16 Inch Baby Doll Linmary Dress

This one took me much longer than I expected as I kept making unexpected changes.

The dress set is a free Linmary Knits crochet pattern found here. The shoes are from one of Darski's sets found here. Notes:

I've made a number of notes on hook size over the years. This year with the exception of the shoes, everything required an e hook. I used an J hook for the shoes.

This pattern uses UK crochet terms and I have notes all over my pattern to remind myself not to use US crochet stitches as it is a whole different outfit.

Dress:

I added 5 additional rows and an additional contrast row to the bodice for length prior to adding the skirt. To help myself keep track I have notes on the pattern regarding the repeats as they are not written out and with multiple repeats and row changes for each repeat I lose track. I finished the neck and the arm holes decreasing both as I found them a bit big this time.

I do not crochet in the back stitches for the bodice. I tried it this year and frogged it as it was not a good look.

Hat:

I had to stick with the e hook for the entire hat. I tried the notes I had on the pattern but the hat was huge. I believe this is how the Our Generation Boy ended up with a sun hat last year for his swim trunks.

Lots to Love 10 Inch Baby Doll Sweetly

I was concerned about the availability of the Lots to Love 10" Baby Dolls after discovering the 8" dolls are no longer available.

I've struggled with the 10 inch dolls even longer often resorting to school supply sites to find them. I was pleasantly suprised to find them online this year not only at Amazon, but Walmart and Michaels. I stocked up as nothing is promised but I thought I'd put that out there for anyone else looking for the smaller baby dolls. Michaels' website says they are only available online.

This dress set was made using Darski's free Sweetly pattern found here. There are several patterns included and I use most of them for the donation.

Notes:

This outfit was made with Bernat Big Ball Sport yarn in Pink and Baby Baby.

From my previous notes I read the panties were long which resulted in needing a longer skirt for the dress to cover them so I started with the panties. I'd previously had trouble with the crotch but this time there was no problem. I just find these are long to fit over the tummy and then create the split for the legs. Followed as written they do create panties, but the skirt as written is still too short.

Having made the panties I decided to finish the other accessories before making the dress. Although, to be fair I redid one bootie and the bonnet on finishing the dress.

These adjustments to the booties work great, but you actually have to follow the complete directions or they fall off. I made the first one as written the second one I skipped rwo 7 and the bootie refused to stay on the doll's foot. I remade it after finishing the dress.

E hook

Complete row 1-3 of the booties.

Row 4: sc in back loops around

Row 5: sc evenly

Row 6: sc reducing 6 times at toe

Row 7: HDC evenly

Follow directions for 8-9

My notes say the bonnet fits as written and I have no idea how. So I'm revising my notes for this year. The bonnet as written is currently sitting on the Lots to Love 14 inch Doll for when I make this outfit for that doll's donation.

I used an E hook for the bonnet.

There was a good deal of adding and pulling out so I don't have a complete answer but I added rows after row 8 until the bonnet was big enough. Then I finished with row 9.

I used 40 chains for ties so this requires chaining 43.

I used the suggested G hook for the dress I'd consider an F for my next attempt as this felt roomy.

In the past I believe I reduced around the arms when adding trim and I did not do that this time. I would do that for future outfits.

I finish the back adding a button hole and later a buttton not following the written directions.

My Life Mommy's Little Girl

This is another of Darski's free patterns found here.

I did try making Darski's shoe pattern from Youthful memories but even with increasing hook size and adding a few stitches to the starting chain I found them to be too small. I was hopeful as her baby doll shoe pattern is the only one that will fit the 16 inch donation doll. Therefore, it was back to Sweet Silver Creations's Sailor pattern that can be purchased here.

Notes:

I don't get to Hobby Lobby often so I do pick up a few skeins of I Love this Yarn when I'm there, especially if I can find some unusual colors.

For my reference the dress is made with I Love this Yarn Print 494 Instant Classic. I would like to buy more of this as I have several projects including this one for next year where this color blend would be wonderful.

The other two colors are Red Heart Super Saver Safron and Real Teal.

