Chelsea Kits for Kids Sleeping Bag

It's April Fool's Day and I'm preposting my Kit's for Kids projects which hopefully have long been delivered by now. I've been using a free beanie baby sleeping bag pattern for years for Chelsea's sleeping bag. However, the two new charities I've added Chelsea to this year have space restrictions. The beanie bag is bulkier and I decided to explore if I could use the thread bag from the Calico Critters to save space as I've adapted a few of Mom's outfits to fit Chelsea before.

You can find the free Calico Critter sleeping bag pattern here.

Notes:

I am always on the hunt for differnt types of thread, especially variegated colors. This is Herschnerrs own brand size 10. I had previously tried it on a dress I've made multiple times with the same hook and it was huge. It also looks larger than my other brands of size 10. I don't have 8 on hand but that would be my guess as it is smaller than my 3 but it is heavier than my other 10's.

Since I was looking to adapt a smaller pattern to a larger doll this seemed like the ideal time to use some of the thread up. I experimented with hooks until I settled on the 1.5mm hook. I may go back to the 1.25 for the one I need for Operation Shoebox as I'm still on the fence about the size.

I followed the directions as written for the basic formation other than I needed more rows for length due to Chelsea's height prior to starting the pillow section. As I do with the Critters I stuffed the pillow and sewed the bottom opening of the pillow closed.

Dog and Bed Playset Kits for Kids

I am preposting the week before the weekend before the donation needs to be dropped off. I had hoped last week would have been a more productive finish to the project but a few set backs and I was only able to complete two more items to send off with the donation.

I am hoping to get to the assembly of the outgoing bags in May and that should give me a better idea of what to make for the 2027 donation.

I've made many of this designers playsets for family. The directions are clear and the sets are adorable. DH recently gifted me a mouse royal set I hope to include in next year's donation. You can purchase the dog set here.

I wanted to control the size of this set as it needs to fit in a bag with other items.

I used an e hook with some inherited Zayre brand yarn for the dog. I had no idea this was even in my stash until I started digging for lighter beige/brown colors and came across this one. I have been gifted quite a bit of yarn from people who have lost family members and have no idea what to do with the yarn. I clearly didn't remember the Zayre brand as it was long out of business when I started to crochet. I will say I would have been a regular customer if I'd been crocheting back then even after all these years it worked up well.

I sewed his arms to the body before attaching the head. The ears were attached to the head before sewing on the body.

The pattern sews on the eyes and nose I used safety eyes and noses. I am not a huge fan of having to sew them so when possible I use the safety option.

The blanket is made with Red Heart Super Saver and a G hook. The ball is made with Hobby Lobby Sport Yarn and a D hook.

I ended up working the second to last bowl row in back loops to leave an opening to sew the blue water to the bowl. It looked better than my first try at sewing it to the bowl.

Last note for myself would be more aware of the blanket size. The directions felt too small but my final product is a bit too large. I need to find a happy spot as I'm sure this will be part of next year's donation plan. There is a similiar cat pattern from this designer I have that I'd like to make and add for next year as well.

Kits for Kids Chelsea Simply Bluetiful

This is a new donation project for me this year and until I work on the packing project in May I'm not sure if all my choices are the best but we work on the information we have to make the best choices we can.

For my main doll donation of the year I tend to buy or add accessories to the dolls I buy. However, this donation is different. Space for all items is limited to a single bag and I'm trying to limit the pieces that can be lost as a child moves.

During the recent sales I stocked up on some of my Barbie dolls. I've been thinking about what direction to go with Chelsea as the It Takes Two Camping set I've picked will eventually be discontinued. I was able to stock up for a few more years. My hesitation has been that most of the Chelsea models have a hard plastic "tshirt" that can show through depending on the outfit I make. The dark blue and even the yellow from the camping have not been a huge issue but as I started to shop not only were the newer colors more likely to clash with the outfits I made but they also had print designs on them to look more like a child's tshirt. I get the concept but again not quite helpeful for making clothes.

As I was thinking about what to do for the next Chelsea I found out about this donation and saw there was a basic Chelsea in two skin tones being offered. It's Barbie and friends Club Chelsea. I picked up on at my local Walmart to test how the clothes would fit because the measurements didn't match the current model doll I was using. After realizing the fit would work I picked up a couple of each skin tone for donations during the big sales in March.

This fit my goal of a simple doll. This model has a gingham dress and shoes. The body has no plastic tshirt cover common in the Chelsea line which makes dressing her a bit easier.

Notes:

This has been my go to free Chelsea pattern found here.

I used a 1.8 mm thread hook for this project.I used a 1.8 mm thread hook for this project.

I did not decrease rounds when joining at round 7 or the project would be too small for this Chelsea doll.I used a 1.8 mm thread hook for this project.

