Lil Cutesies Swimsuit

I've been alternating week by week to finish off the swimsuits and the sleep wear. Up next is the Little Cutesies' swimsuit.

This outfit was made using one of Char Caywood's patterns that can be purchased here. The pattern includes directions for the Lil Cutesie doll and the Lots to Love 8 inch baby doll.

I use the swimsuit, visor, and sandals from this pattern. I do not include the coverup.

Notes:

This was made with Aunt Lydia size 10 a version of yellow and an unnamed multicolored. I suspect they aren't making it any longer as I looked at a couple of colors online and either there were colors that weren't in this thread or they didn't have all the colors in this thread.

I made a note last time I wish I had read before starting this time there are two visor patterns and the one for the Lil Cutesies is larger due to head size. Choose the Lil Cutesie visor pattern to start future projects. I noted it on the pattern as well this time so that should help.

I used a 1.75 mm hook.

In Row 16 of the bottoms part B I use hdc not sc.

Ruffle I hdc in row 17 not 16. For my own notes row 17 is worked around the complete doll in the back loops. This is the row the ruffle will be added to around the doll.

I do a sc around the legs.

The back is finished with sc as part of the chain process. I mention this because I had forgotten from making this last year. I usually will finish a back even when not in the pattern.

I chained 50 for the ties.

I noticed there is fluff from a previous project that I cleaned off before putting the outfit in the bag to be put in the Lil Cutesies sorting bag.

Lil Cutesies Mermaid

I have favorites over on Ravelry sorted by doll size or other categories. I generally keep them in those folders after I've purchased or downloaded the free patterns for a couple of reasons.

I go to the folders sometimes to get ideas about what to make next. Sometimes it reminds me of a pattern I already have either free or purchased.

In this case as I opened the small baby doll folder was I surprised to find I had stored a ravelry page of a Lil Cutesies Mermaid available to purchase that I had not yet bought. Since Mermaids have been on my radar I decided to add the pattern to my stash. You can purchase the pattern here.

Notes:

This project is made using Red Heart Unforgettable Candied Yarn and a J hook.

The pattern for the tail was easy to follow and I finished that without challenges.

I had a bit more of a challenge with the top. For my notes I would chain 15 not 20 based on how I decided to put the top together. 22 stitches required me to reduce the arms. Row 2 says turn. I missed this the first time and it forces you to start with a long chain but then begin working a short piece sideways with the chain hanging.

The directions were not clear but as the picture demonstrates below I chose to use the chains as armholes to keep the top on the doll. There were no clear directions for this but it worked for me.

The outfit slid down in the second picture a reason not to rush when trying to get blog pictures taken.

I tried making the headband as written and then decided to be kind to myself. I chained the distance I needed around for the headband and closed it finishing off ends. I then made the star and used the ends of the star to cover up where the headband had been joined.

I repeat what I said after making Skipper's mermaid costume. I love the colors of this yarn I hate how this yarn works. It is really hard to pull out and when you are trying to adapt and change items it is frustrating. It also has a tendency to shed and the fiber shedding is hard to remove before you crochet it into the piece.

Lil Cutesies Dress, Hat, and Shoes

I'm not quite as ahead preposting as I was but it is still nice to have a little edge of needing to get something finished and posted.

It is Wednesday as I prepost and I had a delightful experience helping to pack the Kits for Kids bags bags this morning. I was an honor to watch this sophmore kids demonstrate what they are capable of doing with supports in place. They organized supplies to pack 120 kits and having been to different but similiar events I was amazed at how well they had it all ready to go.

I had hoped by going to learn more about what I could offer that would be useful and I have two plans. One is to collect school supplies in the fall to drop off with my Aztec Wishes donation so they will have it for their Spring packing party. Anytime you need school supplies the back to school sales are the best time to get name brands at really cheap prices.

The second is about what to make. I will drop the baby doll and keep the Chelsea doll for next year just do to space. It is a small bag. Then I will focus on the finger puppets, book tie ins, and play sets as the director for the project suggested those were the projects that would work best for the kids they service. I'll keep my dolls other than Chelsea for Aztec Wishes. I have my eye on another Three Little Pig set that would be perfect for this size donation.

Now back to this outfit.

This is one of Petite Designs patterns that can be purchased here.

