Stacie Christmas Dress

I finished two projects on Boxing Day this year. Stacie's first outfit for 2026 and a Sleeping Sack for the 16 inch Baby Doll.

I'm always thrilled when I can find patterns to adapt for Stacie as there are not a great number of patterns designed for her. This outfit was adapted from two free patterns. A free teen version of the dress I used for Chelsea's Christmas outfit found here. The hat is from a free Santa Barbie pattern found here.

Notes:

I used size 20 thread and a 1.25 mm hook for the dress. I had tried on the Santa hat I made for Chelsea on Stacie and found the adaptations worked for her so I used a 1.8mm hook with size 10 thread for the hat.

This is the only version of this pattern I need to use the overlap in row 11 to get the outfit to fit the doll. Without the overlap the outfit is too large. With Skipper and Chelsea the dress is too tight with the overlap. I'm not sure I've made this dress for Barbie but it is on my radar for this year.

I needed all rows to get this to length I wished. The final row of the pattern is a trim row and I chose to add white to make it more of a Christmas themed dress. The pattern does not have trim at the top but I added a sc trim in white again for the Christmas look.

I make the hat pattern as written with the exception of the pom pom. The one mistake I made this attempt came because I was working on two projects at the same time and one required turning after joining and this one does not. I need to pay closer attention as the hat looks better without the turns.

Pom Pom:

I crochet 10 dc into a magic circle and join. For second row I dc increase in each dc finish off and gather with needle and add to hat.

My hope is to use the teen version of this pattern to make non-holiday patterns for both Stacie and Skipper. I always like to find pattern that work up quickly that add to the donation wardrobes.

Chelsea Christmas Dress

Chelsea enters the 2026 donation with a Christmas outfit made from two free patterns. The dress is the free Simply Bluetiful pattern found here. The hat is the same one hat I used for Skipper found here.

I was able to finish Skipper and Chelsea's dresses two days before Christmas. It is fun to crochet Christmas items during the holiday season itself.

Notes:

Dress:

This dress has become a staple for Chelsea although I don't believe it made it into the 2025 donation as I'd tried a bunch of new pattern for Chelsea.

I believe these are both Aunt Lydia's size 10 crochet thread but for my notes the variegated is Aunt Lydia's Shades of Christmas. I had bought some for pot holders a while back and am working on using up orphan fiber.

To fit this Chelsea I need a 1.8 mm thread crochet hook.

I do not overlap the back as suggested in the pattern as I find the dress is then too tight.

The final row is a trim and depending on my mood I add or leave off. Wanting to add the contrasting color thread I chose to use the trim row. I would do this again in the future for a Christmas dress.

Hat:

The major change to the hat is I used the 1.8 mm hook for the hat. It fit her head better and it also looks like it will work for Stacie.

I hate making pom poms. I had an 18 inch doll Santa hat years ago that crochet balls and added them so that's what I've been doing this year. !0dc into magic circle. 2dc into each dc for 20 total. Finish off and close to make ball leaving end to sew to hat.

Skipper Christmas Dress

I am always excited to find free pattern that I can make to use for the donation. This is a free Barbie Santa Claus pattern you can find here. It required little adaptation to make it fit the smaller Skipper doll.



Notes:

I used Aunt Lydia's size 10 Atom red and white for this project with a size B hook.

I changed the directions for joining and joined after row 6 of the bodice using only 2 snaps to close the back.

Skipper is shorter than Barbie and flatter chested so I only did 4 rows of the white trim on top. I originally added more but it was too overwhelming for the dress.

This is designed as a Mrs. Claus outfit but I decided to leave it as more of a Christmas dress as I thought if you took off the Santa hat it could be used for other dress up play.

16 Inch Baby Doll Wipes

While I've replaced many of the diaper bag items with the Melissa and Doug Feeding Kit I've continued to make the diapers, bibs, and these wipes.

While many of the kits include bibs they don't always fit the dolls I buy so I fit the bibs to the model dolls I keep for clothes making to make sure they do fit. I crochet the diapers because the plastic disposible ones don't last long and I don't sew so making real cloth diapers isn't happening. The crochet ones provide a fun play experience that I have been able to sustain over the years.

That brings me to the wipes. Most of the diaper kits do include a fake wipes kit. Some are empty and others include paper either wet or dry but they don't last long. I found this no longer available diaper bag kit from Crochet n'Play. The wipes are reusable and washable which gives it the potential to last longer.

With this complete the first 16 baby doll diaper bag accessories are complete. This is a change from previous years when I completed items not sets. I would do all the diapers, then the bibs, etc. It feels good to know one doll is done.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all who visit here. I wish you a healthy and happy day.

A big thank you to all who help with the yearly doll donation. We had an amazing 2025 donation and work has begun on 2026.

