Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Adapting patterns for Free Spirit

I am having a great time adapting patterns for Free Spirit. She is 11 to 12 inches tall, and turns out to be a good size for many of the patterns designed for the Fibre Craft 13 inch and 15 inch dolls. The great thing about crochet is that you can fit as you go, so if you need to remove a row or two in the bodice, or nip the waist in a couple stitches, it is very easy to do this as you are crocheting.

For the outfit above, in addition to using a size E hook and Red Heart Soft worsted yarn, I took in four stitches at the waistline, and removed two rows from the skirt. Sleeves and neck did not need to be altered. It fits Minerva very nicely :-) This was a pattern designed for the 13 inch Fibre Craft doll.


For this American Indian costume, I removed two rows from the bodice, and two rows from the skirt. I used a size E hook and Caron Simply Soft. This costume was designed for the 15 inch Fibre Craft doll. So what I notice is, the 13 inch doll bodice needs to be reduced in the waist, and the 15 inch doll bodice needs to be shortened slightly.

I crocheted these outfits very tightly; the gauge was six sc to one inch. I think they could be made in sport weight and a slighly looser grip on the hook with the same alterations.

Free patterns are available, and there are also out-of-print patterns available from Amazon, and from this site:

http://www.treasuredheirloomscrochet.com/index.html

Enjoy the crochet!

11 comments:

  1. I love your dolls. Do you sell them? I am trying to make one from your patterns. I have trouble with the #9 hook but I keep trying....I love your little animals. I may adapt one to be a Westie.....Your so talented....Thank you so much for giving all of us the pattern. How kind. It is hard to find patterns that are shared....Thanks again.....am a follower....lydababes@gmail.com

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  2. Hi lydababes!

    I don't actively sell my dolls; only sometimes if I have one that someone wants. Most of them become gifts or go to charity (but sometimes I need to replenish my yarn stash with a sale)

    If you are having trouble with the size 9 hook, and I'll admit it takes some time to get used to this small size, try a 7 hook and either size 10 crochet cotton or size 8 perle. Your eyewhite will be a little larger, but this will still look nice. I try to avoid a 'pop-eyed' look by making sure the eyelid covers the top of the eyewhite and a little bit of the acrylic eye.

    I'm delighted that you are thinking of adapting one of the puppy patterns to a Westie; this is a great way to use the patterns. I'm so glad you are enjoying the patterns :-)

    Beth

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  3. merhaba çok güzel olmuş ellerinize sağlık

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  4. Your dolls are fantastic. I love each and everyone of them. Stop by a visit me when you get the chance.

    Crocheting My Best With My Worsted
    http://crochetingmyworsted.blogspot.com

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  5. Hi Molly,

    Thank-you for the kind words. I dropped by your blog; what a delightful place :-)

    Beth

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  6. Your doll in a blue dress is very elegant!
    American Indian costume fabulously beautiful!

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  7. Rosette, thank-you for your kind words :-)

    Beth

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  8. thank you for all the wonderful patterns. I'm crocheting the for my granddaughter.

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  9. I'm glad you are enjoying the patterns. I hope your granddaughter enjoys her new doll :-)

    Beth

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