American Girl Having a Heat Wave

As I mentioned in previous posts I'm trying to shake myself up and try some patterns I haven't used much before. I have a bathing suit pattern I make almost yearly. However this year I came across Having a Heat wave a free pattern in the Weatherby set I've written about previously found here.

I'm a huge fan of Darski's designs because she always adds extras like the wrap that can go around the waist or be more of a poncho depending on how one wants to dress the doll. I like including a variety of seasonal outfits in the donation and it was fun to try a new pattern for something I make yearly.

This pattern works up quickly and I found it to be a great stash buster. I was able to use up left over black yarn I had from the Down on the Farm Baby afghan and left over pink yarn from the Ariel princess dress for the wrap. It was a great way to keep with my theme of please use up some of this huge stash of yarn.

American Girl Swim Suit

Every year I promise myself next year for the donation I'll make this with worsted weight instead of cotton. I almost had to write this again this year. I started it in cotton, but I was finding the leg openings weren't a good fit and decided to frog it and start again with worsted weight yarn. I love this color blue for the suit.

I've been making this pattern for the donation for several years now. I pulled it out as part of my efforts to work on patterns I knew I could complete to build up my confidence and to get some outfits put away for the donation. You can purchase the pattern here.

There are many free and paid bathing suit patterns on the market for the 18" dolls. I return to this pattern for a couple of reasons. First the bathing suit works up quickly and easily. While I do have to watch my gauge to make sure the outfit isn't too tight, the pattern isn't difficult to follow.

The other reason I return to this pattern frequently is the accessories. While I don't love making the ducky floaty and I comment on it every time I write about it, I always find it cute when it's finished. With the blanket, beach pail, and beach ball it makes a complete set for a child receiving the donation. For my own sake, I try to make the bathing suit during the summer months as it brings back happy summer memories of times spent at the beach as a child. It never quite feels like summer until I've been to the beach.