25.000 VIEWS :)

Well, this is simply amazing.. 25.000 views already wow!

Yesterday I found out that my pattern is also on Ravelry, I had no idea.. somebody must have done that for me, and I'm glad they did :) cause now there will be lots of people finding my blog too.

I thank the people who commented there too :)

And I would like to see your lalaloopsy dolls that you've created with the free pattern,  I am really curious how you made it your own using your imagination..

Bye for now XXX

Nearly 10.000 views!!!

Now, I haven't been around a lot anymore because of my new hobby (Blythe dolls) but I am busy with a pattern and tutorial on how to make your own sling beach chair :)
So I'll be back with that one soon!!
In the meanwhile I'm REALLY happy with all the interest you guys have shown for my blog, so thanks to all of you :)

Lalaloopsy wardrobe

I also made a wardrobe using the same technique I did the little dollhouse in. Only you do need to glue a rod in to hang the clothes on. 

Crafting for lalaloopsy mini's

Lately I haven't been that busy with the lalaloopsy stuff because I've developped a passion for Blythe dolls... But here I am with a tip on how to make your own inexpensive lala-mini dollhouse!

I took an old wooden case that was used for holding wine bottles. Then with mod-podge glued crafting paper in the rooms. Also for the floors I printed out flooring patterns and glued those on too. Then just some decorating is needed and : voila! There you have your own little dollhouse, decorated the way you like it! :)

Crochet dress for dolls

Hi, in this post I will show you how I make my dresses for my lalaloopsy dolls. I used a free pattern from Beth Webber and adapted it into almost every dress I made for my dolls.
Once you get the pattern you will be able to use it for any kind of doll.

First you have to decide on where you want the waist to be ( high up always looks so cute, but maybe you like it a bit lower...) We're starting with the upper part of the dress, going up and down the bodice, and are going to work our way beginning at the center back, then to the side and over the belly to the other side and back to the back again.

For my doll I want the waist high up so I chain 5, sc 4 starting in the 2nd st from the hook, and chain 1 at the end of each row. Crochet along, always sc 4 and chain 1.
After a number of rows (in my case 13) you reach the point where the arm stops. That's where you want to add some sc's to go higher up to the neck so in the last 2st do 2sc, now you have 6st, plus a chain for the turn. Crochet along, going back and forth until you reach the other arm. ( that's 10 rows in my case)
Here you need to decrease two to go back down under the armpit. Make sure you decrease on the upper side of the bodice, same side as where you did the increases. So now you have 4 st, plus the chain for the turn.
Crochet along until you meet the other end. If you lay the bodice flat the higher part should be right in the middle.
Now for a nice trim go all around the bodice and do a chain of 3 in the middle of one end for your button.

If you feel confident you can crochet the shoulderstraps on as you go but you can also do them seperatly and attach them later on. (Or maybe do nice satin or lace straps...) In case you do want to crochet them on you have to do one from front to back and the second one from back to front (otherwise the trim won't look as nice)
So do like I do : sc your trim until the point where you want the strap to be, then chain some until it reaches the back, attach and sc your way back to the front. Now sc the trim further until you reach the back of the second strap, do the same number of chains, attach and sc your way to the back again. Finish your trim and you're done with the top part of your dress. Add a button in the back.

So now you have a nice top already, wich you can use as is, sew a skirt on (maybe satin or tule or whatever material you want...) or crochet a skirt on which I'll show how to do.
The skirt will be crocheted in the round.
First do 2sc in each st at the bottom of the bodice but use the back loops only. When you reach the end do a slipstitch to attach both sides to each other.
Now do 2 rows sc around.
Next *sc 4 and 2sc in the next st*, repeat all around.
Then do 2 rows sc around.
Now I like a fun look so I do a wavy edge, but you can just leave it like it is and finish off.
For the wavy look you count your stitches and divide into 3 ( if you want you can do 5 also...) I had 66st so that's 22, and maybe you want to take a pencil and a note to write down what you want your wave to look like.
I did 2 slipstitches, 4sc, 3dc, 4tr, 3dc, 4sc and 2 slipst. And repeat all this 2 more times. So you will see that you went up and down.
I had some lacy ruffled trim and added this along the edge.
Your dress is almost finished but you may want to add a petticoat, for that you make a strip of fabric ( about 6 cm to 40 cm) and seem it top and bottom. Then on one side take a sewing needle and go back and forth off your fabric to gather the skirt.
Pin the ruffled skirt to the inside of your dress and sew.
Pimp up the dress with some bows or satin band or ...