The back and top were finished and back closed with a snap.

For this outfit I did add trim at bottom.

Kits for Kids Lots to Love 8 Inch Baby Doll Snuggle Sack

Notes:

I finished this and the nightgown for Kits for Kids on the same day and am preposting them as they fit on the blog. I am past the deadline as I prepost but I am hopeful I met it. If not these will go right to 2027.

You can find the free pattern for this project here. This was made with Herrschnerrs Worsted 8 Baby Stripes Sweetie Pie.

I need an F hook to fit this doll.

A reminder traditional worsted is too large. I thankfully continued with the skein I used from the last sack so this wasn't an issue but these are my page notes for these projects so it is wise to keep the reminders posted.

I posted on the last snuggle sack for this year and then I found out this project had a more aggressive timeline than I'd realized so no more predictions that I won't need more for someone else.

Princess Finger Puppet

Things got a bit busy and as I was reviewing my final posts for Kits for Kids I realized I was short a finger puppet. The princess had been left off. As I'm preposting shuffling posts is not a huge challenge so she has been added back into the post schedule.

Why make such a fuss. Well I do go back to these posts for future projects to figure out what I did and what never to do again.

This was made using a free pattern set that includes a castle, knight, dragaon, and princess finger puppets found here.

Notes:

I used a g hook for the body of the puppet.

The yarn is primarily left overs from other projects with the exception of the hair which I used Herrschner's sport weight. The hair is too heavy with traditional worsted 4. I sewed the crown to the puppet's wig before sewing wig to the puppet's head. This was much easier to manage. As with the Knight I sewed in ends as I went as it is hard to reach the ends once finished and these puppets do not easily flip inside out for sewing.

I mentioned with the knight that I would choose colored yarn for the eyes but it would need to be a dark blue not light. I looked at a previous picture of a princess I'd made with light blue and it was not good. I'd actually prefer the black.

I had to add a row to both hands to get them to close.

Knight Finger Puppet

I'm continuing to prepost projects in March and I'm now past the deadline for the dropoff which should have been yesterday.

This is another finger puppet made using a free pattern from Crochet World's no longer available website which I recovered as I was working on the dragon finger puppet blog. You can find the pattern for the castle and the puppets here.

Notes:

I used a G hook for the main portions of this puppet including his shield. To get the helmet to fit the head I needed an H hook. The limbs were made with an f hook.

I intend to include this set for 2027 so I'd note I have to fiddle with the rows on the helmet a bit to get it to be long enough and I sewed it to his armour.

Looking at my previous notes I had added chain stitches to his shield to allow him to put it around his hand and then I sewed it on so it wouldn't get lost.

For future projects for this and the princess which I am currently working on I'd use colored yarn not black for the eyes. This time they are both getting black because I got into the habit when making the farm puppets.

As I mentioned with the dragon post I sewed in ends as I worked this puppet and it was easier than trying to turn it inside out at the end. The head is really hard to pull back and forth through the body once made.

Dragon Finger Puppet

If all goes as scheduled the first donation for Kits for Kids will be dropped off tomorrow. I'm still preposting in March and even found some new potential donations during Amazon and Target Days that will make it for this year's donation or 2027 depending on how things work with shipping.

This was made using a Crochet World April 2010 pattern from Kathleen Stuart for a castle and finger puppets. I last made the complete pattern in 2020. Thankfully this time I only needed the puppets.

Sadly this used to be available as a free pattern on Crochet World's website and I gave the link when I made this in 2020. However, Crochet World's website no longer exsists.

Updated to add I did find the link available but with many of these old link recoveries they don't always last so I suggest you grab it if you want it as it may not be there again. Castle pattern here.

I made the Dragon with an H hook. I might try a G for future projects. I learned after I made this project as I was working on the knight to sew in ends as I go. The key is to make no mistakes or there is no frogging.

This dragon's head folds flat but as you are creating it it seems hard to imagine how the head will attach to the body but it folds therefore making it all work.

The tail and ridges also work as written although again I had to make it before I saw it.

I used a g hook for the legs and arms. If I shift to a g hook for the next set I'd likely go to an f hook for the limbs.

The eyes are made using the same technique I learned making the farm animals.

Kits for Kids 8 Inch Baby Doll Nightgown

Still in the middle of March as I continue to prepost but that April deadline is looming. Trying to see just what I can finish in a short period of time. What doesn't make it into this year's donation will go into 2027.

This is a simpler version of the donation I make for Aztec wishes as I know the space for this donation is more limited.

Since liquid isn't an issue for this donation I do hope to get the smaller baby bottles at Hobby Lobby before the due date. If not I will slide another out of the bigger kits as I did for the shoebox donation and plan better for 2027.

