Stacie Sleeping Bag

While this is posting towards the end of May I'm writing it the first weekend of May on a wet rainy Sunday.

Wet rainy days are great days for bargain hunting which honestly is the only way this doll charity stays functioning.

I looked at my Amazon doll wishlist today to find the 16 inch Baby dolls on sale and stocked up.

I've been struggling to decide what to do about restocking the Glitter Girl dolls as my reserve is low and nothing was speaking to me. The prices have been high and price is important if you want to reach more kids. However, today they had one doll that fit the style of doll I wanted and was about 1/2 the price of the other dolls in the category. I was also able to replace my current model which sadly is out of date and will not accurately model for the current dolls. I hadn't realized that until I went looking for a new doll.

On to the current project. As I post this at the beginning of May I now only have two more sleeping bags to make before the doll donations. Both are Chelsea dolls and going to two different donations. This is a huge weight after last year discovering I had forgotten them in the fall.

Stacie is now the only fashion doll that uses the free Beanie Sleeping Bag pattern found here rather than a combo of the fashion doll and Beanie shells. Her bent arms make the wider sleeping bag a better choice. I experimented during Kits for Kids with using a Calico Critter pattern for Chelsea and I will use that for the next two Chelsea sleeping bags I need.

Notes:

This was made with Herrschners Baby Worsted Stripes a 4 weight yarn. Note to self do not use anything bulkier than Herrschners for Stacie's sleeping bag.

I use the suggested I hook.

Once the pillow and pattern are established I stop counting rows and close when the sleeping bag easily ends over the doll's feet.

Skipper Sleeping Bag

As I mentioned on Ken's sleeping bag post I lost track of some of the accessory projects last year and ended up scrambling to finish them in the fall.

I looked back at Skipper's sleeping bag post and it hit on Halloween last year. Since I prepost it might have been earlier but still I like getting these projects in the donation bags early in the year. Having them waiting in the fall wasn't going to work for me this year.

It is the first weekend of May as I prepost and Skipper's bag is ready to go. This leaves me with Stacie, and two Chelseas to finish the donation year.

This bag is made using a combination of two free patterns from Suzie's Stuff Blog. The first is her Fashion Doll Sleeping bag found here. The texture comes from her Beanie Bag Sleeping Bag found here.

I use the fashion doll pattern to establish the pillow and width of the pattern. The shells come from the beanie pattern. I find sc the entire sleeping bag to be a rather tiresome project. The shells make it work up faster for me. I also like the textured look.

Notes:

This was made with Red Heart Ombre Violet. I'd use this again for Skipper if I had it on hand.

I need an I hook to get this to fit Skipper.

Once the pattern is established I stop counting rows and follow the pattern until it covers the doll's feet and then I close the bottom of the bag.

Ken Sleeping Bag

I'd taken a break from Aztec Wishes doll clothes to make the deadline for Kits for Kids. When I came back I wanted to work on some larger doll clothes to give my hands a rest.

I haven't given up on that goal but I also realized I can't abandon the accessories or I'll be scrambling in the fall to finish off items that got forgotten. Looking back at last year's projects this sleeping bag was posted early November. Not something I wish to repeat.

The only sleeping bags remaining are the Barbie ones. With this I still need Skipper, Stacie and 2 Chelsea as I will need one for the Shoebox donation, too.

This is a free fashion doll sleeping bag pattern found here. I like the texture from the beanie bag pattern also on the same site found here so I combine the patterns.

Notes:

The yarn for this bag is Red Heart Super Saver Stripes Latte Stripes.

I use an I hook for the sleeping bag and once the pillow is made I stop counting rows. I continue to crochet until I can close the bag over the doll's feet with a little room at the bottom.

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.

Calico Critters Mom Sleeping Bag

I am so very grateful to be finishing these sleeping bags and sacks so early in the donation year.

With preposting I spread them out so I only post one a week so this one was actually finished a month to the date ago.

