Because an American Girl doll was out of the budget, I bought my daughter one of the Target 18″ dolls when she was 2 or 3 years old and she promptly named her “Knee — like the part of your leg.” I still haven’t figured that out. Knee, unlike any other doll in our house, managed to survive my girl AND her three younger brothers. So I’ve got no complaints about the quality (which may have changed in the past decade.)
I know that Jo Kramer and her adult daughters have real AG dolls and good things to say about them.
Looking at those Ravelry pictures makes me want to rescue Knee from the attic, clean her up, and knit a wardrobe…. Maybe my niece has an 18 inch doll or her mommy plans to get her one soon…