I have the snuggle sack to post and I'd like to get at least one other outfit made. The doll does come with a simple onesie so it does come dressed. I hesitate to add too much as space is an issue.

Notes:

This is from Darski's Sweetly pattern that you can find here.

The original pattern is designed for a 10" baby doll so some adaptations are required for the smaller doll.

This is made with Bernat Baby yarn.

I use a C hook for this doll.

I followed rows 1-17 then completed rows 33-37.

I finished the back and then did the ties as suggested making mine 30 chains.

I decreased the stitch count on the arms and finished with a chain 3 skip to make it more decorative.

To keep things fun I did a sc chain 3 around the neck as well. I need 3 this year so it pays to keep things fresh.

Kits for Kids Lots to Love 8 Inch Baby Doll Moses Basket

Still busily preposting in March as my April deadline looms ever closer.

I wanted to include a baby doll in Kits for Kids. Not sure how much I'll be able to finish for the doll or practically what is best to include as the child will be carrying what they need to take with them but for now the doll has a bed and that is good.

This is Annie Potter Presents Sweet Baby Doll Layette for the Moses Basket and Darski's BBL free pattern for the blanket. I have been chasing Annie's Potter's pattern sites for years and I stop now. This is a wonderful pattern set that I rely on for the baby doll beds but I have no idea who has control over her patterns and I won't risk spam sites to try to help people find her patterns any longer. Darski's free BBL pattern is found here.

As I pulled another doll from my inventory I decided it was time to consider stocking up and sadly came to realize the last place I could get the Lots to Love 8 inch Baby dolls is no longer selling them. This is disappointing and thankfully as a donation hoarder I am not desparate for a replacement just yet but I do need to find one as these dolls are an ideal size. There are sadly some families these dolls go to that don't have a ton of space and a small baby doll is the right choice.

I had just found an accessory kit that was sized close to them which I hadn't been able to find in years of searching. It will still work for the Lil Cutesies doll and the Lots to Love 10 inch doll which are still available but this size doll is one I need to find a replacement for before my hoarded stash is depleted.

Notes:

This is made with Premier Puzzle Yarn for the basket and old Red Heart Sport for the blanket. I used an H hook for the basket and a g hook for the blanket. I still need 2 more of these for the Lots to Love 8 inch dolls, one for the Lil Cutesies doll, and one for the Lots to Love 10 inch baby doll.

Duck Finger Puppet

It's just turned to Spring as I'm preposting this and the duck is the last of the finger puppets from the free Farmyard finger puppets pattern found here.

Notes:

This was made with an e hook for everything but the bill which I used a d hook to keep it small.

The white is Red Heart Super Saver the yellow is Big Twist a little lighter worsted 4.

There are directions for a little tuft at the top that I chose not to add as it doesn't look durable.

I am currently working on the bassinet for the Lots to Love 8 inch doll that will be going out in April but I'm trying to decide if the next batch of finger puppets will be castle themed or from an old book of ami finger puppets that I made over a decade ago and loved. I had to go hunting for the pattern leaflet but found it and if not this donation, they will make an appearance in the 2027 donation.

If You Give a Pig a Pancake

I've always enjoyed gifting book and ami's together so next up was If You Give a Pig a Pancake for Kits for Kids Donation.

I mentioned previously that it's been a long time since I've made ami's and I smartly read the project notes I made about the mouse and foolishly didn't read the notes I made regarding the pig.

I've never had trouble making the sweater fit for the pig but this time it was a nightmare. After rereading my notes I realized I'd previously used a g hook for the pig not an e thus the various weights and sizes of yarn I was using didn't work. I resorted to size 3 thread but still the fit wasn't all I wanted.

Notes:

You can find the free pattern here.

I used an e for the pig, use a g hook.

This project I used size 3 thread to get the sweater to fit I'd go to some of the light sport cotton I have with a c hook to see if I can get it to fit as written for the one I need for next April.

I have always sewn the sweater on so this I sewed the tail on and as I was making the sweater left pins to indicate the space needed to leave for the tail to come through.

Rooster Finger Puppet

I'm continuing my work on the free Farmyard Finger Puppets pattern that can still be found here.

Notes:

I used an e hook and I believe Red Heart Super Saver for this project.

The pattern worked for the everything but the comb. I couldn't get it to sit correctly so I crocheted directly into the puppet body.

Still in mid March as I post this but the deadline for the 2026 deadline still looms over me as I try to get as many done as I can for this year. I am already thinking of options for next year as I pull patterns that would work for this project.

Pig Finger Puppet

As I mentioned with the cow this was preposted on St. Patrick's Day as I'm hoping to get several items finished for an April 15th deadline for Kits for Kids.

