Christmas Gifts and Crochet Barbie Dress

To keep Christmas spending down to a minimum this year I've decided that most gifts will be handmade. I say that every year but this time it's more of a necessity it's either that or no gift giving.

I have our parents, siblings, nieces, nephews and a growing number of great nieces and nephews. We don't really swap gifts with my husband's family, just his parents and a brother or two. Husband has already bought gifts for his brothers. Oh and one of his nephews family who just happen to be neigbours of ours.

I want to stick with supplies I already have on hand for the most part. I've started with a cute crocheted Elephant for a 1 year old great niece, at the moment it's waiting to be stuffed and sewn, perhaps a dress for her as well.






For her 5 year old sister and 4 year old cousin, it will be Barbie Dolls and dolls clothes. The Barbies have been in my stash for ages, I bought them a few years back to make Christmas Angels with. Was going to use Originals by Gidge designs

This dress was inspired by a pattern that was originally on Originals by Gidge. I only had 4ply cotton on hand so thought it would look fine sized up. Was going to make a long dress with bodice but during the first fitting of the skirt part, I tried it out as a strapless dress. Hmmm liked it.

Crocheted Barbie Dress.

4ply cotton
2.5mm crochet hook

Chain 7
Row 1:
1 dc, 2 ch, 1dc into 5th chain from hook, 1 dc into last ch. 3 ch, turn

Row 2:

1 dc, 2 ch, 1 dc into 2 ch space, 1 dc into top of turning chain. 3 chain, turn

Row 3.

Repeat row 2.

Row 4:

2 dc, 2 ch, 2 dc into 2 ch space, 1 dc into top of turning chain, 3 chain, turn

Row 5:

Repeat Row 4

Row 6,

3dc, 2 ch, 3 dc into 2 ch space, 1 dc into top of turning chain. 3 chain, turn

Rows 7 & 8:

Repeat row 6

Row 9

4 dc, 2 ch, 4 dc into 2 ch space, 1 dc into top of turning chain. 3 chain, turn

Rows 10, 11 & 12

Repeat row 9

Row 13:

5 dc, 2 ch, 5 dc into 2 ch space, 1 dc into top of turning chain. 3 chain, turn

Row 14:

Repeat row 13

Row 15:

6 dc, 2 ch, 6c into 2 ch space, 1 dc into top of turning chain. 3 chain, turn

Row 16: Final row.

Repeat row 15, except for 3 chain, finish off. Leave enough thread for sewing panels together - 20 - 30 cm.

Repeat the above 4 more times, 5 panels in all. Do not finish off on final (5th) panel, leave thread on hook. Do not cut thread.

Laying panels flat side by side, just butt the edges together and join with simple overcast stitch, don't worry about taking small stitches, the lacy effect hides the stitches well. I stitched each panel as I completed them, saved having to make a new panel when one mysteriously disappears. As they do, trust me I know. Happens to me all the time, things just disappear.

Stitch 5 panels together to form flat piece.




With hook and remaining thread.

1 ch, sc up the edge of final panel, I did 2 sc per "hole" and 1 sc into edge of each shell. At the top turn corner by stitching 1 chain and then sc across top of all panels, 1 ch to turn and repeat down the edge of the first panel. Finish off, leave enough thread for stitching.


Stitch to about 3 cm below top and finish off. Sew press stud, velcro dot or button and loop for closure. Straps can be added if needed.

It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is snoring.

Had a little insomnia last night, didn't help that I sat up watching a dvd and knitting until 2.30, after trying to sleep I got up at 4, did a little more knitting in front of the tv before falling asleep until 7am. It was pouring outside and when I looked outside I was greeted by this sight.

We only purchased this cover just before Christmas, the water just pooled in the middle caving the frame in. The only way I could think to drain it was to stab the canvas. Bought it from Bunnings, it was touted as a carport but could you imagine what would happen to the car if that had collapsed on to it? Our car looks bad enough with it's paintwork problems, wouldn't want a caved in roof as well. Hope we still have the docket. It's not like we expected it to last forever but would have liked more than 2 weeks life out of it.

It's not all bad, it's only a canvas cover and not a major investment. Edit we will be getting a full refund

Christmas Crafting

Each year I swear I am going to start my next years Christmas crafting right after Christmas, this year I have actually done it. Started knitting one of the stockings, it's knitting up quite quickly for me, since taking the picture last night it's grown another 6 cms. Faster, more experienced knitters would knock it out in no time. It's larger than I expected, not at all bad for $1.