Lil Cutesies Bathing Suit

Next up for the bathing suit project is the Lil Cutesies doll.

This was made using Char's Swimset that can be purchased here.

I had my notes on the printed pattern so I didn't look at the post from last year until I was making this post and realized while I'd randomly grabbed a solid and variegated color match from my size 10 cotton supply these are in fact the colors I used last year. The pink is Aunt Lydia's size 10 French Rose. The contrast I believe is Hobby Lobby's Artiste Blossom but without the label it is hard to know for sure.

Notes:

I used a 1.75mm thread crochet hook for this project with size 10 crochet thread in the colors listed above.

In Row 16 of the bottoms part B I use hdc not sc.

Ruffle I hdc in row 17 not 16. For my own notes row 17 is worked around the complete doll in the back loops. This is the row the ruffle will be added to around the doll.

I do a sc around the legs followed by a row of sc chain 2 to complete the leg openings.

The back is finished with sc as part of the chain process. I mention this because I had forgotten from making this last year. I usually will finish a back even when not in the pattern.

I chained 50 for the ties.

The visor and shoes were made as written.

I have a few options for the Lots to Love 8 inch Baby doll which include coming back to this pattern for the bathing suit project. I am not sure which route I'm going yet.

Lil Cutesies Nightgown

Darski created two free pattern sets for the Lots to Love 10 Inch Baby Doll. The first she called BBL which is where this outfit came from and the second is Sweetly. Both pattern sets have nightgown patterns but I find one fits the Lots to Love doll better than the other. I guessed wrong and the Lil Cutesies doll ended up with a nightgown this year.

For future reference this is the nightgown from the BBL pattern made with a G hook. Since I will likely adapt it again for the Lil Cutesie doll I'd likely use an F hook the next time. I'd gone up to a G trying to get it to fit the Lots to Love 10 inch Baby doll in the back but it just wasn't working for me. I decided to see if I could save the time and resources invested by adapting it to the smaller doll. I'd never used it for the smaller doll and it with some adjustments the pattern fits. I just think the smaller hook would make it a bit less bulky.

Notes:

I believe this is made with Bernat Baby Big Ball Baby Baby. I've been collecting the sport yarn as I can find it and the colors seem to be disappearing. It's a great weight for the doll clothes. I don't always keep the labels once opened so I try to make a good guess at the colors. I prefer the variegated/striped yarns for some of the doll projects. It's not always easy to find a great selection so I'm hoping this line isn't being discontinued. I picked up a lone Lavendar at Walmart even though I didn't really need it as I noticed it was the last one they had and I haven't found it online.

As I mentioned above I used a G hook but I'd likely go with an f for a future Lil Cutesies nightgown. I'm working on how to adapt this for the smaller Lots to Love 8 inch doll.

To finish the outfit I did a row of sc around including the collar prior to adding the ties using the directions. I chained 30 rather than 20 for the ties. Mine tend to be short and I find them harder to tie. After I finished a complete sc around in pink I finished the pink and followed the directions for the ties changing from 20 to 30 chains. I decided to add a chain 3 decorative collar. I did a sc in first sc ch 3 sk 1 than sc in the next. This was done in the front loops of the previous row of sc. When I reached the end I finished with chaining 30 for the second tie.

The sleeves are also finished with a row of constrasting color sc and then an additional row of sc chain 3 skip 1 sc around.

I wanted a finish for the bottom I chose a sc skip 1 sc 5 dc shell in next stitch around.

Lil Cutesies Dress Headband and Shoes

This was the dress I attempted to make back in January for the Lil Cutesies donation but failed to realize that the directions for the skirt change after the first row to make a wider skirt. I kept the first outfit as it was still cute just not the pattern I had intended to make and promised I'd come back to make the pattern close to the one written.

The pattern is available on Ravelry here the designer is not currently selling on Etsy.

Notes:

I used a B hook for the top and a D hook for the skirt. I chose to close the back rather than use a tie. It is loose enough to slide on and off without needing to leave an opening and adding a tie.

This was made with Bernat Baby Pink, White, and Yellow.

I left off a row of the knickers which I then replaced when I added the bodice. This let me use the actual first row of the bodice to crochet the row in back loops to allow me to use the front loops later for my my skirt row. Others may not find this necessary but I found it was much easier to get an even starter row for the skirt all around.

I wrote a note last year and even read it to remind myself that the first skirt row and the remiaing skirt rows are different. I had worked on the undergarment trying to make it less bulky this year and while not completely there it is improved. Having screwed up the first outfit I reminded myself to follow the directions and remember the first row is different from the rest of the rows on this outfit.

I went back to the headband for this outfit and again a reminder to READ the directions for the flower as the pattern is worked in both the front and back rows to make each flower. I made two to layer them before sewing to the headband.

