If you all follow me on Instagram, then you’ve heard me talk about another one of my bright business ideas, “Happy Trail Toys” going belly up.
In a nutshell, I was going to make these cute little crochet vintage camper doll houses and sell them on-line and at craft fairs, starting September, 2015 .
Each toy vintage camper opens up to a fabulous retro styled interior, complete with a stove, dishes, couch, throw pillow, pendant lamp and two bunk beds with little crochet afghans.
It was so much fun to decorate the interior of each vintage camper, and was easily my favorite part of the whole making process.
Well, after finishing a couple of these prototype cuties, I sat down to figure out how much time and money it was going to cost me to make just one camper. Each camper took me around 159 hours to complete ( interior and exterior). And I was planning on selling each one for $40.
Well, in the end, the math showed me that it wasn’t feasible and if so I would have to become a one woman sweat shop, not something I aspired to be, so I put my Happy Trail Toys biz dream out to pasture.
But out of a lemons comes lemonade! I get to offer the pattern here on my blog, free to you, my faithful followers!
I’m splitting up the pattern into two parts. Part One today will be the Camper shell and Part Two, which will be published next Saturday, will be the interior decorating items.
I hope you enjoy making this crochet camper, which is a fun little project to tackle. Be warned, it’s not a quick make. Yet, a satisfying and fun one!
I think you’ll find that it’s the perfect crochet project to make as that unique and one-of-a-kind Christmas or Birthday charmer for that vintage loving toy doll house kid, big or little!
This pattern is FREE, all I ask if you could, please let others know about my crochet and craft loving heart and this little blog of mine. Follow me here or on Instagram, where my handle is @love2_bloom 😘❤️🌞☕️🍪
And now … Finally …
The pattern for Crochet Camper Toy Dollhouse:Part One
Materials :
Crochet Hook 3.5 mm hook
Tapestry needle
White Yarn (1 skein) Yarn A
Seafoam Yarn (1 skein) Yarn B
Black yarn (1/4 skein)
Pale yellow yarn (1/4 skein)
Grey yarn ( 1/4 skein )
Plastic sheet
Fabric
Make It!
For the Front and Back Camper.
Make 2 with yarn change and another 2, solid white.
With Yarn A and a 3.crochet hook, ch 35.
Row 1: Turn, 1sc into the 2nd ch from the hook. Work 1sc into each of the next chs. Ch1, turn.
Row 2: Sc into every st until the end of the row. Ch1, turn.
Row 3. 1sc into the first st then 2sc into the next st. Work 1sc into each of the next 27 sts then 2sc into the following st. 1sc into the last st. Ch1, turn.
Row 4. 1sc into every st until the end of the row. Ch1, turn.
Row 5. 1sc into the first st then 2sc into the next st. Work 1sc into each of the next 25sts then 2sc into the following st. 1sc into the last st. Ch1, turn.
Row 6. 1sc into every st until the end of the row. Ch1, turn.
Row 7. 1sc into the first st then 2sc into the next st. Work 1sc into each of the next 22sts then 2sc into the following st. 1sc into the last st. Ch1, turn.
Row 8. 1sc into the first st then 2sc into the next st. Work 1sc into each of the next then 25 sts into the following st. 1sc into the last st. Ch1, turn. (26)
Row 9. 1sc into the first st then 2sc into the next st. Work 1sc into each of the next 27 sts then 2sc into the following st. 1sc into the last st. Ch1, turn. Rows 10-12 Sc into each stitch to the end of the row. Ch1, turn.
Change to yarn b.
Rows 13 – 19 : 1sc into every st until the end of the row. Ch1, turn.
Row 20 : 1 sc into the first st then skip the next st. 1sc into each of the following 28 sts then skip the next st. 1sc into the final st. Ch1, turn.
Row 21: 1sc into the first st, skip the next st, 1sc into the next st then skip the following st. 1sc into each of the next 25 sts then skip the following st. 1sc into the next st, skip the following st then 1sc into the final st.
