My Life Chef Hat

I mentioned earlier in the week that I'd donated the chef hat from the My Life Chef outfit to a Halloween display. That meant I had to go back to Darski's free Howdy Neighbor pattern found here to make sure this outfit was complete to send off with the donation. I didn't want to put it off for fear I'd get distracted and it wouldn't get finished.

I was able to order the My Life 18 inch Dolls I need for the 2022 dolls this week as I got them on sale. Now I just have to hope they aren't damaged in shipping. I had an issue with the Our Generation Dolls I ordered last year as these sales can result in boxes not arriving as you'd hope. I'm hoping they arrive in donation shape so I don't have to deal with returns.

I've got 10-inch Lots to Love baby dolls back ordered. I'm slowly working on acquiring my next round of donation dolls and accessories as I find them on sale. I already found the Lil Cutesies Dolls and the Melissa & Doug Mine to Love Time to Eat Doll Accessories Feeding Sets for next year.

Still looking for good deals on the Barbie dolls, the JC Toys -16-inch Baby Dolls, Lots to Love 14 Inch Doll, and Our Generation Doll, and I have to decide what I'm going to do about the Rag Dolls for next year.

I am hoping the dolls I've ordered arrive after I drop off this year's donation as space will begin to become an issue if I don't drop off before adding more dolls to my donation area.

American Girl Chef

This has to be one of my favorite outfits of the year. It is one the outfits in Darski's free pattern Howdy Neighbor and you can find the pattern at Crochetville here.

I searched through my friend's stash and had a trip back into time as she had a skein of white baby yarn purchased from Rich's to make the Chef's hat. Rich's has been out of business for years. However, it was a shopping staple of my Mom's for years when I was a kid. I spent many hours in their yarn aisle while my Mom picked up yarn for her latest knitting project. Finding that skein brought back pleasant memories.

After making a mistake reading the yarn requirements where I used up some pink and white baby yarn I had on hand for the shirt and apron that turned into a baby doll outfit I'll post later, I stuck with worsted weight yarn for the rest of the outfit.

I chose light pink because other than the light sport yarn I didn't have any darker pink worsted weight yarn. I'm on a bit of a yarn diet. Not a fast because I will buy yarn for a specific project. For instance, I got the pattern for the special Red Heart Red Cross nurse outfit and I don't have the yarn to make it. I'll pick up the yarn for that project. However, I'm resisting the urge to build up colors to have them on hand until I reduce the yarns I have on hand. I need to get the yarn under control before it becomes a hoard. It needs to be contained.