Friday, December 23, 2011

Peg dolls - round 2

A set of peg dolls for my other daughter who is  a tomboy  a bit more adventurous.  ;-)

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Wooden peg dolls

I have been obsessed with peg dolls lately.

Actually - my fascination with them started decades ago. 
I think that these were my all time favorite childhood toy...and I still have quite a collection of them.

But lately, my fascination has shifted to a 'craftier' sort of peg doll, and thanks to the (highly addicting) Pinterest and Etsy websites, I've had no shortage of sources for inspiration.
It was there that I ran across this blog.

Her directions seemed easy enough, so I decided to try a few of my own as a Christmas gift for my youngest daughter, (who shares my love of the vintage Fisher Price dolls.)

I found the doll forms at my local craft store.  I bought some smaller versions, too - as my daughter is sure to want a full family.  Pleasantly, both sets were just a couple dollars each, so at least my new obsession hobby won't break our bank account.

In addition to the wooden doll forms, I had the additional supplies already on hand:  acryllic craft paints, and very tiny paintbrushes. 

I pretty much followed the tutorial step-by-step on the other blog for the first few steps.

I did use some of her clothing designs, but I tried to personalize others....
and when I was done - I had a nice little group of dolls.  :-)


There were women....

and children....

and even a set of grandparents....

but ....uh...only one guy.  

We decided that we didn't want our daughter to have to play 'Sister Wives',
so I made a few more friends for him. 

(And with that second batch I think I improved my 'hair techniques, too.) 
Hint:  dry brush and think 'wispy.'




I still need to varnish/seal them, (I'm going to try Mod Podge,)
and I'm also making them some little felt beds/sleeping bags.


Hopefully my daughter will love them as much as the Fisher Price ones.  :-)

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Minion slippers pattern


Despicable Minion slippers

For these slippers I used:
An I sized crochet hook
Yarn: Red Heart acrylic (yellow, black, grey, white)
Lion Wool-Ease blend (blue)

These slippers fit a child size 3-4. If you need a larger size you can either add more rows of blue/yellow at the places marked with an *

With yellow:
To begin: Chain 4 – join w/ a slip stitch to make a ring

Row 1 - SC 9 in the ring – join w/ sl. st.
Row 2 - 2 SC in each st. around - join w/ sl. st.
Row 3 - 2 SC, 1 SC (repeat) - join w/ sl. st.
Row 4 - 2 SC, 1 SC, 1 SC (repeat) - join w/ sl. st.
Rows 5-19* - SC in each st - join w/ sl. st.

  • Switch to blue
Row 20 – 1 row of SC in each st around

Row 21- SC in each st BUT skip the last 5 stitches. Then Chain 1 and turn
Row 22-40* SC in each st. (at the end of each row ch 1 and turn)

At the end of row 40* tie off, but leave a longer 'tail' for sewing. Whip stitch the back seam of the slipper.

Then, (with blue) draw a loop throughthe top edge of the the back seam and make 1 SC in that spot.
  • SC in each st. around the top edge of the slipper (now going back over those rows you skipped)
  • This will form  the 'cuff' of the slipper.
Embellishments:


Goggles strap:
With black:
Chain 16 (or more depending on the width of your slipper)
Turn, and SC in each st. across. Fasten off.
Leaving a longer tail, whipstitch this piece midway across the yellow portion of the slipper.
(Weave in the ends)

Eyes: (make 3)
With white:
Chain 4 – join w/ a slip stitch to make a ring
SC 9 in the ring – join w/ sl. st.
2 SC in each st. around - join w/ sl. st.
Change to grey:
SC in each St around, fasten off – but leave a longer 'tail' for sewing

For the Pupil:
You can either use a pom pon and hot glue it on to the slipper, or what I did was braid a portion of black yarn and tie it into a thick knot. I pulled this through the center of the white and tied it again/fastened it in the back of the white portion of the eye.

I then sewed the eyes on top of the black strap.


Use black yarn to embroider a mouth, and add a few pieces of fringe for hair.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Beautiful gifts from a friend!

It has taken me WAAAAY too long to say "Thank You" to a dear friend. 

Kristi had a blog contest for a handmade apron - and I entered it...and won!
She did such a beautiful job and I just have to show off her lovely work.

