FO: Doll Summer Sets

I have a few more WIP photos to share, but am too excited to do that tonight. So, I'll resume the "regularly scheduled" post a bit later in the week.

I have two little girls and last year purchased a ton of fabric and two patterns and was going to make them shorts. Well, a year passed and I was always busy with something else and never got around to doing anything. This year, for whatever reasons (for which I'm very grateful) I was able to cut into a piece of flip-flop fabric. I had planned to make shorts for the girls and a dress or skirt for me, but instead it morphed into shorts for my girls and shorts and tops for their dolls.

Everything around here needs to be done in two's even though my girls are not twins. They are just two years apart and still at an age where dressing alike doesn't bother them. I started with two doll sets then thought how my niece could use one for her doll. Then my eldest asked for one for her friend. Then...well, I ended up cutting six pairs of shorts and, of course, six tops. I sewed three sets today and posted to my Etsy shop. The other three are patiently awaiting their final assignments, as I ran out of elastic and ran out of time.

 

While all this craziness was going on I came upon the thought that a fat quarter would be enough fabric to make these outfits. What a great idea for doll clothes. I measured and the top would be an inch or two less around and I can only cut shorts or capris, not pants. Still...ideas are churning.

So, off to JoAnn Fabrics and for the first time I let my girls loose on the fabric. I showed them the rows of fat quarters and set them off to pick four each. It was so odd to watch their choices and so rewarding to hear their excited giggles and see them carefully put them back to pick a different one. I thought the youngest would pick some very "girly" fabrics but instead she picked some rich tones with small prints. The eldest shocked with a batik that looks kind of like cheetah markings and one that is tiger print.

This is going to be a fun summer if I can keep this crafting mojo going (knock-on-wood).

What's Up?

I'm surrounded by a ton of "should do's" and "have to do's", but I decided to pick the "wanna do" instead. I honestly was a bit relieved to log on and see it has only been a month since my last post. However, it has been one whole month. Darn! I really need to be better about this.

It isn't that I haven't been crafting, or not taking pictures, but I've just not been in the mood to download photos or write. Tonight it hit me to do them, mostly because the "should do" sitting next to me is uninspiring, the "wanna do's" need washing and are too loud for after the girls' bedtime. So...here I go.

What's up in my world? Well, let's see:

I've been spinning

I think this was the picture of my first batch. Since then I've spun and plied and soaked and dried and now have two tiny skeins. I plan to do more and then Kool-Aid dye it all at once. It isn't even but not bad for a first try. I actually saw the skeins the other day and wondered where I'd got them from, before remembering I did it. That, to me, is a good thing if I can't tell it wasn't purchased or given to me from someone I'd respect much more than myself.

I finished my socks. Yes, I actually started a pair just for me. I started mine before the ones for my girls but didn't work on mine to be done in time for Christmas. I got lucky when I was stuck at a routine oil change for three hours instead of the normal time and I knit on the last of the sock. Then I took it on vacation (to Lancaster, PA) and I didn't have to drive. I was actually pleasantly surprised to find I could knit a bit in a moving vehicle without motion sickness. That's a weird first for me, but I was silently celebrating my good luck. It didn't take much longer once I was back home to finish the last bit and cast off. They're beginner socks and I can see the "errors" but I love them nonetheless. I put them in the drawer to save and gave them their test run just last week on one of my fever days (four in a row). I love having cosy handmade items to wrap up in when I'm not feeling well.

Well, I think that's enough for tonight. I hear thunder again and I'm getting sleepy. More to come...works in progress and a completed baby outfit.

FO: Layla Blanket

This week was such a lucky one. I was blessed to meet my best friend's husband for the first time as she and Chris traveled half way across the country to visit family and friends. The reason for the trip? My BF's cousin had her first baby, Layla. She is an amazingly beautiful little girl and I couldn't resist the urge to make something. So, I spent Easter morning cutting and sewing a 42 inch square blanket to go along with my favorite baby parenting book. The perfect size to swaddle.

