Yarn Along!

Joining Ginny at Small Things again this week.



Alrighty. I've been up to a mess of things. Aside from crafting away, I seem unable to focus on just one thing. I'm still working on my sheet-rug. I finally bought a crochet hook (size Q!) though I'm not sure it's really a help at all. I've learned to crochet a doll wig with "built in" loops - why in the world did I not know about this before? Short hair is so much easier this way! As for reading, I'm rereading Karen Chance's Cassie Palmer/Pythia series. I adore these books. They're a comfort to me - like coming home. Yes. I'm a strange person. Vampires, witches, weres, magic, demons, and crazy power struggles are a comfort. That and potato soup. Mmmmm.



I've also been knitting. Cat ears. Compliments of Emily's brilliant cat ears pattern. The ears on this doll are just pinned on. I've been searching for opinions. The smaller ear (on her right, your left) is a contrasting color (orange) and.. well.. smaller. The larger ear (her left, your right) is the same color as her hair and is meant to look anime-esque. What I gather is that the smaller is ideal for making her look like she's wearing a costume and the larger is better for a cat-person. Thoughts?

Crafting On - a day late.

Yarn Along to follow. I'm running seriously behind here. I was much too tired yesterday to ever get around to posting. So here I am, a day late. Happily the Beast went to bed by 11pm (and was up by 8am. ugh.) so I'm feeling a bit more rested.



Yesterday (and Monday, for that matter) was full of craft-fail. Cat ears were too small, too far forward, and looked funny in orange. Ran out of yarn for the back half of a doll shirt. Decided to try sewing clothes, realized I don't have any elastic. Made pants that were way too tight for said doll. Temporarily broke the sewing machine trying to sew some more diaper wipes (because how could I screw up squares, right?).

The day got moderately better after that. I've cut out and have (mostly) sewn clothes that I think will fit the doll. A trip to the store scored me some elastic (and thread, pipe cleaners, giant crochet hook, crayons). Today I will sew. I will not fail. I will not fail. I will not fail. (saying that three times, and in a public place at that, makes it true... right?)

A Busy Weekend

I've been battling a crippling headache all day. I finally relented and asked B for a neck rub - life has been better since then. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be headache-free. In the meantime, here's a glimpse of my weekend.



In the works are two (and an accidental half) Waldorf dolls. One is using the Lillipals pattern and the other is the basic Waldorf doll pattern - both by Adirondack Patterns. The morbid disembodied head was a goof up. I sized the patterns differently than the instructions call for (I don't have a printer so I trace it from my laptop screen). While making the head for the larger doll, I totally forgot and ended up with a head that was way too small. So now I have a head for my *next* doll.



My sheet-yarn ball from Friday's post is more than half used now. I don't have a crochet hook large enough so I've been using my fingers. It works, but my hand cramps after a while. In any event, I like the way my rug is looking. The holey pajama pants that I'm currently wearing are likely to join said rug after my next load of laundry.




Out of nowhere I've had a slew of Etsy orders. I'm so grateful for the people who want to own my creations. I've been feeling guilty, though. I'm a bit gnomed out. I'm having such a grand time making dolls and knitting for my friends and family. My Etsy shop is seriously lacking because of this. But I think I've decided to give myself permission to neglect the Etsy shop for a while. I'll still take custom orders (anything I've made, I can pretty much make again). The regular stocking, though, is going to take a break. An official break, at any rate.



I spent Saturday test knitting something completely adorable for Emily of Yarn Miracle. I'm not sure yet if I'm allowed to share pictures of my finished cuteness. I'll add a picture in once I hear from her. In any event - you should hightail it to her shop. It is packed full of squishy wonderfulness. I can personally attest that her patterns are extremely well written, easy to follow, and packed with helpful pictures.

Right. And now I'm off to crochet hair for the huge doll, put the Elf and Imp to bed, and watch B play Skyrim. Life is good.

Winner!

Michelle is the lucky winner of the Waldorf doll pattern and tutorial by Adirondack Patterns! Congratulations! (:

The last 24 hours

This is what I do when my kids are making me crazy.



I tear sheets into "yarn" and ghetto-block capelets. The following pictures are terrible. Okay, no. My husband took the photos and they are fine. It's the subject - the person in said photographs. I have this thing.. I don't like her very much. I never have. But I'm trying to get over that and accept her for who she is - tattered pajamas and all.




(The hand on the belly is not a hint. I am not pregnant. I do, however, have many holes in my shirt. Pale, pale skin is very noticable in holey black shirts.)



Don't forget the giveaway! You can still enter through tonight!

Yarn Along

Joining Ginny at Small Things again this week.



Still working on that capelet. I'm nearly done - knitting the collar while crocheting it on (yes, I get tangled). I finished reading my Lauren Willig book and am now reading free novellas by Karen Chance (I adore her books).



Here's my finished bracelet. I love it. I bought the button last weekend - it was love at first sight.

Also! Don't forget to enter my giveaway for a copy of a spectacular Waldorf doll pattern and tutorial by the amazing Adirondack Patterns.

Lots of Crafting on and a giveaway!

Okay. I have several things to share today - one of which is a giveaway! Stay tuned!

First up is the Forest Nymph capelet that I've been working on for a friend's birthday (though it will be late. grrr).


