Showing posts with label Monster High. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Monster High. Show all posts

Tuesday 18 May 2021

Doll Round-Up: Madeline Hatter Ever After High First Chapter Doll with Varying Skin Tone and Doll Wig Making for MGA Moxie Girlz Dolls

Madeline Hatter, First Chapter Doll - The Tanned Version 


There have been a few new additions to the doll house this past week. In the lot of pre-loved dolls that moved in was a Madeline Hatter Ever After High First Chapter doll. I already have this Madeline doll in the collection (the joys of buying used lots) and wasn't paying too much attention to her initially. 


Madeline Hatter Ever After High First Chapter Doll in Custom Picot Dress 


However, upon closer inspection and when compared to the other Madeline doll in my collection, the new Madeline appears to have a somewhat darker complexion. In fact, she looks like she has been to the tanning salon when comparing her skin tone to my other Ever After High Madeline Hatter First Chapter doll.


Ever After High Dolls different skin tone same doll made in 2012 Indonesia
Madeline Hatter Ever After High First Chapter Doll (tanned skin tone) 


Ever After High Dolls different skin tone same doll made in 2012 Indonesia
Madeline Hatter Ever After High First Chapter Doll (tanned skin tone) 




Madeline Hatter Ever After High First Chapter Doll (tanned skin tone) 


There are also subtle differences to the way her eyes are painted. For want of a better description, it appears that her green eyes are more vivid as a result of the darker skin tone and a larger highlight underneath her pupil, whilst the other Madeline seems to have an altogether matte, flesh-coloured complexion and a less playful expression.   


Madeline Hatter Ever After High First Chapter Doll: Differing Complexions / Skin Tone and Varying Make-Up
Madeline Hatter Ever After High First Chapter Doll: Differing Complexions and Varying Make-Up 

Sunday 21 June 2020

Monster High: Knee Highs

Free Monster High Knee High Stocking Knitting Pattern


After a pair of Monster High doll leggings and tights, it was high time to knit a pair of knee high stockings for the Monsters Highs.

Monster High Doll Knee High Stocking Knitting Pattern
Monster High Doll Knee High Stocking Knitting Pattern


The knee high stockings are knitted seamlessly from the top-down and finished off at the toes with kitchener stitch.

Monster High Doll Knee High Stocking Knitting Pattern
Monster High Doll - Knee High Stocking Knitting Pattern

Tuesday 7 January 2020

Free Knitting Pattern - Monster High Doll Tights


Monster High Doll Tights Knitting Pattern


Having recently released a Monster High doll leggings pattern, I wanted to develop this project further and adapt the leggings pattern into Monster High doll tights. The result of my experiment is this pattern.

The tights are knitted seamlessly from the top-down and finished off at the toes with kitchener stitch.

For the tights in the images I used Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light sock yarn in Victorian Gothic, but the pattern should work with any 4 ply sock yarn. 

To achieve snug-fitting tights, I recommend checking the fit on the doll frequently to see whether it's necessary to insert additional knit rows between the calf-decreases.  


Free Monster High Tights Pattern
Monster High Tights Knitting Pattern


Monster High Doll Tights

Pattern Notes


Materials and Tools

  • app 10 - 15g of 4 ply Sock Yarn 
  • 2 - 3mm Double-Pointed Needles 
  • 4 Stitch Markers
  • Scissors
  • Safety Pin (x 2) or Scrap Yarn (in contrasting colour)
  • Darning Needle (for kitchener stitch), Crochet Hook (for sewing in ends and tidying up)

Monster High Doll Tights  Pattern
Monster High Tights Knitting Pattern



Cast on 24 stitches.

Row 1: k1, p1 to end of row.

Row 2 - 4: Divide stitches evenly on 3 double-pointed needles and join in the round, placing a stitch marker at the beginning of the round. Continue in k1, p1 ribbing for another 3 rounds.

