Craft Attic Resources

Crafting is fun for all ages and interests. This blog evolved from researching resources for friends and articles I write as a freelance writer. It is a place to share the information I discovered. Please feel free to leave comments and questions. I am always looking at new projects ideas for family and friends in areas of my own abilities and theirs. As a notice to my readers this blog does contain Amazon links and Google Adsense. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Friday, December 29, 2023

Lots to Love 10 Inch Baby Doll Snuggle Sack

After finishing this snuggle sack for the Lots to Love 10 Inch Baby doll I'm done with snuggle sack donations for 2024. I will be moving on to sleeping bags for the Barbie family of dolls and the larger dolls. I still have a Moses basket to finish for the Lil Cutesies doll and one more bib and two diapers for the JC 16 Inch Baby Doll before I will be done with all the baby accessories for the 2024 donation.

You can find the free pattern here.

I used an I hook for this doll.

The yarn is Red Heart Stripes Polo.

Thursday, December 28, 2023

Lots to Love 8 Inch Baby Doll Moses Basket

This project was finished during down moments over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Between the basket and the blanket it was a great project because it was mobile and could be worked on easily without lots of extra items. The Moses Basket pattern comes from Annie Potter Presents Sweet Baby Layette pattern set that can be purchased here. Darski's BBL pattern set provided a free blanket pattern, you can find it here.

Notes:

I used Premier Dominoes for this project. Again this is yarn that I had intended for prayer shawls but not sure when those will be made so I'm determined not to let stuff grow into my permanent stash.

For the basket I used a g hook and the sizing was good. I like the heavier yarn for these baskets. It works up a bit easier than trying to manage the 2 pieces of worsted 4 together. It is a bit lighter but the dolls aren't heavier enough that it makes a huge difference.

I used baby yarn instead of worsted 4 for the blanket so I kept with the J hook instead of reducing to the F hook which I had done last year. As a note for next year I would reduce the hook size as the blanket is a little larger than needed but it still works well enough that I'm not going to remake it. However, next year I'd continue with the baby yarn and experiment with hook size to see what size would be a better fit. I'm thinking the g is likely a good option.

I have a snuggle sack to make for the Lots to Love 10 inch doll and a Moses Basket for the Lil Cutesies doll and this portion of the doll donation will be done for 2024. I need to get back to finishing the JC 16 inch doll diapers as I stopped after two and I need one more baby bib for them as well.

Wednesday, December 27, 2023

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.

Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Lots to Love 10 Inch Baby Doll Moses Basket

I mentioned last week I'd be focused on simple projects during the holiday week to continue moving the donation project ahead but to allow me to enjoy the holiday season. This project was completed over a series of appointments prior to Christmas and picked up at home during some down time. While I am commited to a better balance this year between accessories and clothes I am also realistic about what I can do during times like this and finishing something is a plus and far less stressful than worrying about what isn't going to happen.

While I stopped making doll carriers for the larger JC 16 Inch Baby dolls and the Lots to Love 14 Inch Baby Doll I still make them for the smaller baby dolls. While I've found substitutions for the larger dolls that I'm willing to purchase I haven't found anything in the smaller dolls' size and these actually work up fairly easily without much of a challenge to my hands. Most of the carriers/baskets start at the 12 inch doll size even when they advertise that they will fit the smaller dolls.

The Moses Basket/Doll Carrier pattern is part of Annie Potter's Sweet Baby Doy Layette and can be purchased here. With some adaptation it will fit the Lots to Love 8 Inch Doll and the Lil Cutesies Doll as well.

The blanket is made using a free pattern set for the 10 Inch baby doll found here.

Notes:

I used an H hook and Premier Puzzle Yarn Hangman Yarn for the basket.

The blanket requires a J Hook and I used some old baby sport yarn I've had on hand that I'm trying to use up. I do not have a brand for it.

I've had purchased a bunch of yarn for Prayer Shawls and I just haven't been making them. I made myself a promise if I'm not making projects I'm not holding on to the yarn forever. If I come back to the project I will buy yarn again, but I'm cleaning out my yarn where I can this year. Thus puzzle yarn for a doll basket.

I make my doll carriers a bit deeper by adding side rows. I prefer the doll not roll out when the child is carrying the doll so I keep measuring until the doll fits comfortably and I know I can put the blanket in with the doll without the doll being in danger of falling out.

Monday, December 25, 2023

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all who visit here.

We had an amazing doll donation for 2023 and work has already begun on 2024.

Wishes for a happy and healthy Christmas and blessing for a wonderful New Year.

