Christmas Time

Well, I did have grand plans to knit lots of cute red & white, fair-isle (jacquard) patterned Blythe-sized clothes this year and have them in my Etsy shop BytheStar in time for Christmas Shoppers.

Sigh - I have managed to knit one, 1, singular, extremely limited edition, OOAK, hat.

It is quite cute and can be worn flopping over or standing up ...

My little model here has not yet been properly introduced.  But, you see Bunny isn't really mine and I'm trying very hard not to bond with her too much.

One of my ongoing, long-term projects is for my Granddaughter - the plan is that when my GD is old enough to look after a "good" dolly properly I will give her a Blythe doll and a collection of outfits.  There will be 2 outfits for every year of my GD's life - a Spring/Summer outfit and an Autumn/Winter one - to reflect the fashion of the time.

I did have an ADG Blythe doll set aside but was a little dissatisfied with that option and thought a doll that was released the same year as my Granddaughter was born would be better.  Then this lovely "Welcome Winter" came available and ... WW was the first doll Takara released in 2008.  Perfect.

Only trouble is that she is so sweet I don't have the heart to put her back in the box!

Bunny and Audrey have become great friends - two little girls together!   After the photo-shoot for the hat, they decided the Christmas tree needed more decorations.
  

I think I'll have to get a larger tree next year!

A batch of Finishing

I've been "clearing the decks" and scrambling to finish some knitting projects so I'll have time for the next commission (another cardigan for the current production of "Mousetrap" - there is a change of cast coming up).

So - quite fresh off the needles are this vintage style vest for a very good friend. 



I've dubbed this Zep's Zig Zags :-)

I adapted this from a vintage pattern - circa 1930s or 40s.
The original pattern is called "Forbes" from "Patons Knitting Book No. 338" it was a jumper for a man, in a 3ply yarn (that's Light Fingering) which is far too much work for a commission - even for a very good friend!    I adapted up to 5ply which still took absolutely ages - the yarn I used is Bendigo Woollen Mills 5ply "Classic" in "Mayfair".
The vertical lines and horizontal zig zags are on the back too.

The original pattern also had the Zig Zags just above the hip basque - we thought that was a little TOO fussy.

and a close up of the front













I've also been knitting up samples for Sydney's main craft store Morris & Sons.


One Ball Samples - to show what the yarn looks and feels like when knitted and how much knitted fabric you get from one ball of it.

    

These are all Morris & Sons' "home brand" of 100% baby alpaca called Maya - in 3 weights / thicknesses.  It is a lovely soft Alpaca yarn.


The brick colour is Maya 14ply / Super Bulky - colour 3420 “warm spices” dyelot 215446, the needles 7mm - sample is 29sts wide.

The green is Maya 8ply / DK - colour 3823 “grass” dyelot 215879, needles 4mm / US 6 - sample is 45 sts wide.

Then - unfinished (and it'll take forever to knit through that 1 x 50gr ball) pumpkin colour is Maya Laceweight / 2ply - colour 3218 “sunset” dyelot 215472, needles 2.75mm US 2 - sample is 73sts wide

Isn't it interesting how much more knitting you get from a really thin yarn!   Probably why those vintage knitting patterns are nearly always for thin yarn is that it is so much more economical - all except it terms of the time spent doing the knitting!

This self-striping Mohair sample is Schoppel Wolle “Mohair Lady” colour

376 1874ombre - I used 5mm US 8 needles and the sample is 45sts wide. 

 

Love the fire-like colours of this self-striping yarn - it is a nice whiskery mohair too.

And, because no post on the blog can be completely without photographs of Blythe dolls these days!   Here are Lillian and Imogen modelling new knitted Ombre Skirts.

Imogen :  Do you think they'll notice our tiaras?

 These are in Noro "Sekku" a Laceweight yarn with lots & lots of variegation.  Not sure that I'd like this yarn knitted into a human sized garment but it is perfect for Blythe Doll clothing (Imogen's lace blouse is also from the same ball of this yarn!)  

Mummy planted all these purple flowers just for me.

Lillian's skirt is purple & pink - perfect with her new purple top and lace-top sockings (from Cool Cat)

Imogen :  "My new skirt looks better without the shirt tucked in - this makes my hips look enormous!"

Me:  "Possibly, but I do want to show everyone the whole of the skirt."

Imogen :  "hmmm OK but I'm going to pout!"

Parcels - it's all about parcels

Getting a parcel is wonderful fun.  These days I don't get parcels from my grandmother so I find other ways to ensure that nice little boxes with lots of sticky tape all over them, keep arriving on the door-step. 

One way is to participate in (or organise) swaps of Blythe Doll goodies - which I do through Ravelry.   Violetta got to open the latest parcel ...  




 And she called Bird and Julia over because ...

Another one of US !!!

De-boxing a LPS Blythe can be arduous ...  there are lots of knots and things

Here are last - little Heidi the Hiker.  Julia likes her pantaloons and Bird approves of her ponytails. 

 Heidi offered everyone a 'lick' of her lollypop and then she showed off her
"'tremely cool sunglasses"   but Bird got the giggles ...

Those sunnies are really quite funny

 Meanwhile - Violetta had found more things in the parcel - all in pretty pink paper ...







 








"Well - this certainly IS a lovely dress and beautifully made but somehow I think it is more Audrey's style ... "

and here is Audrey wearing the completely wonderful Audrey Hepburn outfit ... dress, gloves, pearls and tiara!   thank you "Squishy10"   from Ravelry for a great swap outfit. 

I must show you the outfits I made for this swap - in a future post.

