I would like to start by thanking all those who offer free doll patterns for others to use. My donation has been greatly increased because I do have access to a huge library of free patterns. I like to challenge myself each year trying new patterns so I buy some and I try new free patterns. This is my fourteenth year doing this donation after years of making doll clothes for family so it is helpful to stay fresh by trying new things.
Those who provide free patterns provide them as they see fit. I find some formats easier to use than others. Normally I avoid You Tube patterns because I find a written pattern easier to follow. Again when it is free people provide it as they choose. So I continue to thank those who provide them in the format of their choice.
With that in mind I have to own my processing style. I will explain further.
First so there is no confusion most people are aware of the cheaper versions out there for the 18 inch American Girl Dolls. However, I do sometimes get questions about the Glitter Girl as the Wellie Wisher substitutes are not as well known.
A few years back I read about the Wellie Wisher and wondered if there was a more affordable alternative I could add to the donation as I'd been finding some really adorable crochet patterns for the doll. I came across the Glitter Girl dolls and its been a staple for the donation since. For those who buy the Glitter Girl doll I've found most of the Wellie Wisher crochet patterns do fit in the same way most of the American Girl dolls fit the My Life Dolls and the Our Generation Dolls I donate. I try everything on as I make it to make sure the outfit will fit.
I did search for a Wellie Wisher written pattern for a nightgown for this project. I was willing to buy one but I didn't find one out there. However what I did find was a You Tube video. With no other patterns that fit my search and loving the look of this one I decided to figure out how I could make this work for my processing style.
This is a free You Tube pattern for the Wellie Wisher nightgown found here. The creater is Allmycrochet.
I can't follow directions while listening and watching a video. If you can that is wonderful. I have stayed away from video patterns for this reason.
I love youtube to see stitches and I also appreciate when a pattern includes a video that demonstrates some places where the designer has tried something new or does things differently from a traditional way I'd normally approach something.
You see these sometimes attached to blog pattern and those I love. However, when I sit down to create something I really like to be able to refer back to the directions in writing. I especially find in hard to wait for the rows that repeat with the same pattern until you get to the directions that change. It's hard to know where to skip to because you aren't sure what changes when. I learned this when I skipped a little ahead only to discover I'd missed an increase.
This technique may or may not work for you. I took the notes function on my phone and transcribed the pattern while I watched the video on my laptop. I then was able to send the notes to my laptop and with the picture I took of the finished item I now had a functional pattern for my use only. Since I constantly repeat patterns yearly for this project I had no desire to go back to the video again and this solved my problem. I am thrilled with the outfit.
If I find another you tube pattern that fills a void I can't get in written format I'd consider going this route again. However, it still is not my first choice for patterns.
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