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 27, 2024

16 Inch Baby Doll Diaper 3

I'm still preposting projects and while we now have passed Christmas as this posts while I'm writing I have slightly less than two weeks to go until the holiday. It feels so good to know these projects are coming together and are ready for 2025!! This project is adapted from a free pattern still available from the Wayback machine here.

I just need to make one more and the diapers for the 16 inch baby doll will be done for 2025!!!

Notes:

I used a J hook for the diaper and didn't skip stitches for button holes as I use snaps to close the diaper.

Thursday, December 26, 2024

16 Inch Baby Doll Bib 2

While the post is post Christmas as I'm writing this its the beginning of December and I'm just beginning to deck the halls.

With this bib both 16 Inch Baby dolls have bibs for the 2025 season so I can check one item off my list. I still need to make one for the Lots to Love 14 Inch Baby Doll but that is a different pattern.

Notes:

You can find the free pattern here.

To get this bib to fit the larger doll I've made the following adjustments:

Start with a chain 16

Continue pattern for 20 rows

Row 21 do row 11 neck shaping

Chain 40 stitches for ties

Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Chelsea Summer Play Set

I try to balance getting some of the accessory projects finished with getting some clothing items done early in the donation months. One thing I've tried to do in recent years is try to start of the year making sure I get something done for each doll as it is easy to fall behind when you have nothing done for one doll and the year is a quarter gone.

I'm balancing a few challenge projects with some simple clothing projects I tend to include each year to get something in each doll's bag.

I found this to be a quick and easy pattern for Chelsea once I adapted the pattern.

In past years I've made this a full length dress but with this color I really liked the shorter look.

Notes:

You can find the free pattern here.

This pattern is the base for the Chelsea dress but do to the differences in dolls I've made significant changes.

The pattern calls for size 30 thread I use size 10 for Chelsea with a 1.8mm thread hook.

I follow rows 1-4 of the pattern as written with the changes in thread and hook size.

Following row 4 I continue row 4 for an additional 4 rows joining after completing 8 rows.

I changed the pattern's written row 5's V stitch to 2dc ch1 2 dc instead of dc ch1 dc I kept the skip stitch in place.

The dolls are different sizes and I never counted the skirt rows. I continue until the dress fits passed the doll's knees.

To close the back I use a snap after finishing the back with sc.

Monday, December 23, 2024

Lots to Love 8 Inch Baby Doll Summer Outfit

This is one of Amy Caricco's patterns, Summer Set for 8 Inch Doll, that currently seems to be available for purchase on Ravelry here. At one point after seeing her disapear than reappear on Etsy I think I managed to finally buy all her baby doll patterns for the sizes I can use because I love her baby doll patterns but she isn't always selling her stuff so my suggestion is buy it while you can because the next time you go back the option might not be available.

I've been exploring options for thread to expand color options. This is made with Knit Picks size 3 Curio. I've not had a great deal of experience with Knit Pick's thread but I was pleased with the quality and when I bought it a while back I was able to add some color options I hadn't previously found for size 3.

I went with Bahama instead of teal as I had it on hand. However, I was a bit distracted when I started the project and mixed up the main and contrast colors. When I made this previously I followed the instructions for white main and teal accent. This time I had Bahama as the main and white as the accent. I went back and looked at last year's project and I like both options.

One major change I made this year was not adding the t-strap. I found this incredibly annoying last year and it didn't add much to the look or fit of the shoes. The version I made is closer to the Mary Jane shoes I make for the larger 16 inch baby dolls minus the socks. I would keep this change for the future.

Notes:

Top:

I started with a C hook for the top. It was too tight with the suggested B. However I shifted to a B hook in row 4 because as the increases occured the larger hook made the top way too large.

For the arms I did not add the increases in the suggested stitches as it made the sleeves into mini balloons and it didn't look great.

Shorts:

I used a C hook to get the shorts to fit and followed the pattern as written.

Headband:

I used a C hook to get the band to fit the head but the smaller b hook for the flower. The pearl buttons are from Joann's.

Friday, December 20, 2024

16 Inch Baby Doll Diaper 2

I am preposting at the beginning of December and it is hard to believe I'm posting a Christmas week post already!!

These small projects don't always seem exciting but they are truly important. It's the beginning of December as I write this and one 16 inch baby doll is fully diapered for the 2025 donation. This feels good as these are things that are off my to do list.

This is a free pattern still available through the Wayback machine here.

I go back and forth on hook size each year. I have notes all over my pattern. After making the first one with an I hook, I moved to a J hook for this one. Honestly, it is a bit of a Three Bears issue. One feels a little small the other feels a bit big. I tend to go larger rather than smaller so the third will be made with a J hook.

I use snaps for my diapers so I don't skip holes for buttons.

Thursday, December 19, 2024

16 Inch Baby Doll Bib

I make two complete diaper bag kits for the 16 Inch Baby Doll's each year.

Each doll gets 2 diapers, a bib, and a "box" of wipes.

I also generally include a Melissa and Doug Feeding Kit with the donation but I do like the hand made items to add some play value to the kits. While the feeding kit comes with a bib it is designed for a smaller doll. I know this bib fits the doll I'm sending.

The bib is made using a free pattern for a feeding kit found here.

I've changed the bib pattern a little to fit the larger doll

Notes:

I hook

To get this bib to fit the larger doll I've made the following adjustments:

Start with a chain 16

Continue pattern for 20 rows

Row 21 do row 11 neck shaping

Chain 40 stitches for ties

Reminder to myself for future years, this bib is a bit large even without adjustments for the Lots to Love 14 Inch Baby doll. Needlecrafts Shop's Sweet Cuddles 971016 leaflet is a better fit and I should pull it out to use for the smaller doll.

