WIP Wednesday

Ok, I know it is cliche to do this but I really do think I need a recurring post theme or I'm not going to get my butt in gear to keep posting on a regular basis. I love to write I just need to do it.

So, here goes my Works-in-Progress post. I actually took this photo on Friday last week, but since then I've done very little so there's not much change.

I laid out all my works on the round glass table in my living room. You can barely see the cool sculptural base, but it's there.

Let's start at the top and go clockwise, shall we? This is a skein of Lion Brand Homespun sitting next to a pile of the simple fingerless mitts I mentioned in a previous post. I've waited to seam them as Alex is so curious about how on earth a rectangle becomes something that can be worn as a mitt. I tried explaining it, but as we all know, some things just need to be seen to be understood. Needless to say, I haven't taken the time to sit with her and show so I have at least three pair waiting to be sewn. The mitt that is on the needle in this picture was later torn out as I realized the cable I was trying wasn't coming out as planned because I'm a dingbat. Still learning about cabling afterall. *sigh* At least these are quick and I frogged and restarted and finished the mitt all on Friday night while my girls were at the bounce house for an hour. All is well and I've cast on for its mate. The color may or may not come through well on your screen but in person it is a rich coral and these are actually being made for a co-worker who is just a tiny young woman who is always shivering in the office. She was sick for at least two weeks recently and I though this might be a nice thing for her to come in to one day. Can't hurt, right?

Next up is what was supposed to be the Valentine's Day doll sweater. That's one ball of Paton's Cha Cha in a bright red and one of Lion Suede in a bright red. I wasn't sure I'd have enough of the suede to do the whole sweater so I added stripes of the Cha Cha and will add it to the collar and cuffs as well. So far so good, but it isn't making it to Cher in time for this Valentine's Day. Sorry! :(

This rainbow colored puff ball is yet another fantastic doll sweater made from Paton's Cha Cha. This stuff is the most incredibly soft yarn to work with. Its sad that it is discontinued. Cher was kind enough to buy out her source and send me a box full of different colors so this is just one of many that will be popping up as works-in-progress and finished items. Yummy yarn to work with and this color does the striping all by itself!

 

Next up is another doll sweater in one of my favorite yarns, Caron's Simply Soft Eco. You may remember that I adore Simply Soft in all its colors but the Eco brand is even more a favorite as I'm kind of a hippie chic and this speaks to that side of my personality. This cornflower blue sweater is one of my "signature" sweaters that I've got a little dress to match and will pack away for a Fall/Winter launch on my Etsy shop.

Next up are what were to be Summer socks for my girls. We were at the local yarn store (Spin A Yarn) and I let the girls pick out what colors they'd like. I spent many a day knitting row after row on the tiny needles as the girls played in my parents' yard or rode bikes or scooters. Still, I did not finish. Carebear's are the pink and yellow and one is complete. The picture shows the beginning of the second one. LexiLoo's first is pictured and is now off the needles but its mate has yet to be cast on (I think...better check on that actually). I'm hoping to have these done for their March birthdays. Wish me luck!

I was stressed and well, as knitters I'm sure we can all relate to the call of a yarn shop within walking distance. One of my favorite bosses stopped by my desk in the morning, rubbing his hands together making comment that there was no heat in his office. Oh really? Well, he is one of my favorites and has even passed along knitting and sewing supplies from his deceased wife. I think he deserves some fingerless mitts to warm those hands, don't you? Of course they must be made of some great wool, and of course I had a lunch break to wander to the store. Hunter green and ivory and I've charted a pattern for our company name and...oy! I'm using this pattern from Mary Keenan at Hugs for Your Head so I can get the basic stitch count and the length. I've never done a twisted rib and find it so soothing.

Last, but not least, is the hat I'm working on for me. This is the Rainbow Boucle Patterns yarn that was given to me by Alex and Spike as a Christmas gift. I've struggled a bit with it as cables don't appear, nor do some simple knit/purl patterns. So, I'm just knitting along in the round and thinking it may be a very long toboggan type hat when I'm done, which will be quite some time from now as I have an ever growing "to do" list that piles in ahead of this one. Still, it is there and waiting patiently with one of my favorite markers on it.

FO 2012: Doll Outfit #1

I love Microsoft Excel. I use it at work all day, every day. I took a series of classes in it years ago. I can do charts, and formulas, conditional formatting, even basic macros. Still, it wasn't until reading another's blog entry that I suddenly had an "Ah Ha!" moment and realized I could create a craft "To Do" list with Excel.

I laugh as I guess in all reality I never had a need for a "To Do" list for that part of my life. I would pick up yarn when I wanted and knit what I wanted and call it good. When/if I got an order I'd take the time to do that, based on what deadline was provided. Then, back to whatever, whenever.

Now, I'm focusing a bit differently. I've been getting more consistent orders and I can see my skills improving. I want to make this work. I want to keep feeding my constant customer and also build my Etsy shop. On top of all that, over the last year and a half I finally figured out how to introduce my family to hand knit items and have them understand how great they are. That's thrilling, but adds a lot to my list of things to make. People do tend to get hooked, you know.

