Two Handmade Dolls - 2016

I thought I'd copy a post that I wrote on my previous blog back in October 2016.  I can't believe it was three years ago I made these two dolls.  

25th October 2016

I have been busy making dolls - instead of buying a doll, I am going to make one, at least that is the intention.  I do still have one on my 'wish list' that I hope to get before Christmas, but only if funds allow.

My latest two are 'Beth Ann' and 'Yet to be Named'

I used the wonderful 'Prarie Flower Doll' pattern that the very generous Beth has made available on her blog 'By Hook By Hand'

Thank you Beth for your wonderful patterns.

My last though is probably a different take on her original thoughts for the doll, but this doll just kind of 'happened'...I am obviously being influenced by Raggedy Ann stories at the moment.

This little girl is 6.5 inches tall.

She has removable purple boots

She clearly likes the colour purple!

Next I wanted to try the pattern at full size.

Here she is yesterday lounging on the couch.

Hair = much stabbing of fingers!

Ta Da!  Finished today.

Underwear made from handkerchief.

Reading...

Enjoying the garden.

Creative Weeks 11, 12 & 13

Never one to be idle, I have found having to spend a lot of time bedridden this last fortnight very frustrating.  On the days I was up sitting, I decided to try a project I had been meaning to for ages, and that was to make Amineko the Cat.  I bought the book several years ago now, and it has sat in my bookcase tempting me, but because crochet tends to really upset the pain levels in my arm and shoulder, I haven't tried.  Well I needed some real distraction so I thought this would be just the challenge.  I have to put it aside for a few days while in hospital and in bed sleeping, but then was able to pick up and continue making him.

Sleeping - he does a lot of this!

Of course getting into the swing of making him, I decided I wanted to try another little critter.

This time a bear.  

He is quite the dapper little fellow and I love how he turned out.

I realised while making the bear that I hadn't been doing this style of crochet quite right as I had been joining each round.  Once I realised this I wanted to try another creative critter (as I am calling them)

A little pig!

I might put a little bit of red felt in his mouth.  He also has a cute little curly tail that I must have forgotten to photograph.

A pattern that I wanted to try for a long time, after seeing a friend make one is the following little bear.

I really like this little travel bear.  If I make another I might make the arms a little longer, but otherwise he is a real cutie.

Such a sweet little face.

Gaining in confidence I decided to try my hand at making a little crochet doll.

I found the face on her really difficult.  It said to sew the face on before attaching the head. I wish I had done it afterwards, as now it looks wonky!  I might have to redo it at some stage.

Nancy greets her and offers her the loan of something to wear until she has her own clothes.

That's better!

Betty thanks Nancy for the clothes.

She enjoys a wander in the garden.

Later in the day she tries on a longer skirt and quite likes it longer, so she may get to keep this little outfit until she gets her own.

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Yesterday while having yet another 'couch' day, I finished the faces on my four little dolls I made while on holiday on IOW.  I also made their shoes and knitted a dress.

These little dolls all have homes to go to.  They are still waiting on their underwear and another set of clothes. Hopefully I will feel up to getting those done this week.

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A coupe of 'just because' photos....

I caught Peggy Sue standing on the settee the other day.  When I asked her what she was doing, she said she was trying to look in the mirror!

Later on her and Everlee Rose were seen deep in conversation.

Two of my favourite sweet girls 

Creative Weeks 9 & 10

Last week we had some time away so I made up some little rag doll kits to take with me to sew in the mornings while I wait for my husband to get ready - often have long waits hence the need to do something creative.  I started stuffing the limbs on the first morning there.

By the end of the week I had four bodies sewn up and stuffed.

These little dolls have started to have clothes made for them

Nancy is modelling a little top I knitted, but I don't think it really suits her, so I will find another doll to wear it.

Last week I knitted this duffle coat, just before we went away.

I finished the skirt and handbag to go with it this week.

Really pleased with how this set turned out.

I knitted another vintage Sindy pattern, but wasn't very happy with it at all, but I have found a doll to wear it:

Another little vintage doll now dressed.

I knitted this orange dress and it goes better with my NZ girl with the orange hair than the first dress I knitted her so I have swapped the dresses over.

Lastly I knitted this little dress that Gigi is pleased to get.  She enjoyed going for a wander in the garden wearing it today.

I really need to do more with this sweet little doll.

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This little dress is one that I knitted week eight.

As is this one which fits Lulu, a little doll a dear friend sent me from the USA.

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I'm acutely aware that there is a dirth of blog stories at the moment, especially those featuring my Sasha and Gregor family.  I hope at some stage that they will return, but at the moment the mojo just isn't there.  The knitting is something I do in the evening and keeps me being creative and also means that some long time undressed dolls are finally getting clothing!