Voila, we're done. I hope I explained everything well and wish you good luck making your own dresses ;)

Amigurumi doll hair part 2

Another way to add hair on your lalaloopsy or other kind of crochet doll is creating curls. Do this by crocheting 20 or 30 slipstitches and then do 3 double crochets in each st. Pin the curls onto the head and check looking from all sides to see that it's even on both sides. Then sew onto the head, check that the curls are stitched firmly. You can also embroider some lines to make it look like combed hair, and if it still looks dull you can also add some metallic yarn lines for a bit of a sheen. Good luck xxx

free pattern lalaloopsy doll

Hi, today I have for you the free pattern for my lalaloopsy dolls. With this pattern you can crochet your own lalaloopsy doll and feel free to use your imagination and alter things like the length of her stockings or put boots on her instead of shoes... U can do anything really, and check out my pictures on flickr for some more ideas...
 The pattern isn't difficult but there are a lot of colour changes on the back of the head. I've added some pictures below to help visualize what it should look like.
I use catania cotton yarn and crochet hook size 3mm, but check on the wrapping of your yarn what hook it requires.
The pattern is crocheted in the round, do not join rounds.
I always begin by making a "magic ring", it's not hard at all but check on the internet for a tutorial because I can't explain it that well... Also for the color changes I do this : in the last st before the color change pull up loop from previous color but then yarn over with the new color and pull through. Crochet along and later tie the ends together on the back.
For the stuffing you can use fiberfill, or like i do : buy a pillow in a really cheap store and use the filling.

Abbreviations:

ch = chain
sc = single crochet
dc = double crochet
st = stitch
slst = slipstitch
to increase : crochet 2 sc in one stitch
crtog = crochet 2 stitches together by pulling up the front loop of the next stitch and yarn over, then pull up the front loop of the second next stitch and yarn over, and then yarn over again and pull through all 3 loops
(nr) = the number of stitches at the end of each row
*..* = repeat everything in-between *

for the "thumb": yarn over and insert in the indicated st, yarn over and pull through st, yarn over again and pull through 2 loops. Repeat this, going into the same st, until you have 6 loops on your hook, then yarn over and pull through all 6 loops.

PATTERN :

Starting with the underpants, then working up to her belly and later her head

For the underpants I use crisp white

1) in the "magic ring" crochet 5 sc                        (5)
2) 2 sc in each st                                                  (10)
3) 2 sc in each 2nd st                                           (15)
4) 2 sc in each 3rd st                                            (20)
5) 2 sc in each 4th st                                            (25)
6) 2 sc in each 5th st                                            (30)
7) 2 sc in each 6th st                                            (35)
8) until 10) crochet around                                  (35)

now change to skincolour

11) crochet around using back loops only           (35)
12) crtog every 6th and 7th st                              (30)
13) until 17) crochet around                                (30)
18) crtog every 5th and 6th st                              (25)
19) and 20) crochet around                                  (25)
21) crtog every 4th and 5th st                              (20)
22) and 23) crochet around                                  (20)
24) crtog every 3rd and 4th st                              (15)
25) crtog every 2nd and 3rd st                             (10)
26) 2 sc in each 5th st                                          (12)
27) 2 sc in each 2nd st                                         (18)
28) 2 sc in each 3rd st                                          (24)
29) 2 sc in each 4th st                                          (30)
30) 2 sc in each 5th st                                          (36)
31) 2 sc in each 6th st                                          (42)
32) 2 sc in each 7th st                                          (48)
33) 2 sc in each 8th  st                                         (54)

from this row on we're going to add the hair color, it isn't hard at all but I'll try my best to explain how to do it... ( also I've included some pictures )

34) 2 sc in each 8th st, change color in the 17th sc and back to skin color in the 29th sc
it should look like this now vv vvvvvvvv vv (so you have 12st) hair color          (60)
35) 2 sc in each 9th sc, from now on change color in the 2nd st before the color switch in the previous row and back to skin color also 2 st further than the color change in the previous row. This way you get more and more hair color each row, make sure that you go up evenly. (now you have 17st hair color, and then each row will be 3st more of hair color)  (66)

The pictures included show, from left to right : the first row with hair color, then the second row with the color change before and then after the hair color, then how it should look on the right and then on the left side, and finally a global view from the back of the head.

