Calico Critter Sister Shell Dress

This has become one of my more frequently used free Calico Critters crochet patterns and you can find it here. It has directions for Mom and Sister.

Notes:

Taking my notes from last year's project I used a 1.5mm hook for the top and a 1.25mm hook for the skirt.

The dress uses size 10 thread and this is from Hobby Lobby's artiste thread sample box.

I was able to complete everything but the snap while waiting my turn for an appointment Saturday. I added the snap when I came home.

Calico Critter Mom Swimsuit

I've been writing for a bit about this free pattern that you can find here.

I wasn't sure I could make it work and it took a bit of work but Mom has entered the 2026 swimsuit challenge for the donation.

Still thinking about fiber and hook for the smaller sister Critter but it is a start. I'm mostly through the last 16 inch Baby doll's suit so that just leaves me to see if this can be adapted for the sister.

Notes:

The pattern is written in UK terms and calls for 4 ply wool. As with several patterns I've used recently I worked my way down. I started with Unforgettable Yarn which was clearly too heavy. I decided to try Cotton Fair that I've been using for my ami projects and while a little bulkier than I'd have liked it did the trick. I will be moving to thread for the sister.

The pattern starts with 24 stitches I'd reduce this to 21 as I had to reduce the first row by 3 to get the shaped area to work.

I skipped row 2 as it made the top too wide to fit under the arms. I am considering doing a flat strip across for the sister and seeing how it works.

There is a gap between the arm holes and the top's cluster stitches. I stitched them to the arm holes as I liked the look better than having them be free standing. Generally ties are added to the clusters to tie the top in the back but this has arm holes. This is why I'm thinking of leaving them off for the Sister pattern.

I took a flat picture of the Critter as a reminder that these are made as hip huggers. There is no hole opening for the tail it rests on the back. Without giving away pattern secrets this is a unique way of making pants which I hadn't tried previously.

Glitter Girl Mermaid

I've had my eye on this pattern on Ravelry for a while but then it fell off my radar until I went to look for a pattern link and realized I'd never purchased it and if I wanted to include the outfit in this year's donation now would be a good time to buy it. You can purchase the Wellie Wisher pattern here.

The pattern calls for sock yarn but I had a suspicion from a few other mermaid outfits I'd made that I might be able to get the Red Heart Unforgettable yarn to work. I believe this is Gossamer. There is some thought this yarn may be discontinued so I'm trying to stock up and look into a Michael's Loops and Threads substitute.

Notes:

There is no note on the pattern itself but the designer wrote a note on her Ravelry pattern site that one could crochet over an elastic rather than using a tie at the waist of the tail. I chose the elastic as this yarn can fray and the fewer lose ties the better.

I needed a G hook throughout the project.

The length is long likely do to the change in fiber and hook so when I make this again I would make sure I closed it at the bottom of the doll's feet. These fins are formed differently than any others I've made to date and I wasn't ready to alter the pattern until I understood where it was headed.

Having finished it once shortening the rows would not be an issue.

Again it could be the fiber or the hook size but I played a little to get the ties lined up. I also would work more on the lace look of the original top. As a first try it works but I think there is always room for improvement.

Barbie Cinderella

I keep trying to work in my themes for the year and so we add another to the Cinderella category with Barbie's dress.

You can purchase the pattern here.

Notes:

This outfit is made with Knit Picks Palette Yarn. I use a D hook for the top and an e hook for the skirt. The pattern joins from the beginning I join the in round 12 and add a snap to close as it makes the dress easier to get on and off for little hands. I've played with the trim in the front so there is no gap.

As for Skipper I haven't decided which Cinderella pattern to use yet. Her adapted Chelsea dress looked good last year.

Lots to Love 8 Inch Baby Doll Spring Petal Dress

I loved the look of this pattern but the dress and items looked heavier than what I expected from most baby doll patterns of this size. The pattern called for cotton fingering yarn and while I didn't have any of the brand suggested I tried various brands until I started up my acrylic ladder to full worsted with a G hook to get it to fit my doll.

