby dolls.

You can find the free crochet diaper pattern here.

This year I've been using a K hook and what ever brand of acrylic worsted 4 weight yarn I have on hand. I use snaps for closures.

16 Inch Baby Doll Diaper 2

New Year's Day 2023 and I've finished half of the diapers I need for the 16 Inch Baby Doll. I try to get these little acessory projects out of the way as quickly as possible and they are great projects to work on while doing other things because they don't require tons of concentration.

You can find the free pattern here. I'm using a K hook this year and I remembered to decrease at the crotch for the second diaper. It makes the fit a little less bulky, especially if the child wants to put clothes on over the diaper.

Just two more diapers and both 16 Inch Baby dolls will have diapers for the donation!!!

16 Inch Doll Diaper Round 2

While I do add new patterns and sometimes new dolls to the donation each year, there are routine tasks to finish because for some child this doll set is new and not something experienced before so they do want all the goodies that the last child received. So I come to the need to make the little diaper bag accessories each year. I try to spread them out across other doll projects because they can be repititous but they do add some fun to doll play.

To save myself time and to get some items I just can't make I added the Melissa & Doug Mine to Love Time to Eat Feeding Set several years ago. It has the magic feeding bottles, play baby food jars and a feeding set. I used to make the bottles but these are more fun and far less time consuming for me to make. I still make bibs because I've found the generic ones that come with these kits don't always fit the various sized dolls.

I continue to make diapers because they fit the dolls I send and its just another fun pretend play aspect of having a baby doll made easier. Parents can debate cloth or disposable diapers when it comes to real children but for toys if your doll is not one that wets having cloth is a much easier plan.

As I mentioned in my previous post I've adapted this free pattern still available on the Wayback machine here to fit the JC Toys - La Baby 16-inch Baby Doll using worsted weight 4 yarn and an I hook. I finally changed the hook size on my printed pattern as I still went with a K hook for the first one this year and it is a bit roomy. I need two more for the second 16 donation doll and I can move on to the other baby dolls.

Baby Doll Diapers

Right after Thanksgiving I did an inventory of the doll donations and realized I was short on baby doll items. Right after I dropped off the doll donation and mailed out my Christmas boxes I decided that I would start on the baby dolls to prevent another Thanksgiving baby doll marathon crochet session. The doll diapers work up pretty quickly so it was a great place to start. The most time consuming part is actually sewing on the snaps. The pattern calls for buttons, but I've always thought the snaps were a better option. A week before Christmas and the doll diapers for next year's donation were ready to head into the donation bags.

I was thrilled that the new baby dolls come with baby bottles so those don't need to be made this year. It's the small things in life that make us grateful. Those little small items would seem to be quick to make but they do add up when you are making multiples.

You can still find this pattern via the Wayback machine here although I'm always worried it will disappear. My copy is precious as it is my go to pattern every year.