The fabric is 100% cotton so it is fully machine washable and dryable. The fabric on the front is school days as both Layla's parents are teachers. The back is a simple yellow.

Welcome to the world and to a wonderful family, little Layla!

FO: Dawn Dresses

I sighed a giant sigh of relief tonight as I put the finishing touches on the last masquerade ball masks for the commissioned outfits. I had fifteen to make and health issues and life delayed progress much beyond my original due date. I'm so grateful for Barb's patience.

PHEW!

Each dress is hand knit from my own design, using crochet cotton in black and white. The masks are made from sparkly foam with little feathers and strings on each side to tie behind Dawn's head.

I am so excited to move on to the baby dress that is almost overdue (hoping not the baby). Oh, and I've started a sweater for my Grandma. I couldn't find one pattern that was perfect, so I'm making it up as I go. We'll see how it works out. I splurged (HUGE!) on some Addi Turbo circulars, size five in three different lengths. I was buying for the pattern I had picked then read more carefully and decided it wasn't quite right. I want to knit in the round for the majority of the sweater and that's hard to find. Well, wish me luck in my insanity.

Skills

This past year I've explored a lot in my knitting, cables being the most prevalent. I'm still working toward following complicated patterns. I picked out a wonderful one for an aran sweater for my Grandma and will admit that I'm ready to frog it after it has sat so very long I can't remember where I was. The need for a dozen markers and all those different cables is driving me a bit mad. So, in the meantime I think I'll settle for cabling hats.

When I first made one, about a year ago, I was happy with it. However, as time has passed there are widening gaps where the cables are. The newer ones seem to be holding up better and I think that's a good thing. I've even been asked to custom make one for a dear friend and that was the ultimate compliment.

A Tale of Two Yarns

This was "supposed to be" a post about two contradictory yarns, but being a hopeless optimist I've chosen to instead just write about the best.

I learned to knit, as many of us did, using Red Heart acrylic yarn. I chose an emerald green hue and was thrilled. I used that for a long time and branched out slowly into Caron Pound of Love. Then some baby yarns and others. I found along the way Lion Brand Microspun. I wish I could remember what led me there, but it was a fantastic lime green and some in white and I made a cute baby outfit. I love the sheen and the smooth feel as it passes through my fingers.

Microspun isn't overly pricey, but was hard to find locally in some seasons. So, I was happy to find pound bags of mill ends and discovered the Caron Simply Soft line which has a similar sheen and texture as the Microspun. Then, also in mill ends, I discovered Lion Brand Homespun. Mill ends made me a hoarder.

Simply soft has sheen and drape that I think make it good for light, feminine clothing. I also adore the fact that they now have a line of Eco products which contain post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. If I'm going to buy new yarn then this is a top choice. Simply Soft works fantastic for winter socks that can be thrown into the washer and dryer.

Homespun is great for Winter wear. The scarves I've made from it are the simplest of patterns but always get compliments. This yarn also washes wonderfully. It knits into great afghans as well (double stranded on large needles for weathering arctic temps).

I can't decide if I'm too busy or too lazy to hand wash items, but either way these two yarns fit my lifestyle and for that I'm grateful.

Cleaning House-FO, Frogging, and WIP

I'm a single-Mom (divorced, to be exact) and I'll admit it is difficult to juggle it all sometimes. I adore my two little ones but am now learning to love a bit of "me" time while they visit their Dad. So, this weekend I dove into the closet in the craft room and started rearranging. I pulled out a bag full of WIPs and started really looking at them.

1) There was a lovely lavender item. It was two rows of eyelets (K1,YO, K2tog) then a few rows of stockinette stitch. It was maybe 8 inches wide and I'd knit more than a foot in length. I'm guessing I was going to make it into a scarf but I figured if I couldn't remember maybe it wasn't worth the time to figure out again. I frogged it and liberated a circular needle (haven't checked the size yet)

2) The second item out of the bag was a red and blue beginning of a crocheted afghan with star blocks. It was cool and I kind of remembered it, but when I analyzed it I thought I could make a scarf out of it instead if I frogged a few rows then bound off and added fringe. Maybe nobody else will ever want it, but at least I don't feel as let down as I would've frogging the whole thing.