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

16 Inch Baby Doll Wipes

Sadly this pattern designer no longer lists her patterns on the Internet so I can't provide a link for the pattern. When I first bought the pattern I was making more of the diaper bag items. Over time I stuck to the things that added the most play value and resorted to buying sets like the Melissa and Doug Feeding kit for the JC 16 inch Baby Doll.

My decisions about what to make came down to fit and how long stuff would last. Most of the kits I've seen that have wipes either have an empty wipe container to pretend, wipes that dry out, or paper ones that wrip. None of this is really fun play. These appealed to me because they are something a child can hold and they won't dry out. They are washable so the value is there to use my time to make these to add to the diaper bags.

Tuesday, December 17, 2024

16 Inch Baby Doll Summer Dress

Some times life is just odd and amazing. As I was getting ready to prepost this project I realized I hadn't checked my used sites in a bit to find a replacement for my Margaret Funk's 1981 House of White Birches newsprint leaflet Baby Doll Fashions to Crochet.

My sweet loving youngest Sheltie chewed a corner off the booklet last year and I realized having a second copy would not be the worst idea as it is hard to find and clearly is attractive to certain members of my family. I haven't had great luck but today on a whim I decided to search and found a back up not only of this but of her fashion doll book that I also rely heavily on to finish my donations each year. I was so pleased to find both at a reasonable price after not finding a hint of the first in a year.

This is the Summer Dress pattern from that leaflet.

The shoes are made from a Darski's free Peachy Keen pattern found here. This really is my go to pattern for this doll's shoes as they work up quickly and stay on. I use an I hook an worsted weight yarn with an I hook for the shoes.

Notes:

I normally use Lion Brand Ice Cream for this project but this is made with Herchnerrs Worsted.

To get this to fit the JC 16 Inch Baby Doll I started with an E hook and repeated row 5 once. Thus rows 3-6 follow the original directions for 3-5 moving each row directions down one. For the original row 6 now row 7 that starts the skirt I moved to a D hook to decrease the skirt size as it was too large with the e hook.

Monday, December 16, 2024

Our Generation Pilgrim

The 2025 donation has begun.

I had started this outfit before Thanksgiving but life has a way of getting in the way of crochet plans.

I had originally intended this for the My Life Doll but it was a better fit for the Our Generation. Since I want to make the matching boy outfit for the Our Generation boy doll not a bad idea to start here. I'd like to complete some My Life holiday outfits during the year but they don't all have to be done now.

The dress is made using Darski's free We Gather pattern found here. I used an I hook for the dress. I'd do a better job with the button holes in the future. The collar for the dress, the apron and the shoes are from Adoring Doll's Pilgrim that can be purchased here. I still am playing with the bonnet pattern. Not completely thrilled with it yet.

I used an I hook for the dress and an H for the shoes. I might go back to an I for the shoes.

Friday, December 13, 2024

16 Inch Baby Doll Diaper

Every year I try to start off the year by making the items I add to the diaper bags for the 16 Inch Baby Dolls. This coming year I'm fortunate to have one of this group donate some bags I can use but I've also taken to purchasing them when they aren't donated as I just don't enjoy making them anymore.

Each doll gets two diapers, a bib, and a "box" of wipes for the diaper bag.

This is a free easy diaper pattern found here.

I go back in forth on hook size for these diapers. This one was made with an I hook, other years it's been a J. This one was a little more snug so perhaps I'll go back to the J.

Only 3 more to go for the 2025 season!!!

Thursday, December 12, 2024

Lots to Love 10 Inch Baby Doll Overalls

This was the final project of the 2024 donation and I finished it in November but it was one of those projects that seemed to take much longer than it should have.

This is one of Petite Design's patterns that can be purchased here.

I'm thinking of trying this in size 3 thread perhaps next time? The yarn was rather heavy for the double layers.

Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Lots to Love 10 Inch Baby Doll Dress and Hat

As the fall began I realizzed I had some what neglected the Lots to Love 10 inch Baby doll. This is one of the reasons for the lists I keep. It helps me course correct and make sure all the dolls leave with something. I had purchased more patterns from Petite Designs for this doll so I knew I had options but I had to make them.

As I mentioned in a previous post this pattern is written for a 9.5 inch doll but using a C hook I had no trouble getting it to fit the slightly larger doll. This pattern can be purchased here.

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Youthful Memories

I'm continuing to finish posting my 2024 doll donation projects while I've already finished a few small items for 2025.

This is one of Darski's free patterns that can be found here.

I finally wrote notes on the pattern as I seem to forget to do so every year. I used an I hook with this pattern except for the hat which was an H. The waist requires an elastic band.

I have never found a way to get the purse to work so I always end up making something as I go.

The shoes are from an Adoring Doll pattern Robbie Lynns Spring Dress that can be purchased here.

Monday, December 9, 2024

Doll Donations 2024

Each year I use this tracker more and more through the year to keep me on track with clothing inventory for the dolls so while it doesn't go live until the end of the year, I add to it all year long as a way of tracking what has been made and to remind me what I should be working on before the donation due date.

It is also a wonderful way to share what others have kindly donated as to the cause as well. It is a great way to celebrate all that has been accomplished in 2024.

Lots to Love 8 Inch Baby Doll

December 2023