American Girl Emerald Isle

I have been working on holiday outfits in between some practical basics and I finally finished an outfit a very kind Crochetville Fairy Godmother gifted me last year. I thought the Emerald Isle would be a good choice for my St. Patrick’s Day outfit. The pattern can be purchased here.

The directions were somewhat challenging because they were more general than specific. In the skirt, it wasn't as much of a problem because the location of the increases was not as important to the outcome of the outfit. I had some challenges with the shirt because the increases for the front part of the shirt needed to be specific to have the shirt sit correctly, but were listed as add evenly. This created a shirt that didn't fit quite as well as I would have wished. I had a similar issue with the hat where the increases really need to be on the side of the hat to create the brim. However, the directions just mention to increase evenly. When I did that, the hat came out round instead of the hat in the picture. I made a second one after realizing my mistake and after playing with it, I got a hat I liked.

I like this designer and made her doctor outfit for last year's donation. I just wish this one had been more detailed. She is very generous with her free patterns and she sells her doll patterns for very reasonable prices, which I appreciate when I'm trying to acquire a library to make my donations from each year.

My soft-bodied 15 inch Mary Maxim baby dolls arrived. I finished my first dress and I'll be posting about that tomorrow. The soft-bodied dolls are a little larger in the body than the plastic ones I donated last year and so far, I'm finding I have to work around that to get the clothes to fit. However, from a toy perspective, the soft-bodied dolls are nicer than the hard ones. I have one hard-bodied doll left over from last year, so I may work up some outfits for that doll and donate it with the other items I'm putting together.

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 written permission.

American Girl Doll Two Piece Bathing Suit

As part of the Mary Maxim doll kit, Gracie's Day at the Beach, I got another bathing suit pattern. This one was a two-piece set made from the Seafoam Ultra Mellospun DK used for the dress and bag pattern in the main outfit. I was pleasantly surprised to find this pattern as it is not listed in the description of the kit online. I used the leftover yarn from the dress and the pattern for a beach towel that is part of another pattern set found here, to add to the outfit.

I am pleased I was able to complete a bathing suit for each of the donation dolls without having to repeat a pattern. I had not counted on that when I ordered this kit.

I am also thinking I have discovered an easy underwear pattern. Some of the dresses really do need panties and I have yet to find a simple pattern. This pattern worked up easily and would fill the need for modesty required by some of the outfits.

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

Additional Doll Patterns also Available on the Holiday Blogs:

Christmas

Valentines

Easter

Graduation

Patriotic

Halloween Page

Thanksgiving

Pictures may not be used without written permission.

Gracie's Day at the Beach

After finishing my first baby doll set I got started on my first Mary Maxim doll kit, the 18 inch Gracie's Day at the Beach kit. I loved the Tutti Frutti Sugar Baby Stripes yarn that came with the kit for the dress. The only drawback is that because of the variegated nature of the yarn and not being sure of how much extra I had, I started at the end of the yarn I had and didn't end up with the pretty light orange color the model had because I was afraid of running out of yarn. If I make this again, I would buy enough extra to have the option of starting out with the orange at the top. It is a prettier look.

I love the feel and the colors of this yarn. I would like to find another project that would work with it and order it again.

This set does come with sandals, which I chose not to take out and use since I plan to donate the doll that came with the set and the outfit. I want the child to have the chance to be the first to use them.

One surprise about this set that is not listed on the description is that it also comes with a bathing suit pattern made in the contrasting color yarn used to finish the dress and make the beach bag. That was a pleasant surprise and I will be posting pictures of that outfit soon.

I had not purchased any of Mary Maxim's doll kits in the past. I purchased a few after Christmas and will be trying them out and blogging about them as I work through them. This first one was a success. Based on the cost of the doll, the two patterns, the yarn, the shoes, and the buttons, I feel I got my money's worth out of the deal. While I can get the dolls with coupons, I have to buy the lighter weight yarns online and getting this coloring would mean buying through Mary Maxim. Factoring in the cost for the two patterns, I feel even better about my purchase.

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

Additional Doll Patterns also Available on the Holiday Blogs:

Christmas

Valentines

Easter

Graduation

Patriotic

Halloween Page

Thanksgiving

Pictures may not be used without written permission.

Springfield Doll Hooded Sweatshirt and Shorts

Along with dresses and other pretty outfits, I wanted to make sure the donation doll had some comfortable casual clothes. I spent plenty of summers with the combination of shorts and a hooded sweatshirt to deal with that unpredictable New England weather. We always had an extra sweatshirt because while the summer weather could be hot, many of our destinations had a cooler side that required a little extra warmth. That inspired my thinking behind this pairing of patterns.

The hooded sweatshirt pattern comes from Sweater Trio, booklet FCM494. The shorts are shortened versions of the pants found in Maggie’s Crochet Abby, Allie, and Annie Pattern.

I am working on a different pattern for a nightgown that comes with a robe. I hope to finish the first one I started, as it looks like I will have two dolls when I am finished with this project.

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


Additional Doll Patterns also Available on the Holiday Blogs:

Christmas

Valentines

Easter

Graduation

Patriotic

Halloween Page

Thanksgiving

Pictures may not be used without written permission.

American Girl and 18 Inch Crochet and Sewing Doll Pattern Links

American Girl Dolls and their 18" counterparts are popular with children and adults. Many enjoy making the clothing to share with avid collectors. Finding free and inexpensive resources for the patterns can help increase the selection without breaking the budget.

Many of these blog pages started small and quickly expanded as I found more patterns. The American Girl/18" Doll Page has experienced the same growth and requires additional space. Check out the new American Girl 18" Doll Knitting Page to find free knitting patterns.




Crochet:

Pattern Sites with American Girl and 18" Doll Pattern Links:

Allcrafts

ABC Knitting Crochet Patterns

Bella Online

Crochet Pattern Central

Knitty Chick



Dresses and Outfits:

A Bunny's Tail

American Girl Boa Outfit

Arabella Dress and Bonnet

August Fishnet Dress

Autumn Dress

Ballet Dress

Bathing Suit

Bib Dress

Birthstone

Chef from Redheart

Cocktail Dress with Beads Thread

Chill Out

Complete Outfit Set

Cowgirl from Redheart

Crochet Summer Dress

Crochetnmore Ruffled Skirt

Day at the Opera

Dress

Dress for 18" Doll

Dress with Peter Pan Collar Remember the Day

Empire Waist Dress

Evening Dress With Shawl

Fresh as a Daisy Complete Outfit Dress, Hat, Chocker, Purse

Frilly Sweater Dress

Flared Buttercup Skirt Thread Hat Thread Top Thread

Frilly Edged Doll Dress

Goodnight Gracie Nightgown

Granny Square Winter Outfit

Halter Top

Hockey Outfit

Homage to La Vie en Rose

In the Navy (Looks like it was designed for Nancy 18")

Joyful Joyful

Jumper for 18" Doll

Lace Skirt

Lace Summer Dress

Lacey Celebration Dress

Leotard Scroll Down for Crochet Directions

Love of Lilacs

Mermaid Outfit from Redheart

Miss Bentley

Mock Turtleneck

Nightgown

Nightgown Red Heart

Nightie, Robe, and Slippers

Nurse Redcross Historical from Red Heart

Olivia Skirt, Top, and Hat

Party Dress

Party Time Dress

PJ's

Pink and White Wardrobe variety of patterns

Pride and Prejudice Dress

Princess Dress

Rose Dress

Ruffle Party Dress Thread

Ruffly Bits

Safari

Sailor Dress

Simplicity Dress

Skating Dress

Skating Dress with Fun Fur

Skating Outfit Sonja

Snow Days

Snuggle Up

Spring Dress Bella Bambina

Spring Blizzard

Summertime Frills Redheart

Spring Has Sprung

Summer Dress Thread

Summer Raglan Thread

Sun Dress

Summertime Thrills Redheart

Uptown Girl

Victoria

Wedding Dress Bella Bambina

Whale of a Good Time

Who's There

Winter Accessories

Yoke Skirt only available with Wayback Machine



Sweaters, Stoles, Shrugs, Ponchos, and Pants:

Capris and Top

Capris,Top,and Shoes

Crochetnmore Doll Hoodie

Granny Shawl

Inspiration to Wear Cowel Sweater, Pants, Skirt, Western Sweater

Jeans and Sweater

Just Like Me Shrug

Mock Turtleneck updated link

Pants and Top

Pants Bella Bambina

Poncho Lacy Shells

Poncho Toasty Ties

Shorts

Shrug

Spring Sweater

Summer Cardigan

Summer Top

Sweater Bella Bambina

Sweater Cardigan and Hat

Sweater Sausalito Shell Stitch and Hat

Sweater Tunsisian



Hats, Shoes, Coats, and Scarves:

Boots

Carcoat, Tam, Boots, Culottes, Top

Coat, Hat, Fingerless Gloves, and Dog Walking the Dog Redheart

Cat in the Hat Hat

Christmas Hat

Crochetnmore Hat

Crochetnmore Scarf

Earflap Hat 3 ways includes Panda

Fun Fur Hat and Scarf

Hat Winter Style

Liquid Sunshine Hat, Jacket, Top, Pants

Retro Doll Accessories Hat, Vest, Purse

Shoes

Skates

Slippers

Slouchy Hat

Tam Hat

Winter Hat



Accessories:

Doll Blanket for Beginners

Donna's Crochet Guitar

Duffle Bag

Sleeping Bag













Other:

Plastic Tub Wardrobe Directions Infinite Freedom

Wood Furniture:

Adirondack Chair

Bunk Beds

Canopy Doll Bed

Closet with Washer/Dryer Scroll Down

Farmhouse Bed

Lydia Doll Bed

Picnic Table

Trundle Bed



Sewing Patterns:

Allcrafts

American Doll Outfitters

Bathing Suit

Bedding Tips

Bella Online

Bella Online Dress Making Tips

Bella Online Flower Girl

Bella Online Spring Dress Pattern

Cape made from Santa Hat

Cow Girl Outfit

Dress

Duffel Bag

Pleasant Company Dress Patterns and Accessories



Infinite Freedom

Infinite Freedom Stip Quilt Project

Infinite Freedom Kaela Dress

Messenger Bag made from Recyled Hand Bag

Pants and Socks

Polo Shirt

Susan Kramer Dress Pattern

T-Shirt

Tank Top



Check the Holiday Posts for More Free Patterns:

Valentine's

Easter

Halloween

Thanksgiving

Christmas

Wedding

See my American Girl/18" Doll Projects here.






Picture Credits:
Crochet picture may not be used without written permission.
oddharmonic flicker.com shoshanah flicker.com Shoshanah flicker.com