These little ones are so quick and easy to finish that I decided to work my way through the Critters before going on to other dolls. I'm also going to adapt this pattern for Chelsea as it is less bulky and since I'm also making one for my shoebox donation space is critical.

You can find the free pattern here.

Notes:

I used size 10 crochet cotton and a 1.25 mm hook for the adult sleeping bags.

Since I don't have the means to add beds to my donation are am sure there is even space for such items I try to send sleeping items with the dolls. Most dolls have a sleeping bag or sack. The baby dolls have some kind of bassinet and blanket and the larger dolls all have blankets.

With this is mind the pattern leaves an empty pillow in the sleeping bag. I never had a sleeping bag with a pillow but as this is the intended sleeping area for the doll I've been stuffing and closing the lower portion of the pillow area. It is a choice when you make one.

Calico Critter Dad Sleeping Bag

I finished this sleeping bag back in February but I try not to post more than one per week.

This is a free pattern found here.

A very dear friend sent me some size 10 crochet thread and this sleeping bag was made with Aunt Lydia size 10 shaded blues. I'm thinking I have an old Barbie pattern that requires this shade. For my notes Thread Art has a similiar color should the Aunt Lydia's become unavailable.

Notes:

I use a 1.25mm thread crochet hook for this project.

The pillow is generally not stuffed as is the case with sleeping bags but since this is often the bed I send with the dolls I do try to include a pillow. The pattern allows you to stuff and sew off the opening if you want but no clear directions are written for this as the design is to keep it flat so it can be rolled up.

Glitter Girl Sleeping Bag

For years I've used Adoring Doll's camping set sleeping bag for this donation.

I've just never been a fan of the mummy sack sleeping bags. My brothers had the down ones for deep winter camping and of course it was all I had available when I needed a sleeping bag and I found them horribly confining.

Last year after finishing the mummy sack I promised myself I'd look into adapting the free 18 inch sleeping bag pattern for the smaller doll and here we are with a new sleeping bag.

Notes:

This was made adapting a free 18 inch doll pattern found here.

The only change I needed to make was to use a G hoook. After establishing the pattern I don't count rows I measure length against the doll before closing the bottom and that is what I did for the smaller Glitter Girl.

This was made with Red Heart Super Saver Bonbon print and required slightly over one skein to finish. I leave this as a note as it is significantly less than the other dolls but still not a single skein project unless it is a jumbo skein.

Rag Doll Sleeping Bag

This is the last of the large doll sleeping bags I need for 2026.

I'm working on adapting this pattern to use with the Glitter Girl as I've never been a fan of the mummy sack sleeping bag pattern I have for her.

You can find this free pattern here.

I still use the K hook for this doll I just use fewer rows stopping when the bag covers her feet leaving room to close it.

I believe this is Red Heart Super Saver Polo Stripes Yarn.

Our Generation Sleeping Bag

With this sleeping bag finished all the 18 inch doll sleeping bags are complete. I just need one for the Rag doll and then I'm on to the fashion dolls and little critters. I still need a sleep sack for the Lots to Love 14 inch baby doll.

Notes:

This is a free pattern found here. You can also find patterns for the fashion dolls there as well.

I use a K hook to make this fit the 18 inch dolls.

The yarn for this one is Red Heart stripes Baby Rainbow and I need 2 skeins to make it fit.

My Life Sleeping Bag 2

This one was primarily made in January during the Patriots playoff game against Texas. I finished it the Tuesday afterwards and started one for the Broncos. I find it is best to have something easy to workon whether watching football with DH or at appointments when I'm waiting.

Notes:

This was made with Red Heart Stripes Parrot. I use a great deal of Super Saver for my doll projects. It comes in lots of colors and it is on the affordable end of yarn for my projects.

This was the first time in a very long time I got a bad skein.

