Itty Bitty Bit Of Progress

Finished off a couple things this weekend.  Well, if by finished you mean "didn't sew the snaps/velcro on but otherwise done!"  ;)  My favourite part is that these are done entirely from my own patterns, even though those patterns are still far from final.




The sweater is a top down pattern I am working on.  It still needs adjustment, but I'm pleased with this sweater for Emily as is.   I wanted to make a simple skirt to go with it, mostly because I love that fabric a ridiculous amount.  The tiny houses!  LOL  It is just a rectangle of fabric, sewn to a stretched elastic for the waist, so it is not the prettiest, but it does the job.



I couldn't stand to use muslin again and went ahead and made the yoke-dress/tunic in the good fabric.  I used the sewing machine for everything, which was a mistake.  You can see I made a mistake with the lining around the neck, and didn't gather the sleeves properly at the top.  I accidentally eased them instead.  Oops!  

However, that said, I still like it and will still use it. 

Now all I have to do is add some vecro to the one and snaps to the other, and they can be added to Emily's permanent wardrobe.  I need a better way to organize her clothing, as it is in a plastic container right now.  Some way to hang them up would be nice, but I'm short on space, so I'm not sure how I'd manage that.   Something to think about...

Work In Progress + cat news

 Before I get into talking about my latest sewing project, which may not be of interest to anyone but me, I wanted to make sure those of you who love the BJD cats had heard this bit of news:  They are planning to open a shop with in-stock cats.  That means if you don't want a specific, custom cat, you will be able to order and have it ship out in days, rather than three months!  How awesome is that?  There doesn't seem to be anything about it on their site yet, but it was in their newsletter. :)

On to the project!

LTF Double-Breasted Coat

Here at last is the completed LTF Double-Breasted Coat pattern.  If it is readable, it is all thanks to the very kind people who volunteered to test knit this!  Any problems remaining are the fault of the author.  :)



Skills Needed For This Pattern:
You should be able to cast on, cast off, knit, purl, increase, and knit in the round (for the sleeves).

Yarn:
Fingering weight yarn. I use Palette fingering weight yarn from Knitpicks.

Needles:
2.25mm needles, or size needed to obtain gauge.

Gauge
8 stitches per inch/ 3 stitches per cm

Abbreviations Used:
PM = place marker
sl m = slip marker
kfb = knit front and back

Seed Stitch Pattern:
Cast on an even number of stitches.
Row 1: *K1, P1; repeat from * to end of row.
Row 2: *P1, K1; repeat from * to end of row.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 for pattern.

The collar, front bands, sleeve and body hems, and optional pockets are all worked in this stitch pattern.

Note:
This pattern is intended for personal use only.

It's available below the cut here, or in PDF format from Ravelry:
download now

Neat Tutorial for an Art Supplies Bag + Random

This tutorial from Pixie Faire, here,  is for American Girl size dolls, but I bet it could be very easily adapted to LTF size!

Yesterday's birthday present sewing:



One dress left, hopefully today, and I will be able to move on to the challenge of making some patterns for Emily.  I was digging through a couple Japanese kids clothes books, and the "Boutique"styles for kids on Etsy, and the week's flyers for ideas.  (Um, no, I will try not to mix those three styles into one garment.  Though you have to admit, it might be pretty funny!)

It's been a long time since I tried this!

Another Item For The Birthday Present...

I managed to sew something for the Nieceling's birthday present.  It's a from a pattern called "Carousal" by Doll Tag Clothing.  I got it off Pixie Faire, which has all sorts of great patterns for this size. (And also quite a few free patterns, many of which I've used in the past!)

It had good clear directions, and was pretty straight forward.  It fits a bit loosely on the Journey Girls, because it is designed for the American Girl dolls, but it still looks nice, I think!  I might make a second in another colour. :)



I would probably alter the bodice to narrow it slightly and bring up the neckline just a tad, so it fits this line of dolls better, if I do a second one, just because I can!  LOL

I was amused to see that even though the scale is completely different, she can also use the Cabbage Patch baby as a prop.  One of the things I like about the Journey Girls is that one hand is posed in a way that makes is possible to hold some small items!

Back to sewing....

I finished the knitting part of my Pukifee wardrobe project last night (though they're all sitting waiting for buttons or snaps! LOL), so it's time to switch to sewing.  I'm always torn - the stitches look so much nicer when done on the sewing machine...but I actually prefer to sew by hand!  I suppose since they aren't intended for me I should use the machine where possible.

I think tonight might be Fabric Cutting Night.  I know which patterns and which fabrics I want to use already. :)  I seem to be continuing the blue and white theme...

Kipling Got A New Hat

This particular project went quite slowly, as I only had about an hour a day later in the evening, but I'm very happy with the result!

Finished Objects!

I started the day with a whole pile of things that needed snaps or buttons sewn onto them, and ended with a bunch of finished items! Yay!

LOL I don't know why I tend to wait and do several clothing items at once, but I almost always do.

Cairo's hoodie turned out so cute!



I think Samara's jacket is my favourite of the three items I've done so far from Wovenflame's Pukifee patterns:



But I really love the One Button Cardigan, which is even faster than the jacket with collar, despite being done in laceweight. I have a ton of colours, so I think I'm going to be making quite a few of these!

I just happened to have a heart-shaped button that pretty much matched the yarn, and Kipling looks adorable:





Note: All three of these patterns are from Wovenflame's Knitting Patterns for Pukifee

Patterns for Pukifee

All right, I personally find it hugely helpful to have the Patterns for Littlefee group with it's links to all the patterns that will fit that I or others can find.  I've been thinking off and on (because I regularly get questions about some of the outfits I made for my Lati Yellow when I had her) that having one for Pukifee would be pretty handy too!

