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.

Ken and Barbie Pilgrims Crochet

Before I shipped the outfits out last week, I wanted a shot of the couple together. I had made and taken pictures of the outfits at different times and the dolls were never dressed at the same time to take a group photograph. Therefore, before the clothes were packed I wanted a shot.

Someone commented on a Yahoo group that I belong to that she believed Barbie clothes should only be made in thread after seeing my blog. She was upset that many of the patterns I had found were not thread patterns. I do love the look of thread on the dolls. However, I have yet to master the ability to crochet with thread. I am extremely grateful to the people who have very generously taken the time to create patterns that do use alternate yarn for those of us who are not competent with thread. Given a choice of no clothes for dolls or bulky heavier weight clothes made from baby or sport weight yarn, I can assure her that kids would prefer to have doll clothes. Thankfully, my efforts are improving.

I say this kindly to all people who come here for the free pattern links. Be grateful to the artists who share their work with us. If you do not find something of use, so be it. When someone donates his or her work to use at no cost to us, it is a gift. Nobody forces you to take it. I for one am very grateful that the many doll, toy, and house patterns have allowed me to provide gifts to friends, family, and charities. I buy many new and vintage patterns, but some of the most wonderful patterns have been those shared by generous people who freely donate their work online. It has allowed me to stretch my money to do more.

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.

Barbie Pilgrim Shady Lane

Once I learned about adding elastic, this became my favorite of the two Barbie patterns. The original Shady Lane pattern does not use elastic. Adding it made it a much easier project for me to work with in making a neat outfit with a closed back.

This pattern can be found at Shady Lane. It is in the pattern book Timeless Fashion Dolls Volume 1, #495.

The shawl and the style of bonnet also make this a favorite of mine. I have one more of these to make, but it does not have to be finished until Thanksgiving Day.

I am already thinking about how to adapt these patterns to create something for Kelly and Skipper for next year. Thankfully only one side of the family has the Kelly/Skipper dolls so I could make one set and be done. However, they all have additional Barbies, so I do not believe I am done with Barbie Pilgrim outfits, just yet.

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.

Barbie Pilgrim with Free Pattern

I finally decided to get over my fear of elastic and try this pattern that can be found here. This pattern was discovered during my research for free Barbie patterns. Her site is a treasure trove of period and other crochet Barbie patterns. I listed many of them on my Barbie/Fashion Doll pages.

The elastic was not nearly as intimidating as I feared and I liked the fact it finally closed the back gap I have been struggling with when making my Barbie clothes with sports yarn. The dress pattern was easy to follow, but I found myself adjusting the cap to make it fit on Barbie's head. It could be my ability to follow directions and not the pattern.

I learn more from each one of these projects. As I mentioned in an earlier blog I have several of these outfits to make before Thanksgiving. I went back and made the Shady Lane Pilgrim dress and used my new found ability with elastic to make the pattern easier for me to work with and I will be writing about that in another blog.

Ken's Pilgrim outfit is finally finished and I will be posting his picture, the Shady Lane Barbie Pilgrim picture, and the American Girl Doll Pilgrim picture this week as I finally have the pictures on my computer.

I have one more Shady Lane dress to make before the holiday and then Barbie is done with the Pilgrim scenario for this year. Mrs. Pilgrim just needs her arms and she will be finished. I have a couple of other small projects that need to be completed for shipping by tomorrow. Then it is on to Christmas fashions and other holiday projects.

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.