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 19, 2025

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.

Thursday, December 18, 2025

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.

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

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.

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

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.

Monday, December 15, 2025

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.

Friday, December 12, 2025

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.

Thursday, December 11, 2025

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.

Wednesday, December 10, 2025

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.

Tuesday, December 9, 2025

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.

Monday, December 8, 2025

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