One of my goals, as I noted above, is to grow my Etsy shop. I'm going to do it slow, making items throughout the year for a holiday launch this year. I don't want to get caught again in December with no Winter outfits in the shop. How silly to have to make only custom orders that late in the year. I've set a goal of one outfit a month for at least the first ten months. More would be good and can probably be easily accomplished as I make outfits for the girls this year and add here and there.

How's it going, you may ask? So far, so good. My second finished object of 2012 is a doll outfit. I'm quite excited as this was finished by the due date on my spreadsheet. I also made three other dresses, so I'm ahead for the next outfits.

As if that weren't enough, top it off with my friend completing my very first label to go inside the sweaters. I am so excited, it is hard to contain. Somehow, seeing the label makes it all real...as if I'm really a crafter of value, really a designer, really going to do this.

We'll see how it goes, but in the meantime I'll sit back and smile at this new outfit.

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.

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.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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.

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.

WIP: White 18" Doll Outfit

I've decided it is time to make a serious commitment to blogging about my craft. I love to write and to knit so I may as well merge the two. Also, this will be a way for me to look back and realize what I'm doing and hopefully what I've accomplished.

Here's one WIP (work-in-progress):

White doll sweater for 18-inch doll (on needle at bottom). My loyal customer noted that when she paired my last white sweater, hat, and scarf with leggings and boots that it sold in only three days. White is hot and has sold well every time. So, on the needles (short, straight sz 3) I've got a sweater with picot hemline and a butterfly eyelet pattern. I have matching socks. The yarn is a soft baby yarn (Bernet Softee Baby in White).

So far so good!

FO: Doll Dress for Lizzy

Woo Hoo!! Friday, January 7th I completed my first finished object (FO) of 2011. That feels good!

We attended mass on Christmas Eve and were thrilled to make new friends with some members of our Decon's family. It is a long and complex tale, but I knew of the child who could not take her eyes off the dolls my daughters had taken with them. The adults chatted for a few minutes after mass and I promised to provide more information on my doll clothes.

Instead, as is somewhat typical of me, I came home and dug out a doll I had stashed away (for a craft fair-to-be) and started to knit a dress for that doll. I finished Friday for delivery on Sunday. I even was lucky enough to have a pair of shoes stashed as well.

The colors in the photo turned out horrible. I need to remember to use only black or white as a background, instead of this green one. Anyway, the dress is a hot pink with turquoise accents. I had asked Lizzy what her favorite colors are and she said pink, blue, and yellow. Always fun to keep the recipient's likes in mind.

One down...many, many more to go. I finally put up a shelf I've had set aside and I filled it with all the yarn my doll lover has sent me. I've been supposed to use it to make her sweaters. Supposed to...hmm...not doing so well with that. It's funny, because I've sent her quiet a few things, but obviously far from enough. So, with the shelf up and overflowing I think I'll have even more motivation to keep working on things. Wish me luck!

WIPs

I used to hate those abbreviations like the title of this post and still get a bit confused by some. So, for anyone who doesn't knit or crochet or is new or confused, WIP is work-in-progress. If you've been to my home you'll know that I'm one of those many knitters who have far too many started but not complete items. Right now I'm working on the following:

• Doll sweater #1: Blue and white, empire waist, long sleeved
• Doll sweater #2: Thinking this may be an elephant Halloween costume, but I'm undecided
• Doll sweater #3: awaiting frogging (ripping out-rip it, rip it, rip it like the sound of a frog) or trash can. I knit what I thought was a pretty simple pattern until I had seamed everything and knit all the edging to find out that one side was significantly longer than the other. That should be a warning to me to stop knitting so much when I'm exhausted.
• Socks for LexiLoo: Pink with three purple stripes right above the toes-first time toe-up, two circular needles, and no seam. First sock is at cuff and now I'm ribbing 1x1 for a few more inches before I can bind off and begin again.
• Socks for Me: toe-up but seam at heel sides-green and blue striped. First sock is complete but bind off edge is a bit tight around foot when pulling on and off. I really don't want to pull the edge off so I'm working it out (I hope).
• Aran Knit Sweater: Lavender baby yarn to keep my 89-year-old Grandma warm. Only about five inches of the back done so far. Frustrating, to say the least. I wish I'd chosen a pattern worked in-the-round before I committed to this one. Too much money invested in the new needles and too much time on the three inches of ribbing to frog it now. Next time...
• Mittens for Carebear: One is done and the other just has some ribbing. They are two needle items worked from the cuff up. These are wool, some kool-aid dyed, and will be felted. These have a matching hat made completely out of the kool-aid dyed yarn. LexiLoo's set is fully knit. Christmas is approaching fast so I have to finish the mitten and get everything into the washer.
• Socks for Carebear: not yet started. I have new purple yarn, at her request, and think these will be two shades of purple and pink or just pink and purple-I can't decide yet. I'm using Caron Simply Soft for most of these socks as it works quick and will keep our feet toasty warm as the Fall progresses and turns into Winter. 
• Socks for a Friend: purchased another skein of a new favorite colored baby yarn. I think I'll knit some simple, happy socks for her feet to lounge in. Not skinny socks but warm ones for winter wear or around the house.
• Mittens for Family Member: Someone I know has very, very cold hands and I found some wool that I think will do the trick. Soft and fuzzy but warm as can be.