I also found myself making a change to the shoes. Not sure if I did before and didn't record or if this is just one of those "special" years when things just aren't fitting like they used to and I'm making adjustments on the fly. For the strap row I did 6 stitches chained 10 skipped to last 6 stitches and stitched to the end. I added these notes to the paper pattern as I ended up checking my online notes where this note exsisted but for some reason I hadn't included it on my paper copy and I couldn't get the shoes to fit as written.

Lil Cutesies Valentine Dress

I had mentioned previously that I was going to continue with holiday outfits through February since the outfits are for a Christmas donation. Next up is the Lil Cutesies doll.

This is one of Char Caywood's patterns that you can purchase here.

Notes:

I used steel hooks 1.75mm and 1.5mm for this project.

The 1.75mm was used for everything but the shoes and in the future should also not be used for the hat. The 1.5 mm should be used for the shoes and hat. The hat is a little larger with the 1.75mm but for some reason I don't have any notes recorded. I changed that on the pattern after finishing the hat this year and am noting it here for future reference.

I use a snap closure rather than the ties for the back of the outfit. This year I also chose not to add the collar. The collar is cute but year after year I found it doesn't sit quite right for me and I can't imagine with a life time of little hands taking the outfit off and on it gets better. If it was to be a display doll I can see trying to get it just right but I was good when it was finished without this year.

I hope to finish this outfit for the Lots to Love 8 Inch doll so each will have a holiday outfit.

Lil Cutesies Dress, Hat and Shoes

Until recently I'd only heard mention of the smaller Lil Cutesies dolls. Generally I'd seen the 5 dolls from various vendors in more of the Lots to Love styles. I ran into the smaller Lil Cutesies at a craft store but I'd never seen outfits designed specifically for them. They are generally geared towards the other brands of 5 inch dolls.

I've had to be more careful lately as I've searched for new patterns for the larger Lil Cutesies dolls because while I do check size for the Lots to Love 8 inch dolls to make sure it isn't for the smaller dolls until recently it hadn't been an issue for the Lil Cutesies.

To be clear the Lil Cutesies items you will see here are for the larger 8.5 inch doll not the smaller one. Years ago I surrendered my dream of crocheting outfits for the small 5 inch dolls to decorate the house with for the holidays. I have decorated a few of the Lots to Love 8 inch dolls. The longer arms, legs, and torso make fitting the outfits easier and for the most part I can work with baby yarn and only occasionally need to dive into my crochet thread.

You can purchase the pattern for this outfit here. The vendor appears to have moved off of Etsy and I could only find it on Ravelry. That is why the link is different from the one I listed for the pattern last year.

Notes:

I used a B hook for the top and a D hook for the skirt. I chose to close the back rather than use a tie. It is loose enough to slide on and off without needing to leave an opening and adding a tie.

This was made with Bernat Baby Pink, White, and Bernat Baby Soft Dusty Lilac.

I left off a row of the knickers which I then replaced when I added the bodice. This let me use the actual first row of the bodice to crochet the row in back loops to allow me to use the front loops later for my my skirt row. Others may not find this necessary but I found it was much easier to get an even starter row for the skirt all around.

I wrote a note last year and even read it to remind myself that the first skirt row and the remiaing skirt rows are different. I had worked on the undergarment trying to make it less bulky this year and while not completely there it is improved. I should have taken the win and waited until morning to continue but I thought why not keep going and get a start on the skirt and completely forgot my warning about the skirt. Unlike last year when I caught my mistake this year I'd finished the skirt before I noticed it and decided to add it as and additional outfit and go back and make a second one with the correct skirt. I ended up doing this with one of the outfits for the Lots to Love 8 inch dolls. It's not a huge issue. It will give a child another outfit for the doll.

With that in mind I decided to play with a hat for the doll and use the headband for the second dress. With the pointed bow attached to the doll's head hats are challenging. This one wasn't too bad.

I also found myself making a change to the shoes. Not sure if I did before and didn't record or if this is just one of those "special" years when things just aren't fitting like they used to and I'm making adjustments on the fly. For the strap row I did 6 stitches chained 10 skipped to last 6 stitches and stitched to the end.

Lil Cutesies Snuggle Sack

Last year I lost a yarn chicken race with a ball of yarn I thought had enough length to finish the Lil Cutesies' snuggle sack. This time I faired better with a Red Heart Super Saver Retro Stripe left over skein. I still have a ways to go to finish off the skein and I have more in case I finish it off on another project.

You can find the free pattern here.

Notes:

I used a G hook for this project.

This was one of my pre-Christmas projects and when I made this I didn't have a row counter with me. I just kept making it until the item was long enough for the doll at which point I completed the final finish row.