Especially since there are a lot more patterns available these days! LOL  Back when I had Marie, I was modifying patterns meant for Kish's Ellery! LOL


So here is the Flickr group:  Patterns for Pukifee

~~~

Speaking of crafting for Pukifee, I only have one sleeve left of the Hoodie from Wovenflame's pattern set. :) I hope to do the finishing up of this one and the jacket on the weekend and get some pictures! 

You cannot marry a sweater.

I finished the hooded Jaunty Jacket the other day, complete with adding an extra diamond's length to it, inspired by cbnloo5.

I LOVE this thing.  It's gorgeous.  LOL  I want to make four hundred more in every colour possible. It's been sitting here already for a couple days, just waiting for me to be home in daylight to take some pictures of Emily modeling it.  (Though it is actually going to be set aside for LTF Bonnie...)  Hopefully on the weekend I will have some time, and light, to take the pictures.

I've started my next sweater, which is for Claire, but I had a dreadful headache last night, and messed it up to the point I had to start over!  Argh!  That took talent.  It was stockinette stitch!!

Chicken or the Egg

There was a topic posted on DoA about whether the pattern or the fabric come first when you're starting a new project, which I thought was interesting.  For me, it can be either.  I have some fabric that I've purchased, sometimes with a clear vision of what I want to make, sometimes just on the basis of "pretty and in-scale"  Most of my fabric tends to be cast off clothes from the family.  Yesterday's project (s) were prompted by two black tank tops that I "rescued" - I'd had a couple outfits in black that I'd been thinking of, in a vague way, and having the fabric I promptly cut out leggings and a dress for Emily, and a t-shirt and tank top for Ellowyne/Incoming MNF Chloe.  The leggings are done, the dress is partly done, and the other two will follow.

On the other hand, I love patterns.  I'm continually searching for new ones, and often my projects are about testing a new pattern and seeing how well it works, or what I might want to change going forward with the pattern. Emily's last dress, in white, was most definitely prompted by the pattern.  I knew I'd wanted a white dress for her, so I used white fabric with the pattern!

Many times I have a vague idea in my head, no more than a colour and the...silhouette  of an outfit, and gradually go looking for pattern or fabric, refining the idea using what I have on hand.

Knitting is the same way....sometimes it's the colour of the yarn that prompts me to go looking, sometimes it is the pattern.

Back to Emily!

I've had the dress and leggings for Emily cut out for a while, but today I took over the dining room and sewed it up.  I'm pretty pleased with it (although as always, I can see about a dozen things I'll change or do better next time... LOL), and the pattern is just perfect with the white.  I've been wanting a simple white dress for Emily for a while, and this fits the bill!



When I was first thinking about this, I thought it would be adorable to have the Pukifee and Flake in similar dresses, but I was hoping to convince myself out of the idea during the process of sewing this.  But now I want to make the other four dresses even more!

In other news, Laney has found a new home and will be sent out tomorrow morning.  She's going to be a Christmas present for someone!  What an awesome Christmas present that would be! :)

Mail Call!

I love getting mail...truthfully, it doesn't even matter what it is...I even like getting flyers!  LOL  But it is especially good when the mail contains dolly stuff!

I had ordered a couple My Own Little World patterns a few weeks ago, and Canada Post deigned to give them to me on Thursday.  They look quite straightforward and cute, but what I really love is the multiple sizes.  I can use both patterns for my RealPuki, Puki, Pukifee, Lati Yellow SP, and Littlefee!  I have this vision of them all lined up in dresses from the same pattern, though I will try the patterns for Emily first.

The cardigan for my MNF Chloe is moving along at a decent clip, especially considering I had almost no knitting time between Thrusday and Monday!  I really like the pattern so far, and can't wait to finish it.  The second item that came in the mail was one of the potential wigs for Chloe...LeekeWorld is FAST!

The wig I had in mind when I ordered her is out of stock, unfortunately, so I am wandering around poking at places that might have a lovely brown mohair wig, which would be even better as I can style it all sorts of ways. It seems BlushedRoses is no longer in business, which is too bad as I really loved his/her wigs!

Temporary Shopoholic

Okay, I had to buy one last thing for my incoming MNF Chloe... These TTYA running shoes.  (And since they had them in Emily's size too, I had no choice but to get her a pair, too! LOL)  They were so adorable I just couldn't resist...but she now has shoes for every occasion.  I was particularly impressed, too, to get a shipping notice that same day for my order, complete with tracking number.

The sweater I started the other day for Chloe is moving along reasonably quickly!  I'm using DWD Free Pattern #5, found on this page. I'm using grey laceweight, and I think it is going to be quite pretty.  As a bonus, until my Minifee arrives, Ellowyne can wear it, and I think perhaps my Kish Chrysalis, Song, as well.  Those two have been rather neglected lately.  In fact Song is in the shameful position of having only a single outfit!

I've finished a couple projects but haven't had time to take pictures, and am unlikely to till next week, as I have small house-guests descending for the weekend.  I shall be spending my time on the more athletic pursuits of removing a two-year-old from life threatening situations every ten minutes and keeping up with the older two!

Knitting Fever

It's been all-knitting, all the time here lately! Which is sort of odd, since we've been in the midst of a heatwave for most of the last month. We're rapidly heading towards drought levels, in fact, but finally got some rain last night, so I'm hopeful!

Emily is the recipient of all the sweaters, as I've come to find that the LittleFee size is my favourite for sewing and knitting.

Sweater 1: