Newbie: Doll/fairy house and 18 inch doll

[dustyfro]

I'm 28, have no children, and just want to play with dolls and dollhouses.  I've got a really great recycled craft store in town, and it would be a wealth of materials to make a recrafted dollhouse or fairy house.  I like the little ones like this http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=260846.0 and this http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=407995.0
So...where do I start?  I can try to copy one of these, but where can I see a whole bunch of them and form my own idea of how I want mine to look.  And what do I make the exterior base out of?

Second, I've got this American Girl doll that has only ever worn the outfit she came in.  The end of the Civil War might have been a big day for you, Addy, but this is the 21st Century, and you need some new clothes.  Are they easy to sew on a machine, or am I looking at a lot of handstitching?  I also knit...are there some really good sites that have knitting patterns for 18 inch dolls?  I've been kind of unimpressed with the ones on ravelry.

[FreakieGeekie]

You can buy patterns for 18in doll clothes. Keep an eye out at your nearest Hancock Fabrics. They often put patterns on sale 10/$10 or $1.99. That's how I got the ones I bought. Sadly, I've yet to use them as I've lost them but they'll turn up when I get around to cleaning.

[fluttermuffin]

I'm 45... my 6 kids are all grown up and I have 7 grandbabies.... and I STILL love to play with dolls.  If you have Pinterest,  you can find hundreds of ideas for your Addy... quite a few are free patterns.

 

[Mercy143]

I have a Tolly Tot (knock off AG) and three BFC Ink dolls, which may some day go to my 2 granddaughters. To make clothes for them I use full size patterns that I find at thrift stores for 25 or 47 cents.  Most of the patterns I see on line just don't interest me. I'm currently working on learning to make shoes that look as real as the ones we wear.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/MercyCrazyhorse/2012-12-30200330.jpg
Here are a couple of outfits from patterns I want to sew for myself. Sorry it's a bad photo.  I have others I need to upload.

[meleriffic]

To answer your first question. Check out the Wee House Craft-along. It has resource links and a lot of ideas for mini houses. http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=389492.0#axzz2RRS2x0Rs

[junebug6162]

Here are some links to some free knitting patterns for 18 inch dolls.

http://voices.yahoo.com/20-free-knitting-patterns-doll-clothes-american-4733172.html

[griffingrl]

You might try your local library it is possible to find a number of pattern books for 18'' girl dolls there. Amazon.com also has a
fair number of books to choose from also links to outside sellers. You might try Google for knitting patterns, just have an idea about what it is that you want. I hope this helps you in your search.