Waist Increases: 

Row 5: SM (slip marker), k1, PM (place marker), kfb, k8, kfb, pm, k1, pm, kfb, k10 to last stitch, kfb (28 stitches)

Row 6 - 8: Repeat above increase row three times until stitch count totals 40 stitches.

Continue knitting 5 - 8 rounds in stockinette stitch until the piece has reached the desired length and fits comfortably around the dolls hips. 

Dividing for the legs

Removing markers, at the beginning of the next round place the first 20 stitches onto waste yarn. 

Join the remainder of the stitches in the round, placing a marker at the beginning of the round.

Row 11: sm (slip marker), kfb, knit to last stitch, kfb (22 stitches)

Row 12: k all stitches

Thigh Decreases

Row 13: sl1, k1, psso, k to last 2 stitches, k2tog (20 stitches)

Row 14: k all stitches

Row 15: sl1, k1, psso, k to last 2 stitches, k2tog (18 stitches)

Row 16: k all stitches

Row 17: sl1, k1, psso, k to last 2 stitches, k2tog (16 stitches)

Row 18: k all stitches

Row 19: sl1, k1, psso, k to last 2 stitches, k2tog (14 stitches)

Row 20 - Row 57: continue knitting in stockinette stitch for 38 rows (knitting throughout) until the piece has reached the dolls calf.


Monster High Tights Pattern
Monster High Tights Knitting Pattern


Calf Decreases 


During this section, it's advisable to keep checking the fit on the doll. If you notice that you require more rows for added length, insert these between the decrease rows after checking the fit.

Row 58: k to last 4 sts before end of round, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog (12 stitches)

Row 59 - Row 63: k 4 rows in stockinette stitch 

Row 64: k to last 4 sts before end of round, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog (10 stitches)

Row 65 - Row 68: knit 4 rows in stockinette stitch 

Row 69: k to last 4 sts before end of round, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog (8 stitches)

Row 70 - Row 73: knit 4 rows in stockinette stitch 

Row 74: k to last 4 sts before end of round, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog (6 stitches)

Row 75 to bind off: continue knitting in stockinette stitch until the knitted fabric almost entirely engulfs the doll's foot as shown in the picture below.

When the doll's foot is comfortably covered by the knitted fabric, switch to two double-pointed knitting needles and align them parallel to one another, preparing to bind the last remaining stitches off in kitchener stitch.   


Ready for kitchener stitch bind off 

More in-progress photos of the tights are available here. You may find them helpful to show the bind-off.

When the bind off is complete, insert the needle at the corner of the toes and pull the yarn through to the inside to achieve a bump-free finish. 

The Second Leg 

Proceed to knit the second leg, dividing stitches held on scrap yarn evenly on three double-pointed needles. Using the m1 increase method, pick up 1 stitch at the beginning and at the end of the round to ensure a closed up seam. 

Mark the beginning of the round and start knitting the second leg, following the instructions above. Ensure that the thigh decreases are positioned at the inside of the leg and the calf decreases are positioned at the back of the doll's leg.

When the tights are complete, block the finished object by leaving it fitted on the doll. This will ensure that the fabric is nicely stretched into shape.  

Free Monster High Tights  Pattern
Monster High Tights Knitting Pattern


Free Monster High Doll Tights Pattern
Monster High Tights Knitting Pattern

Should you require pattern support, please feel free to contact me via Ravelry, Twitter, by e-mail or leave a comment below.

This pattern is for personal use only and may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without permission. Neither may you sell any items made from the directions in this pattern.





© 2020 Clarice Asquith. All rights reserved. http://makedoandmendnovice.blogspot.com

Knitted Tights for Monster High Dolls





After the release of my leggings knitting pattern for Monster High dolls, I decided to adapt my pattern for a pair of closed-up, snug-fitting knitted Monster High tights. 

These are knitted on tiny needles and there is quite a bit of shaping happening before the piece is finished with a kitchener stitch bind-off. 

I am really pleased with the result so far and will be releasing my pattern notes on the blog very soon. In the mean time, here are some in-progress photos of the project, which were taken whilst I was completing the first leg of the tights: 


Monster High Doll - Knitted Tights in Progress
Monster High Doll - Tights Knitting in Progress

My Monster High tights knitting pattern is now available here.


Saturday 14 December 2019

Free Pattern: Knitted Leggings for Monster High Dolls

Free Monster High Leggings Pattern 

The Monsters were in need of some new clothes, and I decided it was time to make a few knitted leggings / pants.

This pattern is for  Monster High dolls, measuring approximately 26cm in height. Knitted seamlessly from the waist down, it gives you the chance to check whilst knitting to ensure a snug fit; and the length of the leggings can obviously be adjusted as you go. 


Monster High Doll Free Knit Leggings Pattern
Monster High Doll Free Knit Leggings Pattern


Knitted on 2.5mm to 3mm needles, the pattern is suitable for all types of sock yarn. For the leggings below, I used Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light (Victorian Gothic) and Araucania Botany Lace. 

Monster High Doll Free Knit Leggings Pattern
Monster High Doll Free Knit Leggings Pattern

As you can see in the images, two of the Monsters are wearing a light green, fluffy jumper and OOAK wigs made from brushed acrylic yarn. The pattern for the jumper is available here, and instructions on how I make my doll yarn wigs can be found here and here. All of my other Monster High projects are available via this link.

Monster High Doll Free Knit Leggings Pattern
Monster High Doll Free Knit Leggings Pattern



Without further ado, here is my knitting pattern for the knitted leggings: 


Monster High Doll Leggings

Pattern Notes


Materials and Tools

  • app 5 - 10g of: 4 ply Sock Yarn 
  • 2 - 3mm Double-Pointed Needles 
  • 4 Stitch Markers
  • Scissors
  • Safety Pin x2 or Scrap Yarn (in contrasting colour)
  • Darning Needle, Sewing Needle or Crochet Hook (for sewing in ends)


Thursday 12 December 2019

Knitted Leggings for Monster High Dolls - Preview of New Pattern



Monster High Knitted Leggings
Monster High Knitted Leggings


New Free Monster High Knitting Pattern Preview

I have been busy knitting leggings for the Monster Highs dolls. The leggings are knitted seamlessly from the top down and the size can be adapted whilst knitting, ensuring a snug fit. I'm hoping to release the free pattern on the blog in the next few days. 

Until then, here is a little preview.

Finished Monster High Yarn Wig Projects

I have been busy creating yarn wigs from brushed acrylic yarn for Monster High Dolls and my instructions on how to make these are available here and here


As already mentioned in my previous posts, brushing out acrylic yarn creates a lot of waste. To minimise this waste, I wanted to experiment and make a wig, incorporating wefts made out of the waste acrylic.

When I recently completed another wig, I essentially followed the same steps, but utilised some of the brushed out waste acrylic yarn in the lower layers of the wig. Looking at the finished wig (photos below), I am quite pleased with the result. Whilst these 'waste wefts' are certainly not suitable for the top layers of the wig, they make for nice padding and add overall bulk to the appearance of the wig. 

Here are some images of my waste yarn wig: 

Monster High Wig (made from acrylic yarn, incorporating wefts made from waste acrylic yarn)
Monster High Wig (made from acrylic yarn, incorporating wefts made from waste acrylic yarn) 

Monster High Wig (made from acrylic yarn, incorporating wefts made from waste acrylic yarn)
Monster High Wig (made from acrylic yarn, incorporating wefts made from waste acrylic yarn) 

Monster High Wig (made from acrylic yarn, incorporating wefts made from waste acrylic yarn)
Monster High Wig (made from acrylic yarn, incorporating wefts made from waste acrylic yarn) 


Monster High Wig (made from acrylic yarn, incorporating wefts made from waste acrylic yarn)
Monster High Wig (made from acrylic yarn, incorporating wefts made from waste acrylic yarn) 

Saturday 5 October 2019

OOAK Custom Doll Wigs - Tips on how to make acrylic yarn wigs for Monster High and other dolls

Doll wigs made from brushed acrylic yarn


Yes, it is possible, very straightforward and fun to make doll wigs from brushed acrylic yarn. 