Dress:

As mentioned this was made with I Love this Yarn Print 494 Instant Classic and an I hook. I did not add the additional trims Darski used as I liked the look without them.

I used three buttons for the dress.

Capelet:

I had trouble establishing the shape of the cape. When I finally didn't get it to be too large it doesn't create the circle that the pattern intends. It still works. Note to self that the sc are only in the dc not the chains otherwise the cape is huge.

The dc ch 1 does not skip a stitch between.

Straw Hat:

I followed the directions for the hat as written.

Purse:

The purse is a work in progress. The directions for the bottom of the purse were very detailed the top was more vague and something I need to work on.

My Life Youthful Memories

This is one of Darki's outfits I've made a few times as it is a bright cheerful spring/summer look and it makes me smile when I'm crocheting it.

You can find the free pattern here. In all the years I've made this I've been missing pages for this pattern that include the rest of the directions for the purse and a pattern for the shoes. I realized that as I decided to try the purse again and realized I couldn't finish it without the remaining directions.

I'd already used Silver Creation's Sailor Doll shoe pattern which can be purchased here because I like the straps to hold on to the foot. However, I would like to try these slip ons at some point to see how well they fit. I'm about half way through another one of her sets so it would be a good time to try the shoes.

Notes:

The pink is Red Heart Super Saver Shocking Pink, the white likely also Red Heart. I've used up lots of white these last few weeks I am pretty sure I don't have anything left but Red Heart in worsted white.

Jacket:

The directions suggest a H hook and I am torn as to which hook I used the H or the I. I thought I'd used the H but I had to switch hooks several times to get the shirt to fit and didn't write it on the pattern so my suggestion would be to start with the H and check the fit.

I finished the front edges of the shirt with sc edge and then for fun alternated front post and back post dc around the nect to get to the other front panel to finish off the second side. I like the textured look. I made a note to add 3 arm rows to the jacket.

Skirt:

I need to buy some 1/4" elastic as the 1/8" has not been working for me lately. The elastic I sewed together for this project broke as there isn't a great deal of room to sew it together at the end seams for the amount of pressure a larger doll exerts on the smaller elastic. I haven't had problems using it for Barbie. Thankfully, I do have elastic hair bands that do work well for these projects so I went with a hairband.

I used an I hook for the skirt.

Shirt:

I struggled with getting the top of the shirt to fit the doll and ended up with a K hook. I would start reducing hook size after the arm holes are formed as it is bulky at the bottom but it needs the larger hook to even close at the top.

I included pictures for the hat and the purse because I refer to these posts every time I come back to a project and the accessories can be hard to see in the general picture.

I used an H hook for the hat and purse. In order to make the trim for the hat I needed the K hook. I chained the suggested yarn together and tied it around the hat. With the actual complete directions for the purse this time I was able to complete the purse. I still may not be reading the directions completely correctly but I ended up reducing the flap to get it to fit her final directions for the button hole. I completed it and I like the look which I have never done before so I'm calling it a win.

Our Generation Clam Diggers, Top, and Kerchief

With the wonders of preposting this was the last item I finished in April. Spring is flying quickly by it seems.

This is one of two items found in Darski's free Summertime pattern found here.

Notes:

I've written numerous times about not liking to make my pants legs first but these clam diggers were a compromise. The picture is deceiving the legs are just past knee length but I wanted to get the kerchief in the shot and taking it from a higher angle meant the pants look like they meet the shoes which is not the case.

I would go back to my original plan of top down and work the legs with decreases next time. I keep convincing myself I will come to love her style but these pants are completely fudged to make them fit.

I chose not to add ties to the top. I tacked the ends to the inside of the shirt as the ties didn't work for me.

I used the suggested hooks for this project. Regarding the kerchief, I'd just make a triangle next time. I understood where she was going with the design but her numbers didn't quite work for me. I like the kerchief and I'd make one again for a summer outfit like this one but I'd go with a different design.

The shoes are my go to shoe pattern from Silver Creation's Sailor pattern that can be purchased here.

My Life Howdy Neighbor Coco's Tunic

With the wonders of preposting I'm half way through April as I write this but almost into May as I'm posting.

