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 Valentine Outfit

Valentine's Day kind of crept on me this year and while I can add holiday outfits at any time of the year since the donation doesn't go out until November there is something about making the outfits around the holiday as a way to celebrate that appeals to me. I finished Darski's pattern and decided to continue on with Adoring Doll's pattern that you can purchase here.

Pattern Notes:

I used an I hook for most of this pattern.

In order to get the slip stitches in I added them slightly differently than the designer. After row 1 I went back to the start of row 1 and did a row of pink slip stitches ended and finished off pink and continued on with white and row 2.

After row 2 I repeated this for second set of ss.

At the end of row 9 I repeated this for ss that heart will sit on.

Hat and shoes were made with I hook.

Sweater:

I hook

I added 2 sc rows to arms and finished them with a sc chain 3 skip on around

I finished complete edge of sweater in process of making suggested button hole I just preffered a finished look.

While I love the sailor shoes I have to remember to use this shoe pattern more frequently as I really like them!

Lil Cutesies Valentine Outfit

I had previously made Valentine themed holiday outfits for the Lil Cutesie dolls for a Valentine present box but this year I set a challenge to see if I could add more holiday outfits to the donation dolls. The outfits don't need to be made at the holidays since they won't be donated until November or early December but it is a fun way to celebrate making them during the season.

You can purchase the pattern here. There are minor adaptations for the Lots to Love 8" doll included in the pattern and I'm planning to make the outfit for both dolls to send off for the donation this year.

I've made this outfit in pink for Valentine's and green for St. Patrick's day. It works well for both holidays.

Notes:

The pattern calls for a size 5 steel hook. I've never found the numbers to be helpful as the numbers vary by manufacturer so I try to stick to mm when recording so if I change hooks I have a better chance of matching mm than sizes. For this pattern I used my Tulip Etimo 1.75mm and 1.5mm hooks. For the dress I used the 1.75mm hook. I finished off a container of pink size 10 thread. I mention it because while I often finish a skein of yarn, it often feels like thread lasts forever. Since I've added some of the smaller dolls I've been using more thread and seeing the cardboard ends is not as rare as it once was although still not as common as finishing off a skein of yarn.

I did not use a tie at the top and I finished the back with sc so I skipped the first stitch on both sides when working the collar. I didn't do this the first time and the collar didn't close correctly so I note it here for future projects.

The bottoms also used the 1.75 mm hook. I chose to finish the leg openings with a sc around the legs.

I used the 1.5mm hook for the shoes. I had previously made them with the larger hook and found them hard to keep on the feet. I found going down to a 1.25mm hook made the shoes too tight.

For the hat I also went down to a 1.5mm hook. I ran out of pink at the last row so I used a row of white at the end before the brim.

Happy Valentine's Day

This year's Valentine Box:

First the traditional Valentine themed items:

A non-traditonal theme for the Valentine box this year I made breakfast food.

My new holiday projects:

As always what better way to celebrate than by remembering what I finished for the holiday.

Valentine Heart Dishcloth

I love holiday dishcloths and pot holders. It is a quick and easy way to decorate and quite practical. This is another pattern from Month by Month Dishcloths. While I'd like the heart to be a little rounder, I love the color blends and most especially the flower. I can see me using the flower for other projects as it is quite pretty and works up quickly and easily.

This was a gift, but I'm already getting another one on the hooks for my own house. I hope to have a selection of Valentine's dishcloths done before the holiday hits.

Valentine Present Dishcloth

This is another dishcloth from Month by Month Dishcloths. It could be done in other colors for different gift needs. I'm thinking about making one in Christmas colors. I've already ordered the yarn to make one in Valentine's colors for our house as I've run out of pink variegated and I can't it locally.

Valentine's Hot Pad

I've subscribed to Crochet World since I learned to Crochet. When they sold the computer CD's of the magazine I bought them. So when I saw the Love to Cook pattern on e-pattern central here I did some research and realized it was originally published in February 2010's edition and I was able to download it from my CD instead of buying a pattern I already owned. I really need to use those CD's more. They are not as searchable as I'd like, but still easier than trying to search through years of print magazines.

This was a gift, but I would like one for our house. One change I think I will make is changing from the suggested H hook to a G hook. That's one of the reasons for making these posts is to record the things I'd do differently the next time because it's easy to forget. It's been a while since I've made Valentine items. I'm enjoying this year's projects.

Valentine's Bear

My Valentine's package for my cousin's little girl is finally complete! I should box it today and have DH mail it tomorrow.

This was a fun project and I was quite glad to find the free pattern here.

As always I like to keep track of the changes I make in case I end up making the pattern again. First to reduce the amount of sewing, I didn't fasten off the head and make the body separately. I continued crocheting the body directly to the head and liked the way it looked. I have had real trouble with hearts this holiday season so this heart is the first heart I actually made for the Valentine Lovey. It turned out to be too large for the bunny but was perfect for the bear. The pattern does come with its own heart pattern but you can find the free subsitute heart pattern I used here.