Lovin' It!

After finishing my Keyhole Bow-tie Scarf, I cast-on for another bow-tie type scarf.  With only 109 yards in the one skein of elann.com's Peruvian Alpaca, I needed something small.  Problem: not happy.  The yarn is just lovely, but not loving the curl which is intregal to the pattern.  What now?  Rip out?  What else to make with such a small amount of yarn?  The yardage got me thinking about different types of small projects, which in turn got me thinking about dolls.  That's right: dolls.

Not loving the curl

Flipping through Ravelry's search engine, I found loads of cute patterns for 18" dolls (if you don't already know about Ravelry, get thee to the website post-haste 'cuz it is awesome!!).  Perusing patterns always gets me looking through the stash.  And I found a nice pattern to marry with some DK weight leftovers.

Top/dress in progress

The pattern is a little ensemble (Ravelry link), but I only made the top.  The top length is perfect as a dress, especially as my doll has leggings and pink booties.  Pattern is straight-forward, but I tweaked parts of it because of personal preference and because I couldn't get gauge.

Front view of dress

Back view

What do you think?  Pretty?  I love it, especially the bright colours.  Also love that I used leftovers.  And my doll finally gets a nice outfit.  Think she needs a matching cardigan?  Maybe in green?  I'll keep you posted. ;)

Names and Dolls

Catalogues for Maplelea and American Girl

So in pursuit of my interest in doll clothes, I decided to try a bigger doll--something in the 18" size.  There are some lovely dolls out there, in particular the Maplelea and American Girl dolls.  Love them!! The price, however, is way outta my budget.

My new 18" doll

Happily I found an adequate substitute that satisfies my need to make and clothe without breaking the family budget: My-Life-As Dolls from Walmart.  For about $35 (Canadian), I have something that looks similar.  She's not as posable as the more expensive versions, but she'll do.

New wire-rimmed eyeglasses

I could only find the blonde (I was hoping to get the brunette with glasses).  So as a compromise, I made some wire-rimmed glasses out of craft wire.  It took a few tries, but I made something adequate.  Watcha think?  I'm still experimenting with how to keep the glasses better attached to her head.

A how-to book for making doll clothes

On my bookshelf, I even found a great collection of patterns for 18" dolls (pictured above).  Its for dressing antique dolls, but the patterns can be modified for more simple designs.  The book even has a few knit patterns.  

More contemporary clothing styles

This book, combined with free patterns online, should keep me busy for a long while . . . 

By the way, I'm no longer Acrylic-Girl.  I had been thinking about changing my name for a long time.  When I was blogging for Bernat, I had chosen the moniker DinaPurls.  I like that name so much better than Acrylic-Girl (And who's kidding who?  I haven't been a "girl" in a long, long time).  So I made the necessary changes here on the blog as well as on Ravelry.  I feel like a new me!

Pass and Fail

The Pass: the cowl turned out lovely.  I couldn't get a good photo of me sporting it, but it does wrap comfortably twice around my neck.  I just need to weave in the ends and give it a wash.

Finished cowl needing finishing

The Fail: in the spirit of matching accessories, I attempted a beret in the same yarn.  I used a popular beret pattern online and knit along merrily.  Occasionally I would pause and try it on to ensure a good fit--and it was fitting well up until the very end.  After binding off, I attempted to try it on--and could not!  The hat would not even go over my head!!  I screamed in frustration.  Then I calmly unpicked the bind-off edge.  Staring at the live stitches without any needle, I briefly contemplated whether to pick them up or not . . . . Needless to say the "leftovers" are pictured below.  My frustration was so deep, I just kept unravelling until the hat was no more.

Frogged beret

The fault was NOT in the pattern 'cuz tons of people have made the beret (it was the One-Day Beret from Kristun Kapur).  The fault lay in my technique (the same thing happened the first time I made toe-up socks and had to bind off the cuff).  I still want a matching beret.  A search through Ravelry led to other beret patterns--ones that were bottom-up.  I might just have enough yarn to make two hats.   ;)

Barbie's new pink suit

Meanwhile here's the strappy top with matching jacket and skirt for Barbie.  I thought I should share the finished items.  I've been eyeing more patterns from the Sticka till Barbie website.  Downloaded a few patterns and even printed off a few.  Still have plenty of leftover sock yarn and I know where I can get more too.  Always good to be prepared for when the mood hits . . . 

Strappy top underneath the jacket

On the plus side, I've been working diligently on my rainbow bedspread.  Nothing like failure to help one get motivated for a "sure thing".  LOL!

Later,

Still Stylin'

Yup, she looks good, doesn't she?

