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 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.

Baby Doll Wipes

I looked again but Crochet n' Play still hasn't returned to selling online so I can't share a link to find the pattern for this diaper bag set.

I mostly just use the wipes from the set for the donation but it is truly a great set to make accessories for a little one's doll. For my purposes I've moved to adding Melissa and Doug's Time to Eat Accessories for many of the diaper bag accessories I donate. However, I still make the wipes, bibs, and diapers for many of the larger baby dolls, despite buying the play set.

There are some sets that do offer wipes but some either are a box that "pretends" there is something inside or there is something inside but they either dry out quickly or are paper and rip and don't last long. The crochet ones while not as realistic as the wet ones last longer and are reusable. They are easy to replace if lost. While I don't sew I've seen sewn ones that are also practical.

Baby Doll Wipes

Years ago my DH purchased a pattern from Crochet n' Play for a Diaper Bag set for my doll donation project. As with many online designers her pattern store has disappeared from the web and I can no longer direct people to her great work.

For my part I've started purchasing some items for the donation because they provide more practical play experience and they allow me to focus my time on items that enhance the play time. I've started buying Melissa & Doug Feeding Set when I can find the on sale because they provide many of the fun feeding items that don't always work as well made in crochet.

I haven't given up on making items for the diaper bags though. First as you've already seen posted I make the diapers to fit the dolls every year because regardless of your views on disposable vs. cloth diapers for real babies for dolls that don't wet, cloth diapers are just a cheap alternative, especially when they are made to fit the doll you receive. I also make the bibs. This set comes with a bib, but it made for a smaller doll and I like to make the items to fit the dolls I send out. Lastly wipes.

I've seen several attempts to make pretend wipes for kids. Sometimes its just an empty plastic bottle where kids can pretend to get wipes for the baby doll. Others have wipes that run out because they dry out. The crocheted wipes like the crocheted diapers solve the problem of running out as they are constantly reusable. They aren't even that hard to remake if you lose one. It crosses that line between the plastic container with no wipes and the containers with wipes that dry out.

This was another project that let me did into last year's left over stash of yarn balls. I've been thrilled to target this yarn and not see it disappear into the depths of my yarn stash.

Notes:

I used a g hook for the wipes and container. The lettering should face outward but I wasn't redoing it.