September WIPs

So what have I been up to lately? Here’s an overview:

The Craftsy Zadie Sweater Knit-Along (KAL)

The KAL started in July, but I didn’t hear about it until August when I stumbled upon one of the Grocery Girls videos on YouTube. I love these gals and their enthusiasm for this project made me want to do it, even though I long ago swore I wasn’t a sweater-making person (I have two 5 year old sweater projects in my stash still awaiting sleeves). But call me crazy, I got the 50% off coupon and bought the yarn. The Craftsy videos made it seem easy to make AND no sleeves to sew on! They’re all knit in, so I think I’ll like that.

But this is as far as I’ve progressed so far.

Well, a little more on the body, actually. That picture was taken in mid-August just before I went on vacation. I took the body part with me on vacation and did manage to work on it quite a bit while relaxing after a long day of doing touristy things. It was a great for travel because it’s just constantly knitting the round. No shaping yet. I have to get to 15″ before that happens. (I just made it to 15″ yesterday! Yay!)

So, I’m almost done with the body and I started the sleeves before I went on vacation, too.

I’m being daring and knitting both at the same time with magic loop, which I’ve only ever done once before for a pair of socks (to avoid one-sock syndrome that usually strikes if you knit the one at a time). So far, it’s going well. 🙂

Anyway, I’m making progress on Zadie, but way behind in the KAL since it’s over by now, but this project I’m confident I WILL finish before the end of the year.

Wonder Woman Shawl

I LOVE this pattern. It was so easy to make (once you get used to doing wraps and turns — I learned with the help of some videos on YouTube.)

I chose to use Cascade Heritage Silk yarn and I’m so in love with this yarn. It’s super soft and a dream to work with!

The pattern breaks every stripe out into its own section so what I did was knit a section a day and it took me less than 2 weeks to finish. Then I wet blocked the shawl and couldn’t believe how gorgeous it looked. This one I made for a friend, but I went and bought more of the yarn so I can make one for myself now, too. 🙂

The Craftsy Tealeaf Sweater KAL

I think the Zadie KAL has instilled in me a weird sweater-making confidence now, or I’m just crazy, because as soon as I saw this sweater KAL on the Craftsy website, I  wanted to sign up. I let it go for a couple weeks, but finally, as the starting day (Sept 14) neared, I couldn’t resist any longer. I ordered the yarn.

I’m still waiting for the yarn to arrive, but it should be here this week . I’ve made myself promise i MUST finish the Zadie sweater first, though.

Crochet Autumn Swirl Scarf

This pattern was in the Autumn 2016 issue of Crochet!, and I’ve had the magazine and yarn in a bag waiting for me to work on it since then.

I chose to use Manos Del Uruguay Fino yarn in a beautiful variegated hand-dyed green (like leaves) and the scarf came out beautifully.

 

I just finished it this weekend. (It crochets up very quickly once you memorize the leaf pattern.)

The scarf is super soft and very warm! I’m trying to decide now if I should add it to my Etsy shop for sale, or give it as a Christmas gift. Or maybe even keep it for myself! 🙂 Hmmm….

Filatura Di Crosa Zara Fingerless Mitts

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this yarn. I receive it and the pattern in one of Jimmy Beans Wool Big Beanie Bags and then went and ordered more online.

So far I’ve made 5 mitts, working on the sixth. No idea what I’ll do with them. Maybe I’ll put a pair in my Etsy store, but I’m definitely keeping a pair for myself.

I love using DPNs and this yarn is so soft and squishy it’s a dream to work with and so comfortable and warm to wear. I’ll be all set this winter with my new mitts!

And that’s all I have to share for September. As I gear up for the holidays, I’m sure I’ll have several more WIPs to report on.

Until then, happy crafting! 🙂  🐑

 

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Celebrating National Craft Month With a New Stitch-a-Day Challenge

March is National Craft Month, also coincidentally, National Crochet Month (NaCroMo, for short).

I decided a fun thing to do this year to celebrate would be learning new stitches all month long. Almost like a stitch-a-day challenge, but probably more like every other day or so. No pressure. 😀

If you’d like to follow along and try some of the new stitches I find with me, join me on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram where I’ll be posting about my efforts.

I started things off yesterday with the crochet Crunch Stitch. A pretty combo of the half-double crochet and slip stitch that looks perfect for placemats. I think I might make up a few after my little stitch challenge is over.

Here is my test swatch of the crunch stitch. I like this stitch a lot!

My Crunch Stitch Swatch

 

Crochet Spotlight: Edwardian Gowns, Part 3

Last month, I showcased two Edwardian style gowns from the Annie’s Attic Bridal Trousseau collection (1995). This month I have one more gown from that collection to show and then another Edwardian gown from the pattern collection that came out the following year, the Edwardian Lady Collection (1996).

Bridal Trousseau Collection

Turn of the Century Afternoon Frock

This dress in shades of blue and white is definitely one of my favorites. I love the ribbed ruffle along the bottom, the ruffle neckline and especially the lace curls along the skirt.

The following year another Edwardian gown collection came out from Annie’s Attic and below is Miss October:

Promenade Costume	Edwardian Lady Collection

This pattern originally called for pink thread with black accents, but I decided to go with aqua instead of pink (You may have noticed from some of my previous posts that I have a thing for aqua and black).

The major trim accent on this dress is crocheted cord. I love working with that. It’s easy to create and you can make it the exact length you need (no measuring/cutting necessary as with store-bought trim) and it also blends in well with the rest of dress beacuse it’s the same material, and it’s easy to make the ends look seamless.

I love the hat for this outfit. If you read my post about the Gone With the Wind dress with the feathers, you know how I feel about those 😀 but the hat shown here wasn’t too bad. I only needed to cut the boa once, so there wasn’t too much “debris” floating around afterward.

Many of my previous dress models have been blonds and brunettes, but I specifically chose a red haired doll to wear this outfit because I loved how her hair stands out against the aqua color.

Both of these patterns are out of print now, but you can find copies for sale on eBay and Etsy quite frequently.

Crochet Spotlight: Edwardian Gowns, Part 2

This month I’d like to re-visit the Edwardian time period and showcase two more of my favorite dresses.

The Edwardian gown is one of my favorite silhouettes to crochet for the fashion doll. Barbie, I’m talking to you! 😀

Not only is it elegant with beautiful lace (I love crocheting lace!), but it works up rather quickly because the skirt is so much narrower than other period costumes such as Victorian and Antebellum.

Edwardian Visiting Costume

Turn of the Century Gown

​This dress in light aqua and black crochet thread is from an Annie’s Attic bed doll pattern (Miss July, 1995), part of the Bridal Trousseau collection. I just love the lacework and the small details like the epaulets on the shoulders, the tiny purse, and the brooch at the neck.

I had a lot of fun creating this dress, especially doing the hair and fashioning the hat.

Another great pattern and example of Edwardian gowns is Miss October from that same bed doll pattern collection:

Bridal Trousseau Collection	Turn of the Century Touring Frock
Annie’s Attic Bed Doll Series 1995

I just love the lacework on this doll, the contrast between the burgundy and the white, and the ribbed bodice, created with back loop crochet.

Again, the small details such as the parasol and the hat are just lovely.

I’m especially proud of how well the hair came out on this doll. Believe it or not, the hair sometimes takes longer to do than the dress! 😀

Both of these patterns are out of print now, but you can find copies for sale on eBay and Etsy quite frequently.

Crochet Spotlight: Gone With the Wind, Part 4

Several years ago, I made a collection of Gone With the Wind-inspired gowns for a private collector. Fourteen outfits in total, 12 from the Southern Belle pattern series from Annie’s Attic, which is now out of print, and 2 original one-of-a-kind creations inspired by patterns for larger dolls that I adjusted and customized for the fashion doll.

In this last part of the series, I’m showcasing the two one-of-a-kind outfits I made for the Gone With the Wind collection.

Red Robe

White Corset & Bloomers

The red robe was inspired by a Gone With the Wind pattern for 15″ dolls (Romantic Couples by Jan Hatfield #1143, published by American School of Needlework, 1992*) that called for worsted weight yarn instead of crochet thread. I used that pattern as a general guideline for the robe style, but made many adjustments to accommodate the smaller gauge and the different doll size/shape.

The corset and bloomers set was inspired by the 15″ doll pattern mentioned above as well as the wedding gown undergarments from the Paradise Publications 1905 Wedding Dress pattern (Volume 1).

I call these outfits one-of-a-kind because I didn’t write down the alterations I made to the base patterns. These two outfits were specially made for the collector who commissioned me to complete them for her, and I had no plans to recreate them.

And that concludes the showcase on Gone With the Wind inspired crochet costumes for fashion dolls.

Check back next month for a new showcase featuring more dresses from Annie’s Attic and Paradise Publications.

*The Romantic Couples pattern is out of print now, but you can still find some second hand on eBay from time to time.