I finished these not too long ago, but forgot to post about them.  I showed you the finished pink jacket here, but neglected to share the matching pink skirt and lovely off-shoulder top. The skirt is from the same Patons-Beehive book Just Dolls (Rav link) as the jacket.  The top is from the wonderful site Sticka till Barbie where you can find tons of free Barbie patterns--and I mean tons (as in over 1000 patterns including accessories)!

The original pattern was actually a two-tone dress, but I stopped at hip length.  There was actually an error on the pattern, but I've knit a few other patterns from the site without errors (I think the stitch count got messed up in the translation from Swedish to English).

I also made a strappy top for my doll 'cuz the off-shoulder number pictured above didn't quite fit under the jacket.  I have yet to take a proper photo--maybe next week when I'm on vacation again.

There is something rather nice about finishing up so many little projects.  It gives one a sense of accomplishment.  Maybe there's hope for the bedspread . . . 

Later,    :)

Stylin'

Yup, Barbie is gonna be stylin' in her new jacket.

Isn't it reminiscent of Chanel?  I think it's the trim and boxy shape.  Whatcha think?

I've got to cast on the matching skirt.  I'm heading to the beach again today, so it would be perfect beach-side knitting--simple and fast!  

These patterns came from an "old" Patons-Beehive book "Just Dolls" (Rav link).  I remember eyeing the booklet in the local Woolworth's and wanting it so badly (am I dating myself?).  Finally my mom succumbed and bought it.  I happily knit a few Barbie and baby doll outfits with mom's leftover yarn.  Good memories . . . . 

Later,

Distractions . . . .

In spite of my best efforts, there have been many distractions whilst I work on my rainbow granny bedspread: gardening, weekend outings, family commitments, housework and school work (mostly essays to challenge courses in a diploma program).  And truthfully, it makes me sad.  How can I be a crafter if I'm NOT crafting?

Then inspiration and motivation hit me in an unexpected way.  I had been itching to knit for a while.  While leafing through some patterns, I found a small project.  It would be quick and I'd be using up stash. 

Crocheting a contrasting hem to the dress

The pattern is from stickatillbarbie.se, by far THE BEST website for free Barbie clothes and accessories.  Check out the Ravlery pattern links too.  There is so much selection.

And I wasn't joking when I said it would be a quick knit.  I cast on Monday and wove in the ends this afternoon while sitting at the beach.  How perfect is that?

Finished outfit

And now my lovely Barbie doll is perfectly dressed for the summer weather in her new sundress.  Isn't she lovely?  

I've got a road trip coming up.  And that means some in-car crafting.  I may have to start another outfit for the Barbie.

Later,

Any Crafting?

What you ask?  Have I been crafting?  Of course not!  Even with all the time off during the holidays, you'd think I'd have got some crafting done.  For all my free time, I have very little to show for (except for some tentacles and a couple of teddy bear legs).  Although I must confess that I quickly finished my Barbie's new outfit.

My doll's new outfit

I'm not happy with my finishing (very hard to make neat seams with teeny tiny stitches).  Wonder if working the same pattern in the round will offer a better finish . .  . At the very least, I joined a neat doll and amigurumi group (called Good Things Together) over on Ravelry.  They have lots of helpful links (for knitting, crochet, sewing and prop construction), so I'm hoping it'll give me the inspiration to tarry on.

Despite my general lack of crafting over the holidays, there was much baking (and subsequent eating), game-playing, lots of movie-watching and general merriment--oh yes, and much napping, LOL.  Now that I've re-entered the doldrums of everyday life, I`m slowly getting back into my daily routines.

This weekend, the house slowly returned to pre-holiday order with the ornaments going into storage and the tree going outside.  And the gifts needing "re-adjustments" were tackled.  What re-adjustments?  Namely hemming.

I can sew--sort of and in a semi-straight line.  I've devised a technique for hemming that is relatively painless for the sewing-impaired.  You will need:

• a sewing machine
• a tape measure
• scissors
• marker
• pins

1) First have person wear the pants and then fold the pants up to the intended length.  Pin in place.

2) Before cutting, use tape measure and mark off in one inch increments on the wrong side of the fabric (see example below).  Depending how much has to be taken in, you can make marks on fabric at 2", 3" and 4 " from original hemline.

One inch increments on wrong side of fabric

3) Remove pins and cut off old hem with scissors (this part might be scary, but is necessary).  Only cut enough to remove old hem.

Cutting old hem after measuring off the one-inch increments

4) Now fold over raw edge onto 2" or 3" increment.  Sew into place using straight stitch (if fabric is really stretchy, you should consider a zigzag stitch.  Using a matching thread will hide from visibility on right side).

Sewing raw edge to desired increment

5) Fold over a second time, using the 3" or 4" increment (depending on how short the pants need to be).  Sew into place in same manner as in step 4. Why sew a second time? Most fabric tend to unravel after washing.  Sewing in place a second time prevents this from happening (Yes I know about pinking shears, but I don't always find them effective).