(Ravelry notes here.)

I have the body done and am now working on the collar. This Friday I'll be blocking it with the help of the lovely Paula from Really Knit Stuff (that's where I go to knit on Friday nights).



This is the look I get from the Elf when I stand on chairs to photograph knitting projects. He was shocked that my head didn't touch the ceiling. Clearly the practical application of simple math in our house isn't working.




On the needles as well is a bracelet for myself. It's done in a slightly tweaked version of the collar pattern for the Nymph capelet. I'd wanted to make a headband but it's too narrow, so bracelet it is! Finally a use for my *huge* Malabrigo Rasta! I'm thinking a similarly textured coffee sleeve is next.

And now. The unveiling!



Here's my first Waldorf doll in all of it's glory. The pants are doll longies that I knit quite a while ago (I've been plugging away on that capelet and was looking for a shortcut). The top is crocheted using this pattern as a guide. The Elf tells me that it needs shoes, and therefore socks. We'll see.



Okay. So! The giveaway! Because I love you guys and because I honestly cannot say enough great things about the pattern I used for the doll.. I bought an extra copy of the pattern to share with you (it's digital, and yes I got permission for this)!

For your perusing and ogling pleasure, visit Adirondack Patterns and check out their great patterns! I seem to have bought the last copy (I'm sure another will be up soon), so you'll have to check the sold items. But the prize is the "Simple complete Waldorf doll pattern and tutorial." It includes an amazing tutorial with oodles of pictures and tips as well as pdf files for the actual pattern. I will email the pdfs, the link to the tutorial, and the password to access it to the winner.

How do you become the winner? Leave a comment here before midnight (eastern time, but I'm lenient) Friday the 24th. I'll use some form of random picking (number generator, names in a hat, who knows) and post the winner on Saturday (hopefully, along with pictures of the blocked capelet!). Good luck! But if you don't win, the pattern is so reasonably priced, hop on over and pick one up!

Yarn Along

Joining Ginny at Small Things again this week.



Still working on this. I just joined my third ball of yarn to it this evening. I haven't started reading the book yet - I just picked it up from the library. But if you know me, you know I'm anxious! It's the latest in the Pink Carnation series by Lauren Willig.

And this. A reaffirmation as to why we'll never really be a Waldorf family despite the things I try to incorporate:




That would be the Imp, B, and the Beast. All using Android phones to play games.

Crafting On!

What just happened? This morning I read Nicole's "crafting on" post. She has a picture of the beautiful Waldorf doll she's making for her son. Well, if you know me, you know that I've been desperately wanting Waldorf dolls for my boys. You'd also know that I'm not crazy about sewing.

Once upon a time I bought a lovely pattern from Adirondack Patterns for a Waldorf doll. Despite the amazing tutorial, I remained daunted. I've coveted dolls by so many talented people. I've tried to budget the necessary $70+ each for three dolls. I've looked into kits and premade bodies. I've dreamed of convoluted trades and swaps.

Today, with all of my kids awake and moving, I started a doll. Why didn't I do this while the Beast was sleeping? I'll never know. However! Look at the progress I've made:





The face isn't great. The nose needs work. The body looks blocky. The arms seem really long. I assure you that these are user error. But look at what I did! I made a doll! It wasn't a complete disaster! And the Beast seems smitten - even with it bald and freaky looking.

I'm working on hair for it now. Not sure what style, but at least it won't be bald any more. The Imp has already requested that I buy more wool stuffing so that he can have a doll, too.

Squee!

Yarn Along

Joining Ginny at Small Things again this week.



Still knitting this capelet. The chart is fairly easy to remember for the row (you repeat the charted row x number of times, if that makes sense) but I seem to zone out to whatever we're watching and later find that I've totally forgotten one increase in all but the first repeat. Oops. So I've learned a lot about un-knitting. Er. Fixing my mistakes - however you want to term it. What it comes down to is that there are imperfections, but also much love knitted into this fabric.

The book is The Thorn and The Blossom by Theodora Goss. I received it through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program. I must say that as an ex-bookbinder, it tickled me to have an accordion bound novel. It made one-handed reading a bit dangerous, but the story was worth it (I finished it in several interrupted hours). Next up is The Green Man by Michael Bedard. There's no picture because it came in the mail after I'd already taken this photograph. It's also from the LT's ER program and I'm excited to start it (uncorrected proof though it may be).

Weekending.

This video pretty much sums up our weekend.


(There's no sound and it's only 10 seconds long)

Also. I've started this. The chart isn't as hard to follow as I feared. Of course, I still managed to make a mistake in the first ten rows. I think I've fixed it now, though. Whee!

Late Yarn Along

Joining Ginny at Small Things again this week.


(Ravelry notes here)

I'm back to reading this book. I can't say that I get a lot of reading done now that I'm no longer nursing the Imp. There's just so much else to do with three little ones running wild. My current project is an effort to use up dishrag cotton without making any more dishrags (we have so very many). So I'm making this bag. All these double-crochets are making me crazy.


(Ravelry notes here)

After making a Pikachu for the youngest, my oldest requested Espeon. Here it is, already much played with despite the fact that I still haven't added eyes or other details. I think I'm over my need to make toys for another month or two. Not that my kids will allow me to actually stop. But I'm over it all the same.