Friday, December 22, 2023

Lots to Love 8 Inch Baby Doll Snuggle Sack

I'm still commited to balancing accessories with clothing but during the Christmas holiday and break I'm giving myself an out to take on simple projects to continue working on the donations but taking on realistic items that require minimal focus and trying on items, etc. That leaves me primarily with the accessories. It's a good chance to finish off some of the items that need to get finished and I can get back after the New Year to my promise of a balanced approach to accessories and clothing.

I've finished off the snuggle sacks for the larger dolls so I decided to start off with the smallest of the baby dolls the Lots to Love 8 Inch Baby doll. You can find the free pattern here.

This was a new item for the donation last year and I'm thankful I wrote notes for each size of the smaller dolls to adjust this pattern as I'd completely forgotten when I came back to start them again for this year. To keep the tradition going and for anyone interested I'm posting my notes again.

Notes:

I used an F hook to make this for the smaller 8" doll.

I used Herrschners Worsted Baby Yarn color Tiara.

I did not need to add rows to get this to fit the doll and since it was a new skein I didn't have issues finishing it.

Thursday, December 21, 2023

My Life Christmas Elves

After having success with the Thanksgiving outfits I decided to make a couple of elf outfits for a friend's children's dolls for a Christmas party we are attending. I have a variety of Christmas patterns but this seemed doable since I had kind of forgotten the project and needed something that would work up quickly for two dolls. You can purchase Adoring Doll's Elf pattern here.

The picture of her finished outfit has it stopping above the knee with the boots coming up and it looks great. When I followed the pattern as written mine was incredibly short. My first effort was the striped hat and I ended up adding more to the white underskirt to make it longer. It worked better with the second attempt when I went with the lengthening the green and leaving the white with the suggested rows. It's all in what you wish to have for the doll. The picture makes it look longer than it is. The dress hits just at the knee which is what I was hoping it would do with the high boots. The green looks better however with a shorter underskirt.

I attempted the french knots she suggests for the green skirt area and mine just looked terrible so I decided to leave them off. It would have been a nice addition if I could have pulled it off but I prefer it without them if they aren't neat.

The solid red hat was a fee pattern Adoring Dolls offered a while back. I didn't check both patterns against each other to see how they are different but I did find the red hat worked up better. I also used a larger hook and I'd do that with the striped hat if I was to make it again.

Notes:

I used an I hook for the dress and the hat.

The boots were made with an H hook.

The boots fit well and could easily be made with other colors for other outfits.

I am not great with pom pom's so this pom pom is a crocheted version from a now out of print santa hat I've been making for years.

Monday, December 18, 2023

Our Generation Dovetailed

I've mentioned I'm trying to achieve a better balance between making accessories and outfits to make sure all the dolls leave with both. Last year I didn't get to making the Our Generation Girl doll an outfit until July. I feel good to see one in the donation bag in December.

This is one of Darski's free patterns that you can find here. It's become a frequent go to pattern for the Our Generation Girl because it works up quickly and it fits her well.

I often forget to add shoes for the Our Generation Doll outfits as I'm rushed for time because I've put off making the doll clothes. This time I went back to my go to shoe pattern for the 18 inch dolls Sweet Silver Creations Sailor Doll pattern. I don't see this pattern currently listed on her Etsy page but if she lists it again I will post the link.

Notes:

I actually went back to my notes from last year regarding this pattern which is why I do this every year. I like to share with people but I change things, learn things, or go back to old ways and its nice to know what worked the year before.

I use a hair band elastic for the waist of the skirt. I hadn't remembered this when I pulled the pattern out this month so the project note helped.

To make the top fit I use a K hook until I change to pink then I change to a J hook. I finish the back with grey and make the button holes as I finish the back. Make sure you don't let the buttons holes go past the white trim. Darski has buttons go down further but they aren't a must.

I've gone between an I and H hook for the My Life with the shoes I'm considering a G hook for the Our Generation as the I was large, the H was closer but I'm thinking for the next outfit G might be just right.

Friday, December 15, 2023

Baby Doll Diaper Part 2

Every year each JC 16 inch Baby doll leaves with 2 diapers for the diaper bag. It allows the child to have a diaper on the baby doll and one to "change" the baby into for pretend play. With this completed one I have one doll with a complete set leaving me with two more diapers needed for 2024.

I've been making these for a very long time because the plastic disposable ones have a short shelf life. These are a bit less realistic but as long as they don't get lost they can be used for some time.

This is an old free pattern you can find here.

