Baby Doll Bunting

I try to challenge myself with something different each year with the donation project. It keeps it interesting and it helps me to learn new things. This year I decided to try a baby bunting. This is an old out of print Annie's Attic Debbie Ann pattern Debbie Ann's Baby Bunting pattern number 87F48 for those of you who might be interested in locating. I believe the original Debbie Ann pattern came out when the Cabbage Patch soft doll craze was going. Annie's Attic had two soft doll patterns that you could crochet the soft doll patterns and then they offered several outfits you could buy separately. I'm no expert on the subject so if someone knows more feel free to leave a comment and I'll happily post it.

I've picked up a couple of the outfits and played with re purposing them. After failing with another baby doll bunting I thought I'd take a crack at this one. Sometimes patterns just work better for one person over another. Patterns are a matter of communication and when you have limited ability to have a conversation with the person who writes the pattern finding someone who writes the way you think about crocheting is always a blessing.

This pattern worked well for the JC Toys, La Baby 16-inch Doll which has become my baby doll donation now that the Mary Maxim dolls are no longer available.

This was the second bunting. The one major change I made was to use the bonnet from the first bunting that didn't work out for me. The head of Annie's soft sculpture doll is significantly bigger than the store doll. The body fits is similar so the outfit fit well. However, after making the bonnet for the first doll I decided to use the bonnet pattern from the bunting pattern I'd abandoned here. This bonnet pattern just fit the doll better. The Annie bonnet design is just too big for this doll's head.

This was my first try at the Annie's pattern. It had a couple of challenges. First I promised myself, no yarn purchases until after the New Year. So, when I went into my yarn room these pinks seemed like they were all the same shade. Not so much. However, I was determined to finish this thing. So it has shades of pink. The second one I made sure I had enough of the same brand and color before I started so this wasn't an issue. We live and learn.

Lacework Prayer Shawl

I received a Homespun donation from a very kind woman in AL last week and I decided to start another prayer shawl while I continued to look for the tulip I need to finish another shawl I'm working on.


This pattern comes from The Prayer Shawl Ministry, Volume 2 (Leisure Arts #4622) and I've enjoyed making it before. Despite the weight of the Homespun the pattern makes for a lighter shawl and it is also a relaxing pattern to work on while in distracting circumstances.

It's been hot here and it's only with the AC that I've been able to tolerate the heavier Homespun yarn. It gets warm quickly. I have been neglectful of donating the shawls so I feel compelled to get back to making them along with my doll donations and toys.

I'm working on a holiday ami project at the moment. It is a slightly different style than I'm used to working on, but I'm hopeful of a good outcome and I hope to make a few to cover the holidays. We will have to see how it all works out.

American Girl Day at the Beach

This outfit was a clear sign my crocheting is not quite where it was last year. I compared the photo I made of last year's bathing suit with this one and last year's clearly was a better fit. However, the only way to get better is to keep working through it.

I do love this set which can be purchased here. The accessories were fine, but the suit despite increasing hook size still seemed tight. I will try another one later as I have more than one doll. I also may try acrylic yarn as I've been struggling more with cotton recently.

I love the idea that it comes as a complete play set. The extra items always make for a more fun project to donate. The ducky ring always makes me smile when its completed.



Barbie and American Girl Doll Free Patterns are listed on my blog at these locations:

Barbie Crochet and Sewing Page

Barbie Knitting Page

Ken Page

Kelly/Skipper Page

American Girl Doll Crochet and Sewing

American Girl Doll Knitting

Doll Blankets and Pillow Patterns

Baby Doll Patterns:

Baby Doll and Cabbage Patch

Additional Doll Patterns also Available on the Holiday Blogs:

Christmas

Valentines

Easter

Graduation

Patriotic

Halloween Page

Thanksgiving

Pictures may not be used without permission.

Aztec Wishes Donation

I took some time off from Blogging and Crocheting, but kept in touch with my online crochet friends. A very dear friend made a huge donation to my Christmas doll donation to the local tech high school's annual toy drive. Yes Christmas in July, folks. No seriously, these toy drives come due in November, but for those of us who make stuff for them, we start in December for the following year. I thankfully, had a blitz right after the holiday and had some outfits stocked for the upcoming donation, but had a drop to nothing as as spring came.

Thankfully, with this donation there will be some very happy children this Christmas. Also, with encouragement from friends, I too have got my hooks working again and have some new doll outfits ready to post. I picked up some new doll patterns for my birthday to try out and I'm very excited to be working again.

A big thank you to my friend Darski at Crochetville. Your amazing generosity and inspiration cannot be expressed with words. However, I think we both know the joy that dolls and their lovely clothes can bring to kids. You have made that a reality for this coming Christmas. Thank you.

Wide Scarf Prayer Shawl

I have my second prayer shawl meeting tonight and I've finished 6 prayer shawls to bring. This is the fifth and I'll be posting pictures of the sixth one on Wednesday. I started a seventh one last night to work on during the meeting tonight. I am quite surprised. I had expected to finish one. Generally, I find it hard to focus on projects that repeat rows for a considerable amount of time. However, I seem to have picked a good time to start these projects. I don't seem to be able to focus on my doll projects at the moment and as long as I keep changing patterns each time, the repeated rows seem to be rather relaxing.

This pattern is the cover pattern from The Prayer Shawl Ministry: Reaching Those in Need (Leisure Arts #4225) called the Wide Scarf.

Several people suggested trying Walmart for the Homespun yarn, our local Walmart does carry it, and the price is the cheapest I've found, slightly under $5. The only place close in price I've seen so far is Knitting Warehouse and that requires shipping. It seems pretty popular and I couldn't get enough of all of the colors I wanted to finish a shawl, but I got enough to make my next few projects. It is easy enough to return to get my next supply as long as they keep carrying it.


