Little Knitted Friends

Having crocheted just about anything and everything for a long while I thought I would never knit again but the need to knit just crept up on me one day.

Like an addict for a quick fix, I bought a giant ball of wool to knit an aran cardigan but soon gave up. Too much concentration was needed to work on it at the Knit and Natter group especially as there is often more nattering than knitting.

And I didn't like the way the cheap yarn fuzzed up so much.

So that is now living in the bag in my 'wool cupboard' with some of my stash.

It's the miniaturist in me that says 'Make it small, make it small'. I heard that little voice and thought of little people.

I decided to create the K & N group, at Tinker Taylor tea shop, using up some of my mountain of stashed wool but soon realised, as usual, the stash was not going to provide me with enough yarn for bodies so I had to buy more yarn! (As you do...)

Then, of course, the colours were not right for the clothes I needed to make. Aha, yes, buy more yarn!
I chose Ricorumi DK 100% cotton partly because it comes in tiny 25gm balls. It's also lovely and firm for the bodies, unlike an acrylic mix I used for one poor lady who might have to endure pipe cleaner insertion.

A sneak peak of the first lady I made and have finished.

Others in various stages, like this one in her leggings, getting her hair done!

The hair, I found is the hardest to get right. I could knit wigs, but they looked as though they were wearing helmets so I have rooted this lady's hair using a crochet hook.

Hopefully more to show soon

Clothes for Dolls - The First Dress

Since I finished the last shawl, I have been a bit distracted by the heatwave we are having here!
Until the temperature drops, I shall have hands too clammy and brain to fuggy to concentrate on a cosy, warm shawl.

Thinking back to Christmas, a bit crazy in this heat, I know, but I had put an 18" doll on my wish list, just because I'm still a kid at heart and I love making clothes for dolls.

Christmas Day I was presented with Rose and I was so pleased but as I had some other projects started and I've been trying very hard to finish things, I put her in my queue to wait her turn!

After a couple of months, I started to be asked 'Have you made any clothes for your doll yet? And they kept asking, so despite having a work table covered in various works in progress, I spread to the dining table with fabric and sewing machine, as you do, and came up with this dress.

I had plans to make a matching hairband but time was getting on and I had to clear away all signs of having broken my self-discipline and spread to other rooms.
She will get a hairband and more clothes once I finish the new knitting project I've started and am really excited about!
I am making tiny things so can do them in the evenings as the temperature cools a bit. More about that another time.

Rose is very well made and a dream to fit as the clothes are not too tiny or fiddley, although they do take more fabric than I expected but then I'm used to making tiny miniatures that use just scraps.

A little tip I've found very helpful when sitting outside place both feet in a bowl of cold water. It cools the blood nicely!

Stay cool and carry on!