American Girl Valentine Dress

This dressed is based on the Valentine's dress pattern found in PatternsByJeannine SIGNATURE SERIES: All American Girls - 36 Crochet Patterns for 18 inch Dolls. The hat is based on a free pattern found here.

I now have my second Valentine's package completed. I filled a Valentine's bag for my weekend visitor with the two dresses and a puzzle book. I am pleased I finished the challenge on time.

This was my first experiment with ribbon and it was a fun challenge. A saftey pin proved highly useful in threading the ribbon through the crocheted hat.

St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner and I have already started on my projects. I am converting a Skipper dress for Barbie with St. Patrick's Day colors. The skirt is almost finished. It remains to see how the top will fit.

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

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.

American Girl Doll Colonial Outfit Crochet

This was the second outfit I made from PatternsByJeannine SIGNATURE SERIES: All American Girls - 36 Crochet Patterns for 18 inch Dolls. This time the outfit looked much more like the original pattern. I have never done quite so much treble crochet before. Like the first pattern however, I did not do it right the first time. However, this time I caught my mistake and was able to fix the skirt pattern as this pattern is a skirt and shirt, not a dress.



I am experimenting with yarn as I do not have the Bernat Satin, but did have some Caron Simply Soft. It seemed to work well. The patterns state sports yarn. However, the pattern actually lists worsted weight thickness by number. Some of the patterns ask for Bernat Satin specifically. I have not actually tried the sports yarn. However, when I made the Valentine's dress I used worsted weight yarn and the waist fit. I suspect if I had used sport's weight yarn that it would have been too small.

The pattern also called for Chenille to make the trim for the dress. I am on a quest to try to use up my stash of yarn. My goal is not to buy more yarn unless I have to in order to finish a project. If I cannot find a substitute, I am giving myself permission to buy. In this case, I used the same white yarn I used for all my holiday trim. I left off the arm trim because it did not look right with this yarn.

I also put a snap on the neckband instead of the tie the pattern suggested. Again, this is about my audience. The child this will be going to will find the snap much easier to manage than the ties suggested in this pattern. Those looking for style may prefer the tie.

I am thinking about making this as a dress. I think the style would work. I am also thinking about using the style of the skirt for a Hello Kitty Valentine outfit. It is amazing how learning a new style can apply to doing something completely different.



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

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.

American Girl Doll Red Dress

My husband bought me PatternsByJeannine SIGNATURE SERIES: All American Girls - 36 Crochet Patterns for 18 inch Dolls after I put it on my Christmas wish list. The reviews were not great, but I wanted a book of crochet patterns for the 18" dolls and there are not many options on the market. I really like this book. The disadvantage of buying the condensed version is that the patterns are black and white. However, you can download pictures of the patterns from her website. I have done that for the two patterns I have worked on so far and it works for me. It was a much better option than the price for the individual colored pattern booklets.

This was supposed to be the Valentine's Dress. As often happens as I start reading patterns from someone I have not worked with before I realized I made a mistake. What was supposed to be a flowing skirt was straight. However, I liked the more modern look and decided I would keep this outfit and try the Valentine's outfit again later. I added a top to the hat so when I make the Valentine's dress the child will have two different doll hats and this one goes better with this outfit.

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

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.

American Girl Doll Poncho and Skirt

This skirt pattern is also from Maggie's Crochet Abby, Allie and Annie 18" Doll Outfits Pattern. I learned to do that pleated look which has since come in handy on several projects including the poncho and a snowman toilet paper cover I hope to complete once all my Christmas obligations are completed. The pants, poncho, and skirt are on there way in a Christmas box. I rushed to get the photographs taken and stored so I could post them later.

I never could have completed any of these three items last Christmas and with all the crazy Christmas rush it makes me feel good to stop and realize that is progress. It is important to realize that no matter how much I cannot yet do, I never would have completed any of these projects last year. It has been a year of learning and growth and I am thrilled about that achievment.


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

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.

American Girl Doll Poncho and Pants

Back in November I wrote about making another poncho from Maggie's Crochet Abby, Allie and Annie 18" Doll Outfits Pattern. I donated that poncho and kept working on the patterns in the book. I really like the pants pattern. Do to the Christmas rush I was only able to complete the black pair, but I would like to make some in a few colors and then a few to put away in the donation box I hope to start once the holiday rush is over. The poncho pattern is also one I plan to put in the donation box for next year. My skills were limited last year. However, by the end of the year I was finally making outfits. Therefore, my hope is if I start early, I will have some clothes ready for both children's charities and the Church sales, along with my regular family gifts.

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

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.

American Girl Christmas Knitted Sweater and Pants

Mom chose to knit the sweater and pants pattern from Fun-to-Knit Doll Clothes in Christmas colors. I am planning on giving this to the child along with the holiday gown for her birthday prior to Christmas so her doll will be ready for Christmas.

I can laugh now, but getting the doll in and out of the clothes for a quick photo shoot was not as easy as one would think. Her hands kept getting stuck in the cuffs of the sweater and like a child she seemed to get tired of all the dressing up and changing of clothing.

It is nice to be able to get all the photographs finished at once and be able to get everything entered, but at times even the doll gets tired of cooperating.

The Barbie and American Girl Doll 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

Additional Doll Patterns also Available on the Holiday Blogs:

Patriotic

Thanksgiving

Christmas

Valentines

Easter

Graduation

Halloween Page



Pictures may not be used without written permission.