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Tuesday, December 30, 2014

A Few Knitted Things

The "One Button Cardi" shown yesterday can also be worn backwards as a "pop-top".

pants - Amber

The simple pull-on pants are my own design.

pants - Kemi

It can also be paired with the knitted dress. The dresses were knit using the "Pukifee Dress" pattern, but using fingering weight yarn and larger needles.

knit dress & cardi - Amber


knit dress & cardi Kemi

For chillier days the dolls each have a long sleeved sweater too.

pullover - Amber

I knit the sweaters using my "Laceweight Pukifee Sweater" pattern, but using fingering weight yarn and larger needles and using less increases in the body section. 

pullover - Kemi

Monday, December 29, 2014

Sewn Dress and Accessories

Bloomers - Amber

Bloomers and sundress were sewn using "My Own Little World" pattern, "The Little Dress".

And a hat.

Hats were crocheted using AntiqueLilac's free pattern.

dress and cari - Amber

Slippers are knit using my own pattern, which you can download free.

bloomers - Kemi

A second hat.


dress and cardi - Kemi

The little "One Button Cardi" was knit using my Pukifee pattern, but using fingering weight yarn and larger needles. 

Sunday, December 28, 2014

The BIG Project

In the weeks leading up to Christmas I was very busy with a secret project that I couldn't blog about. Now that Christmas is over and the gifts have been given I can show you what I was up to.

I did a lot of miniature knitting.

Blocking tiny knitwear.

A bit of crocheting.

knit dress - Amber

knit dress - Kemi

And some sewing.

Bloomers

The Little Dress

Starting the second set.

Second one complete.

So that the dolls we bought our granddaughters for Christmas would not have to go naked.

wardrobe - Amber

wardrobe - Kemi

The dolls are lacking wigs though (the wigs worn in the first few pictures are borrowed) so the girls used some Christmas gift money from their great grandpa to order the wigs of their choice.

FantasyDoll Kemi

FDoll Amber

More photos tomorrow of the wardrobe pieces being modelled by the dolls.

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Merry Christmas!

Christmas 2014

Wishing you and yours a very merry Christmas.

Tuesday, December 09, 2014

Elfonda Schelf is Ready for Christmas

Elfonda has been busy preparing the Tulusson family shelf for the Christmas season.

Elfonda decorated the Tulusson shelf for Christmas

With six of them living on top of a vintage sideboard they don't have a lot of space, but I think Elfonda has done rather well in creating a cozy, festive atmosphere.

Their new fireplace.

Monday, December 08, 2014

Zen's Wife Is Here

When my big Feeple60, Holly, arrived she stole all the attention around here, and the poor little Minifee Soony Elf event head did not even get a mention. She arrived blank and bodiless, of course, as event heads always do. 

Liking the MNF Soony elf!

(My apologies to those freaked out by eyeless disembodied doll heads!)

I was busy with other things and, other than taking a moment to insert temporary eyes and try the head on a Minifee body already dressed in Mariah's clothing, I set her aside. It's hard to get a feel for the character of a blank head before they receive a faceup.

Please excuse the wonky eyes.

Zenawii Tulusson seemed to be pretty pleased that his wife was home though, faceup or not.

Lieut. and Mrs. Tulusson


Then late one night her name and character suddenly came to me. I resisted, but she insisted! In fact she was adamant that I not introduce her publicly until I had created a traditional folk costume for her befitting her family heritage.

Introducing Elfonda Schelf

Her name is Elfonda Schelf. That's right, she comes from rather famous lineage. You have probably met some of her relatives.

Friday, December 05, 2014

Scarves and Cowls

Quite some time ago I received "Scarves and Cowls, 36 Quick and Stylish Knits" by Fiona Goble to review. I looked through it at the time, amused and entertained by the vibrantly colorful, fun, and unusually playful photography. Unfortunately it fell rather flat from there and, intending to review it when I had more time, I set it aside and forgot about it. I unearthed it today while sorting through a pile of "to do" items.



To be fair, this would probably be a fun pattern book for a very beginning knitter as there are projects that take you from the absolute newbie knitter project, scarves done solely in garter stitch, through those with very simple shaping or textured stitches, on to beginning lace patterns or more complex shaping. So for a new knitter there is the potential for growth at least.

So, how did it fall flat? Well, as a more experienced knitter I was disappointed by the selection of patterns, most of which are very simple and rely heavily on the yarn itself for interest, or are a variation of similar designs readily available for free on Ravelry. There is not much there that really interests me enough to bother digging through my stash and casting on.