3) Next was a baby blue and white stripped child's hat. Not actually sure of the size on this, but will try it on me and/or the girls later. It was on a piece of waste yarn so I put it on dpns and started working it. I actually feel productive, even though other projects are sitting idly by. I can't wait to dive into some more of these and feel "done" maybe at some point.

FO: 18" Doll Tunic

White is a classic, or so I'm told. It goes with everything no matter the season (assuming you're not one of those "old fashioned" ones who think no white after Labor Day). So, my friend always has room in her stash for white doll sweaters. This time she sent me a pair of leggings and asked me to make something to compliment them.

I searched the stash of yarn she'd given me, and my own, and found the perfect match-baby blue mohair. Unfortunately, with my allergies acting up already, I thought it best to pass along the mohair she gave me (ivory, pale pink, and baby blue-six skeins) to someone more fortunate (who doesn't get stuffed up and have migraines when using it). *sigh*

So, the second best option at that point was white acrylic. Ruffled edge, some eyelets, drastic decrease and it is a great sweater over leggings. I know it looks a bit odd laid out this way, but believe me when I tell you it looks great on the doll. Hope my friend agrees. I even loved it enough to iron it before mailing...had to see if it would lay right as I'd thought.

Pillows

I know this is mainly a knitting blog, but I am not just a knitter. I am actually a crocheter first, but learned to sew a bit along the way and then to knit.

My girls were getting ready for a new visitation schedule and were hesitant for overnights. So, I pulled out some fabric I purchased more than a year ago (for them) and put together three complimentary pillows. Each girl has one to take to their Dad's and I keep mine with me. This way we share something even across the miles. I drew some basic designs on paper and let the girls pick which they wanted. Then I cut and sewed and they stuffed. It was a fun project to do together. Each of my little ones also has a smaller version for at home. Those are stuffed but I haven't gotten around to sewing the seam closed yet. Too much other stuff on my plate these days.

Here are the three pillows together:

and my favorite part of the blue fabric:

"May you always know you are loved." I purchased this fabric, full of inspirational sayings, to use as pillow cases of some sort for my girls, as they struggled with their life changes. I knew it would be something special that we could share and they'd be able to hear my positive voice even in the darkest hours, whispering from this fabric to their hearts.

Updates

I have been checked out for a while now on the blog, but have been plodding away with crafting. So, I'm going to try to fill in a bit now that I've uploaded some photos finally. I've been wanting to write but didn't think it would be the same without something to look at.

First, let me share my oldest daughter's 100th Day of School project. She's in first grade and came up with the idea to use 100 buttons on a shirt. I let her glue most of them on (except the ones with shanks) and then I went to work sewing them in place (so she can wear it at some point). In the process I made it to #50 (totally by chance) when my needle broke. This would not normally be a big deal, but for some reason I cannot locate my spare needles and that was the last one I had in the pin cushion. So, the shirt sat for far too long unattended to. Then I picked up a nifty case of $.97 needles and was off and running again (although I already broke one of those as well).

Anyway, all that silliness aside, LexiLou made a great design (don't you think?):

Oh, and in case you're wondering...I had all these buttons in my stash...and many, many more left over. (hanging my head)

FO: Dawn Doll Dresses

Yes, I admit that I'm a dress designer...for dolls. :(

I did once dream of designing clothing but never imagined this to be the course. Still, I do find it a fun challenge and am glad to have customers.

Did you know there was a doll called Dawn, from the 70s? She was, I understand, quite popular and many people now reminisce at a yearly convention. I know a woman who parties with some fellow doll-lovers, in honor of the yearly event. So, for the third time I get to design an outfit to go with the yearly theme.

This year is a masquerade ball and I designed the following (the one on the left is the prototype and the right is the, hopefully, finished design).