The other way to make sure you get parcels is to buy things on the www.  When people discuss the decline of "bricks & mortar" shops & shopping this factor is never mentioned - but surely one of the best parts of on-line shopping is the arrival of the parcel - and by the time it arrives you've almost forgotten what you bought and you get that wonderful 'parcel opening' thrill ...

One of the doll's house / miniatures companies had a special on some kits that you have to put-together yourself ... I couldn't resist getting some natty little tables - very useful bits of furniture for problem corners.

Not sure when I'll get the time to put the kits together ...
Of course I'd bought some other things too ... a jardinière on a pedestal (I'll plant a fake aspidistra in it) a very nice ham with garnish and 3 little mice.   


All very Beatrix Potter's "Two Bad Mice"   (only there are 3!) 
Now to get the "two red lobsters ... a fish, a pudding, and some pears and oranges." 

Tom Thumb doesn't even need to carve this ham - it is already sliced

And the LPS Blythes had a very nice dinner to welcome Heidi ...

Still Here - just been very busy

Oh my poor neglected Blogs ... I have been really busy.  Well - perhaps I'll show you some of the things that have kept me busy of late.  

Been making lots of things my Blythe dolls' Etsy shop Blythe Star.  First there were some handkerchief dresses.

Tried to make the most of the hankies with their wonderful scalloped borders -


The shorter dresses have built-in petticoats - and here is Audrey being a bit saucy!

Then I got out the jewelry making gear

 

 and put together lots of Blythe Bling .... necklaces. 

Most of the charms are food related, I've used magnetic clasps because I find them really easy to use (regular clasps are fiddly on a doll and the hair gets caught).

  And most sit about mid-chest on a Blythe.

Let Them Eat Cake !

There are some necklaces that would be great for Halloween

or Pumpkin perhaps

 With Halloween at the end of the month I thought I would make some big black dramatic dolly capes ... they've been quite a success  :-)   I've 2 left in the shop now - one with purple lining

And one with Orange.   Both capes are a circle plus - with almost 'Watteau pleats' at the back so they hang in nice theatrical folds.  Black sheeny fabric (a good quality Rayon lining fabric) - capes & hoods fully lined.  I'm proud of this hood pattern - it is full enough to accommodate doll's hair and has that 'romantic' flattering loose fit around the face ... and it has a Pixie Point!   Both these capes have cotton fringing on the edge of the hood - all rather witchy don't you think?

Well - enough of the cross-promotion ... this little green dress is not for sale.   Made this for my Granddaughter's faux Blythe doll.   Here is Audrey doing the modelling - the dress is another made from my 'recipe'    see the link at the top of the blog for the pattern - is free.

 Talking of fake - last weekend I started on this project and now there are little tufts of fake fur all over the house!

They are backpacks / soft-toys ...  the zips go behind the heads.  The pattern is about 10yrs old and much used!  There is a puppy, a teddy and a bunny - though I've also made a tiger and a kitten with just a change to the ear shape  :-)     This time I'm making a brown puppy for my grandson and 2 mauve bunnies - 1 for granddaughter, one for me!   and that is a tummy and hind legs you can see in the photo.  All fabrics from my stash and my bunny will have grey ears because I ran out of the mauve ... even with lots of clever cutting!

 One last project - and don't tell Audrey because this is for her; because she has been such a good little model and because she loves all things red!   A red satin cape with black lining - organza frills about the face. 

 Well, more soon - promise   :-)

A Blythe Story in Pictures

It is early spring where we live and today, Lillian found a nice place in the garden to sit and put the finishing touches on a lace blouse that she has knitted.  It is a gift, so Lillian has been making it in secret ...

I just have to sew the snaps on & it'll be finished ...

and she had to hide her work in a hurry when Imogen came down the path ...

I've been looking everywhere for you, dear Lillian

"Isn't it nice in the garden amongst the flowers?  And well, quite appropriate really - because ... remember how we had some fabric left over from all the Handkerchief dresses we made?"  said Imogen

 "Well, I've made you a little dress for Spring, it has flowers on.  I hope you like it."

It's so pretty!

"But goodness gracious! we are alike - " said Lillian 
"You've been making me a pretty dress and I've been making something for you.  Do you like it?"

Oh, I love it!

So Lillian put the last stitches in the fastenings and both girls put on their new Spring clothes.

Shall we go for a walk about the garden?

 "I'm so glad you've come to live with us Imogen" said Lillian.

"And I'm very happy to be here and to have found such a lovely friend"  said Imogen.

My Newest Dolly Darling

Time I posted here about my lovely new Blythe doll. She arrived just over a week ago.

She is here at last!

All the way from The Netherlands!  So it is understandable that she was a little jet-lagged and rather overwhelmed at meeting her new dolly family ...

Audrey was amazed at how beautiful she is,

Violetta remarked on her gracefulness.

Lillian did the introductions - our new doll is called Imogen LaMarr.
Imogen for Imogen Cunningham who was a wonderful photographer and LaMarr for Hedy Lamarr, a hollywood legend who had brains as well as beauty.

Imogen is a customised Gentle River and has the gorgeous GR hair - she also has sleepy eyes, a carved mouth, a matt face ...  She has a bit of work done.

Imogen wearing the mohair suit that Lillian designed and knitted in preparation for her arrival ...

Busy Knitting 

Imogen & Lillian are now the very best of friends.

And today, Lillian gave Imogen some squishy green cowboy boots and explained that Imogen could share all the boots except for the froggy ones - they are Lillian's favourite & Very Special Boots.