Not only is this an effective stashbuster project, if you wish to use up left-overs and odd bits of acrylic yarn, but - as I explained in a previous post on doll customisation - I believe, this is an excellent project for those wishing to get started with doll customisation.


OOAK Custom Monster High Doll Wig in Progress (made with brushed acrylic yarn)
OOAK Custom Monster High Doll Wig in Progress (made with brushed acrylic yarn) 

Since last posting on custom doll wigs, I have completed another Monster High doll wig and what follows below are a few hints and tips for those wishing to make their own doll wigs with brushed acrylic yarn. 

Without further ado, let's start talking OOAK (one of a kind) custom doll yarn wigs.

OOAK Custom Monster High Doll Wig in Progress (made with brushed acrylic yarn)
OOAK Custom Monster High Doll Wig in Progress (made with brushed acrylic yarn) 


Monster High OOAK Custom Acrylic Yarn Wig
Monster High OOAK Custom Acrylic Yarn Wig 


Acrylic Yarn Wig - How to

  • Removing the doll's factory hair

Removing the hair from and cleaning the doll's head is by far one of the most time-consuming steps in the process. I managed to 'be-head' and 'de-hair' my Monster High with the help of warm water and a pair of tweezers, which I used to remove the glue from the inside of her scalp. 

This process involves a lot of scraping against the inside of the doll's scalp and should be done with a great deal of patience. Other doll models may behave differently, and I would advise not to apply too much force, giving this process time. Once I had all the hair successfully pulled from the scalp of my Monster High, I proceeded to make a simple wig cap.


Monster High Doll Wig Cap
Monster High Doll Wig Cap

  • Making a wig cap

I have seen a number of ways, in which customisers make wig caps, utilising both silicon or hot glue guns. Yet, I decided to opt for the simplest route, requiring an old pair of tights, a rubber band and several (at least three) applications of PVA glue.

Before making the cap, ensure the doll's head is wrapped in a thin layer of cling film. Proceed to cover the head with the tights, pull them neatly over the doll's head and secure the fabric with a rubber band underneath the ears. The rubber band will serve as a guide when applying the glue to the head.

Monster High OOAK Custom Doll Wig Cap
Monster High OOAK Custom Doll Wig Cap 

I chose the most easily available, run of the mill PVA glue, which is stocked in my local Tesco's. Though there are superior brands available online, it did the job just about fine, even though its consistency is clearly more on the lumpy side. 

Next time, I will opt for another brand with a smoother liquid. Especially when it comes to preparing the yarn wefts, you will want to make use of a glue that is as smooth as possible when brushed onto the wefts. This one was just a bit too lumpy for my liking.


PVA Glue by County Stationery


I applied four coats of PVA glue to make the cap, letting the glue dry completely between applications. This resulted in a sturdy, yet flexible cap, fitting the doll's head like a glove. Waiting for four glue applications to dry may sound somewhat lengthy, but it's vital to ensure that the glue is dried completely before proceeding to cut the wig to size. When the wig is ready, you will need to cut away the excess fabric, using the rubber band as a guide. The rubber band itself will usually peel off or can be carefully removed by hand. You will also need to cut out the area where the doll's ears are located. I used the outline of the ears in the dried glue as a guide, but you may wish to trace the outline with a marker pen when the cap is still on the doll's head.

Monster High OOAK Custom Doll Wig Cap
Monster High OOAK Custom Doll Wig Cap


Monster High OOAK Custom Doll Wig Cap
Monster High OOAK Custom Doll Wig Cap

  • Making acrylic yarn wefts and reducing waste
A good-looking wig starts with well-made yarn wefts. To ensure the wefts are uniform in size, the yarn should be cut into equal strands, each between 19cm and 25cm long. Bulky acrylic works best. 

