Barbie Nightgown

I discovered this negligee pattern when searching for a nightgown for the 2025 challenge. This comes from the out of print newsprint House of White Birches Crochet Wardrobe for 11 1/2 inch Fashion Dolls Including a complete wedding ensemble and trousseau. I've found this phamplet to be helpful for both Barbie and Ken in finishing their annual donations.

I keep experimenting with different brands of threads to have access to different colors and patterns. I originally tried this with Herrschners size 10 cotton and it was significantly larger than my other brands of 10. I don't have any size 8 in the house but I'm thinking what I have is closer to 8 as it isn't quite as thick as a 3. I just started using it to adapt the Calico Critters sleeping bag for Chelsea. The bag clearly needs to be bigger and why not use the larger thread to help.

I made adaptations to this pattern to fit the modern dolls I'm donating as the original pattern as written would not fit the dolls as written.

Notes:

I used size 10 thread and a 1.25mm hook for this outfit.

Chain 45 After making the math changes to rows 1 and 2 the only additional adjustments were to the row counts as they were now smaller than the original pattern. However the basic pattern worked with the reduced counts.

There is a 3 stitch cluster between each sc set. The cluster being 3 sc in one stitch.

Row 1: sc 6 cluster sc 11 cluster sc 7 cluster sc 11 cluster sc 6 total 53 stitches

Row 2: sc 7 chain 8 skip 14 sc 11 chain 8 skip 14 7 sc

Follow rest of instructions as written with understanding stitch count will differ.

Also as a note to myself clearest way to know you've made a mistake is clusters should not be stacked on top of each other they should alternate rows. If this pattern is not occuring you have made a mistake. I noticed this a couple of times and was able to go back and fix before I'd gone too far.

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.