Granny Square Doll Blanket

I have an amazing group of friends who donate doll blankets, clothes, and accessories every year for the donation and since I've added the baby doll snuggle snacks and the larger doll sleeping bags I haven't been making as many doll blankets.

Both these are projects that I can take with me when I have appointments or I'm going some place where I'll be sitting for a bit.

However, I found myself having finished with those items and time to work on blankets. I started with my seed stitch go to pattern but it was fighting me and I decided not to fight back. At some point I'll return to the blanket and figure out where I'm going wrong but I need a stress free blanket project and the giant granny seems to work. I finished this one and am about half way through a second one.

Skipper Crop Top and Shorts

It's almost Labor Day but Skipper finally has shorts. Considering the doll won't be leaving until November for a Christmas donation seasons are less relevent when I make the stuff. However, sometimes when its hot I do feel like shorts are a good idea. This past week was a good week for short outfits.

This was the second outfit from Annie's Cool Crop Tops and Shorts Pattern from their Annie's Fashon Doll Crochet Club FCO104.

I used the medium directions with a C hook for Skipper with baby 3 yarn. I would continue with this for the shorts but use I'd use a b hook and the large directions for her top. I had to add rows with the medium directions to get it to fit the modern Skipper. Barbie's finished shirt was too big so I'm thinking a smaller hook would make the fit work.

I've started Stacie's shorts with the smallest pattern but lots going on so we will see when that outfit is finished.

Barbie Crop Top and Shorts

I made myself a promise this year that I'd work through my doll binders and find projects that I'd neglected that I thought I could actually complete for this year's donation. While going through my Barbie binder I found an old patterne that seemed like a good one to work on when I needed something quick and simple. This one was perfect because it offered a simple project and it had three sizes of the Barbies with limited changes so it was a great way to add projects to the donation bags.

This is an out of print pattern from Annie's Fashion Doll Crochet Club FCO104. I truly wish Annie could find a way to reprint these patterns in digital format for purchase as they are often ridiculously priced in the used pattern market. I like them because they vary from simple projects like this to fancy detailed outfits I'll never make but there is variety for all levels and interests.

I've learned working with Barbie's that I always need to test the outfit against my current model doll as the dolls can change. I'm donating a Ken and Barbie that don't really do well with the older patterns I have but the current models seem to do quite well. I'm only hoping when I have to get the next model when my supply of these current models runs out still fit these older patterns without the drastic changes I'd had to do for the previous dolls.

Notes:

I used baby yarn for this pattern. Herrschners baby 3 for the solid and Lion Brand Ice Cream 3 for the shirt.

Glitter Girl Camping Outfit

This was one of those outfits that kept building as I was working on it for the Glitter Girl. I started by making Adoring Doll's sleeping bag as part of her camping pattern which can be purchased here. I don't make the camping accessories because I've been purchasing the Glitter Girl Campfire set when I can get it on sale for the donation.

The pattern also includes a shawl and headband and I thought they'd be fun to try. Having made them I realized I was far from an outfit so I kept looking for more pieces.

The pants are from another Adoring Doll Pattern found here. I hope to finish the complete outfit with a different colorered pants to give more options for mixing and matching before the donation deadline.

The sweater is from a Wellie Wisher three sleeve length pattern that can be purchased here. I had hoped to get a long sleeved sweater for the donation from this set but I couldn't get the sleeves to fit the arms so I went with the sleeveless option. If I hadn't been to the point of wanting to be done with the set I might have experimented with crocheting the sleeves on and trying to establish the pattern. It is an idea to try for the future but I needed this outfit to be done.

Notes:

Shawl: An f hook with worsted works for the Glitter Girl. Use an H hook accidently and you have a shawl for the 18" dolls.

Pants: G Hook worsted weight yarn. Add three rows to the waist before splitting for legs as the waist line was short for me.

Sweater: Knit Picks Pallete Yarn with a D hook. You will add rows to back before closing so don't panic if it is snugger than normal.