36) until 43) crochet around
44) crtog each 10th and 11th sc, in this row crochet with skin color only until you reach the hair line, and crochet all the way in hair color from now on.  (60)
45) crochet around                                                (60)
46) crtog each 9th and 10th sc                              (54)
47) crtog each 8th and 9th sc                                (48)
48) crtog each 7th and 8th sc                                (42)
49) crtog each 6th and 7th sc                                (36)
50) crtog esch 5th and 6th sc                                (30)

stuff the body very firmly, for the neck I put in some cotton ear swabs that I bind together so that the neck isn't too wobbly, you can use a piece of wood or plastic too

51) crtog each 4th and 5th sc                               (24)
52) crtog each 3rd and 4th sc                               (18)
53) crtog each 2nd and 3rd sc                              (12)
54) crtog two by two                                            (6)

Stuff the head firmly, slipstitch and pull through every st using a tapestry needle, then tuck in the end

Sew on 2 black buttons for eyes, embroider the eyelashes and the mouth with black yarn. I always hot glue the eyes after sewing them on because they tend to stick out a bit (don't think you can wash the doll in the washing machine anyway; the glue would melt and ruin your doll)
For the hair you can make curls by crocheting a number of slipstitches (like 20 or 30) and then do 3 double crochets in each slipstitch, pin the curls on the head and sew. You can also check my other tutorial on my blog, I will add more as I go along.

For the cheeks use a different kind of skin color :

1) in the "magic ring" sc 6                                (6)
2) 2 sc in each st                                               (12)
3) 2 sc in each 2nd st                                        (18)

slipstitch and fasten off, then sew onto the doll with embroidery yarn (in a different shade of pink), and add some freckles with the same embroidery yarn

Arms :

1) in the "magic ring" sc 4                               (4)
2) 2 sc in each 2nd st                                       (6)
3) crochet around                                             (6)
4) 2 sc in each 2nd st                                        (9)
5) 1 sc, then add a thumb (expl in "abbreviations"), 7sc  (9)
6) crtog each 2nd and 3rd sc                            (6)
7) 2 sc in each 2nd st                                       (9)
8) until 20) crochet around                              (9)

here you will do a left and right shoulder so do 1 arm as in the first column and 1 arm as in the 2nd column

21) sc 8, slst 1                                         (9)        21) sc 3, slst 3, sc 1, dc 2               (9)
22) slst 2, sc 1, dc 4, sc 1, slst 1              (9)        22) dc 2, sc 1, slst 3, sc 1, dc 2      (9)
23) slst 2, sc 1, dc 4, sc 1, slst 1, fasten off          23) dc 2, sc 1 fasten off

Stuff the arms and attach on either side of the body, making sure the thumb faces up.

For the legs, start with shoe sole

1) ch 9                                                                 (9)
2) sc 6, dc 1, dc 4 in next st, dc 1, sc 6               (18)
3) sc 7, *2 sc in next st* 4 times, sc 4, slst 3       (22)

change to shoe color (sometimes same as shoe sole, then do not change)

4) sc around using back loops only                                                 (22)
5) sc 7, *crtog* 5 times, sc 5                                                           (17)
6) using front loops only this round : sc 6, *crtog* 3 times, sc 5     (14)

slipstitch and fasten off
Now go to the leg color (or sock color, what you like) using the back loops of the previous round.
For the decreases just make sure to decrease at the tip of the shoe, and sc the other stitches

7)  *crtog* 3 times at the tip                                (14)
8)  *crtog* 2 times  at the tip                               (12)
9)  *crtog* 3 times at the tip                                (9)
10) until 29) sc around

stuff the leg and then figure out where the hip should be and dc 4 there, do one on the left and one right leg. If you did socks you just change the color whatever length you want your sock to be, do one row back loops only and then you can add a ruffle by *chaining 3 and slst in the next front loop* all around the leg. You can also go from skin color back to the underpant color toward the top of the leg and add a ruffle there so that it looks like 19th century long underwear ;)

For some clothes, I will add more tutorials on my blog please check regularly...

I hope this free pattern is helpfull and good luck making your own lalaloopsy doll !

Please note that this pattern was made up by me for you to use but not for anybody to sell, you can sell the finished product off course