Monday 20 March 2017

BEAUTIFUL LOTUS DRESS FOR BARBIE

Beautiful Lotus Dress for Barbie - a free crochet pattern from Sweet Nothings Crochet
I've always thought of making doll clothing and I'm thrilled to adapt this gorgeous crochet dress for a doll here today.  This project started off in an odd way.  One lovely lady was working on my Exquisite lotus dress for a baby and got stuck on one of the rounds towards the end.  I only recalled that this project was a really beautiful one (and is being shared a lot on Facebook) but I could not really help her with the pattern off hand.  I just *had* to make it.. so I came up with the idea of making this dress for the sadly neglected dolls neatly stashed in my daughter’s cupboard 😉… and I am thrilled at how it has turned out.. beautiful, isn’t it?
and thanks to Johana, I now have a dolls crochet dress to my repertoire of crochet work 😀

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Materials used : Today I’ve used our lovely Indian Red rose  knitting cotton with a 1.3 mm crochet hook ;  embroidery needle sewing needle ; fabric glue to seal ends ; crochet stitch markers ; buttonspress buttons ; satin ribbon ; headband ; tic-tac clips ; rubber band ; hair comb or barrette  ; beads n more
For Indians You could use Anchor , 4-ply knitting cotton , or unbranded knitting cotton or White Rose or bamboo knitting cotton , Milk cotton ; Silk yarns as well as Vardhaman acrylic yarns ; Baby soft acrylic yarn , Ganga Spectrum as well
General yarn info : The yarn used today is not specific to this pattern.
You can use any yarn with a suitable hook to make this project to any size.
International yarns :  Among the international yarns I have used in this thickness, I’d suggest Aunt Lydia Cotton 10, Aunt Lydia Bamboo-Viscose 10, DMC Petra, Sullivans knitting cotton (Australia), Milford Soft, Hilaza Rustica Eclat , Alize cotton yarn and Alize bamboo yarn , Lily Sugar n' Cream cotton yarn, Caron Simply Soft , Bernat Softee chunky.

Skill level : Advanced
The original pattern is an Intermediate to Advanced skill, but here as we’re making this so much smaller, there are calculations that increase the skill requirement. Sorry.

Stitches used :
Starting slip knot :  https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw 
Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot :   https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs 
What is a chain stitch ?  https://youtu.be/pXx5ukBjKkY

Instructions : (Using U.S terminology)
Please remember that as usual, I have lots of ideas and tweaks thrown in, so do read through all my wordsy explanations.  After all, I am taking the trouble of thinking all this through :)
My earlier blog for this creation is here 
Just changing the hook and yarn size makes all the difference in the project size.
So that's all you need to do - find a thinner yarn and work with a smaller hook .. ta da!
the original pattern for a baby dress 
and the original inspiration is this beauty..
the inspiration for the original baby dress
After having successfully made this into a Barbie doll dress, I have used it as a soap dispenser dress cover as well as a wine bottle cover.  This project has been my most downloaded and created project.  Thanks guys :)
the dress used as a wine bottle coverThe dress used as a soap dispenser bottle cover
I will just give you ideas on how you can go about this – I cannot give you exact numbers as I am not sure what size doll you’re going to work with.

1.       So the first part is for the yoke.  I chose the yoke pattern numbers off the link given in the original pattern but worked it in half.  So for the 1st neckline it’s a 40 stitch start, and the 2nd is a 46 st start, so I tried both the 20 and the 23 stitch start and I think the 23 stitch start worked for my doll.

2.     I worked in hdc all through my pattern

3.     The pattern repeat for the skirt is specified / given as 9, but if we work in multiples of 9, we are not going to get a decent frilly base.. so I just worked in every stitch all around, in pattern.

4.     Once you have that first round for the skirt portion done, then you do not have to worry about the stitch count in multiples of 9, and the pattern falls in place quite beautifully.

5.     Note though that you get the 4-dc sets and the panels alternating properly.. and if they do not work, then you will need to tweak such that they do.  So how do you tweak?  Well, if it does not work using every stitch in pattern, then you change it every other stitch, and skip stitches in between.  At the end of the round, if you have the pattern ending the way it is intended, then you will get the skirt falling the way it should too.
yoke detail

skirt detail

Barbie doll wearing the dress
I am quite sure that you are going to have a lot of fun creating this.. I may add that working with a thinner thread and hook, and with hdc is not the easiest thing to do in the evenings and nights.. so there was quite a bit of rip rip rippin that happened along the way.. and many frustrated ‘chuck this project’ threats that followed too.. but I am glad that I persevered .. and I love love love the end result

Finallllly I will need to let you in on a secret ;) Tweak # n100
The makers of this wonderful Barbie doll have broken even the ‘myth’ of the Size zero’ and this madam has no waist !! Our yoke and waist therefore need to be pulled in.. so while I was working (and ripping) my project, I forgot this – but I know that the lovely Doris Chan has an awesome way of tightening and cinching finished crochet garments – If you have an idea of how she does that, then yaay.. else you’ll do what I did.. Tie a sash around and neatly arrange the extra material, such that the skirt billows beautifully, the sash neatly disguises and no one really notices..

Now come come.. you aren’t going to go back to the photograph and check this out now, are you?? ;)

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Have a great day and see you soon. 

Here are some of my other dress patterns..

I have a few girls dresses already made, and just in case you want a dekho at those free patterns … here you go  

























































































and here are a few skirt patterns that you can use your belt for..



Here are some of my tops
                        


























































Here are some of my bolero / jacket / vest creations.  Have fun with these free patterns too






































Here is a list of my earlier miscellaneous home use projects.  Enjoy




































































































































































































































































































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