Glitter Girl Christmas Dress

I made a choice this year to add as many Christmas outfits to the 2026 donation as I can work out. Most of them will be posted post Christmas 2025 but since they won't be going to the children until the 2026 drive it won't be an issue. The dolls will be able to celebrate with the child on Christmas day along with the non-holiday outfits that always go with the dolls.

I started the Glitter Girl donation this year with her Christmas outfit. You can purchase Adoring Doll's pattern here.

Notes:

Other than not adding the pom poms I followed the pattern fairly closely for this outfit. I also chose to use a snap instead of a button. With the color changes it made finishing the back and adding the button hole the way I normally do less likely so the snap worked better.

Ken Santa

When I find a Barbie family member I try to find enough of that model to last me a few years as I find each model seems to be slightly different in size which means I need to fit the patterns I have to the new model.

Last year I finished the last of my previous model, the Ken Travel Doll and this year am moving on to both the Ken It Takes Two Camping and the Barbie It Takes Two Camping . I have enough to last a few years before hunting for my next models.

I was curious to know how this Ken compared to my previous model and thankfully he's slightly larger. The Doctor model I had used prior to the Travel model was significantly smaller boned and the clothing was all too large. It was not fun adapting all his clothes.

This Ken project is part of my goal to add more holiday themed outfits to the donation this year. I may try to go back and add the Pilgrim outfits for Ken and Barbie after I finish as many Christmas outfits as I can find for the various sized dolls.

This outfit is a combination of an free Ken pattern only available through the Wayback machine and an Annie's Fashion Doll Crochet Club's Old World Santa and Mrs. Claus FC43-01. You can find the first page of the free pattern here. Page 2 is available here.

I've been using the hats from the free patterns to decorate some yoga skeletons for various holidays but I haven't made any of these outfits since I first started making Barbie clothes. I didn't read my notes about using the Pilgrim boots. I used the boots from the Annie pattern. I may try the Pilgrim boots when I make the Pilgrim outfit to see which ones fit best.

Notes:

I used old Red Heart Sport Yarn in Red instead of the suggested 4 ply yarn as I remember these outfits being large when I made them before for Santa's main outfit.

The white was Bernat Big Ball Baby yarn and the Black was Knit Picks Brava Sport Yarn. The gold was misc cotton yarn I had on hand.

I used an e hook except for the trim which was large with an e so I reduced to a D hook.

Pants:

I followed the directions for crocheting over elastic to create the waist.

The original pattern attaches the boots to the pants. I remember this not only not being fun to make but it also made it hard to get the pants hard to get on and off. This was my reason for looking for an alternate boot pattern. This means the pants have a total of 17 rows not 7. Other than changing count I found the pants pattern worked as written.

Jacket:

There is a snap at the top of the coat to help keep it closed. I didn't follow the directions for closing the belt. I made the belt as suggested and closed it like I do with the Our Generation Pilgrim Boy with a snap in the back and a sewed buckle on the front.

Hat and Beard:

I had to extend and expand the hat rows to get the width and length I wanted for Santa's hat. I think I went one row too far as it is slightly larger than I had wanted.

I played a little with the beard to get it to stretch across and then tacked the hat on to keep it folded up.

Boots:

I followed the basic pattern for the boots found in the Old World Santa pattern and then used the topper found in the free pattern. Use a D hook for top of boots.

Our Generation Boy Pilgrim

As I mentioned when posting about the girl Pilgrim I can't really start these outfits during the Thanksgiving season as I'm working on finishing the current year's donation. However, I have found in recent years I don't seem to come back to these outfits in the Spring or Summer. The best time seems to be right after the current year's donation leaves.

This is Adoring Doll's Pilgrim pattern which can be purchased here. I have the pattern set that has the male and female outfits.

Notes:

For various reasons last year I didn't get great notes while making this pattern. This year I was determined to document more to make this work for future projects.

Shirt:

I need an I hook for the shirt.

The sleeves are short for me so I do 10 rows rather than 7 before switching to white yarn. This makes rows 11-12 to finish the sleeves.

I used an H hook for the collar and I finished the edges around the collar with a G hook.

Boots

The boots require an I hook. Pants:

I crocheted around an elastic for the pants with an I hook then moved to an H hook for for row 2. I am tempted to try this without elastic following the directions next year.

Belt

I had to chain 54 to get the belt to fit with an H hook. I closed with a snap in the back making it easier to get on and off. I consider a smaller hook and more chains as it is a bit bulky.

Hat:

I'd thought using an I hook would be the solution to the tight hat but I'm thinking adding more increases is going to be the answer and returning back to the H hook with more increases to make the hat wider.

The band for the hat should also use a smaller hook. This one is large.