And because she is so sweet, she also sent me a WONDERFUl bar of handmade soap, and a pretty cotton washcloth that she crocheted!

She is one of the most talented people I know - seriously....check out her blog!  
She's always got something going on in the garden, or the kitchen, or the schoolroom.
She recently learned cake decorating with her daughter and their cakes look beautiful!

Kristi, thanks again and......you rock!  :-)

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Odds and ends

I've made a hodge-podge of crafty stuff lately:

An 'aviator' hat for my cousin's baby - due any day now.




A bunny blankie and some booties for another little one (also due any day)


And for my own special someone - a little blue duck  - to replace a 'lovey' that was lost.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

My Despicable project

We have a winner!

Butomysoul  guessed both that they were "Despicable Me" minions

and also (by process of elimination, LOL) that they were slippers.  



I'll be in touch with you to go over the details about your hat (size, color, etc) 
Congratulations!

Sunday, February 6, 2011

GIVEAWAY! (Guess the UFOs)

I thought I'd have a little giveaway....

If anyone can guess what my UFOs (unfinished objects) below are going to be,   I will make them one of my flowered beanie hats in the color(s) of your choice - (from anything I already own in my yarn stash)  ;-)


 Ready....set....GUESS!   
(And try to be as specific as possible) 


I'll close the contest Wednesday at midnight.
If more than one person guesses correctly, (or if NO one guesses correctly)
I'll enter your names into a random drawing.
The winner will be announced on Thursday.

Each day (Mon.-Wed.) I'll post a clue.

Monday's clue:    It's something you wear.
Tuesday's clue:    It's going to be a birthday gift for my son(So it's nothing 'girly')  ;-)
Wednesday's clue:  It's based on a character/characters from one of his favorite movies from this past year.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Flappy hat

My daughter is recovering from an ear infection, so I wanted to make something to warm her head and protect her ears from the bitter winter wind.   

This was the result




Julie's Flappy Hat
I worked this hat with 2 strands of (Lion Homespun) yarn - worked together - and a size “N” hook

Chain 4 and sl st to form a ring, Ch 2
Rnd 1 - In the ring HDC 9 times, join w/ sl st to the first HDC, CH 2
Rnd 2 - 2 HDC in each stitch around, (join, ch 2 )
Rnd 3 - 2 HDC in the first stitch, 1 HDC in the next – (repeat , join, ch 2)
Rnd 4 - 2 HDC in the first stitch, HDC in the next 2 stitches - (repeat , join, ch 2)
Rnd 5 - 2 HDC in the first stitch, HDC in the next 3 stitches
Rnd 6 - 2 HDC in the first stitch, HDC in the next 4 stitches
Rnd 7 - 2 HDC in the first stitch, HDC in the next 5 stitches


  • change colors
Rnds 8-12
  • to make a sm/med sized hat (which is what I made) for rows 8-12 HDC in every stitch around increasing one stitch in each row by adding a second HDC to the starting stitch.
  • To make a med/lg hat, follow the 'increase pattern from above through row 10 and then just do the last 2 rows in HDC
For the ear flaps

First, I put the above cap on my DD and used a stitch marker to mark where her ears were on each side.
Then I counted our 4 stitches in front and back of that stitch (for a total of 9 stitches)
I joined my yarn at the start of the 9th stitch and.....

SC 9 stitches across, ch 1, turn
9 SC , ch 1, turn
9 SC , ch 1, turn
9 SC , ch 1, turn
9 SC , ch 1, turn
SC 2 together, SC 2 together, SC 2 together, SC 2 together, SC, Ch 1 , turn
5 SC , ch 1, turn
SC 2 together, SC 2 together, SC 1, ch 1 turn
3SC, ch 1 turn
SC 2 together, ch1, turn
SC the final 2 together, - pull yarn through and finish off.

To finish – I switched to a smaller needle (“I” maybe?) and just did a row of SC all the way around.

Ties
I just pulled three longer pieces of yarn through the ends of the flaps and braided them, then tied them off.

(I'd still like to put a pom pom on top, but the homespun yarn is too fuzzy.)
Time to go yarn shopping I guess.  :-)

***You could also increase the size of this hat by using a larger hook or by using DC instead of HDC, 
or decrease it by using a smaller hook and SC