If approved I'll be knitting fifteen tiny dresses (Dawn is a thin, six-inch gal) and accessorizing with fifteen different masks. I can't wait to play with the options. I have a bag of feathers and glittery foam and the crafting bug.

FO: Plum Perfect Hat

*Sigh!* I took a picture of this hat as a WIP and fully intended to take some time and write about the process.

I have a dear friend who after seeing my slacker hat commented that she'd love to commission one in a deep purple. I found some wonderful, variegated purple wool in my stash and started to knit an idea I have. I just wasn't sure if she'd like the variations in color or the extra special care, so instead we went off to the store and I picked up a skein of Caron Simply Soft in Plum Perfect. I know I've written about it a lot, but I love to work with this yarn. It is especially easy on my rough hands this time of year. Plus, I think I may have a minor wool allergy. I find that I'm extra stuffy when working with it. Mohair is even worse. :(

I cabled at will and let the hat tell me what it wanted to be. Then, on Sunday I was able to put the finishing touches on it. I'm hoping my friend won't mind that I tried it on. I have to mail it to her, so I didn't want to send it off without knowing for sure that it was long enough to cover her ears.

I'm pleased with this one and hope she'll send a photos when it arrives. I think the color will compliment her complexion and she's the kind of soul that will appreciate the love in every stitch. HUGS, KR!

FO: 80s Calling

This doll sweater was another inspired by my friend's "subtle" hints noting she had fabric that is black with hot pink dots. I knit this using a hot pink Bernet Baby yarn and a black suede as the accents. The pullover is my basic pattern but I did a more square neck and crocheted all the edges for a finished look and to further accent with the black.

FO: Seeing Red Doll Ensemble

Finally I was motivated to seam up the sweater I had blocked. I pulled out dozens of pins and read the directions step by step. Then, I sighed as I realized I had set the first sleeve in wrong. It looked good enough, and now I know what I should do next time. Instead of trying to pull it all out I repeated the "mistake" on the other sleeve. I guess I'm not great at reading and understanding directions these days.

I designed, knit, and blocked the hat and the scarf to match. Now, I've got to send my friend the photos and hope she's equally as happy with the finished product. I used Caron Simply Soft yarn which I love for its sheen, softness, and the fact that it is fully washable and dryable.

The sweater pattern can be found in the 18" Doll Sweaters: Collection Three. It is really cute and functional, but seems a lot of effort for a doll. The back has a placket covering hook-and-loop tape which makes it look great, fit great, and is easy for kids to get on and off. The blocking, for me, was too much. However, it would not have looked even remotely like this without the blocking. Maybe I need to become more committed to the process. We'll see.

FO: Baby Hat for a Cause

I've taken to reading a bunch of blogs and have found inspiration in many forms. I've learned new skills and realized my faults and challenges are common and I've even been encouraged toward new endeavors.

The other day I was reading Nutmeg Knitter and was encouraged to try this wonderful charity project. The hats are being collected no later than the end of this month so I had to hurry. I went to my trusty favorite yarn, Caron Simply Soft, and grabbed my favorite color (dark sage). It was a quick knit with just a few quirky changes here and there. I made up the pattern, following the size guidelines on the website.

If you can knit or crochet this is a good, quick way to contribute to a good cause.

FO: Fuzzy Doll Sweater for 18" Doll

My friend wrote an email saying she had pink fuzzy boots and could I do something to match. Sure!

I wish the colors in the photo came out better because this is truly cute and the yarn made it striped. I knit this pull over using two strands of Paton's Cha Cha yarn. I think next time I'd use only one as it came out quite thick for a doll item. Still, cute and fuzzy and lots of pink and other pastels.

FO: Baby Set #2

I am so far behind with posts, but at least I'm trying to capture photos of everything with the hopes that I'll catch up on writing at some time.

Here is the second baby set I made for my co-worker:

I knit this set on size 11 needles using Lion Brand Homespun Baby in a pastel multi color (didn't write down the name). It was fun to work on this as the hat is just a rectangle seamed together in a unique way. I love how simple shapes can come alive if we just think in a different way.