Notes:

I used worsted weight 4 acrylic yarn in any brand I have on hand. It's been a great way to use up yarn left over from other projects. I've used up a couple of left over white yarn balls on diapers and bibs this season already.

J Hook

Thursday, December 14, 2023

Lots to Love 14 Inch Baby Doll Snuggle Sack

I'm think I'm keeping a good balance between finishing clothing and accessories for the dolls so far. The Lots to Love 14 inch Baby Doll is the last of the large baby doll snuggle sacks I need for 2024. You can find the free pattern here. She has a pattern for the smaller baby dolls and I'll be starting on those soon.

Notes:

I used a J hook for this pattern

Red Heart Ombres Green Apple

Continue rows until it fits doll

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Lots to Love 8 Inch Baby Doll Spring Set

If you read yesterday's blog entry you'll know this was my second attempt at this dress for the 2024 donation. The first one while useable didn't exactly follow the pattern. This one came out as expected and I finished it off with the sweater.

This is made using Amy Carrico's Spring Dress set pattern which she is sadly not currently selling.

Notes:

Baby Bernat Sport Yarn

Size B hook for the top of the dress C for the skirt and the rest of the accessories. As I mentioned yesterday it might be time to try the b hook for the panties as the waist is larger than it should be for the doll, but I'm torn because the legs fit well and could become tight if the hook gets smaller.

I feel like I'm getting a better balance between outfits and accessories at the start of this donation run.

On another note thanks to a wonderful Barbie blogger I got a heads up about Dollar Tree items for Barbie.

I found clothes that will fit the smaller Chelsea doll. I've been moving towards a more outdoors theme for the Barbie donation and found Jet Ski's and kyaks for the dolls. I also was able to find simple Barbie versions of a kiddie pool for all the dolls. There are supposed to be some career outfits that will fit Barbie but I've not seen them at my local Dollar Trees. It's often hard to find accessories for Barbie that aren't complete kits with another doll. While I occasionally see Barbie clothes sold in Walmart, I've never seen clothes for Chelsea. I plan to continue to make clothes but it is nice to know I have a starter set because the Barbie dolls are often the most neglected as they are the hardest to fit.

I did find shoes and some clothes for Ken at Walmart for the 2023 donation and bought a second set for the 2024 donation at a reasonable price. I mention this because Ken is hard to find stuff for and many of the patterns I have for Ken have to be adapted significantly to fit the modern Ken. If I hadn't made clothes when my nieces were younger with the older Ken models I would completely claim responsiblity for my funky guage but the patterns I made for their dolls don't fit now.

I was able to add tubs for the two smaller baby dolls. While I've made accessories for the smaller baby dolls from time to time I rarely see much available for them. The Dollar Tree tubs come with a Rubber Ducky and soap so it makes for a cute set.

Not sure how long any of this will last but it give a little extra play fun for Christmas day. If you are interested in finding the Dollar Tree stuff realize they don't all have the same inventory despite being the same chain. I've hunted across my local area to find specific items I know will add play value for my annual donation over the course of the year.

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

Lots to Love 8 Inch Baby Doll Spring Dress

Sometimes you make a mistake on a crochet project and there is really no fixing it. You either pull it back to where the mistake began or you dump the project. However, every so often you find a use for the project that doesn't require such drastic measures.

This is Amy Caricco's Spring Dress set that I've made for both this doll and the Lil Cutesies doll. While I've made this dress on a number of occasions for some reason I had the directions mixed up with a different pattern and as a result the outcome was not what I'd expected. When I surveyed the results I realized while not the outfit I intended to make it would provide an extra outfit for the doll donation.

I finished the shoes, undies, and I made up a hat pattern. I didn't make the sweater for this outfit as the dress is a bit puffier than the pattern and I was afraid the sweater just might not be a good fit. I alternated making these final pieces while starting on the actual pattern in a different shade of Bernat Baby Sport. I just need to finish the shoes for that outfit and it to will be ready to add to my donation stash.

Not all mistakes are disasters. Sometimes they are just a bonus outfit for a baby doll.

Sadly this pattern is not currently available.

Notes:

I use Baby Bernat Sport yarn for this pattern.

The top requires a C hook and the skirt a B hook. The rest of the pieces use the C hook although I'm considering using a B hook after the second set for the panties.

Monday, December 11, 2023

Doll Donations 2023

This turned out to be a great inventory tracker for 2022. I also found it a wonderful way to celebrate what we all had accomplished during the year.

Lots to Love 10 Inch Baby Doll

December 2022