This is another pattern found in Darski's free Howdy Neighbor pattern found here.

The shoes are from Sweet Silver Creations Sailor Pattern that can be purchased here.

Notes:

This was made with Red Heart Bright Yellow and white. The hat calls for a darker yellow contrast but not having any currently in stock I went with a solid yellow with white trim.

I used an I hook for the tunic following the directions as written. I took the picture below to demonstrate the back closing as it has been a while since I made this outfit.

Darski makes her pants one leg at a time and joins them and this is a perfectly legitimate method. I only use this method when making footed pajamas because I can't avoid it for those. I much prefer to start top down and split for legs.

For this outfit I don't chain for legs I join at the crotch split. I start by sc over a hair elastic and then move to dc rows until I feel it is long enough to split for the legs. I chose to match the spikes on the top of the tunic to the bottom of the pant legs.

This year I needed a J hook to get the hat to fit the doll. The hair on this doll is a bit different but similiar to the models I've been donating so it seemed a good idea to go with the larger hat. The only other change I made to the hat is I finished it with white crab stitch along the top border.

16 Inch Baby Doll Summer Christmas Dress

This is the last of the Christmas outfits I need for 2026 and I think I have enough of this yarn for next year's outfits.

The dress for this outfit is the Summer Dress pattern from the out of print newsprint House of White Birches Baby Doll Fashions to Crochet. The hat and shoes are from two different free pattern sets. The shoes can be found here and the hat here.

Notes:

To get this to fit the 16 inch baby doll with this yarn I used an e hook for the entire dress not changing to a D for the skirt as it would have been too tight.

As I mentioned in the post about the other 16 inch baby doll Christmas dress this is a sport weight metallic yarn of unknown origin. It is lighter than my baby weight sport yarns.

I repeat row 5 once thus changing the row numbers all the way down. I add skirt rows to get to the length I want. This time I added a sc trim to the top and arms. I used a sc skip 1 5 dc in the next for the bottom trim.

I need a J hook for the shoes with sport weight yarn. I used a G and f hooks for the hat.

Our Generation Green Christmas Dress

I found I still have one skein left of Bernat's Happy Holidays green glitter yarn and decided it was time to pull out Darski's free Green Christmas pattern found here.

Notes:

I realize I've never really made notes for this dress just a few casual comments along the way. For my own sanity here goes.

I used an I hook for the dress and a G for the trim and finishing the back.

I no longer have metalic white so I used basic white worsted. When I run out of metallic green I'm considering making it without the metallic yarn. I tried using a substitute I was given but it was too light weight for the project a few years back and the Glitter Girl ended up with an outfit from it.

This is a personal note for me chain one between each surface crochet stitch. No idea why but this works for me. In the past I've actually lazy daisy stitched the trim this time using the chain one I was able to make it work. I used fpsc technique for the ss as there are no sc and this has confused me for years.

I would actually consider using Bernat baby for the trim next time as the worsted is heavy with the chains. It looks fine for the surface crochet.

Rag Doll Christmas Dress

I generally don't make hats or headbands for this doll as her hair makes fitting them rather challenging. However this free 18 inch doll Santa Hat is designed to be oversized and thus fits over the doll's hair.

Notes:

Both patterns for this were adapted from free patterns. The dress is Darski's Dora Dress For February Dress found here. The hat is a free 18 inch doll Santa hat pattern found here.

Dress:

I use a K hook for the first 7 rows joining at the end of row 7.

For the skirt I switch to an I hook to the end of the dress.

In Row 1 to make the arms fit both dolls I need to chain 8.

However this creates and issue with the skirt so in the following row I need to evenly reduce by 8 stitches the number of additional chains added in the previous row prior to starting the pattern that will eventually establish the skirt.

Use a stitch marker to mark the decreases and increases. They are just easy to loose.

Don't skip the directions for finishing the top and the arms.

Hat:

I used the suggested I hook. The suggested yarns are no longer available but I used regular Red Heart yarn and still liked the outcome. I followed the directions as written. This is where I learned to make pom poms that I use for the other dolls.

