My Life Harriet

This is another one of Darski's free patterns you can find here. I've been looking for patterns that have been sitting in my doll binders that I've either never made or not made in years. This is one I made once many years ago and never gone back to so it seemed a good time to revisit. I'm working on the companion dress hoping to make it for this year's deadline. If not next year will work as well.

This outfit was made with Caron One Pound Yarn - Medium Grey Mix and Bernat Super Value Yarn, Navy. My supply of worsted brands varies based on sales and availability and I try to "shop" from my stash whenever possible for my doll projects. These colors were both in my yarn stash so they were my go to yarns for the outfit.

I ended up adding a few rows to the top to make it slightly longer and a few to the skirt as I wanted the long skirt pictured in the pattern. Mine ended up shorter following the pattern and it was easy enough to add some rows.

I went a size up on hook size for the top but stayed with the suggested size for the skirt. I did not use elastic for the skirt. I did add a finishing row of sc to the top of the skirt.

When I make this again I'd like to remember to make the scarf. It is a nice accessory for the outfit and I always seem to forget it.

Our Generation Teddy Bear Top and Skirt

I'm always looking for patterns either made for the size of dolls I donate or patterns that can be adapted to fit the dolls. This pattern is a free crochet pattern to make a skirt and top designed to fit a Build a Bear. You can find the pattern here. If you are interested in Build a Bear patterns she has quite a few free patterns for the bears but most of them are knit.

One thing to love about this pattern is that it requires no sewing other than weaving in your ends. Even the straps you see on the top are created through traditional arm hole methods, they are not sewn to the top as often happens when you make tops with straps. This alone makes it a new favorite for me.

I found the skirt pattern was a bit heavy and large for either doll when I made it with worsted weight yarn. So, I substituted Red Heart Sport yarn for the skirt. Making the skirt with a g hook and the sport weight yarn I then just needed to add a few more rows to get the length I needed.

My AC Moore sport yarn is still holding out but I'm trying to make a dent in it. The top is from that supply. I started out with the suggested g hook but the top was too large even for the Our Generation doll. I moved to an f hook and the fit was good. It needs to be a little loose as this top needs to slide on and off the doll and the arms need to slide into the arm holes. I will consider dropping the hook size to make this for the My Life doll.

Our Generation Skirt and Short Sleeved Sweater

I bring you 2 more free patterns for the 18 inch dolls. The skirt can be found here and while I decided on a short sleeve version the sweater is actually a long sleeved sweater found here.

I rarely have to make items smaller for the Our Generation Doll but I ended up going from a g to an f hook for the skirt as it fit better with an f hook. I used the prescribed hook for the sweater but it was bulky and I'm thinking I might try a lighter yarn if I use this again for the My Life doll.

American Girl Superhero

A wonderful Fariy Godmother gifted me this crochet pattern during one of Crochetville's wish lists. I was so excited to add it to my donation project. My favorite parts of the outfit are the boots and the mask. The dress and the cape are nice, but the boots and the mask really do make the outfit. The mask is easily adapted to other costumes you might want to make for the dolls. I can also see myself reusing the boot and cape pattern for other outfits. The pattern can be purchased here.

The pattern works up quickly and it makes a great addition to the doll's wardrobe. I am taking a brief break from my 18 inch doll projects to work on the 12 inch dolls that I picked up on clearance for donation. I am keeping one as a model to make the outfits and will donate the other. I will be posting more about that soon.

Barbie and American Girl Doll Free Patterns are listed on my blog at these locations:

Barbie Crochet and Sewing Page

Barbie Knitting Page

Ken Page

Kelly/Skipper Page

American Girl Doll Crochet and Sewing

American Girl Doll Knitting

Doll Blankets and Pillow Patterns

Additional Doll Patterns also Available on the Holiday Blogs:

Christmas

Valentines

Easter

Graduation

Patriotic

Halloween Page

Thanksgiving

Pictures may not be used without written permission.

Crochet Vintage Doll Ensembles

In my vintage pattern hunts, I came across another 18" doll pattern book. Vintage Doll Ensembles, 870614, was produced by Annie's Attic and published in 1998. I usually try to avoid pattern that use thread. This leaflet has a mixture of yarns that include thread. However, there are a couple of patterns that use sports yarn and a bonnet pattern that I really liked that uses Lustersheen the smallest size I use with any success. After purchasing the pattern, I discovered it includes a cute pair of Mary Jane like shoes made with black sports yarn. I am looking forward to trying those.

Barbie and American Girl Doll Free Patterns are listed on my blog at these locations:

Barbie Crochet and Sewing Page

Barbie Knitting Page

Ken Page

Kelly/Skipper Page

American Girl Doll Crochet and Sewing

American Girl Doll Knitting

Doll Blankets and Pillow Patterns

Additional Doll Patterns also Available on the Holiday Blogs:

Christmas

Valentines

Easter

Graduation

Patriotic

Halloween Page

Thanksgiving

Pictures may not be used without written permission.

Crocheted Wardrobe for 18" Dolls

I was so excited to find Edie Eckman's Crocheted Wardrobe for 18" Dolls, 1278 from American School of Needlework, while out vintage pattern hunting. It was published in 1999, but for some reason it has been very elusive in my hunts to locate out of print crochet patterns. Every time I have located a copy, it was gone before I had a chance consider the cost.

As you can see from the pictures I posted the patterns are nice pants, skirt, and sweater outfits. There are also some cute accessories. I am excited to try a pair of mittens along with a coat. What did impress me is the level of detail regarding assembly of the outfits. While this comes naturally to some, I can always use helpful tips when it comes to sewing the outfits together for their best fit. While a nice selection of outfits, I am not sure why this has made it so hard to locate. My only thought is that there are not that many crochet books for the 18" doll as compared to sewing. For whatever reason, this one seems to have become collectable.

This is going to be a welcome addition as I get prepared to start my Christmas donation doll project.