Glitter Girl Sleeping Bag

With the Glitter Girl sleeping bag finished I have completed the sleeping bag/snuggle sack challenge for 2024. Every doll is leaving with one.

This is the only non-free pattern I use in the challenge as I'd already purchased the set before coming across the free patterns which actually fit the other dolls better and while slightly more time consuming just work better than the mummy sacks as my brothers used to call them.

You can purchase the set for the 18 inch and 14.5 inch dolls here. She also offers each pattern set separately. It comes with additional camping items. I'm going to make the shawl and add it to a pants set. However, I purchased a camping set for the Glitter Girl that contains the items she's made here so I'm not going to duplicate them.

Notes from previous project that I used for this project:

I hook

Check length folding up as I always seem to need extra rows for length. Fold and pin the top prior to checking to see how much more length I still need.

This is closed with 2 rows of contrasting color that go all around closed ends of face area. The stitches are not the same for each row.

Glitter Girl Ballerina

I've been pushing into my doll pattern binders this year to try to make sure I'm using the patterns I've purchased when ever possible. Some are still not realistic for my circumstances but many I just forget I have and it is time to branch out and try some different kinnds of items or sometimes visit patterns I either bought and forgot or haven't made in a while.

This is one of Adoring Doll's patterns that can be purchased here. It is a relative new comer to Glitter Girl's binder but since it isn't a huge folder I find myself not leaving much behind for ideas.

My one challenge with this outfit is I wish she'd gone with a lighter yarn, perhaps even thread as the worsted weight yarn is heavy for such a delicate doll and this type of outfit. The idea is adorable but it feels heavy.

I used Caron Pounder Lilac from my stash.

I needed a I hook to get the suit to fit. I changed to an H hook for the skirt and the straps.

I used a D hook for the slippers.

The headband was made using a g hook.

My Life Sleeping Bag Part 2

This is the last of the sleeping bags I'm making from Suzie's Blog free pattern for the donation this year and I'm so happy. While they make amazing travel projects because you can sit and relax while making them, it is so nice to know something is finished for the year and I can move on to other things. As I'm writing this the final sleeping bag is also done and will post this week as well. I guess that means I'm on to doll blankets as my travel project.

For those of you who are interested you can find the free pattern for the sleeping bag here. She has a variety of sizes of the sleeping bag as well as snuggle sacks for baby dolls. It has been an amazing addition to my doll donation project.

Notes:

I use a K hook with this pattern to get it to fit.

This takes close to 2 skeins of Red Heart Super Saver Stripe Yarn for future reference. For some reason these skeins always feel smaller than the traditional skeins.

Lots to Love 14 Inch Baby Doll Swim Suit

This has been a wonderful, crazy, busy summer and even when I've finished stuff for the donation I haven't gotten around to taking pictures and writing it up. Stuff was piling up and it seemed like time to do a little cleaning by means of processing stuff. I'm slowly working my way through my target projects for 2024. Swim/Bathing suits has probably been one of my oldest projects for the dolls. However, as I've added more dolls I've had to work harder to try to include all of them in the challenge.

This is one of Char's 15 inch doll patterns. I'd previously used it for the JC 16 Inch baby dolls but decided to try it for the Lots to Love 14 Inch Baby Doll this year. You can purchase Char's pattern here. While I needed a J hook for the larger 16 inch baby doll using Herrschners Baby Worsted 4 in Kitten I was able to make this using the suggested H hook despite it being a smaller doll than the Bitty Baby the pattern was designed to fit.

I followed front of swim suit pattern until frow 12 and skipped from row 12-15 for both dolls as I found it was too big with the additional rows.

Ties and Trim for the front I used the contrast yarn. I liked the look better than continuing with the solid color.

Still playing with the hat as this isn't quite the look I want.

I used a G hook for the sandals.

I may go back to the bikini pattern for next year.