My Life Doll Dress, Hat, and Shoes

This has long been one of my favorite 18" doll patterns. It works up easily and requires only one button or in my case I use a snap to close it in the back. This pattern uses the Red Heart Fruity Stipe yarn but I've made it with a variety of colors. I even use this pattern for the 16" baby dolls as it easily adapts to their needs as well. You can find the free pattern here.

I've used the Bates Bamboo hooks for years, but recently I've been having some hand issues so I'd ordered a couple of the Bates Ergonomic soft handled hooks to use in making the doll carriers as those are the most taxing projects on my hands every year. I decided to test out the Susan Bates Ergonomic Crochet Hook 5.5"-size H8/5mmfor this project. It has a slightly different feel but I've been using the same set of hooks for years so I wasn't surprised. I did like the feel on my hands. These hooks are longer than my Bates Bamboo. I still like my Bamboo best which is good as the Bates Ergonomic seem to be disappearing like my Bates Bamboo. I don't think it hurts to switch up once and a while and work the muscles a little differently. I'm looking forward to seeing how they work on the carriers.

Back to this project the hat was just a throw together. The shoes are one of my favorite shoe patterns part of a paid pattern set that can be found here.

While I already have the Our Generation dolls purchased for the 2021 doll donation, the My Life dolls have proved to be more elusive. I was able to get a great deal on the Our Generation dolls around Thanksgiving, but not only have there been no deals on the My Life dolls they've just been sold out at the low price end that I buy for the donation. Not a huge issue as I have until next fall to get the two I need but I like to get them early. I ordered the 10 inch Lots to Love doll and an extra for next year from Walmart and was also able to buy the Lots to Love 14 inches Baby Doll around Thanksgiving so that is also ready to go.

I still need to get two small baby dolls and one "toddler" doll. The toddler and the one of the baby dolls are on back order. I was hoping the last baby doll might go on sale as well. I'll be watching the post Christmas sales to see. I have the 16" dolls after stocking up last year. However, if they drop in price I'll be putting away a few of those as well.

Our Generation Neon Dress, Hat and Purse

A while back I needed to make more kitchen scrubbies and to entertain myself I picked up brightly colored striped and variegated yarn to make them. The scrubbies finished I of course had left over yarn that has been sitting in my stash wondering when it would be put to use. Every year I promise myself I will tackle the orphan yarns in my stash during the doll project and I make some progress each year. This year with the COVID crisis I've been making more of an effort as my choices are limited to using up my stash or ordering online. So, I've been pushing myself to find ways to use up that yarn that catches my eye when I go into my yarn storage and wonder when will I ever find a use for.....

While pulling the yarn to make the dress for the My Life doll this neon yarn called to me and it just seemed like a good fit for the Our Generation doll.

To make this pattern work for the Our Generation doll I needed to increase the hook size to an I hook. I also added rows to make the skirt longer. The hat was an experiment. The purse was simply a square made with front post and back post stitches. I joined yarn on the starting row and made the back with dc's. I crocheted around the edges joining them with the purse strap chains to get to the other side. Not elegant but it worked.

For those of you who are interested you can find the free pattern for the dress here.

18 Inch Doll Dress with Hat

It is time to return to one of my simple but classic 18 inch doll patterns. I love working on this pattern because it calls for the bright Fruity Stripe Red Heart yarn and right now I could use a little color and brightness in my life. I also like it because it works up quickly and was a great project to make in between the Moses basket and trying to finish up the picnic set for the Lil Cutesie doll.

I also chose this pattern as it was a great way to work through some of the yarn I have on hand. I almost had enough left on one skein to finish the project but when I added the hat I had to dig into a second skein I had on hand to finish it off. This is what happens when you work with partial skeins. It's always hard to tell exactly how much yarn you have to work with on a project.

You can find the free pattern for the dress here. In previous years I've made the top smaller using a g hook. However, this year I used an H hook through out and the top fit fine. I'm currently working on using up some neon stripe yarn to make this dress for the Our Generation Doll. I'll post the notes about making it for the slightly larger doll when I finish it. There is no pattern for a hat. I played with the yarn left over from the first skein and added some from the second skein to complete the hat. I wanted something to finish off the outfit.

To close the back of this dress I chose a snap over a button. It was a quick and easy solution to my problem. I may have to think about ordering snaps soon if stores don't open soon. I did order ami eyes online recently as my 6mm supply is almost out.

American Girl Flamenco Dress

This is not a traditional Flamenco dress but I respect the titles people give their patterns. I missed out on the chance to buy a crochet Flamenco pattern when a designer closed her pattern shop a few years ago. This is a bright and easy free pattern found here. This pattern does not come with shoes I used the pattern from the Sun Dress I wrote about yesterday to finish this outfit. You can find the pattern here.


Pattern notes:

There was no yarn specified on this pattern, but I used Red Heart Super Saver Fruity Stripe for my doll dress and I liked the look. In order to make gauge I used an H hook.

This pattern works up really quickly if you need a doll dress. I tried it on the 16 inch baby doll and I think this pattern will work for the baby doll, too. I will change the colors to more baby friendly colors.

I want to thank the designer for offering up her patterns for free. I've completed two so far and have another one printed to make.