16 Inch Baby Doll Diaper 2

With this item complete the first 16 inch baby doll for the 2026 donation has its two diapers for the donation year. Two more to go and I'll be done for the 2026 donation!!

This is an old free pattern that you can find here.

Notes:

I've varied over the years on hook size but the last few years its been the J hook with worsted 4 yarn to get this to fit the doll.

I use snaps to close the diapers.

Before I go back to make a bib for the second doll I want to get a box of wipes done and complete the diaper bag kit for doll one.

My Life Little Bluebell Nightgown 2

After rushing to finish off the nightgowns and swimsuits for the 2025 donation I've been trying to weave them into the early stages of the 2026 donation and get them off my to do list. With this second My Life nightgown the My Life dolls are complete for 2026. It is a small success but each one is a step forward.

I had mentioned previously that having experimented with nightgowns for the 2025 donation I'd settled on Patricia Klonski's free pattern found here. It's quick and easy and looks nice. It's a great way to use up some of my left over yarn from previous larger projects.

Notes:

I believe this is left over Caron Pounder Lilac that I'm trying to finish off.

The project calls for a g and h hook I substitute an H and I hook to get the fit right.

I finish the back and crochet around the top. I close the back with a snap. This time I did finish the sleeves and added a sc chain 3 sk around the arm holes.

Lots to Love 10 Inch Baby Doll BBL Sweater Set

Darski's free BBL pattern set found here is one of my favorite sets for the Lots to Love 10 inch baby doll. I've adapted many of the patterns for the Lots to Love 8 Inch Doll and the Lil Cutesies doll as well over the years.

Notes:

This was made using Herrschners Worsted 8 yarn Jade. However, I bought it two different times and the color was slightly different. I can't replace the yarn at this point so I worked with it the best I could. I will order enough when I have the chance to make the outfit in one shade for the next donation cycle.

Sweater:

I used an H hook for the sweater. In the past I've added some rows being short on yarn I kept to the pattern. Next time I'd make sure I had enough of one color of yarn and keep the longer sweater.

Bonnet:

I went with a G hook for the bonnet as suggested. I followed the directions as written. In the past I've stopped and framed the front of the bonnet. I would return to that for the future.

Pants:

Like the sweater the shorts were a victim of the yarn shortage. They should have been two rows longer. There is no pattern for the shorts. I start with an H hook crocheting around an elastic hair band until I reach the length of the crotch. I didn't go quite far enough here. Then I also needed more rows for the legs. They work but not the look I was going for.

Booties:

The alterations I made for the booties held up. The second bootie worked better as it was made from one whole skein the first I was mixing scraps hoping to finish it.

I use a D hook for the booties.

I added a row including decreases before rows 6 and 7. This made the boots higher and more stable on the foot.

Lots to Love 8 Inch Baby Doll Nightgown

I am determined not to spend the fall scrambling to make my challenge projects like the nightgowns and bathing suits. So I've been trying to work them in like the baby doll accessories as I work on larger projects.

This nightgown comes from Darski's free Sweetly pattern found here that is designed for the larger 10 inch baby doll. With a little adjustment it works well for the smaller 8 inch doll and the Lil Cutesies doll.

Notes:

I don't tend to buy a great deal of Lion Brand yarn as it is more expensive than my other options. However, occasionally there are sales and items find there way into my stash. For my own reference this is Lion Brand's Baby Soft Pastel Print. If I find it on sale I'd buy it again. It worked up nicely for this project.

I used a C hook to get this to fit the smaller doll.

I needed to change the rows to get it to fit the smaller doll.

I followed rows 1-17 then completed rows 33-37.

I finished the back and then did the ties as suggested making mine 30 chains.

I decreased the stitch count on the arms and finished with a chain 3 skip to make it more decorative.

Our Generation Pilgrim

One of the advantages of making the clothes a year in advance of the donation is not having to worry about making clothes out of the holiday season. While it is more fun to make the outfits during the intended season I'm generally finishing up the previous year's donation in November and rarely get the Pilgrim outfits done prior to Thanksgiving. However, if I wait too long, I often forget to make them. So the girl's outfit is done. I need to get started on the boy's.

This project is a combination of a free Darski We Gather Pattern found here and Adoring Doll's Pilgrim Girl pattern that can be purchased here. She has a combo pattern that includes the boy and girl which is what I purchased if you are interested.

Notes:

The dress was made with an I hook using Darski's We Gather Pattern. All other accessories including the bonnet this year were made from Adoring Doll's pattern.

I used an I hook at last year's suggestion for the shoes and it was a better fit. I followed the directions on hook size for all other items. I'd go with a smaller hook size for the collar next year. I also added a stitch on the bonnet in the back to pull up the bottom of the bonnet as it was too long in the back.