This book has merit as a resource for new knitters wanting to knit up some simple yet popular scarf styles with which to show off their newly emerging skills. More experienced knitters will likely enjoy the playful, well done photography, chuckle, and put it back on the shelf.

Thursday, December 04, 2014

Don't Worry About Neelie!

Neelie is fine, so don't worry about her. She's just playing with a friend's wheelchair.

Oh don't worry about Neelie!

She sure knows how to put on the sad, woe-is-me face though, hey?


Wednesday, December 03, 2014

Combed and Clipped

Trying a new hairstyle on Holly.

Combed and clipped

This is the same Fairyland fake fur wig she was wearing in one of the earlier posts but it has been combed, parted, and clipped to the side.

I think I like it!

Monday, December 01, 2014

Holly Has Arrived!

My new Fairyland Feeple60 Moe-line Rin has arrived.

another comparison "A"

Her name is Holly.

  another comparison "B"

She is still finding her "look". Trying on different wigs, and outfits,

another look at the wigs

a7457

Her new jeans from Nine9 Style arrived just before she did.

a7409

She came with a free pair of high heels, but just like me she has trouble standing in heels!

the original box opening dress

 Luckily I had also bought her some sneakers.

  a7413

I'm still working on getting a Minifee pattern line ready for publication, but I have promised Holly I will work on some knitwear for her once the holiday's are over.

Sunday, November 30, 2014

The Underthings

Luckily the top and stockings didn't take nearly so long as the dress to sew up.

Top for under the Christmas Dress

I used a new, yet uncomfortably ill fitting, t-shirt as the fabric source and the same Adams-Harris pattern I used for the dress. I also made white stockings for her from the same fabric.

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Dress for the New Girl

This took three very full days to complete. I started late one evening with cutting out the many pieces.

Today's project.

The next day I worked on sewing the bodice. With princess seams and fully lined there were a lot of pieces to deal with. I improvised a tiny "pressing ham" for the bust seams using a slightly felted ball of wool.

Pressing ham?

The zipper caused lots of angst. It had to be meticulously hand sewn. I got it all in, looking good, and removed the basting. It was then that I realized it was misthreaded and it split. I had to take out all that I had done and start over again!

Second time was successful. This is the first time I've gone to all the trouble of inserting a real (but tiny) zipper in doll clothing.

A zipper at last!

Layers of ruffles means lots of gathering and basting to do. There are two skirts, a lace layer, and an underlayer insert, all which had to be gathered and then hand basted before machine sewing.

Progress shot

It took hours!

More ruffles.

But the finished dress was well worth all the effort. I only hope it fits her when she arrives!

Christmas Dress

I still plan to sew a white top and stockings to go with it.

Friday, November 28, 2014

On Her Way!

A new doll size is on its way to me. Way back in August I ordered a Fairyland Feeple 60 moe-line girl with the "Rin" faceplate. That's "FM60 Rin" for short.

FM60 Rin!

This doll is bigger than any I've had so far. She stands 54cm tall, whereas the Minifees are only 41cm. I bought her more as a size model for  designing, sewing, and knitting than anything else as she is too large to interact realistically with the dolls I already own and will be displayed in an entirely different area. 

Now that I know she is on her way, and will for sure be arriving before Christmas, I'll go ahead and sew a dress for her that I bought the material for quite some time ago. It will be a Christmas dress in green, red, white with accents of gold.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Hanging Kitchen Towels

Much of the last two of days I've been busy sewing up fourteen hanging kitchen towels. I did it assembly line style saving myself from having to reset the sewing machine for various stitching tasks over and over.

First I cut out all the pieces for the toppers; two patterned fabrics and a piece of flannel for each of the towels.

Today's task

Once I had the seams sewn and trimmed I gathered the whole bundle and sat in my comfy chair in the living room to carefully turn each topper right side out and get it pinned in place in preparation for pressing.

Sewn, turned,

Each of the kitchen towels was cut in half and the raw edges were inclosed in a final seam of the topper.

Towels

Back at the sewing machine I made buttonholes. I used the machine to sew on the buttons too.

14 altogether

With one yard of fabric and 7 kitchen towels (total cost of less than $20 CAD), I was able to make 14 hanging towels, 2 each of 5 designs and 4 of the one printed with a cardinal.

Buttons and buttonholes

If you are wanting to create quick and easy Christmas gifts on a budget these might be just what you're looking for. The tutorial and free pattern are here: http://kleiosbelly.wordpress.com/2010/01/04/christmas-prezzies-6-1-for-you/#comment-1934

I'm keeping one each of the six designs for my kitchen, I let my daughter and granddaughters choose 3 for their kitchen, and will take 4 or 5 to the local elementary school for their Fun Night fund raiser.