WIP: Dad's Hat

I tried, I really did. Still, after all these years learning to knit and after measuring a hat he had adjusted to his head...I still failed to make the "perfect" hat for my Dad. It looked ok off the needles and waiting to be wrapped, but once on his head it was too tight at the band, not tall enough, and too poofy at the top. *Sigh!*

This time, at least, I got him to hand it over for a re-take. When I cast on I had crocheted a chain then knit into is, presumably so I'd get the perfect circumference. When faced with froggin, I was anticipating being able to snip the chain and pick up some live stitches. Much to my surprise, when I snipped and pulled gently I found that instead it left a "cast on" row of knitting, not live stitches at all.

Bad photo, yes, but I do need some visual "proof" of me frogging the edge of the hat.

I sat and painstakingly pulled out all the stitches very gently, using a tiny crochet hook, then picked up and knit stitches around. It is looking ok, but I can see where the new section begins and that bugs me. I'm not really a perfectionist when it comes to my knitting, but this is bugging me majorly.

I love my Dad and years ago I knit him a hat that promptly became a long running joke with him and my Uncle Jim...it was huge. The ribbing stretched and could've fit about two grown men in it. I have, for these past dozen or so years, wanted to fix that mistake and make him a good one. My Dad is a constant support, even purchasing my first item sold on Etsy (a knit and felted hat) and proudly displaying it at his work still to this day. He's the kind of Dad who used to have every school photo of me (and some earlier) in his wallet.

Well, I guess I'd better get back to working on the "almost right" one and keep wishing for "the one to equal my love"...maybe for his birthday in November.

FOs: Baby Hat and Mittens

It has been so long I've forgotten how small and quick baby knits are. This was a welcome change to some of the items I've been working on lately.

One of my co-workers has a daughter who learned to knit last year. She is a very motivated young lady and when she was invited to a baby shower for a family member she decided she wanted to knit a little scarf. I was asked to knit the matching hat and mittens, with the yarn she had picked. We work well together! =)

I found this free pattern and made some modifications. Miss N knows garter stitch (knit all stitches) so I did the hat in only garter stitch. I also skipped the cable detail.

The end result is cute, but so tiny. I measured again and again and it is big enough for the size I wanted. Still hard to believe babies are this small. I am crossing my fingers that the ear flaps are positioned right. The pattern didn't say exactly where to place them.

I also made one other modification. I have to admit, I despise pom-poms. I was eager in the past and actually have a collection of metal washers that I use to make them. Still, this was not a relaxing adventure. I made the one for the top of the hat and the two little ones for the hat "ties". Then, instead of four more (ugh!) for the mittens I crocheted six chain stitches, joined in a circle, then crocheted 12 double-crochet stitches in the circle. I cut the yarn and joined the little circle to the end of each tie. It looks so cute, even though the photo didn't come out.

Keeping my fingers crossed that Miss N likes these. :)

FO: Hunter Hat

Oh, what we do for the men in our lives. I've become friends with a new man who loves to hunt. We were chatting the other night and I mentioned how I had orders to complete but that I was, at that moment, knitting a hat for myself. Typical him, I was called a slacker (so, that will be my "slacker hat" forever more). I laughed, especially when he asked what I charged for a hat. I said I'd think about it, finally deciding he has to pay with lunch.

 So, until then, I've been knitting with Wool Ease. I started with ribbing and waited for an idea. Ravelry turned up some unexpected patterns for deer. I found this basic one and this, shall we say, "racy" one.

I couldn't help myself. I combined the two, flipping the images, so I have deer prancing around the 120 stitches.

The pattern came together well, but somwhere along the line I mis-counted and one of the deer isn't quite right. I have perfectionist tendencies in some things, but for this I just worked it out. Also, as any fellow knitters may notice, I'm still trying to perfect carrying yarn. The strands aren't pulling in too much but it still isn't perfection. I understand many people use both hands when stranding, but I don't think I can do that just yet. I'll have to think and try again another time. Still, not bad, if I do say so myself.

