A New Direction?

First let me show you the two neck scarves that have proved to be my most useful this last winter because they are perfect for just around the neck warmth - and spring because they are so pretty.
First -
Barb's Koigu Ruffle.




I used Fyberspates Ethereal 4ply - 65% Cashmere 35% Silk, colour Red Kite. 4mm needles throughout and garter stitch instead of the stocking stitch the pattern called for.

I think the colour in this next photo is more accurate.





And the second scarf from The Natural Dye Studio, crocheted in beautifully soft Poshyarn pure cashmere -
Queenies Precious Crochet Scarf



5.5mm hook, Posh yarn Sophia lace weight. Web cam is handy but the light is behind and so colours not true. This is better:



But still not perfect -it is a much softer colour than this shows. And the combination of fine soft yarn and large needles give such a light, lacey appearance and feel. Not like crochet used to be!

On a different subject....

I was so pleased to find a method for making dollies with curly hair like the hair of each of my little grandaughters. What do you think of this one?



Its another webcam snap. I'll do some better photos when I'm home - and when she's got some clothes of her own. In fact this one looks so much more like a boy doll that I'm wondering whether to make another similar to be the third girl and let this one have football shorts and top and actually be a boy doll.

Oh by the way, the new direction referred to in the title is crochet. I've always enjoyed crocheting the odd thing in between my knits but right now its becoming a bit obsessional. I blame Queenie Amanda from The Dye Studio and and the English Country Garden cal (rav link). More about this next time.

Excuses

I know I'm only looking after two grandchildren for two days of the week but it seems to impinge on each day either side too what with recovering and catching up with what I would otherwise have done on the child minding days. You can't imagine when you're thirty five but believe me it's far more exhausting when you're sixty five.

So, they're not excuses. Just reasons.

And part of my knitting is such that I can't post pictures just yet. But here are a few of what I've been doing.

These are knitted from Ysolda Teague's Mousie pattern





The larger ones (the two on their own) are 12cm from nose to tail, 3mm needles, Cashsoft DK and the smaller ones 9cm long, knitted in sock weight yarn on 2.25mm needles. The only mod was to knit the legs separately instead of picking up stitches and I decided the ears looked better attached upside down with a small pleat to make them more rounded.

Dolls
I've been wanting to knit one of these lovely AK traditions knitted dolls for over a year now, ever since their adverts started appearing in UK knitting magazines. They are gorgeous but very expensive. And then there's the postage - they are in Australia. And it has proved very difficult to contact them. Anyway, I'm happy with the dolls pattern I've ended up with. Its a mixture of Laura Long's Polly from Knitted Toy Tales, Jane Greenhowe and Tracy Chapman(Toys to Knit)




I knitted the smaller dolly in Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca Soft, slightly finer than the pattern said, so dolly was slightly smaller but that doesn't matter. 3mm cicular, magic loop colour Blush and she is 14" tall.
And the bigger one - 20" tall- is Rowan Pure Life Organic Wool dk. 2 balls 3mm circular needles, magic loop.

I've knitted quite a few clothes for the smaller one and she loves them


but have yet to make the big one's wardrobe. And they need names.

As the little one's wardrobe began to take shape I noticed some eerie similarities with my own wardrobe. Quite extensive. Seemingly random colours. And random sizes. And each item is ok-ish but sadly none really goes with any other. So I reconsidered buying an AK kit but- you know what I like most of all about those dolls? It isn't the doll itself but the clothes. And not just the clothes, it's the colours. So a trip to John Lewis and a few hours later I'd chosen a basket of yarns that really look good together, based on those ak colour schemes.

I'm looking forward to dressing big dolly as soon as I've got a bit of time although she is very pleased to have shoes.