Lots to Love 8 Inch Baby Doll Nightgown

I am determined not to spend the fall scrambling to make my challenge projects like the nightgowns and bathing suits. So I've been trying to work them in like the baby doll accessories as I work on larger projects.

This nightgown comes from Darski's free Sweetly pattern found here that is designed for the larger 10 inch baby doll. With a little adjustment it works well for the smaller 8 inch doll and the Lil Cutesies doll.

Notes:

I don't tend to buy a great deal of Lion Brand yarn as it is more expensive than my other options. However, occasionally there are sales and items find there way into my stash. For my own reference this is Lion Brand's Baby Soft Pastel Print. If I find it on sale I'd buy it again. It worked up nicely for this project.

I used a C hook to get this to fit the smaller doll.

I needed to change the rows to get it to fit the smaller doll.

I followed rows 1-17 then completed rows 33-37.

I finished the back and then did the ties as suggested making mine 30 chains.

I decreased the stitch count on the arms and finished with a chain 3 skip to make it more decorative.

Our Generation Pilgrim

One of the advantages of making the clothes a year in advance of the donation is not having to worry about making clothes out of the holiday season. While it is more fun to make the outfits during the intended season I'm generally finishing up the previous year's donation in November and rarely get the Pilgrim outfits done prior to Thanksgiving. However, if I wait too long, I often forget to make them. So the girl's outfit is done. I need to get started on the boy's.

This project is a combination of a free Darski We Gather Pattern found here and Adoring Doll's Pilgrim Girl pattern that can be purchased here. She has a combo pattern that includes the boy and girl which is what I purchased if you are interested.

Notes:

The dress was made with an I hook using Darski's We Gather Pattern. All other accessories including the bonnet this year were made from Adoring Doll's pattern.

I used an I hook at last year's suggestion for the shoes and it was a better fit. I followed the directions on hook size for all other items. I'd go with a smaller hook size for the collar next year. I also added a stitch on the bonnet in the back to pull up the bottom of the bonnet as it was too long in the back.

Lots to Love 14 Inch Baby Doll Nightgown

Several years ago I made a mistake of not reading my notes and made this nightgown with the suggested G hook for the Lots to Love 10 inch Baby doll. It was huge and the Lots to Love 14 Inch Baby Doll inherited a nightgown. For some reason I never went back and made it for the larger baby doll again until I went on a quest to give nightwear to the dolls this year for the donation and realized I didn't have a specific pattern for the larger doll but I had used this pattern previously.

This pattern is the nightgown from Darski's free Sweetly pattern set found here.

With this item finished this doll is also ready to be boxed the day before Halloween!

Notes:

I used a G hook and Bernat Baby Big Ball Sport Yarn.

Bernat Baby Sport and Herrschners' brand yarns have been my go to yarn for the baby doll projects. I just ordered more of the Herrschners' striped yarns for the 2026 donation as I still have solid colors from my previous order but I've burned through quite a bit of my striped stash this year and do to the price of shipping I try to order only when they have shipping offers.

Supplies change but I find most of my Baby Bernat sport at Walmart. I used to order it online but the Walmart oddly has kept a wider selection of colors than I could find online and the price has been good. I've kept a decent stash so not sure what the current state of their availability is for this brand but I'll be starting there when I need more next year.

Lots to Love 8 Inch Baby Doll Nightgown

I'm working towards my goals of finishing the year with as many dolls having nightgowns and PJ's as possible. This pattern is Darski's free Sweetly pattern set found here.

As this set is designed for the larger 10 inch baby dolls some adjustments were required.

Notes:

I used a C hook for this project with Bernat Big Ball Baby yarn. I try to keep both the ombre's and single colors in my stash as I need them for various projects.

This is a smaller than intended doll for this project so even with decreasing hook size I needed to decrease rows.

I followed rows 1-17 then completed rows 33-37.

I finished the back and then did the ties as suggested making mine 30 chains.

My Life Rivulets

I finished three projects in September and while I got the pictures taken and they are in the correct donation bags I never wrote up the projects. I consider this process to be important because I go back to these posts each year to see what I completed and looking for notes on the completion.

