Calico Critter Sister Swimsuit

This is officially the last swimsuit I need for the 2026 donation. I wasn't sure if this would adapt to the smaller doll but it worked out. You can find the free pattern for the Mom Critter here.

Notes:

After making Mom's suit I decided if I was going to use this suit long term I needed to change the top. The bottoms work well for both Mom and Sister but the top wasn't a great option for either. I let it go for Mom but I decided to work some changes for Sister.

This was made with Herrschners size 10 thread and a 2.0mm hook.

For this version I did chain 24 as suggested and followed Row 1.

Row 2 sc 7 chain 5 skip 1 sc 7 chain 5 skip 1 sc 7.

Row 3 sc in each sc and chain finish off sewing in all ends.

Close with snap in the back.

I followed the pants as written just with different fiber and hook.

Calico Critter Sister Shell Dress

This has become one of my more frequently used free Calico Critters crochet patterns and you can find it here. It has directions for Mom and Sister.

Notes:

Taking my notes from last year's project I used a 1.5mm hook for the top and a 1.25mm hook for the skirt.

The dress uses size 10 thread and this is from Hobby Lobby's artiste thread sample box.

I was able to complete everything but the snap while waiting my turn for an appointment Saturday. I added the snap when I came home.

Calico Critter Mom Swimsuit

I've been writing for a bit about this free pattern that you can find here.

I wasn't sure I could make it work and it took a bit of work but Mom has entered the 2026 swimsuit challenge for the donation.

Still thinking about fiber and hook for the smaller sister Critter but it is a start. I'm mostly through the last 16 inch Baby doll's suit so that just leaves me to see if this can be adapted for the sister.

Notes:

The pattern is written in UK terms and calls for 4 ply wool. As with several patterns I've used recently I worked my way down. I started with Unforgettable Yarn which was clearly too heavy. I decided to try Cotton Fair that I've been using for my ami projects and while a little bulkier than I'd have liked it did the trick. I will be moving to thread for the sister.

The pattern starts with 24 stitches I'd reduce this to 21 as I had to reduce the first row by 3 to get the shaped area to work.

I skipped row 2 as it made the top too wide to fit under the arms. I am considering doing a flat strip across for the sister and seeing how it works.

There is a gap between the arm holes and the top's cluster stitches. I stitched them to the arm holes as I liked the look better than having them be free standing. Generally ties are added to the clusters to tie the top in the back but this has arm holes. This is why I'm thinking of leaving them off for the Sister pattern.

I took a flat picture of the Critter as a reminder that these are made as hip huggers. There is no hole opening for the tail it rests on the back. Without giving away pattern secrets this is a unique way of making pants which I hadn't tried previously.

Calico Critter Brother Swim Trunks

Well the Critter Men are ready for the beach. I have a pattern I've never tried for Mom which might fit the sister if I can get it to work. We shall see. I've never tried the designer's pattern but a free pattern is always worth a shot.

Notes:

You can find the free pattern for the Dad and Brother swim trunks here.

This pattern contains directions for both Dad and brother with the designer directing you clearly to the differences.

I used size 10 thread.

I used a 1.25mm hook for Dad and Brother.

Lesson learned after making Dad's was a reminder not to join after the first row.

I only do one leg row after joining to keep them as swim shorts and not pants.

To finish Brother's shorts and make them accept a snap at the back I needed to finish around the top and the back edge.

With this swimsuit finished I have one more 16 inch baby doll and the experiments to see if the Calico women will have swimsuits for 2026.

Calico Critter Mom Morning Glory Dress

I made this free pattern found here for the first time last year. The skirt was fuller this year and that is something I will work on the next time I make it.

Notes:

The dress is made with Aunt Lydia's size 3 and the flower size 10 white.

The flower is from an accessories pattern that comes with some of On A Calico Day's patterns.

I used a 1.5mm hook for the dress, a 1.25mm for the headband and a 1mm for the flower. Someone posted on a fb crochet site that they couldn't understand why people needed more than a couple of crochet hooks as she never used more than one size. I needed three thread hooks to complete one project. It really comes down to what you make.

I did not join the first row of the skirt as this pattern starts with the skirt to give the bunny a bit more tail room. I started joining in row 2.

Calico Critter Dad Swim Trunks

I've had this in the Critter folder for a bit and never made it until I was going through my Critter folder and realized this wasn't a pants pattern but supposed to be swim trunks. I needed to shorten them to make them look less like pants and more like swim trunks to meet my swim challenge.

You can find the free pattern here.

This pattern has directions for the Dad and Brother. I hope to get back to the Brother soon.

So I will remember this pattern does not join until the legs are formed.

I followed the upper portion of the trunks as written. I decreased the leg rows to one additional leg row to keep them at short length rather than pants.

The designer does include directions for a tail hole and the back closes with a snap.

Calico Critter Mom V-Stitch Sundress

Every so often as I'm looking at patterns on Ravelry I find one from a designer I missed. This is designed for the sister and baby. However, I found I had to change the sister pattern to fit the Mom as it was huge on the Mom. I'm planning to adjust it to fit the sister.

You can find this free pattern here.

Notes:

I used a 1mm hook and size 10 crochet thread for this project.

I started this project twice learning from my first mistake. I try to make my doll clothes easy to put on and off. The pattern suggests joining the project from the first row. I did this and almost lost the bunny tail as I was working on the top section of the bodice. This made me rethink the project and I frogged my first attempt.

For my second attempt I chose not to join until making the skirt which includes a pattern trick for leaving a tail hole. This works better to slide the dress on and off with the top open until closed by a snap. I stopped damaging Mom's cotton tail.

Just a note by not joining I need an extra starting chain of 29 not 28.

I repeated Round 2 once for the skirt to get it to the same length as pictured for the sister Critter.

The headband only required 30 chains. Over the years I've collected a number of On A Calico Day's crochet patterns. They come with embellishment patterns. This is where I found the flower for the headband.