16 Inch Baby Doll Bib

I've been trying to slip in the 16 inch baby doll accessories as I work on larger outfits for the other dolls.

This pattern is part of a larger free feeding kit pattern found here.

I generally donate a Melissa and Doug feeding kit with the larger baby dolls but I like the bibs to fit the actual dolls.

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.

I need one more diaper and a set of wipes and the first set of accessories will be done. I then will need to start the second set for doll 2.

16 Inch Baby Doll Diaper

I've been making these diapers from a free pattern you can find here for years.

Notes:

The two larger 16 inch baby dolls each leave with two diapers, a box of crocheted wipes, and a bib. I generally purchase a feeding kit and a bassinet. I have an amazing donor who has been sewing diaper bags.

My hook size changes from time to time but recently I've leveled off at a J to get them to fit this doll.

I use snaps instead of buttons to close. I just find they stay closed better for me.

One done 3 more to finish for the 2026 donation.

My Life Little Bluebell Nightgown

Of all the nightgown patterns I tried for the larger dolls last year this was the quickest and easiest to make so I'm sticking with it for 2026. You can find the free pattern here.

I started alternating pattern types at the end of the season last year to finish neglected categories. I've started this new season hoping to avoid neglecting categories. So you will see night wear, sleeping bags and sacks, and swim suits mixed in with a variety of outfits so I don't have them all to make at the end as I did last year.

Notes:

I used Red Heart Super Saver for this project.

The pattern calls for a G and H hook I found I needed an H and I when I made it previously and continued with that for this project.

I followed the project as written and finished the top and back with sc before adding a snap to close. I had finished the arms in previous projects but this time didn't feel it was needed.

16 Inch Baby Doll Summer Dress

This pattern for the dress and the hat are from an old out of print 1981 newsprint House of White Birches Baby Doll Fashions to crochet that I've found myself exploring more each year since I purchased it.

This has been my go to pattern from it but last year I found myself exploring more patterns and I've identified a few more I'd like to experiment with this year. The shoes are from my got to free shoe pattern for this doll found in Darski's Peachy Keen pattern found here.

Notes:

In order to get this to fit the 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.

I finish around the back top and the underarms with sc. I do some decreases to improve the fit. It is closed with a snap in the back.

I started the directions for the 13 inch Baby Doll Bell hat and increased the rows prior to creating the brim to account for the larger 16 inch baby doll head.

Some of you may recognize my go to shoe pattern. As I mentioned before the shoes are part of a free pattern called Peachy Keen. I used an J hook and continued with the Bernat Baby yarn I used for the rest of the outfit. Note to myself I'd use the solid color baby yarn the next time to have consistant colored shoes.

Doll Donations 2025

Year 14

Another year I find myself using this tracker more and more through the year to keep me on track with clothing inventory for the dolls. While the post 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.

Lots to Love 8 Inch Baby Doll

December 2024

January 2025

March 2025

May 2025

October 2025

Lil Cutesies Doll

January 2025

February 2025

May 2025

October 2025

Lots to Love 10 Inch Baby Doll

January 2025

October 2025

Lots to Love 14 Inch Baby Doll

December 2024

January 2025

February 2025

May 2025

June 2025

July 2025

October 2025

JC 16 Inch Baby Doll

December 2024

January 2025

February 2025

March 2025

May 2025

June 2025

July 2025

September 2025

October 2025

My Life Doll

January 2025

February 2025

March 2025

April 2025

July 2025

September 2025

October 2025

November 2025

Our Generation

December 2024

February 2025

June 2025

November 2025

Our Generation Boy

January 2025

February 2025

March 2025

April 2025

October 2025

Glitter Girl

February 2025

March 2025

April

May 2025

June 2025

October 2025

Rag Doll

February 2025

April 2025

May 2025

June 2025

September 2025

November 2025

Barbie

April 2025

May 2025

June 2025

July 2025

Ken

January 2025

February 2025

May 2025

June 2025

July 2025

Skipper

February 2025

May 2025

June 2025

October 2025

Stacie

March 2025

April 2025

May 2025

June 2025

October 2025

Chelsea

December 2025

March 2025

April 2025

May 2025

October 2025

Calico Critters

Dad

February 2025

March 2025

Mom

February 2025

March 2025

April 2025

Sister

February 2025

April 2025

Brother

March 2025

April 2025

Crochetville Donations 2025

Babypoohsmom

November 2024

November 2025

CShort

May 2025

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BGS

August 2025

Megananne3

September 2025

My Life:

Our Generation:

Rag Doll:

16 Inch Baby Doll:

Lots to Love 14 Inch Baby Doll:

Tampa Doll:

October 2025

10 Inch Baby Doll:

14 Inch Baby Doll:

My Life Doll:

Amigurumi Doll: