16 Inch Baby Doll Parrot Stripes Dress

It was time to update my finished projects. This is one of my best resources for going back to and finding out what I made, how I made it and what I changed.

This is actually an 18 inch doll pattern that works quite well with the 16" Baby doll. You can find the free Flamenco pattern here. This pattern generally appears across several of the donation dolls as it is easy to adapt and quick to make. I made one previously for the first of the 16 inch donation dolls using up some varigatied yarn in my stash. I returned to my Red Heart Super Saver Stripes stash and pulled Parrot for this project.

I found this year working with an I hook until I made the armholes and switching to an H hook for the remainder of the dress has proven to be the best option for this doll. I use a snap at the back to close the top.

This is a slightly different hat than the one I made for the other doll. Still working on a design I really like before writing down the pattern. The shoes however are part of another free baby doll pattern set found here. I find this is one of easiest shoe patterns that stay on the doll's feet.

16 Inch Baby Doll

At a certain point in the year I start to focus on the deadline for completing the doll donations and I start picking some projects that I know can be completed quickly and thus add to the total number of outfits for the dolls. I still will grab a project of interst but overall my goal is on numbers. You may see patterns repeated in the coming weeks.

This is actually a free pattern for the 18" doll that I've been adapting for the 16" doll for several years. You can find it here.

As I mentioned in a previous post guage has been odd so I started with an I hook until I passed the arm holes and then moved to an H hook and the fit was good. The dress was easy to take on and off. I used a snap at the back to close the dress.

The yarn for this project was one I picked up on impulse a while back as I was looking for options for variegated yarn for doll projects. It was a "house" brand but I don't remember where I bought it. I am determined to finish off these purchases and this seemed like a good place to start.

While there is no pattern for the hat, it is something I keep experimenting with hoping to find a version I like before writing down the pattern there is a free pattern for the doll shoes you can find here. This has been my go to shoe pattern for this doll as they are easy to make and they don't fall of the doll once you put them on as some of the others I've tried have done.

16 Inch Baby Doll Bib Pink

I was sorting finished outfits into the correct doll bags and took the time to do a little inventory. I realized I still need one doll carrier, which I've sinced order since my hands won't be up to crocheting the last one this year. While I have one extra baby doll diaper bag left over from last year, and I ordered one, I still have one more to purchase. However, in the how did I miss this category, I realized when I left off making diaper bag items in March I missed making the last baby doll bib. Since this is a fairly quick project, I decided to get this off my to do list.

This is based on a free pattern found here that I've adapted to fit the larger baby doll I donate. The pattern has additional items you can make, but as time has gone on with this donation I've been focusing on the things I can make that have the most play value and opting to find substitutes when my efforts don't really translate into the play value I feel they should.

In order to get this to fit JC Toys 16 Inch Baby Doll I did the following with an F Hook:

Start with a chain 16

Continue pattern for 20 rows

Row 21 do row 11 neck shaping

Chain 40 stitches for ties

Just a note to self because I did forget this time don't stop at row 20 but continue with white until you finish row 21

16 Inch Baby Doll I Feel Pretty

Over the years I've found that Herrschners house brands of yarn work well for my doll projects that need a little lighter weight yarns than I can normally find at my local stores. Their worsted 4 weight yarns for instance are a little lighter than a traditional 4 weight and I find this often works well for certain patterns where the doll or pattern are not right for baby or sport yarn but also find the traditional worsted 4 just a bit heavy for the project. While the price for the acrylic yarn is affordable for the doll projects, although often in smaller quantities than other worsted brands the shipping can be a bit daunting. Therefore I tend to buy when they send me shipping coupons.

That is what brought about the color choices for this outfit. I knew I wanted some additional lighter weight variegated Herrschners worsted 4 yarns for doll projects and I ordered some the last time I had a coupon. One of the challenges that happens when you order online, especially with variegated colors is can't always be sure of the colors you are ordering. This is Prism and while I like the look for this dress this wasn't quite the color I thought I'd ordered and when I went back and looked again I still don't quite see this as the outcome but it works.

This is one of Darski's free doll patterns I Feel Pretty you can find here. The shoes are my go to free shoe pattern from Darski found in her Peachy Keen pattern here.

16 Inch Baby Doll Dress with Straps

I donate 2 of the JC 16 inch Baby dolls each year and to make the donations even I do repeat some outfits. My goal is by donation day the two dolls have an equal number of outfits to wear. When I do repeat patterns I tend to use different colors to keep it a little more interesting. I've been trying to use up this green so I kept that from the first outfit I made in March and paired it with an orphan skein of I believe Lion Brand that has been living in my stash for far too long.

Notes:

I used an I hook for the bodice of the dress and switched to hdc instead of sc as it made for a better fit. I switched to an H hook for the skirt as I've done previously. I joined all rows. The straps were made with a g hook and I used 18 rows.

I used an H hook for the hat and alternated fpdc and bpdc for several rows to give it a textured look at the bottom of the hat. I finished the bottom with in the contrasting color with a round of fpsc stitches.

Both patterns used in this outfit are free patterns. Recycled Cindy created the pattern for a 14 inch doll that I've adapted for multiple dolls and you can find that pattern here. The shoes are from Darski's Peachy Keen pattern set here.

16 Inch Baby Doll Dress, Hat, and Shoes

In previous years I've resisted having to repeat patterns. As I return to this project I find myself instead attracted to finding ways to make the same pattern fit as many dolls as possible once I've found success with it. Sometimes our habits change.

The dress and hat are from a Petite Designs Patterns that can be purchased here. The shoes are one part of one of Darski's free patterns that can be found here.

After finishing this pattern for the Rag Doll I tried it on the 16 Inch Baby doll to see if it would work. It was a little large in the top so I kept with the baby yarn and moved to an H hook and the fit was good. I realized after posting this to the ongoing completed post that this is the same yarn I used for the bathing suit.

16 Inch Baby Doll Bib

Still working through the diaper bag items for the doll donation. While I"m buying some items like the feeding kits there are just certain things that work better when you make them to fit the doll. I like making the doll bibs because the generic bibs that come with the feeding kits are hit or miss on fitting the dolls I donate. Like the diapers, I generally have a Three Bears issue that for some dolls the bibs are too large and others too small. The projects are quick so making them is often easier than sending stuff that likely won't be used because it doesn't fit the doll.

For those of you interested this is a free pattern for a Baby bib and a food baby food container and spoon found here. I tried crocheting the baby food container and spoon for a few projects but while crochet play food has great play value the untensils and jars are not as useful as I'd hoped. I shop for sales on the baby doll feeding kits and store them for the donation. The play value is better and I'd rather spend my time making things that kids will use.

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

16 Inch Baby Doll Bathing Suit

I mentioned I've been making bathing suits for the doll donation hoping it would usher in the warmer Spring weather. As I was making this one we had 6 more inches of snow followed by 50 degree weather. Old Man winter is fighting a losing battle.

This is one of Char's Bitty Baby patterns that can be purchased here.

As often happens when I start a doll outfit I started this project for the Lots to Love 14" doll but using the Herrschners worsted 4 yarn it was too large so I tried it on the 16" doll and an exchange was made.

I have another Dora the Explorer bathing suit pattern so I'm thinking of trying that one for the 14" doll. If not there are other patterns to keep exploring. I am hoping they will all leave with a bathing suit along with other outfits.

I was able to order the last of the dolls I need for the 2022 donation. I was waiting for a reasonable price for the Lots to Love 14" doll and found one at a price I was willing to pay. Next month it will be time to start looking for deals for next year's dolls. It is always wise to put them away when you can find them at a good price. With the cost of goods increasing not sure how many great deals I'll be finding near term but we can always hope. There are people with far greater problems than this in the world and I've been blessed to find all the dolls I do need for 2022.

I have 4 project tracks at the moment. There is the ongoing prep for the doll donation, summer and fall birthday presents, new baby gifts and gifts for big sisters, and ongoing holiday presents. I also have a few random house decoration projects but not a firm track. I'm hoping to divide my time to get all these projects completed.

Baby Doll Wipes Round 2

As I mentioned in my previous post the baby wipes are made using a no longer available Diaper Bag Pattern from Crochet n'play. If the pattern ever does become available again I will happily post it as I think it is a very creative pattern that provides great accessories for children's baby dolls.

When I cleaned out my yarn supply in January I put aside both the yarn balls I had left over from previous projects and the yarn bobbins I hadn't finished off. I often use the left over yarn bobbins on amigurumi projects but they too often have a way of getting lost over time and are not emptied when I need them for my next afghan project. So it seemed a good time to pull them all together in one location and started finding ways to use all of them up.

I made the wipes using a g hook.

The yellow became my next wipes box. I found one more bobbin after I finished this but I'm sure it will work as a trim for another project at some point.

I've written before about checking out Dollar Tree for Barbie items after reading about a Barbie bloggers finds there. Since Christmas I've also been finding play food sets and even a tea set to send off with the larger dolls for the donation. After finding a little kitchen stove top set I thought I'd share these in case anyone else was looking for little sets. I know I'd never have found the Barbie items or now these if someone hadn't shared their finds so I pass on what I've learned to you.

Even in my local Dollar Trees I've found stock differs and when it comes to Barbie and these little food sets they don't often last long. I know I stock up when I find them because I've often gone back myself to find them cleaned out.

16 Inch Baby Doll Carrier

I rather like this project for the donation despite the fact it is rather hard on my hands as it uses threee strands of worsted weight yarn together to make a carrier strong enough to tote around a rather large baby doll. This combined with the diaper bag gives the doll and all its extras storage. I was lucky this year and Caron Pounders were on sale and I got enough for the two JC Toys 16-inch Baby Doll carriers. I'm hoping to have enough from my stash to make the slighly smaller Lots to Love 14 inch doll.

This is a free pattern from Holland Designs found here.

I've been altering this pattern for years to make it a better fit for the dolls I donate. I crochet the first 10 rows of the pattern with an I hook and then switch to a K hook for the remainder of the pattern. The original pattern was designed for a Cabbage Patch kid and I suspect the larger size was a better fit. The narrower JC dolls fit better with the smaller carrier.

For my hands sake I tried to stick to 2 rows a day. The days I went over before switching to another projcet I felt it. I don't plan on starting the second carrier before April. I have plenty of projects that need doing and I'm hoping this will give my hands a needed rest.

I haven't finished any doll blankets yet and the doll donations generally come much later in the year, but this carrier will leave with a blanket for the donation.

Baby Doll Wipes

Years ago my DH purchased a pattern from Crochet n' Play for a Diaper Bag set for my doll donation project. As with many online designers her pattern store has disappeared from the web and I can no longer direct people to her great work.

For my part I've started purchasing some items for the donation because they provide more practical play experience and they allow me to focus my time on items that enhance the play time. I've started buying Melissa & Doug Feeding Set when I can find the on sale because they provide many of the fun feeding items that don't always work as well made in crochet.

I haven't given up on making items for the diaper bags though. First as you've already seen posted I make the diapers to fit the dolls every year because regardless of your views on disposable vs. cloth diapers for real babies for dolls that don't wet, cloth diapers are just a cheap alternative, especially when they are made to fit the doll you receive. I also make the bibs. This set comes with a bib, but it made for a smaller doll and I like to make the items to fit the dolls I send out. Lastly wipes.

I've seen several attempts to make pretend wipes for kids. Sometimes its just an empty plastic bottle where kids can pretend to get wipes for the baby doll. Others have wipes that run out because they dry out. The crocheted wipes like the crocheted diapers solve the problem of running out as they are constantly reusable. They aren't even that hard to remake if you lose one. It crosses that line between the plastic container with no wipes and the containers with wipes that dry out.

This was another project that let me did into last year's left over stash of yarn balls. I've been thrilled to target this yarn and not see it disappear into the depths of my yarn stash.

Notes:

I used a g hook for the wipes and container. The lettering should face outward but I wasn't redoing it.

16 Inch Baby Doll Dress for March

Since last year I've been attacking a large skein of Michael's Craft Smart Yarn that I bought years ago on a whim when AC Moore closed and wasn't crazy about the yarn. Last year I decided it was time to use up the yarn and make room for yarn I do love. However, no matter how much I use it seems to grow back at night. So you can expect to see more projects this year as I'm determined to see it gone.

This set uses three of Darski's free doll patterns.

The Dress is a Dora Pattern: A Dress For February found here

The Shoes: Peachy Keen found here

The Hat: Sunny Days found here

Just as an aside we just put together a list of Darski's free doll patterns found on Crochetville for a variety of dolls here. It's a great starting point if you are looking for free patterns, especially for the 18 inch American Girl type dolls or baby dolls like this one.

This pattern was designed for the Dora the Explorer Doll so clearly adjustments have to be made for the different shape of the JC Toys -16-inch Baby Doll. I use a K hook for the bodice and an I hook for the skirt. I join the outfit after the 7th round. In row 1 I chain 8 not 6. This leads to a change in row 3 of sc 7 never 6 to reduce the stitch count. I close the back with a snap. I added one additional row to the final color stripe. I'm not a huge fan of the white body suit showing on this doll and try to cover it when possible.

For the shoes I use an I hook for the main portion of the shoe and a H hook for the straps.

I used a J hook for the hat.

This is a fairly quick outfit to make for the dolls and I usually make one for each of the 16 inch dolls and this year I've already completed one for the Rag Doll to donate.

16 Inch Doll Diaper Round 2

While I do add new patterns and sometimes new dolls to the donation each year, there are routine tasks to finish because for some child this doll set is new and not something experienced before so they do want all the goodies that the last child received. So I come to the need to make the little diaper bag accessories each year. I try to spread them out across other doll projects because they can be repititous but they do add some fun to doll play.

To save myself time and to get some items I just can't make I added the Melissa & Doug Mine to Love Time to Eat Feeding Set several years ago. It has the magic feeding bottles, play baby food jars and a feeding set. I used to make the bottles but these are more fun and far less time consuming for me to make. I still make bibs because I've found the generic ones that come with these kits don't always fit the various sized dolls.

I continue to make diapers because they fit the dolls I send and its just another fun pretend play aspect of having a baby doll made easier. Parents can debate cloth or disposable diapers when it comes to real children but for toys if your doll is not one that wets having cloth is a much easier plan.

As I mentioned in my previous post I've adapted this free pattern still available on the Wayback machine here to fit the JC Toys - La Baby 16-inch Baby Doll using worsted weight 4 yarn and an I hook. I finally changed the hook size on my printed pattern as I still went with a K hook for the first one this year and it is a bit roomy. I need two more for the second 16 donation doll and I can move on to the other baby dolls.

16 Inch Doll B & B Sweater Set

Every year I work at using up my stash yarn but this past fall I decided to get more organized to enhance the process. I started the ongoing process of sorting through my yarn, but this year instead of burying the left over balls of yarn from my doll projects I put them in a place that is easily accessible and I've started to think about projects for the dolls that could use the left over balls of yarn. I've been going there first to find yarn that might work for my project before going to a full skein of yarn.

That is how we ended up with this purple sweater set as the first outfit for the JC Toys - La Baby16-inch Baby Doll donation. I had a large lighter purple ball and a medium sized purple ball of yarn and decided those would be my colors for the free B and B sweater set that you can find here. The picture is a little misleading while it shows a hat for the set the pattern is not included. I looked at her other free baby doll patterns and used the hat pattern from the Mon Petite Chou free pattern here.

I used an I hook for the sweater, the shoes and the hat. I followed the directions pretty much as written except I didn't use the top button on the sweater. I chose to go my own path with the pants.

Pants:

I used an H hook

Ch 56 and Join

DC for 7 rows

Split evenly for legs chain 4 and join.

DC 2 DC dec around leg

sc chain 3

Repeat for other leg

These are just my notes in case I lose the pattern. They are not designed to be a written pattern. I am just finding having more written notes to be helpful.

I'm left with a medium sized ball of the light purple yarn and enough purple to use for trim for a project. I'm going to be looking for opportunities to finish them both off as my donation projects continue.