Before brushing out the yarn, I separated the individuals strands of the yarn. This makes the process of brushing a lot easier and, I feel, reduces waste. I secured an equal number of strands on a knitting needle and proceeded to brush these with a carder.



Acrylic Yarn cut for Yarn Wefts
Acrylic Yarn cut for Yarn Wefts

When I made my first yarn wig I was overwhelmed by the amount of waste when brushing out the yarn. And at first I was reluctant to really apply the force necessary to brush out the yarn properly: Firstly, I was afraid that I would destroy all of the yarn and, secondly, I was horrified at the waste I was producing in the process. (The below photo shows the waste acrylic from just one weft.) 



Waste Acrylic Yarn when brushing out acrylic yarn
Waste Acrylic Yarn when brushing out acrylic yarn

Unfortunately, the wastage cannot be helped. There will be a lot of waste. (More on that and how to utilise the waste acrylic for the wig below.) Yet, once you start brushing the yarn, you will not destroy the individual strands of yarn completely. At some point in the process, you will end up with a yarn weft that resembles the picture below.


Acrylic yarn weft, brushed before straightening
Acrylic yarn weft, brushed before straightening 


  • Minimising waste when making acrylic yarn wefts
In order to minimise waste, I tried to make a weft out of the waste acrylic by simply brushing the yarn with the carder for a second time. I'm pleased to report that this method works and it is possible to make small wefts out of the waste acrylic. The 'waste wefts' are shown in the following two images both before and after heat treatment. 

These smaller, 'waste wefts' will look inferior when compared to the others, but can still be utilised in the  less visible bottom layers of the wig, providing added bulk.


Yarn wefts made from waste acrylic yarn (before straightening)
Yarn wefts made from waste acrylic yarn (before straightening) 



Yarn wefts made from waste acrylic fluff after straightening
Yarn wefts made from waste acrylic fluff after straightening (used for lower layers of wig)  

For an overall smooth appearance, the wefts should be heat treated with a hair straightener. Individual results will vary, depending on how much heat is applied and for how long, but I would recommend starting off with the lowest setting and regulating up.


Yarn Weft after straightening

  • Glueing the yarn wefts
When applying PVA glue to the wefts, I ensure that a small amount of glue equal to the length of the weft is applied to a plastic sheet (multi-punched pocket or other plastic surface). I place the weft into this area, pressing it firmly into the glue. I then proceed to deposit a very small amount of glue over the top ends of the wefts and carefully work the glue into the acrylic with a brush. 

In this step it's important to use just the right amount of glue. Too little and the weft will not be held together. Too much glue will result in the top of the weft being too stiff and too bulky, making it harder to fit it onto the wig cap. I let the glue dry overnight, ensuring that the wefts can be easily removed from the plastic.


  • Assembling the wig
The scariest part in the whole process is assembling the wig itself. The challenge here is to place the wefts in such a way that the glued ends are not visible. How you assemble the wefts on the cap largely depends on the look you want to achieve, but I would recommend starting off with the front of the head working your way round the entire wig once, placing smaller wefts (cut to size) around the ear area and then proceeding to work your way up from the back. 



Arranging the yarn wefts on the wig cap

When the wig is completed and all wefts have been glued, I keep styling to a minimum and ensure that the wig is left untouched for at least 12 hours, giving the glue a chance to dry. As PVA glue is water soluble, all contact with water should be avoided.



OOAK Monster High Custom Wig
OOAK Monster High Custom Wig

Monster High OOAK Custom Doll Wig
Monster High OOAK Custom Doll Wig 


Monster High Doll Custom Acrylic Yarn Wig
Monster High Doll Custom Acrylic Yarn Wig 

Monster High Doll Custom Acrylic Yarn Wig
Monster High Doll Custom Acrylic Yarn Wig