Now this is the challenge of buying outfits designed for one doll and hoping they will fit your doll. This is designed for the AG Caring for Baby doll and you can purchase the pattern here.

One of the advantages of working with so many different dolls is I am used to having to adapt patterns and I rather liked the textured feel of this outfit and I wanted to add it to the donation bag.

Notes:

This was made with a ball of worsted from my let's finish off pile. It has to be Red Heart or Caron.

The dress required a G hook.

The bloomers started the waist with an H hook and switched to an e once the waist was created.

I was concerned the G would make the shoes large but the fit as written and didn't fall off.

I took an extra picture of the hat because I really liked the flower. I think mine might be more 3-D than the designers but I still really liked it and I'm always needing flowers to add to doll clothes were the designer has one on the outfit and then a link to go somewhere else that may or may not still be current. This one would work for a couple of outfits that I have been struggling with what to add.

It is odd that I went through the entire range of yarn trying to get this outfit to fit as I'm going through a similiar issue with a winter outfit for the Our Generation Boy. I once again started with my fingering yarn and am working my way up to worsted weight. We will see if that project comes to a finish.

Calico Critter Brother Swim Trunks

Well the Critter Men are ready for the beach. I have a pattern I've never tried for Mom which might fit the sister if I can get it to work. We shall see. I've never tried the designer's pattern but a free pattern is always worth a shot.

Notes:

You can find the free pattern for the Dad and Brother swim trunks here.

This pattern contains directions for both Dad and brother with the designer directing you clearly to the differences.

I used size 10 thread.

I used a 1.25mm hook for Dad and Brother.

Lesson learned after making Dad's was a reminder not to join after the first row.

I only do one leg row after joining to keep them as swim shorts and not pants.

To finish Brother's shorts and make them accept a snap at the back I needed to finish around the top and the back edge.

With this swimsuit finished I have one more 16 inch baby doll and the experiments to see if the Calico women will have swimsuits for 2026.

Calico Critter Mom Morning Glory Dress

I made this free pattern found here for the first time last year. The skirt was fuller this year and that is something I will work on the next time I make it.

Notes:

The dress is made with Aunt Lydia's size 3 and the flower size 10 white.

The flower is from an accessories pattern that comes with some of On A Calico Day's patterns.

I used a 1.5mm hook for the dress, a 1.25mm for the headband and a 1mm for the flower. Someone posted on a fb crochet site that they couldn't understand why people needed more than a couple of crochet hooks as she never used more than one size. I needed three thread hooks to complete one project. It really comes down to what you make.

I did not join the first row of the skirt as this pattern starts with the skirt to give the bunny a bit more tail room. I started joining in row 2.

16 Inch Baby Doll Swimsuit

With this swimsuit complete I have one more to make for the 16 inch baby doll and then what ever else I can complete for the Calico Critters to finish out the 2026 swimsuit challenge.

This was made using a no longer available 18 inch doll pattern from Stephanie Dygerty.

Notes:

This was a great chance to use up an orphan yarn for the yellow. Not sure what brand this is but the white is Red Heart Super Saver.

I need a K hook to get this to fit the baby doll.

The only part of the swimsuit I have to play with is the top row. I always have to make sure the points are centered. I added a reverse crochet to finish the hat.

I use 40 chains for the ties.

Our Generation School Uniform

Not to late to add a back to school outfit for the donation.

This is one of Sweet Silver Creation's patterns that can be purchased here.

I'be been using this shoe pattern for several of my outfits that need a shoe without a strap for years. I couldn't find any blog notes about this project but I do know I'd made it for one of my nieces years ago. I confirmed it when I found notes on my printed pattern regarding the repeats for the skirt.

Notes:

I follow my traditional method for splitting for arm holes rather than the pattern suggestion. I've never had an issue with her other patterns making this change and it saves sewing in more ends.

The top section and the skirt are created separately and joined at the end.

The arms are premade and set into the arm holes. I crocheted into the back loops of the arm hole and recreated the arms that way. I had better success with one arm than the other but this is something I can work on as I've never had great success setting the arms in after I've made them.

I had a note I should use an f hook for the shoes, I'd go back to the previous note that suggests an e hook.