Almost every brand has joins but these joins fell apart. The yarn also had a streak of brown that ran through the yarn making it look dirty. I cut out and rejoined around it but it was disappointing as I use striped yarn for many of these donation projects. I just pulled a pair from my stash that I had purchased from Joann's ages ago and that set is clean. Hopefully this is not going to be a new issue.

This is made with a free pattern you can find here. There are patterns for several sizes of dolls available there.

I need a K hook to get this pattern to fit the My Life and Our Generation Dolls.

Our Generation Boy Sleeping Bag

I try to post only one sleeping item per week regardless of how many I finished.

This was actually my New Year's Eve project. I started it at an appointment the day before. Worked on it during a game night on New Year's Eve and finished it up New Year's Day. I started the next one and worked it until I reached the shell section for my next appointment as it is easier to travel when the project is at this point then starting from the pillow section on the road.

I am working to fufill my promise of having these finished early in the donation cycle.

This is made using Suzies Stuff free pattern found here.

In years past I've made it a goal to use up yarn in my stash where possible. This year it is less of a goal and more of a need as I can't indulge my yarn buying habit. I had used this same skein of Red Heart Ombre Cocoa last October to make the boy's sleeping bag. Not sure there is enough for another 18 Inch doll but it might work for Ken.

I need a K hook for this project.

My Life Sleeping Bag

I vowed last fall I'd finish the accessories earlier for the 2026 donation. I really didn't enjoy rushing to finish them at the last minute.

A couple of appointments and some Christmas movie viewing made this one move along quickly.

Notes:

This is made from a free pattern found here. You can find sleeping bags for the fashion dolls there along with snuggle sacks for the various sized baby dolls.

I use a K hook to make this fit the 18 inch dolls.

I believe this is Red Heart Super Saver Bright Stripe. I often pick skeins up at Walmart for the sleeping bag projects.

Barbie Sleeping Bag

I finished the 2025 Barbie Sleeping Bag right before Halloween and it posted in early November. I finished the 2026 one before Thanksgiving and its posting in early December. I'm targeting these projects so they don't end up being rush jobs at the end of the donation season. That wasn't how I wished to finish the year but it did give me an idea of how to multi-task and do the projects I most enjoy while still getting the other items done as well.

This is one of Suzie's free sleeping bag projects found here. I combined it with her Beanie bag one found here for the texture. The original pattern uses only sc and while effective is a bit dull to make. Adding the shells makes the project a bit more enjoyable and adds a nice texture to the bag.

Notes:

This project requires an I hook.

It is the same skein of yarn I used for the 2025 sleeping bag and I think its Red Heart Perfect Pink.

Calico Critters Sister Sleeping Bag for 2026 Donation

I've mentioned on several occasions that I take the sleeping bags and baby doll snuggle sacks as my travel projects. I move on to doll blankets if there is time before the donation is due. If I finish a project I try to set up the next project so it is ready for the next time I know I'm going to be some place where I know there is a chance I'll be sitting and waiting. Most of the time I remember what the next project is but this time I got it stuck in my head that I needed one more Calico Critters sleeping bag for the sister despite the fact I'd finished the family requirements for 2025.

This was a last minute project out so I grabbed supplies and had the project almost complete when I got home and realized the project was a duplicate. It was almost done and I wasn't going to frog it at this point so I decided I'd set up a separate holding section for the 2026 Calico Critters and I even started a 2026 donation page on my blog so I don't forget and continue to make even more duplicates.

With this explained these are quite simple projects if you don't mind crochet thread for anyone's Calico Critter families. The free pattern provides pattern adjustments for the adult and children critters. You can find the free pattern here.

Notes:

I used a 1mm hook and size 10 crochet thread for this project. I've been working through my supply of variegated thread for these sleeping bag projects.

I've been making this notes as I go along that less stuffing is better on the pillow. Also reminding myself that while the directions are clear on crocheting one end of the pillow the other end must be sewn shut.