What I noted as I was getting this post ready is in my rush to just get the pictures taken and printed for the donation I listed the wrong pattern. This makes it hard to trace my notes for future patterns leading me back to why I try really hard to go back and post projects even after the fact because it reminds me what I did and how.

I had a push going on through the summer to alternate between Darksi's free 18 inch doll patterns and Adoring Doll's paid patterns. They each add variety to the donation and different fun for my crochet life. I misidentified this as Darski's Madison pattern in my picture save but it is actually her Rivulets free pattern that you can find here.

Notes:

As with last year I went with Caron Super Saver for this outfit. I've been working on finishing off a skein and as per last year's notes the thicker yarn works better to create this outfit. I used Bernat Baby for the shawl and trim.

Follow length as written when adding trim. I added additional rows thinking it was short and the trim doesn't work as well.

I used the suggested I hook for everthing but the top trim. I used a g hook for the trim on the top as it tended to poof with the larger hook and the lighter yarn. I might use a g hook for the trim on the bottom next time as well as it got a bit bulky with the I hook.

Don't increase beyond four dc between the post stitches as the skirt gets to be huge. The last row is all dc before adding trim. I missed this and the trim sits better from dc row.

The bottom trim rows need to adjust for reduced number of increases.

After finishing the dress directions I finished the back and top of the dress with the primary color yarn before adding the white trim. This made for a cleaner back and made adding the trim easier. It also makes the arm holes look cleaner when completed.

Be careful not to split yarn changing from chains to dc for arm holes. The white yarn is soft but it needs to stay strong for the arm holes.

I need to do a V stitch in the end stitch of each end for each row of the shawl, not in the chain stitch. I struggled with this last year and caught the direction this year.

16 Inch Baby Doll I Feel Pretty 2

This is the last of the I Feel Pretty Outfits I need for the 2025 donation. You can find the free dress pattern here and the shoe pattern here.

I chose Herrschners Worsted 8 Celebration Easter Yarn for the second JCA 16 inch baby doll outfit. The contrast yarns were also Herrschenrs Worsted 8 Posty and another unknown shade as I don't have the wrapper but it is in my Herrschners box.

Notes:

The hook sized varied on this project. I used an H for the dress. The hat required a G and F hook. I needed 25 chains for the hat. I followed the directions I wrote for the previous outfit and had no trouble finding the directions to split the legs for the panties this time around. It also requires an H hook.

Using the lighter Herrschners yarn I've found a J hook will allow the shoes to fit. I add an extra row to finish the shoes.

I finished the back and for this outfit chose to close the back with a snap rather than a button.

16 Inch Baby Doll Sun Dress

I've been working on adapting some of Sweet Silver Creations' 18 inch doll patterns to fit some of the larger donation dolls. You may have seen this outfit for the Rag doll along with one of the 18 inch dolls being donated. I decided to try adapting it for the 16 inch Baby Doll to give me a wider range of clothing.

You can purchase the pattern here.

Notes:

I found this pattern to be a bit large for the Rag Doll with an H hook so I went down to a G hook for the baby doll and found it to be a better fit. I did need to add rows for length to get it to cover the white cloth legs.

This was made with Bernat Baby Sport yarn and I believe Herrschnerrs baby yarn for the contrast.

The shoes were made with the contrast yarn from my favorite free pattern set Peachy Keen found here. With the lighter yarn I needed an I hook to get the shoes to fit. I used a J hook the last time for this weight of yarn and I think I'd continue with that as these are a little tighter than I'd like for small hands getting on and off.

The hat was small with an H hook so I redid with an I hook until the last 3 rows changing back to the H hook for fit. I'd almost consider doing the brim rows with the g hook as they are a bit big with the H.

16 Inch Baby Doll I Feel Pretty

I've been rotating through the different sized dolls to try to keep a balance in the donation bags. There are two My Life Dolls and two of the JC 16 inch Baby dolls personally each year so they require more outfits. There is an additional donation through Crochetville members of other dolls and clothing items but that doesn't change the need to provide an extra set of outfits for each of these two dolls.