This picture is a reminder about setting the skirt after crocheting it. I crocheted around the bottom of the skirt with sc and then finished the top of the skirt sc around the inner sides of the skirt before completely sewing the skirt closed.

I then pinned the skirt to the top. I found I couldn't completely join the top to the skirt and be able to get the outfit on and off easily thus the picture below.

The headband worked as written.

16 Inch Baby Doll I Feel Pretty

Rotating through the baby dolls weekly seems to be creating a more balanced wardrobe among the dolls.

Next up is the I Feel Pretty Dress for the 16 Inch Baby doll.

You can find the free dress pattern here and the shoe pattern here.

Notes:

This was made with Herrschners Baby Worsted Stripes Pastel Rainbow and Worsted Peachy.

The dress and panties used an H hook. The hat used a g and f hook. The shoes need a J hook with the Herrschner's yarn.

Row 5 of the dress first dc is 9 not 8.

I add 3 rows for length for this doll.

The legs are formed in row 7 of the panties.

The hat uses a G and an f hook and I use 50 chains for the ties.

I've been using a snap to close this outfit after finishing the back rather than buttons.

Chelsea Sun Dress

Last year I picked up a collection of AG mini crochet patterns from Sweet Silver Creations that follow many of her full sized American Girl patterns. This one is only sold in the set not as an individual pattern. You can purchase the set here.

I've been slowly working to adapt these patterns to fit the Chelsea doll.

Notes:

I used size 20 thread and a .75mm hook for this project.

There are several additional accessories I didn't include. I've yet to find a crochet shoe pattern that fits the Barbie dolls well. I've made this hat for the 18 inch dolls and if you are going to display the dolls I suspect it would work but it doesn't stay on easily. The purse is a bit large for Chelsea and I really had no desire to try it in size 20 with a .75mm hook.

That said I do like this pattern and would use it again. It is a quick dress for Chelsea. The dress closes with a snap and the front buttons are mini buttons I picked up a while back. It might be time to consider a new batch as my color selection is a bit limited.

Calico Critter Dad Swim Trunks

I've had this in the Critter folder for a bit and never made it until I was going through my Critter folder and realized this wasn't a pants pattern but supposed to be swim trunks. I needed to shorten them to make them look less like pants and more like swim trunks to meet my swim challenge.

You can find the free pattern here.

This pattern has directions for the Dad and Brother. I hope to get back to the Brother soon.

So I will remember this pattern does not join until the legs are formed.

I followed the upper portion of the trunks as written. I decreased the leg rows to one additional leg row to keep them at short length rather than pants.

The designer does include directions for a tail hole and the back closes with a snap.

Calico Critter Mom V-Stitch Sundress

Every so often as I'm looking at patterns on Ravelry I find one from a designer I missed. This is designed for the sister and baby. However, I found I had to change the sister pattern to fit the Mom as it was huge on the Mom. I'm planning to adjust it to fit the sister.

You can find this free pattern here.

Notes:

I used a 1mm hook and size 10 crochet thread for this project.

I started this project twice learning from my first mistake. I try to make my doll clothes easy to put on and off. The pattern suggests joining the project from the first row. I did this and almost lost the bunny tail as I was working on the top section of the bodice. This made me rethink the project and I frogged my first attempt.

For my second attempt I chose not to join until making the skirt which includes a pattern trick for leaving a tail hole. This works better to slide the dress on and off with the top open until closed by a snap. I stopped damaging Mom's cotton tail.

Just a note by not joining I need an extra starting chain of 29 not 28.

I repeated Round 2 once for the skirt to get it to the same length as pictured for the sister Critter.

The headband only required 30 chains. Over the years I've collected a number of On A Calico Day's crochet patterns. They come with embellishment patterns. This is where I found the flower for the headband.

My Life Cat Short Set

I was hoping to get this posted Friday but decided to put it up on Saturday and keep pushing to complete my projects for the donation. It seems impossible but that deadline is now approaching rather than far off in the distant future.

This is one of Pamela Yarborough's patterns that can be purchased here.

I've been following her patterns long enough that my copy is from her origins of posting free patterns to her website to give her a following to start selling her patterns.

