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!

Mittens

Finally took the time to download some photos from my camera. Presenting....dat dat dat da...Mom's driving mittens:

Well, almost. This was right before I sewed the lining to the outside and fitted them together. Not only are they a wonderful shade of blue, but the yarns are magnificent and I even got to be "green". The outside is the Soy Wool Stripes yarn in denim (if I remember correctly) which is a very soft, fuzzy wool. The inside is Caron Simply Soft (one of my favorite all around acrylics). Then, the leather for the palm was salvaged from a jacket I used to wear but long ago was sent to the scrap pile due to holes.

Like I said, I think Mom likes them. In fact, I think I saw her wearing them the first Monday after she received them, as she went to warm up the car and drive to work. I can't help it, I'm proud of these as I saw a problem and devised a way to solve it. Crafting to do it made my left and right brain happy. Who could ask for more?

Ponies

I admit that I'm far behind where I should be taking photos and posting. I finished the hat for my Dad and the mittens for my Mom. I think I even have pictures. Mom has worn her mittens and, I think, loves them. Two thumbs up for that! I'll try to get the photos uploaded soon.

In the meantime, lest I totally give up on posting all together, I'll put up a picture of one of my other new obsessions. Last year sometime, or even earlier, I purchased some ponytail holders on Etsy. I loved that the shop owner made ones appropriate for adults as well as kids. I generally have medium to long hair and pull it back probably 75% of the time or more. So, I loved the ones I purchased. They are thick, "ouchless" elastic ponytail holders with the decoration being a covered button. The fabric can match anything.

I thought about how much I love the ones I have and figured that I could do it. So, for the girls' this summer I made them pillowcase dresses, made matching dresses for their dolls, and made ponytail holders to match. It was fun and now I'm hooked. Tiny scraps of material make wonderful things to accessorize.

I wanted to try and sell some and for the first time ever display possibilities worked out for me. I don't know how, but I thought to use my business cards. So, without further delay...here are my very own ponytail holders:

Two sizes and a bunch of patterns. I have a stash of rounds of fabric and elastics. I even bookmarked a website to buy the buttons in bulk. Ahh...to have the time to pursue my creative dreams.

Well, I'm off to knit some more on a doll sweater I promised. Gotta get moving on productivity.

K1, P1 round and round

I haven't had time to take pictures and to be honest it isn't anything yet. Still, I'm proud (and a bit crazy) for having today cast on a hat for someone special. I pulled out some variegated wool, in autumn shades of brown, and am hoping inspiration hits by the time I'm done with the ribbed band. It is for a man and I'm not used to that. We'll see how it goes. :) Photos soon, I hope. The second liner mitten is on the needles as is the second purple sock. I found the leather I had tucked away and found the perfect spots to cut from. Things are falling into place. Four week countdown here I come!

WIPs: Mittens times 4 and Stripey Socks

I've blogged before about a very special pair of mittens that are underway. I've made a lot of progress and think I will be able to finish without a problem, before Christmas (knock on wood). I've finished the two mittens using the soy/wool combo yarn. Now, I've moved on to using Caron Simply Soft to knit the liner pair (the inside-out mitten shown below). This will, I hope, eliminate any scratchiness from the wool as the recipient reportedly doesn't like wool next to her skin. So far I have one liner done and it fits in fine and my hand will, too.

When I'm done with these I think I'm going to cut some leather (from an old coat) to use for the palms so they can also be worn for driving. As I may have said, the recipient has very, very cold hands.

On another set of needles is a sock for my youngest. I'm using two size three, sixteen inch circular needles. My daughter went through a phase, when I purchased the yarn, where she adored purple. Shortly after she went back to thinking everything has to be pink. So, I used the purples I had intended (Caron Simply Soft) and stole some pink from the yarn for her sister's pair, making the heel. Not sure how long I'm going to make the cuff, but so far it is turning out pretty well. The foot part is striped and the cuff will be solid in the darker purple. Quirky, like that daughter.

Happy Knitting!

FOs: Doll Clothes

I know, I know. I need to put more on here about WIPs (works-in-process) but I have trouble remembering as I focus on the stitches. As far as that goes, I also have a bit of trouble scheduling writing time as well. Eh-hem. Ok. So, here we are on a Saturday morning and I'm taking a few minutes to say "Hey, world!" here's what I've been up to.

I have a friend who got me into knitting for 18 inch dolls (American Girl) and I've really enjoyed the journey. Last week I put the finishing touches on a few items and shipped them off to her. So, here's what I've been crafting: