American Girl Blue Pilgrim Dress

I have been making Thanksgiving items in what I call decoration colors and then items for kids trying to work in traditional colors. This dress is actually far more traditional in color than most of the black, brown, and grey that you see in decorations of Pilgrims for the holidays. My goal is to make some of each so that the kids can compare and contrast the two.

This dress was made adapting Darski's free Pilgrim pattern. This is one of my favorite 18" doll patterns, but for some reason, I was struggling with it this holiday. It could be that I made three dresses in a short period of time and had to rush to complete this one. I was not as happy with the finished look as I have been with previous attempts. However, I was pleased that I finally figured out my challenge with one area that was a result of my bad crocheting.

This project was completed using Red Heart and Caron One Pound yarn.

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 Pilgrim

I finished one of the doll dresses I needed for my doll project this weekend. My Aunt took it home with her so I only need to finish two more.


This pattern is adapted from a free pattern you can find the link for on the Thanksgiving page. I used Red Heart Super Saver grey heather for the dress and I liked the texture and the color it provided. I used Caron One Pound yarn for the cap and apron. The worsted weight was too heavy for the cuffs so I used Red Heart Sport yarn. I changed the original pattern by adding cuffs, found in the free Barbie pattern on the Thanksgiving page and altering the collar.

While I made this one in the traditional colors people expect for Thanksgiving, I also want to make the dress in colors that are more authentic. Pilgrims did not just wear black, grey, and brown. The colors people often associate with Pilgrims were considered formal colors for Church. Pilgrims did dress in colors including red.

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:

Halloween Page

Thanksgiving

Christmas

Valentines

Easter

Graduation

Patriotic

Pictures may not be used without written permission.

The Last of the Thanksgiving Dolls

Well for this year anyways the Thanksgiving doll theme is done. Monday night I finished the last Barbie outfit I needed for a birthday we were celebrating on Thanksgiving. I took the pictures of the American Girl Doll outfit on a Springfield doll and Barbie for my records and started working on a Hello Kitty Santa. Santa's elves' crochet hooks do not have time to stop.

I was very pleased with the final American Girl outfit. This is Darski's free Pilgrim outfit modified. I used the bonnet from the Pilgrim Weeble pattern and with just a few minor adjustments; it is the best one I have tried so far. This time I added the collar in the correct position, but used a button to close it as I never fully understood her directions for adding the collar. The button works and I may use the strategy again.

The Shady Lane Barbie was determined to be trouble. The pattern can be found in Timeless Fashion Dolls Volume 1, #495. I have no idea why since this was the second attempt using elastic. However, it just seemed everything was more challenging and each portion of the outfit determined to make me thankful it was completed and not needed for another year.




I am grateful that my skills have progressed to the point I was able to create these items for family this year. I am also thankful for people who have freely given of their talents and those who sell their patterns so I can make these items. Since I have started crocheting finding non-thread Barbie doll crochet patterns has become increasing challenging. Finding simple American girl style patterns also not easy. However, I have seen my abilities increase and I am enjoying being able to do more than I was last year making toys and doll's clothes for kids. Next year I hope to be able to increase my donations to charities that collect toys for kids.

Free Holiday Patterns Available on the Following Blog Pages:

Thanksgiving

Christmas

Valentines

Easter

Graduation

Patriotic

Halloween Page


Pictures may not be used without written permission.

American Girl Pilgrim

This outfit was made with a free pattern from a very generous designer Darski. You can find the pattern here. One strategy I have started to use when downloading patterns is to cut and paste and reorganize them into word documents for my own personal use. You will not find any of those documents here. I suggest you make them for yourself. However, I find that I can change the fonts, enlarge or bold certain areas to help me when I am working on a pattern. I can also reorganize lines as certain patterns bulk up directions in larger chunks than I want to work with in a line by line pattern. I meant to mention that in an earlier blog, but I like to share orginizational techniques with others. I learn a great deal by reading and listening to what others do, I like to share what I have learned as well.

I loved the dress pattern for this doll. I finally understood how to pull together a back and use buttons to close the back edge. It should perhaps be obvious, but it helped me work on a Barbie pattern, so I am thrilled at the new knowledge.

I chose to create my own cap, because I wanted something more of a bonnet than a cap. I used a modified version of the Shady Lane Barbie pattern. I also added cuffs like the Shady Lane Barbie pattern used.

After finishing this pattern I realized where I made the mistake on the Ken doll. As I mentioned before each new project seems to have something to teach me about another.

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:

Thanksgiving

Christmas

Valentines

Easter

Graduation

Patriotic

Halloween Page

Pictures may not be used without written permission.