As with many of my doll projects this year this is another pattern that has been sitting in my doll binder for years until I came up with a more balanced approach for rotating through making clothes for all of the dolls rather than randomly picking which doll I felt like working on today. This has actually helped me to reach more deeply into all my doll folders and try some patterns I've not used in years or like this one, never tried.

Note:

This is made with Red Heart Super Saver Amethyst and White. The Pink and Grey are Herrschners. The black is sport yarn left over from the ami's.

I started with the hat and the shoes making them between other doll projects so they wouldn't need to be made after the outfit.

The hat was made using an H hook and I left a note on the pattern to try an I hook the next time.

The shoes were made with an H hook.

The top fits but it is snug with the suggested H hook. With anything that has to slide on and off the doll I like a little room so I'd use an I hook the next time for the shirt. A reminder to myself to pull the yarn up from the bottom for the ss.

I used the suggested F hook for the cat face and that was the right choice.

The shorts are snug with an H hook but my concern is getting them to stay up if I move to an I hook.

Our Generation Patriotic Swimsuit

I was looking through the flash drive of patterns I bought from Pamela Yarbororough Designs to find swimsuits I hadn't made previously for the donation and found this one.

I have decided I like this top and bottom best. I'd consider rotating the hat, sarong, and color options from the other patterns but this may be my go to starting pattern for the 18 inch dolls for a bit.

You can purchase the pattern here.

I used an H hook for the top and bottoms and an F hook for the accessories. I finally mastered the ss technique she uses while making the headband. I'd use it for future projects.

I'd consider experimenting with an I hook for the top. This top is joined and needs to slide on and off. It is a bit snug for the Our Generation Doll once you add the ss. An I hook might help make it easier to take on and off. I'd just have to check to make sure it doesn't gape open at the front.

The 18 inch doll swimsuits are done for 2026. I am going to experiment with something for the Calico Critters. No promises it will work. I still need two for the 16 inch Baby Dolls and then I will be done with this category for the year.

16 Inch Baby Doll Linmary Dress

This one took me much longer than I expected as I kept making unexpected changes.

The dress set is a free Linmary Knits crochet pattern found here. The shoes are from one of Darski's sets found here. Notes:

I've made a number of notes on hook size over the years. This year with the exception of the shoes, everything required an e hook. I used an J hook for the shoes.

This pattern uses UK crochet terms and I have notes all over my pattern to remind myself not to use US crochet stitches as it is a whole different outfit.

Dress:

I added 5 additional rows and an additional contrast row to the bodice for length prior to adding the skirt. To help myself keep track I have notes on the pattern regarding the repeats as they are not written out and with multiple repeats and row changes for each repeat I lose track. I finished the neck and the arm holes decreasing both as I found them a bit big this time.

I do not crochet in the back stitches for the bodice. I tried it this year and frogged it as it was not a good look.

Hat:

I had to stick with the e hook for the entire hat. I tried the notes I had on the pattern but the hat was huge. I believe this is how the Our Generation Boy ended up with a sun hat last year for his swim trunks.

Little Red Riding Hood Wolf Finger Puppet

Having finished the wolf I am pleased to announce the Little Red Riding Hood finger puppets are complete for Kits for Kids. If I can hold off on the temptation to start more tiny projects I want to finish the rest of the swimsuits opening up a spot in my weekly projects for the projects without taking out a regular doll project.

This pattern is from Evgeniya Yunitskaya's no longer available Red Riding Hood Finger puppets.

Notes:

I used Cotton Faire cotton for this project and a my Tulip Etimo sized 2 crochet hook. The pattern worked up pretty well.

The one main change I'd make in the future is a more traditional oval snout. I understand the idea the designer was going for with this pattern but it is really hard to make it work and lots of work for a simple finger puppet. An oval snout attached to the head would work better and be more efficient with my time.

For my own notes I never crocheted smaller than 6sc into a magic circle as I found it looked terrible and made attaching pieces more challenging later.

I attached the arms, then the head and then the white front piece.

The scarf needed to be longer but perhaps not quite this long.