I'm laughing a bit as I typed all that and thought of the afghans sitting patiently in the other room, or the yarn for shrugs for the girls this Summer that never made it to the needles. This is in no way a comprehensive list. These are just the highest priority in my mind, for the moment. LOL!

Ok, time to log off and go wash Carebear's cup for daycare tomorrow. I had promised myself a reasonable bedtime to help fend off this complete exhaustion. Here's hoping. :)

Going Green (FOs)

I am, at heart, a liberal environmentalist. No, I do not compost all my waste and yes, I did use disposable diapers but mostly because of location not will. I'd love to do so much more than recycling and reusing shopping bags and such. Still, all this is a start.

What I have started doing it reusing clothing rather than throwing out items with holes or stains. Instead, I try to find a use for the good parts. It is fortunate that I have two little ones who can always use new items made from larger old ones. I also have been dragged into a world of doll clothes which I'm loving and they are certainly small enough to reuse material.

So, this weekend I put the finishing touches on a four-piece ensemble for 18 inch dolls. I've written a bit lately about trying socks and while I was knitting for my daughters my mind wandered to a doll pattern I'd come across in my stash. I didn't want to get that complicated, but why couldn't I adapt the easy, two-needle pattern from person size to doll size? Let's try. Out came one of our three measuring tapes and calculations began. Then the real trial was keeping my kids occupied for the tiny bit less than an hour it took to knit the pair. I used some green yarn I had sitting on my table from my eldest daughter's socks. I love green so this was added inspiration and the soft baby yarn doesn't hurt.

I finished the ankle socks and put them on my doll and voila! I couldn't resist. Now she had to have something to go with those.

Onto the needles went a sweater in the same yarn. My "normal" go-to pattern wasn't large enough around but I wanted to play anyway so I did a basic pattern, adding a cable to the front plackets and short instead of long sleeves. Then I finished with a crocheted scalloped edge and tie closure.

The doll I have doesn't look right showing her "skin" so I chose to recycle some clothing for her. I took the pockets off a pair of old jeans and sewed them together for a skirt. Then I cut part of the lace sleeve off an old nightgown to use for a tube top under the sweater.

Put it all together and here's what I got:

Christmas Is Coming

Yes, that dreaded term has popped up on other blogs and I thought it must be my turn. Close your eyes and turn your head away and scroll down or click off the site if you don't want to think about it, but Christmas is coming. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe you're all much faster or more committed knitters than I am, or maybe not. For me the thought of September makes me panic that I'll never finish all my gift items in time. This year I'm doing much better already planning and I think I'll be ok...yes, positive thinking...I will not over-commit, I will not stay up until midnight each night, I will not...

YEAH RIGHT! Who am I kidding? I'm already over-committed and there is no end in sight. LOL! Well, at least I have two cute doll items to ship off to my friend. That's at least something. :)

The white is, I think, Lion Brand Homespun (the same as the earlier "cloud" outfit). Although you can't really tell from the photo, the red is ChaCha and is one of the softest things I've ever knit with. I carried it along with Caron Simply Soft so the sweater and hat would not be transparent or hard to get on the doll. I did make the sleeves a bit too narrow so maybe she'll use it for Bitty Baby instead. I'm just happy it is cute and fuzzy and fun. :)

Meow! (FO)

I told you how I've been obsessed with the yarn I received on Saturday. I knit the cloud outfit and immediately cast on for another. This black Lion Brand Homespun was calling to me...well, actually purring and meowing a bit. Last night my eldest daughter was up coughing until after midnight so I took some time till about 1 am and knit most of the hood. Then tonight was able to draw the ears, knit, seam, and finish this.

I also received a book of patterns from the same caring friend. I had already planned my hooded kitty sweater when I saw that the book also had a hooded one (not for a kitty or other animal). I promised to cast on a few sweaters for my friend, from that book, but I've got another idea first. The holidays are coming soon enough and I'm preparing.

Cloud Complete (FO-finished object)

I pulled out what I'm calling the cloud yarn (I think it is Lion Brand Homespun in a pure white) and I cast on for a doll sweater yesterday. The bulky yarn required some tweaking of the pattern, but I think in the end it looks good on (somewhat funny just hanging or folded). I couldn't resist making a scarf with what was left of the first skein and then just needed to make a hat to match. After all, what girl could go out in the snow without these things? I did snap a picture, but bear in mind that my friend will be making the bottoms (pants, skirt, leggings, etc.). I can't help but imagine it with some sort of leggings and a pair of ice skates.

As with most of us obsessed knitter types, I've already cast on for the next one I have running through my mind. I guess I do think that sometimes the yarn tells us what it wants to be. :)