My Life Madison

This free pattern is part of the Howdy Neighbor set found here.:

Notes:

In looking at my notes it appears the last few times I've made this dress it has been for the Our Generation doll not the My Life doll. All good as it is nice to shift things around a bit.

I've noticed my gauge has been a bit off the last week so I'll note my previous hooks and current for future projects. Previously I've needed a J for the bodice and an I for the skirt. This time I was able to follow the directions as written using an I hook for the whole dress.

I used Red Heart Super Saver Spring Green. There are a couple of yarn eating Darski patterns that use this shade of worsted but it is one of the colors I can't get at my local Walmart. I do stock up when I find it. Unlike the Rivulets pattern I used worsted 4 white for the trim for this pattern.

Row 3 should read sc 9 not 19 as the numbers do not work for the stitch count without this change. I love it when there are stitch counts.

Row 11: Row 10 sadly doesn't have a stitch count so having made this a number of times now I'm making this note for myself others may find it works differently for them. I dc in 5 in order to get a stitch count of 55.

Rows 12-16 I increased to 20 for the length I wanted. Thus making row 17 row 21

Bodice trim and strap changes:

Instead of slst in 5 I sc in 5 then I chained 8 for the arm strap. This was just a better look and feel for me. This changes the next chain direction to chain 8 ending with sc 5 at end.

I chose to finish back with green not white trim. I used a button not a snap for a close this time.

The shoes are made using Sweet Silver Creations Sailor Doll Pattern that can be purchased here.

I used an H hook for the shoes with my current gauge issues I'll be using a g for the next My Life project I'm working to complete.

I'm continuing to prepost so today was drop off day for Kits for Kids. Unlike Aztec Wishes this was just a drop off. However, all things being good I've been invited to help pack the bags in May so I'm looking forward to learning more about what donations would work best for the project.

Chelsea Kits for Kids Sleeping Bag

It's April Fool's Day and I'm preposting my Kit's for Kids projects which hopefully have long been delivered by now. I've been using a free beanie baby sleeping bag pattern for years for Chelsea's sleeping bag. However, the two new charities I've added Chelsea to this year have space restrictions. The beanie bag is bulkier and I decided to explore if I could use the thread bag from the Calico Critters to save space as I've adapted a few of Mom's outfits to fit Chelsea before.

You can find the free Calico Critter sleeping bag pattern here.

Notes:

I am always on the hunt for differnt types of thread, especially variegated colors. This is Herschnerrs own brand size 10. I had previously tried it on a dress I've made multiple times with the same hook and it was huge. It also looks larger than my other brands of size 10. I don't have 8 on hand but that would be my guess as it is smaller than my 3 but it is heavier than my other 10's.

Since I was looking to adapt a smaller pattern to a larger doll this seemed like the ideal time to use some of the thread up. I experimented with hooks until I settled on the 1.5mm hook. I may go back to the 1.25 for the one I need for Operation Shoebox as I'm still on the fence about the size.

I followed the directions as written for the basic formation other than I needed more rows for length due to Chelsea's height prior to starting the pillow section. As I do with the Critters I stuffed the pillow and sewed the bottom opening of the pillow closed.

Our Generation Let The Sunshine In

I have one more Kits for Kids project preposted but with this preposting the delivery date for that project is tomorrow. With some challenges I'm having retruning to a project with larger hooks seemed like a good idea.

This project seems to pop up in my to do list every other year or so. Thankfully with binders of patterns I do have plenty to make. I chose this one because it is fairly simple to make and requires basic colors that were in my stash.

That didn't stop me from stocking up on Red Heart Super Saver Navy from my local Walmart as that can be a tough color to find. I can find the lighter blues but Navy is hit or miss for me.

Let the Sunshine In is part of Darski's free Weatherby set found here. The shoes are from my favorite shoe pattern from Sweet Silver Creation's Sailor Pattern and that can be purchased here.

Notes:

All three colors are Red Heart Super Saver. For my own notes the Navy is Soft Navy.

I used a K hook on the dress for the bodice and an I hook for the skirt. I used a K hook for the Bolero jacket.

I went with the suggested hook size for the hat.

This dress ties to close around neck in back and I added chains. This was a bad idea. Use suggested chain length for ties.

Found a previous note to try a G hook for these shoes with the Our Generation Doll and they fit well.

This is the first year I've added white trim to the Bolero jacket arms and I would continue to do this as I liked the look.

These pictures are from my 2022 project and instead of taking new pics each year I keep the old ones to remind myself of what the Bolero jacket looks like prior to full assembly as some years it makes more sense than others and rather than take new pics each year of the process I just post the old to my latest project as that is generally where I turn the next time I make the project.