I just purchased one more of her patterns for the Little Cutesies doll and several Amy Carrico baby doll patterns that I didn't have from Ravelry. I have some of their patterns on wish lists and then those patterns aren't offered for a bit. So, when I find them again I've been buying them. Just a side note as I seem to be wandering today.

Notes:

I have discovered Premier Yarns DK yarn and I plan on adding more to my stash for the baby doll projects. The contrast color is Caron Simply Soft Paint Rose Garden.

A note for future projects this project eats the contrast yarn. I used almost a 1/2 skein of Simply Soft Paints. Just something to consider when planning yarn needs for this next year.

This pattern is written in UK terms. While I can remember that a dc is a sc the htr always throws me and I find myself looking it up to discover it is the hdc. I was able to use the suggested e hook for everything except the first row of the panties which I needed to start with an I hook to get them to fit around the waist. I suggest swithching to an e hook for the remaining rows or the panties become too large. I switched at row 3 and had to make some reductions while sewing the crotch together.

I sewed a snap to close the back without thinking about it. In the future I'd finish the back and do the suggested neck ties.

Lil Cutesies Nightgown

It was almost November before I finished the Lil Cutesie nightgown for the 2025 donation. It feels amazing to be preposting about it in January!

This is the only one of the baby dolls I don't use Darski's Sweetly pattern for the nightgown. For what ever reason her free BBL pattern fits the Lil Cutesie doll better. You can find that pattern here.

Notes:

I read last year's notes that suggested an E hook rather than an f and this worked out well. I would suggest following the directions for additional increase stitches. I fear I missed a couple of these. I would not the next time I make this.

I work at avoiding repeating colors when possible but not a fan of the Ice Cream Lemon Meringue for this project. I've used it for some of the 16 inch dresses and liked it but not a great fit for this smaller project. I had been tempted to repeat Tutti Frutti and I'd go back to that for next year. It was a fun look.

This pattern has directions until row 8 and then make it as long as you want. I stopped a row before the length I wanted and did a sc skip a stitch 5 dc in the next stitch shell to finish the bottom. When complete I finished the back before chaining 30 for the neck closure. This year as I was going across the neck I'd alternated back stitch and front stitch hdc for a little different neck finish rather than the sc chain 3 I've done in previous years.

I also decreased and finished the arms with sc and then added an additional row of sc chain 3 skip one around for a better arm fit and a little decoration.

Lil Cutesies Sleep Sack

I had targeted the one of the 16 Inch Baby Dolls to be the next travel sleep sack projects. However, I was cleaning up and found a collapsed skein of striped Red Heart yarn and while rolling it decided why not just use it and another sleep sack was finished for the 2026 donation.

As I said December was a busy, productive month for getting stuff done for the next donation year.

You can find the free pattern here.

Notes:

I need a G hook to get this to finish the Lil Cutesies doll.

I want to make one more of the small sleep sacks to put in an Operation Shoebox donation with one of the Lots to Love 8 Inch dolls next year. It should fit in with the bassinet I make for the doll. If it doesn't I have another sack ready for 2027.

Lil Cutesies Christmas Dress

The Lil Cutesies doll is next up for a Christmas outfit. I went back to the Petite Doll's outfit I wrote about last week changing to Christmas colors and making the corrections in the skirt following the directions for a dc ch dc v-stitch to a 2 dc ch 2 dc v-stitch in the second row which makes for a puffier skirt.

The dress and shoes are made using a Petite Designs pattern that can be purchased here. The hat is again adapted from the free Barbie Santa hat available here.

Notes:

I've started to use size 3 thread for some of the smaller baby doll dresses as I'm fining them to be a bit large with the sport baby yarn. The red sport I have is slightly heavier than current baby yarn which makes it even less helpful for these outfits.

The white and red are Aunt Lydia's. The green is Thread Art. When I start buying thread again I'm going to need some darker greens in all numbers if I want to do the Christmas project again for next year's donation.

I did rows 1 and 2 skippped to 4

I join all rows no need to close back.

I decreased the panty rows down to 3 and this made for a better fitting panty. It reduced the width for the front of the panties but this was not a huge issue as they tend to be incredibly bulky in full.

Hat:

I needed a chain of 50 to get the hat to fit around the doll's head. Over the white base rows I reduced to the original count and the thread stretched quite well. I was then able to follow the pattern as written.

The pom pom continues to be the pattern I've used for all of these dolls and then sewn on to the hat. I've never been great at making traditional pom poms and these don't tend to shed.