The main portion of this outfit is from Darski's I Feel Pretty free pattern found here. The shoes are from her free Peachy Keen pattern found here.

Notes:

The dress was made with an H hook using Herrschners Worsted 8 Baby Stripes Yarn Sweetie Pie. The contrast colors for the dress were Herrschners Worsted 8 Jade and Ligonberry.

The hat was made with the Ligonberry and a g and f hook. I took last year's suggestion and used 25 chains for the ties and that worked well.

Not shown in the picture are the panties which also used an H hook. Note to self that leg directions do mean divide for leg while not specifically stated. Also tie requires two strands of yarn so best to plan for that.

I finished the back of the dress and used a button for this outfit.

I did discover I can make shoes with this yarn if I go up to a J hook.

My Life Harriet

This is the second pattern from Darski's free Harriet pattern set found here.

Notes:

I tried to document hook size this time but I have more limited notes on the yarn.

I have no idea which brand I used for the darker grey. The lighter grey is from my last shipment of JoAnn's Big Twist Yarn. While I always found their worsted 4 to be a bit lighter it had one of the widest selection of colors available. I will miss their yarn.

Hat:

I used a J hook and followed the directions as written.

Skirt:

I used a hairband for the skirt elastic.

An H hook worked for the skirt when using elastic.

Sweater:

I used an I hook for the sweater.

Reminder there is an extra row added to the bottom when you finish the back and sides so consider that before adding more rows for length. I had to work around this as I had added additional rows for length and didn't have room for another row when I was finishing the edges.

I added a row around the collar as it seemed a bit tight.

The sleeves are finished with ss.

Scarf:

I changed the count to 100 as I find it to short otherwise. I finally noted this on the pattern after making the first attempt too short.

This is made with left over Mainstays Pink Blend that I used for the baby doll's Valentine outfits.

The shoes are made from Sweet Silver Creations Sailor Pattern that has been my got to shoe pattern for years. I'm not sure if it has been working with so much thread recently but I've gone from making these shoes with an I hook to a G hook for this pair as they've been a bit large. You can purchase the pattern here.

My Life Claret

This is clearly not Claret but Big Twist Purple. Where practical this year I'm continuing my quest to use stash yarn for projects where possible. I still need to buy certain weights and colors of yarns when I run out but where possible I'm trying to substitute with yarns on hand. A note to myself I think this pattern would also work up well in shades of green. I don't always include this dress in my donation projects but it is one that I should use more often.

Notes:

Claret is the second pattern in Darski's free Harriet pattern set found here.

I used an I hook for this dress I finished the back with a row of hdc before adding button row as I've found the Big Twist to be a slightly lighter yarn and in this case the dress even with the I hook was a little tight in the back for buttons. With the additional hdc it fit fine and allowed the buttons to be used.

I'm currently working on the Harriet outfit from this pattern for the other My Life doll.

Lots to Love 14 Inch Baby Doll Sweet Baby Mine Dress

This was the last outfit I finished in January. It was the month for baby dolls.

The main portion of the outfit for the Lots to Love 14 Inch Baby Doll is made using Darski's free pattern set Sweet Baby Mine found here. I chose to use the booties from a Petite Design's pattern that can be purchased here.

Notes:

The main yarn for this dress is Walmart's Mainstay's Pink Blend. I found this in my stash last year and actually plan on picking up some additional skeins as I like the look for this outfit and I think it might work for some patterns I picked up last year that require a striping yarn.

I tend to stick with Red Heart or Caron for my worsted weight but this works for this outfit. The pink is Red Heart Pretty and Pink. The Rose is an unknown brand. I'm leaning towards left over Caron but I'm not sure. I don't remember finding Red Heart in this shade previously.

The booties required a lighter weight yarn. I may try them with worsted next time as they might fit better with a heavier yarn. I believe this is left over Mary Maxim baby yarn that I'd used on another project.

I plan to finish the pattern set for this doll but I'm taking a brief break from the baby dolls to make some Valentine outfits for the 18 inch dolls. I realize none of the dolls will use their holiday outfits until 2026 but there is something fun about making them in season when I can.