Quick Reference Chart

When you want to do button loops that are for doll clothes you want them to be fine enough to slip over the bead and hold. When using the same thread that you use for the dress, it is too thick. So I use sewing thread or #30 thread, or anything finer than the dress thread. The following are instructions for working the button loops.

With #30 or finer thread, in same color as main color of garment, thread a needle with 2 yards length; from back side and hiding thread as you go up the placket (you made this with the sc over the back opening); tie thread into base of skirt opening making it as un-obtrusive as you can. *Come out through the side of the stitch where you want your button loop, take thread and #10 crochet hook and ch 5, drop thread and with needle go into next st up and back out again to fasten last ch from coming undone, go back into sc and working your way up to the top of the neck rep from *.

Tails

In any crochet project it is a good technique to crochet over tail ends of thread or yarn. You can do this as you go along; just hold the thread along the top to the back of the piece you are crocheting and crochet over the thread.

joining

Make sure that when you join motifs your motifs are right-side up; drop loop of the motif in your hand, insert hook in corresponding st of the other motif and finish the joining by pulling through a loop and continue on according to the instructions.

When doing some outfits it might be better to get the outfit damp or wet, on the doll and in the position you want her in when the outfit is dry so that the dress will drape more realistically. This is also good to remember when working with fabrics. Little fishing weights might also be of help in weighting down the 'fabric' while drying.

If you are doing something like furniture (for the table tops) in yarn, wetting it helps tremendously in putting it into better shape but you need to stiffen them quite a bit. I like to wet them down with warm water, as this seem to sink in faster, and then, after drying them until just damp, spray them heavily with spray starch(The heaviest you can get). Or, better yet, give them a bath in Pretty Petals.

You may have already found these things out but in case you haven't here are some hints.

• When dressing the doll it is probably better to start with the outer garments and work backwards.
• After dressing the doll you may want the outfit to look more like it would on a human being. Spraying with water and re-shaping and let dry will be probably all that it takes.
• When doing the Annie's Attic beddolls putting the skirt on the form and then putting the doll in the form is best.

For Cotton Thread - Hat forms can be made from cardboard and tape. Then cover the form with saran or plastic wrap before placing the crocheted piece on the form.
Hats can be starched with spray starch and this is probably be The most that you will need to do.

Rayon and Nylon thread - Leave them un-starched if using Rayon and Nylon thread.
If the brim of the hat is in need of holding a particular shape then probably the best way to handle that is to use beading wire in the final round. Just hold the wire against the last row you did and crochet over it.

Basic Shoes

Starching a pair of crochet shoes is really not so hard.
With experimentation I have found that using beading wire in the sole of the shoe helps to hold the shape of the shoe. Just hold the wire against the last row you did (in this case the beg ch) and crochet over it.
Then when the shoes are finished, use an old doll as a form for the shoe; cover feet with a small piece of saran or plastic wrap and follow the directions:
Use pretty Petals and place some in a plastic baggie add the shoes and work the pretty petals into the the shoes. Work the shoes up to the top of the baggie leaving the pretty petals solutions at the bottom; squeeze as much of the pretty petals out of the shoes before taking them out of the baggie.Place the shoes on the doll's feet and let dry.

For rayon and Nylon thread shoes, where you want the natural gloss of the fiber to remain un-touched by the stiffner so as not to detract from it, I suggest that using wire in the sole of the shoe as previously described, is the best way to do this. The heels need to be stiffened by pouring a little glue or mod podge or similar, into the inside of the heel. and let dry. then sew the heel to the sole of the shoe and place on the doll.