Row 22: 1sc into the first st then skip the next st. 1sc into each of the following 22 sts then skip the next st. 1sc into the final st. Ch1, turn.
Row 23: 1sc into the first st then skip the next st. 1sc into each of the following 20 sts then skip the next st. 1sc into the final st. Ch1, turn.
Row 24: 1sc into the first st then skip the next st. 1sc into each of the following 18 sts then skip the next st. 1sc into the final st. Ch1, turn.
Row 25 1sc into the first st then skip the next st. 1sc into each of the following 16 sts then skip the next st. 1sc into the final st. Ch1, turn. (14)
Row 26 1sc into the first st then skip the next st. 1sc into each of the following 14 sts then skip the next st. 1sc into the final st. Ch1, turn. (12)
Row 27 1sc into every st until the end of the row. Ch1, turn.
Bind off.
Lightly press, if curling. Set aside.
For the Door
Start with Yarn B and ch. xx
Sc into second chain and continue for xx rows.
Switch to yarn A and sc for another xx rows.
Bind offf and weave in ends.
With grey yarn sc around edges.
Ch x and stitch across door in place. See picture for placement. For door handle either sew tiny button on or make a knot with yarn and tie on. See picture for placement.
For the Windows (Make 3)
With pale yellow yarn, ch x and sc for x rows. Fasten off.
With grey yarn, sc around and fasten off.
Make three and stitch one in the front, one in the back, and one on the side. For the front window, I made a tiny curtain and stitched it in place. Curtain is optional.
For grey stripe. Make one chain that will wrap around camper. Pin and then stitch in place. Use picture for placement.
For Tires ( make 3)
With grey yarn ch. 3, sc 6 into 2nd ch from hook. Join at top of 6th chain and fasten off.
With black yarn, sc around grey circle once. Join at top of starting sc and fasten off.
Stitch one tire in front, one in back and one on side. See picture for placement.
Now, with plastic, cut out a piece so it can be sandwiched between a front and back side of the camper. Set aside.
With right sides together, stitch front and back side of camper together, leaving a small opening. Turn inside out. Wedge plastic into small opening, and smooth flat, sew opening close.
Repeat with other front and back. Set aside.
The camper’s middle, which is the long strip that forms the roof, floor and sides, is worked from side to side.
Using yarn a and a 3.5mm hook, ch 17
Row 1 : 1sc into the 2nd ch from the hook. Work 1sc into each of the next 17sts. Ch1, turn.
Row 2: 1sc into every st until the end of the row. Ch1, turn. Continue on like this until 53 rows of yarn have been made.
Change to yarn b and continue on as before until 46 rows have been worked.
Fasten off and set aside.
Make another middle band, but this time in solid white.
Cut a plastic piece to fit between the two middle bands. With right sides facing, stitch together, leaving a small opening. Turn inside out. Wedge plastic piece into place and smooth out. Stitch to close.
Now, cut fabric to fit back of interior front wall of camper and pin and stitch into place. This will be the fold out part of the camper. See picture for reference.
For back interior wall, you can either decorate by stitching little crochet circles into place or running a blanket stitch across for a striped effect. Or cutting another piece of fabric and stitching it into place. The choices are creatively endless and yours for the making!
Once interior walls are decorated, place middle band between the two camper sides, making sure that the solid white band faces the interior and the color block on one piece lines up with the the other color block line on the other piece. Also, make sure to only stitch bottom edge of front to the band, as the sides need to swing open to create doll house opening. I really hope that makes sense. Pin in place and then stitch together with tapestry needle and yarn.
Final task, make a crochet button or find a plastic button and stitch on top of camper. On front camper, make a loop for closure.
Done! Yay!
Now, you are ready to decorate!!! Ohhhh! What fun!!!
I hope you enjoy the pattern, I will be updating with step by step pics sometime nect week.
Enjoy and Happy Trails!
P.S. Next Saturday, I’ll post the patterns for all the cute decorative interior items. Until then . . .
x-o,
Mona