Folding over second time and sewing into place 

6) Viola!  You're finished!  Pants are ready to be worn.  No ironing or pinning required. Easy-peasy!  

Finished hem

I've been using this technique for quite a few years.  I don't know if it's the correct way to hem a pair of pants (psst, don't tell my mom the seamstress), but works great for jeans and cotton pants.

For the Love of Barbie

Oh yeah!  Deep down, I'm a kid at heart.  And this kid loves her new Barbie (FYI: she's Fashionista Therese).  I've been wanting one for a long, long time and my family finally gifted me one for Christmas. :)

One Happy Kid ;)

Therese out of the Box

And with a Barbie doll comes the responsibility of dressing her in the most smashing outfits.  Have you seen some of the doll clothes in the toy aisle?   I have two complaints: 

• A) The official Mattel Barbie outfits can be pricey
• B) Those very same outfits may not be pretty or stylish, especially the cheaper ones (the expensive ones tend to be pretty, but pricey--see A above).

What's a crafter to do?  Make her own Barbie clothes of course!  I dug out an old Patons Beehive doll book (the original I lost many moons ago, but I found a copy a few years ago for 25 cents).  I actually made some those outfits when I was a kid.

Patons Beehive Book No. 139

I also found a site with vintage Barbie patterns (not sure who the original publisher was, but the patterns can be accessed off the website for free OR downloaded for a fee in a digitally enhanced e-book).

And if someone is handy with a sewing machine, they should check out the Craftiness Is Not Optional blog (scroll down to the end of her tutorial page to find the Barbie stuff).  She's got picture tutorials for a ball gown, skirts and tees to fit Barbie and friends.

Of course a search on Ravelry proved rather fruitful too.  There are a few crochet and knit patterns.  In particular, I found a great site with hundreds upon hundreds of Barbie patterns--all for free!  And some of the designs are just cute.  Check out Sticka till Barbie where the site owner/designer has patterns in many languages, most of which use fingering weight (good way to use of leftover sock yarn).

Right now I'm attempting a little top with cap sleeves.  I should be done by this afternoon--I hope.

Burgundy Top in Progress

Meanwhile, my Barbie patiently poses while awaiting her new outfits (it's hard work being stylish).  ;)

Striking a Pose

Hope you're enjoying the after-glow of good holiday spirits. :)

Knitting: A Link to the Past?

For me, knitting is an on-going history of which I am an active participant. I learned to knit from my mother who was taught my her mother and grandmother, who in turn were taught by their mothers . . . and so on, ad infinitum. It goes on much as one stitch connects to the one before it, so too I am connected to my ancestors. And I feel blessed to have been given the chance to learn how to fashion fabric from sticks and string (oddly enough, my sisters never shared any interest in learning to knit, although one of them did sew for a while). I don't have any daughters onto which to pass on my skills, but one of my sons has expressed an interest in learning the craft.

I don't recall the exact age when I learned. Sometime before I turned 10, my mom busily knit many sweaters and such for my youngest sibling (who was in utero). I'm not sure if it was then or some time afterwards that my mom took the time to teach me. I remember she had bought me my own plastic needles; they were bright yellow (my sister had the green ones, but she wasn't too keen on the whole string-and-stick thing in the first place). I distinctly recall making a garter stitch scarf for one of my dolls. With each new row, the thing inexplicably grew width-wise as well as length-wise.

Once I was proficient enough, I naturally sought projects to practise my newly learned skills. Dreamly I browsed through the craft section in our local Woolworths (yea, that dates me, doesn't it). I'd fondle the yarns (yeah, they were acrylic but they were still fun to touch) and browse through the Beehive Patons booklets. The one that stole my heart and fanned my imagination: Patons booklet #139.


See all those Barbie doll outfits? Oh how I loved my Barbies! I ended up making the blue suit, the sheath dress and I think the long coat. I made some cute baby doll outfits too.

The last time I had visited my mom, I discovered to my great disappointment that she had gotten rid of all her old crochet and knitting books and magazines. I was so disheartened! I had hoped to take them all home with me as my mom no longer knitted.

And then one day while browsing through some old craft books at a rummage sale on campus, my little eye spied one Patons booklet: book #139!! I swear I jumped and I think my boys looked at me funny. I snatched that baby so fast . . . my childhood had come back and I could hold it in my hands!

I haven't knit anything out of that booklet--at least not yet. I'm waiting for my niece to be old enough for Barbies (is it wrong to still fondly walk through the Barbie aisle at the toy store?). I'm sure I will some day. . . .

Such good memories filled with fibery goodness--of the acrylic variety of course. After all, it was the seventies (I know. I'm old). Some day, I'll regal you with my fondest crochet memories full of ponchoes, granny-square vests, never-ending afghans and purty doilies . . . good times!!
:)