My Life Hearts and Flowers

It's almost February so time to think about adding some of the first holiday outfits to the donation for the year. Technically I can make the outfits any time during the year, since the drop off isn't until November or December but it just adds a little holiday cheer to making them around the holiday the outfits are intended to be worn. It also gives the child who receives the doll a chance to keep celebrating once Christmas has passed.

While I've made Darski's pattern available here, several times for some reason my brain missed a step and I had to pull it out and fix it so I'm going to add to my previous year's notes.

Notes:

I use a K hook for the first 4 rows of this dress as with my odd guage it is the only way I can get the dress to slide on and off. I use an I hook for the rest of the this pattern. I used an H for the the shoes. I returned to row 9 using an I and reduced last sc row of top.

This is the point at which I somehow missed a direction and the top section bubble ended up at the waist. I note this not for the general public but because having made this mistake once I am likely to make it again and I do read these posts each year before I begin the outfit again.

Stop when you finish row 9 and return to row 1. (I do a sc reduction row after row 9 but usually at the end after I've tried on the dress for fit.) Row 1 is the waist line not the top. Row 9 is the completed top not the waist. Return to Row 1 and start Row 10 to complete the skirt portion of the dress.

I've never needed this note before but better to have it and not need it than go down this road again.

The flower belongs lower on the waist but I rather like it up higher. I've experimented on where the ties go over the years and this year it was behind the neck. I would likely try the back again if not for the documented issues above.

The shoes are from Silver Creations Sailor pattern that sadly is no longer available.

My Life Hearts and Flowers

Over the years of this donation I've enjoyed including holiday outfits for the donation dolls when I've had time to add them. I don't need to make them close to the holidays as the package goes out at the Christmas season, but there is something fun about making them as a way of celebrating my own holiday seasons. This is one of Darski's free patterns found here.

The shoes are not part of the free set but have become my favorite shoe pattern. They are part of Sweet Silver Creation's Sailor Dress pattern. I don't always make the dress every year but I've lost count of the number of shoes I've made from this pattern you can purchase here. I like the shoes because they are easy to make and stay on the doll's feet.

Pattern Notes:

I use a K hook for the first 4 rows of this dress as with my odd guage it is the only way I can get the dress to slide on and off. I use an I hook for the rest of the outfit including the shoes. I returned to row 11 using an I and reduced last sc row of top.

The flower belongs lower on the waist but I was experimenting with the ties in the back which I've never done before and I ended tacking the flower at the top of the dress instead of the waist. I'm noting this because I do check my previous blog notes when remaking these outfits for future donations.

My Life Claret Dress

I've been making a point of attacking orphan skeins of yarn in my stash. While looking for yarn to complete this project I came across a single skein of Lion Brand Wool Ease in Cranberry. I don't generally buy Wool Ease so this could have been left over from a specific project or it could be from one of my senior center/Church sale yarn pick ups that I've been working off over the last few years. It was close but one skein was enough to finish the dress. I used a skein of I Love This Yarn to make the shoes.

As for the dress pattern this is the second pattern included in the free Harriet set found here. Crochetville has now pinned the link to all Darski's patterns so if you decide you like this one you should be able to find a list of all her doll patterns while visiting the site here.

I've pretty much narrowed down my shoe patterns for patterns that don't include shoes to two from patterns I purchased from Sweet Silver Creations just because I can almost make them in my sleep now. This pattern is from her School Girl Uniform pattern and can be purchased here.

This was the last item I made for the donation last year and I'm getting it done a bit earlier this year. I had to use a larger hook on the top and I suspect that is a combination of my guage and using different yarn. I returned to the suggested hook once I joined the outfit.

My Life Harriet

This is another one of Darski's free patterns you can find here. I've been looking for patterns that have been sitting in my doll binders that I've either never made or not made in years. This is one I made once many years ago and never gone back to so it seemed a good time to revisit. I'm working on the companion dress hoping to make it for this year's deadline. If not next year will work as well.

This outfit was made with Caron One Pound Yarn - Medium Grey Mix and Bernat Super Value Yarn, Navy. My supply of worsted brands varies based on sales and availability and I try to "shop" from my stash whenever possible for my doll projects. These colors were both in my yarn stash so they were my go to yarns for the outfit.

I ended up adding a few rows to the top to make it slightly longer and a few to the skirt as I wanted the long skirt pictured in the pattern. Mine ended up shorter following the pattern and it was easy enough to add some rows.

I went a size up on hook size for the top but stayed with the suggested size for the skirt. I did not use elastic for the skirt. I did add a finishing row of sc to the top of the skirt.

When I make this again I'd like to remember to make the scarf. It is a nice accessory for the outfit and I always seem to forget it.

My Life Howdy Neighbor Madison Dress

I mentioned last week that I set out to make the Madison dress from the free Howdy Neighbor pattern set found here.

I didn't give up when the first one fit the 15 Inch Rag Doll I just had to find different yarn that would work better.

For this project I targeted some Michael's Craft Smart yarn that I bought shortly after A.C. Moore closed and it hasn't been my favorite of the craft stores house brands. So I am determined I am going to finish off what I bought and then not have to look at it in my stash any longer. I used Red Heart Super Saver Yarn, White for the trim.

If you need a quick dress project this one works up fairly quickly.

Notes:

I followed the directions for hook size and dress construction except I did finish the back with green yarn prior to adding the trim. As I mentioned in the Rag Doll post I found this made the back neater and made it easier adding the buttons and button holes.

My Life Howdy Neighbor Shorts, Shirt and Shoes

After making the Chef's outfit I decided it would be a great idea to add another short outfit to the donation using the same free pattern from the Howdy Neighbor set found here.

It was a great chance to use up the green Herrschners worsted yarn and the Red Heart Super Saver Yarn, Petal Pink left over from making the last doll carrier. Sometimes it feels like I've barely made a dent in either goal but I'm still working on it. The shoe pattern is from Sweet Silver Creations School Girl Uniform available for purchase here.

The shirt was made following the pattern using the suggested hook size. I make my pants top down but this time did not chain for the crotch but joined to split for the legs after finishing the top section. I actually liked the fit for this better. I did a sc chain 3 trim for the legs. I used a g hook with the lighter Herrchners yarn and the shoes fit fine.