As I was knitting and thinking how large it looked I remembered the character from the Fat Albert cartoon. I used to watch that all the time, but I couldn't remember Dumb Donald's name. What do you think?

 

FO: Doll Sweater and Socks

White, white, white! It goes with everything! Who could resist this cute sweater with picot edging and 3/4 length sleeves. The body of the sweater has butterfly eyelets. The little bracelet is just a ponytail holder with a flower button sewn on. Simple white socks complete the outfit. No pattern, just my mind...except stitches from the Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Needlework.

WIP: Hot Pink 18" Doll Sweater

Fabric that is black with hot pink dots. Hmm...what can I make to go with that?

Well, I cast on and knit the flounce from the other sweater. I'm knitting this in the round as I normally do (on either sz 6 or 7 needles). The yarn is Bernet (I think) baby yarn. The color in the photo doesn't come close to the wonderful vibrant pink.

The plan is to knit a sweater and hat combo.

WIP: Auntie's Arctic Afghan

This is one of my favorite projects. I cast on for this a long time ago (two plus years) thinking I'd use up some of the mill end yarn I had collected (so hard to pass up). I'm using size 13 or 16 needles and double stranding. The yarn is mostly Lion Brand Homespun. When I started this I had been watching a lot of craft shows and had seen a quilt in the log cabin pattern. I figured I could do that.

The photo is just the huge pile of yarn. I'll unfold it and take a better picture soon. In the meantime, rest assured that the blanket which is only about crib size at this point weighs about 10-15 lbs. It is WARM!

WIP: Red Sweater for 18" Doll

This red sweater is from a pattern book sent to me by my doll lover friend. I never would've thought it, but after making one and having to frog it (rip it out) I actually thought it was worth the time to block this one as the directions say. This is the very first time I have taken time to seriously wet block anything. It is a foreign concept for me.

Red sweaters tend to sell well. This one has a really cute flounce edge at the hem and sleeve cuffs. I also have a matching scarf made and pinned to block and a hat on the needles.

I'm using Caron Simply Soft on sz 5 needles.

FO #2: Green Hat for Me

I have a wonderful hat pattern that I've been waiting to make, but I forgot before I cast this on. I've been waiting to find the perfect green yarn for that one (wool blend most likely). In the meantime, however, I've had a hair crisis so I need more hats.

I crocheted a chain to measure around my head then cast on stitches pulled through the crocheted chain. I'm using Caron Simply Soft in an amazing dark green (Dk Sage 9707). When I took this first photo I had seed stitched about an inch and had the beginnings of a 4x4 ribbing. I planed to do some simple cables and who knows what else. The color, for me, carries it. Redheads and green go hand-in-hand.

I knit for a while in the rib pattern and started to cable. It went well and then I thought I'd try something, which turned out horrible. I'm not an adventurous knitter yet, but one thing I've learned only through reading the blogs of others is that frogging is a necessary evil and can be accomplished without ripping the whole thing out. So, I was brave and pulled the needle out, carefully pulled stitches (as I begged my children to be quiet for a few minutes), and got the needle back in. I was off and was able to figure my way to a decent finished project (which I am wearing as I type this):



WIP: Dawn Doll Dresses

I'm sure that looking at the blog you may be rolling your eyes and seriously wondering over the sanity of a grown woman who knits doll clothes.

I didn't set out to do this. In fact, I only knit some clothes for 11" dolls for my nieces then put the extras online to sell. When I did that some people stumbled upon the listings and asked me to create for some other dolls. One such doll is Dawn.

There is a now annual convention for lovers of this 1970s era tiny doll. Each year there is a theme and most often a doll given away. I've knit items now for three years, in line with the convention theme. This year is a masquerade ball theme. I've got a few ideas floating in my head and have started a tiny little formal gown:

Gotta keep this under my hat for now. The yarn is Red Heart crochet cotton. It is very thin to knit with, which is appropriate for the scale of Dawn.