If you arrived here looking for free Prayer Shawl Patterns please check out the following Blog Page:

Free Prayer Shawl Patterns

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Thankful Thursday: Prayer Shawl Ministry

I have posted many times how thankful I am for my online groups, especially Crochetville. The online community is wonderful and supportive. However, I have long wished for a local community to sit and work with to meet people and to have that personal experience. I recently started going to Church in a town not too far from here. I was thrilled to see a notice for Prayer Shawl meetings and while I had to wait a few weeks for the monthly meeting, I got to go this week.

It was so wonderful to sit with a community of women and just chat. I was the only crocheter, but I can live with that. I even had the chance to teach someone the magic circle. One of the woman, also gave me information about another group that meets in the same town twice a month and I am going to see what I can do to make some of those meetings, too. I am feeling very blessed and hopeful as I post this. One of my dearest wishes has been granted.

When I got home, I dug out some Prayer Shawl books I had purchased on clearance from Annie's several years ago and downloaded some free patterns from Ravelry. The rules are pretty open about what styles we can make, size is more the issue. I also have a couple of books on reserve at the library to preview. I know from making doll clothes, I don’t stay motivated repeating patterns. Having variety will keep me motivated. At some point I think I'll start another page for free patterns as I collect them.

Working on human clothing is a big jump for me, but I will still have my doll donation project going. It is just nice to work with a community on something.

On another note, I would like to wish Happy Birthday to my Mom and my nephew. I hope you both have special days.

Crochet Games of Ancient Greece Update

I'm continuing with my Olympic challenge to make play food for my Christmas toy donation. The food works up quickly and I may need a bigger box before I am finished with my donation.

The focus for yesterday was breakfast. I made a second pancake, two sausages, a whole egg, a cracked egg with an egg inside, and a fried egg. The pancake, sausage, egg, and fried egg came from an old Annie's Attic pattern, Crochet Toy Food, 87F12. The cracked egg with egg inside came from Tasty Crochet: A Pantry Full of Patterns for 33 Tasty Treats which is one of my favorite food books. They also have a great pancake pattern if you need one. While there are lots of free patterns out there, Tasty Crochet provides a nice collection all in one place to work from when you are trying to build a toy food pantry.

My favorite is the cracked egg. I made this for a family member before and it is a huge hit. Children like being able to crack the egg and have it "come out" either into a bowl to "mix" or on to a pan to "cook."

I have to look at my food crochet books to decide where to go next. I'll have a weekend update on the challenge next week.

AC Moore Rewards

My AC Moore $10 off rewards coupon arrived in the mail yesterday. All that swap shopping had rewards. I encourage people to sign up for the various store's reward programs, mailing lists, and email lists. I have benefited greatly from the coupons and special offers. If you buy craft materials, keeping it affordable means knowing about the sales and the deals.

Don't forget if you have not entered the Fashion Doll Leaflet Giveaway for a Leisure Arts crochet leaflet you can enter here.

I finished another dino for the donation project. I should have a picture to post soon. I put a T-Rex on the hook last night from a pattern I have not used yet. I am hoping to have this finished today, as I need to drop these off tomorrow.

I also realized that I started my afghans out of order. The Kitty blanket is going to be delivered Christmas Eve. The other one I need to make has to be shipped. Therefore, I began working on that one yesterday, too. I also read of a new technique to work with the yarn on the Kitty one so I may want to experiment with that to make the back of the Kitty blanket neater when it is finished. I am making the Sunset Throw from the August 2011 Crochet World magazine using Red Heart Super Saver Melonberry. It is an interesting look and I love the colors. It is working up quickly.

Crochetville Toy Drive

I made myself a promise that I was going to do more charity crocheting this year. When I saw the posting for a Hospital Toy Drive at Crochetville I realized this was a great chance to add to my commitments in a fun way.

I wish I had more notice, but I did manage to have some fun putting together my box.

The Dinosaurs

Knights, Princesses, and Dragon Finger Puppets

Alien Finger Puppet

I really enjoyed this project. This has me pursuing some local charities that accept hand donated toys. I need to put a reminder on my calendar for January to put a few toys away for this drive for next year. It is easier to work ahead than trying to do it at the last minute.

Charity Crochet Goals

One of my goals for this year was to do more doll and toy projects for charity. My goal is to complete at least one doll outfit per month to donate. I belong to a Yahoo group that is collecting American Girl doll clothes for donation. However, I also want to build a box of items for local donation. Therefore, I really need to be able to finish more than one item to reach that goal. One item per box is my theory. I finished my first pair of pants yesterday. I need to finish my Valentine's boxes before finishing another item for January's donation goal. However, there is still time.

For the local donations, I may include Barbie outfits as well. I will try to use a coupon to pick up a Springfield Doll during the year so I have the doll to donate with the clothes. There is rarely a challenge in finding Barbie's for kids so I am less worried about donating doll clothes without the accompanying doll. Now I just need to figure out which local group is the best option to donate the items to for Christmas next year. I have a year to decide so it should not be an issue. The key is to commit to finishing my monthly promises.

If you arrived here looking for free toy patterns please see the following pages:

Hello Kitty

Crochet and Knit Puppets

Crochet Amigurumi Animals and Stuffed Animal Free Patterns

Knit Amigurumi and Stuffed Toys

Crochet and Knit Amigurumi and Other Dolls

Knit and Crochet Toys

Dinosaurs and Dragons

Teddy Bear Patterns and Clothes

Knit and Crochet Food Patterns Great for Play Food

Valentines

Easter

Graduation

Patriotic

Halloween Page

Thanksgiving

Christmas

Pictures may not be used without permission.