I have few complaints about the cheaper acrylic yarns I use but every so often there is that one skein that truly isn't great for what I'm trying to make. I think this skein will go back to my stash for a doll project. It's faults will not be a huge issue with a doll dress but when trying to make an ami it was challenging and not quite the finished product I hoped to complete. I hope to make the pig for If You Give a Pig a Cookie and I will not be using this skein.

Notes:

I used an e hook for this project.

I followed the directions as written with the exception of the tail. I'm going to look at the tail from the other pig and see if that would work better. I played with the directions for this pig and it is better but still not quite there yet. Since I need another set of these animals for 2027 may as work on improvements.

Cow Finger Puppet

I'm working on finishing a farmyard finger puppet set for Kits for Kids due in April. This is being preposted on St. Patrick's Day so I still have some wiggle room with my due date although it is coming fast.

While Crochet Pattern Central is no longer around I did find the free pattern link here. No guess how long it will last.

I've always been a fan of finger puppets because they can fit in a small carry bag, don't take up much room and are great ways to encourage kids to retell stories or make up their own.

I have another set of farm animals that I likely won't get to before this year's deadline but I'd like to make for next year's donation as I like variety.

Notes:

This was made with Caron Pounder Taupe and an E hook.

I've been trying to use yarn on hand this year but at some point it might be worth experimenting with a lighter weight yarn like Herschnners as these are a bit larger than needed even going from the suggested g to an e hook. However, for this year I'm going to keep at this weight so they will all be close to the same size.

Dog Finger Puppet

I started on my finger puppets for Kits for Kids.

I actually have a crochet pattern binder for puppet patterns I've acquired over the years and I went there first.

This is a pattern from the defunct Crochet Pattern Central. While they generally were a place that just listed patterns, they did have a few like this one that were hosted on the site. With some help I did find the pattern but no promises how long it stays available if you are interested so I suggest downloading and saving it. You can find the pattern here.

As I went to save a copy for myself I found the designer's name credited at the bottom as Yvonne Boucher. The pattern was written in 2006.

It has been a bit since I've made ami's or puppets so I started with the directions as written and they were big for my adult hands so I did change hook size for the puppet.

Notes:

This was made with the same Caron Pounder I made the mouse with previously. I want to say this is Taupe. I stocked up on shades of brown for some previous doll projects and clearly it was meant to be for this project.

As I mentioned above I started with the suggested G hook but the tube was huge. I made this guy and have started the cow with an e hook. To get them any smaller I'd have to change yarn weight to be able to use a smaller hook.

There is an interesting technique for making eyes with pretied knots I've never tried before but will be using from now on when I can't use safety eyes.

Since the dog has a sewn on muzzle I did use a saftey eye for his nose but with the open inside safety eyes are viable for puppets. The eyes have to be sewn or use eyes that can be sewn. I love learning new useful skills on a project and I've already used it for the cow's nose.

As I've mentioned previously these posts are all preposted. My deadline is April 15 and this guy was finished one month ahead of the deadline.

Mouse and Cookie

I heard about another program associated with Aztec Wishes being organized for this year, Kits for Kids when I did the drop off last year. I likely am not going to finish a huge number of projects for 2026 but I am going to get done what I can before the April deadline. I will also get a better idea of what works when I participate in the packing in May for 2027.

I have been hyper focused on the doll donation and finally decided to reach out to find out more about this project and deadlines this month. The deadline is tight for this year but there are some of the smaller items from the Aztec Wishes donation that were put aside to help with this project and I will finish what I can before the deadline.

I've always been a huge fan of combining toys and books. I've made the combo of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie book and Ami a few times now. However, with my focus on dolls and lots of other life stuff happening I haven't made any amis in some time. This was a great project to get myself back into the game. I've since started on finger puppets.

Notes:

This pattern has disappeared several times but I do have a link for the moment here.

I used the suggested e hook with worsted 4 acrylic I had on hand. I did use Herrschner's 3 weight for the chips on the cookie as it was the closest color I could find.

At some point in my last round of Ami adventures I stocked up on pink noses because when I went to look I had a gallon storage bag full. I had used thread to sew the last mouse nose as I couldn't find the safety noses. Clearly I wasn't planning on running out again.

The one part of making ami's I don't love is sewing the pieces together so when possible I adjust. I split the body like I'm making pants for a doll and worked the directions for the mouse legs top down instead of feet up. I would do this again to avoid sewing the legs on. This left the head, ears and the arms to sew.

I used a D hook with pink and followed the ear directions to make an inner ear. I then made a second ear with the main color and the e hook and crocheted them together for the ear. I know fabric is popular with ami's but I've never had luck with it for ears, etc.