Back
Yarn: Lion Brand - Ice Cream in "Parfait" (3/Light)
Needles, Hook: 5 (3.75mm), D (3.25mm)
Specs: About 7in (18cm).
Pattern: Freehanded.
Thoughts:
Contruction: Worked top-down. Stockinette, then 2x2 rib, then 3 rows back to stockinette worked flat. 1 row single crochet into each loop of the cast off. Rest of pattern is: shell (5dc in 1 stitch), skip 1 st, sc, skip 1 stich; repeat. Can't remember exactly, but about on rows 2, 4, 6, I increased by 1 or 2 shells in the back (whichever amount was symmetrical for that row.) The skirt, depending on how it's squished/pulled, will either have a bustle or a high-low hem shape.
The bodice of this makes me so mad lol. I started and frogged about 8 different attemps (5 or so diff. designs) before settling. And the rib stitch didn't work! It literally would have been better fitting if it was just stockinette the whole way (and probably would have looked nicer texture-wise.) Also, despite being the 4th? knit attempt, I got my gauge wrong again and the rectangle was too large, so I gave up and sewed/cut it. I left the waist so loose because I needed to keep the dress easily removeable (it's gift for my niece.)
I really like the color effect though, and how the skirt came out. I wanted to knit the top so it would be thinner, this doll already has strangely small arms. The matching scrunchie is a row of single crochet, and then double on top of a tiny hairband. The necklace is just a crochet chain, slipped on by popping the doll's head off.
Unrelated: This is a dollar store doll my mother picked out. It has double jointed knees and rotating hip joints. For like $3???? Wow!
Lessons Learned: Less is more. I need to practice ribbed stitch. Crocheting doll clothes is rather unforgiving; it's hard to make a symmetrical design when your turning chain is a noticeable % of the entire project!
