It's a Ginger

So I finished - including hair - the second crocheted doll today. No. Don't ask about the first doll's hair! Don't do it! Second doll today!

rockin a mini!

The first doll was a light tan, that I wasn't sure would be a great color for the doll's "skin," but is growing on me, actually. I used what I had in my stash at the time. I think that is appropriate when trying out a pattern. For my birthday present, Carl took me yarn shopping, and we ended up with a couple of "skin" colors, including this pale, pale pink which has turned out well, I think I even have enough in the skein for a second doll, if I want.

I had a very soft yarn for her hair so I decided to do a latch hook type of technique to attach it. I cut all the strands one length, even though I realized that would make the front strands shorter when they were pulled to the back, which I was planning to do. I didn't want to experiment with too many facets at once, however. I wanted to see how that latch hook technique would work. I thought I would have to hook some in every stitch on that doll's head, and I started at the scalp seam, worried I should have started at the center and worked my way out. Turned out much easier than I thought it might, and much less tedious than I was afraid. The first two rows I did provided a good amount of hair, so I skipped a row, and then did a row the rest of the way to the center. Since there weren't THAT many rows, and the number of stitches decreased going to the middle, it went much more quickly than the first two rows did. It needed the middle done, though, to provide fullness at the top of the head. Still it made a LOT of hair.

All. That. Hair.

I haven't trimmed it up yet. I think it needs a little, especially to even up the bottom,  but I like the "layers." I pulled the front back and tied it with a length of red yarn. I think eventually I will find a ribbon or something of the like to add in.

I just pulled the hair from the front to the back and tied it with a very small amount of the hair from the back, just to hold it in place.

Hello beautiful!

I may have to reinforce the stitching at the front of the neck as all that yarn tends to pull her head back a little. Then she's looking up a little more than I like.

I modified the pattern a little for this doll, giving her feet more than the original pattern calls for. I modified what the pattern does for shoes, and socks, and made it a little smaller so the shoes and socks would still fit as made. The toes of the socks and shoes need stuffing to keep their shape for the original doll.  I'm very happy with how the second doll's feet turned out.

both dolls' feet

Now that she's made, I'll get to work on her wardrobe. I'm seeing greens and pinks in her future!

Ore-post post

I've been working on another crocheted doll this week.

So serious about this cuteness of this doll AND her clothes and accessories! She is a good size for kids to play with, and fairly easy to dress (some of that will depend on the clothes, of course).

I made a variation of the pattern this time, using the basic idea that the author used for the socks/shoes/boots for the doll's feet. With fewer stitches so the socks/shoes/boots will still fit, but will be "filled" better. I have so many ideas for outfits, SO MANY!!

People are asking me if I'm going to sell the dolls. It WOULD be a good excuse to make every variation I can think of... but I generally find that selling handcrafts is a frustrating and disappointing  experience for me. I am not a marketer, and I think being one - or working with one - would be helpful. I also find people kinda want the doll for the price of the yarn (if that) and if I'm selling my time, I want to get PAID for my time.

Anyway, I'll post pictures of the new doll in the next couple of days. In the mean time, here's the first doll, with her new jumper...

cutie pie, even without her hair

I think I need to make a boy one, too...

A second chance to love it

Several years ago, I found some bright, fun fabric. It was perfect for summery kid clothes, and I cut out a shirt and a pair of shorts for either my niece or my daughter. I don't remember which, although I suspect the color palette favors my niece.

Once I got the outfit cut out, it went into my to-sew pile, as things do, and the more I looked at it, the brighter, the louder, the crazier it got. The fabric is light-weight and started to seem like it would be too light for the shorts. Needless to say, it got put the the side. And then further to the side, and then...

Well, as we got out our quilt fabrics, and I was looking for pieces to cut, I came across the fabric. Wow, that's bright, I mentioned to Roxanne, and I asked her whether she would want it in her quilt. Sure! she said. (she loves bright pinks, and I wasn't too surprised) I pulled it out, and discovered all these pieces.. right leg, left leg, collar, sleeves, shirt fronts and back. Pockets, even for shorts and shirt.

It just so happens that there is a little girl in the family, who is now about the size my niece must have been at the time, and so I looked at Roxanne, and she looked at me, and we both said, Lets sew that sucker up! Who cares if the shorts are thin and will wear out soon. They will last the summer and then that kid will grow and they wouldn't fit next year anyway. Yup!

So we sewed. I put the finishing touches on today - button holes and buttons, and this is how it looks;

cute green flower buttons

Now that it is a finished outfit, I am REALLY liking it! It's fun, and bright and summery. The shirt is sharp and the shorts look comfy. Did I mention pockets? Well, what kid doesn't love pockets?  I just wish I had her here to model it.

what's summer without shorts?

I think if it just gets to be too much bright together, she can just wear each piece separately with a solid second piece to tone it down. Cute! So glad I got a second chance to love this!