Knitting Tiny Sweaters

I tried to get into knitting years ago, when HK was a toddler, but I’m left-handed and back then I was not as patient. This is a virtue that takes practice, after all. But recently I caught the knitting bug again, because I love tiny things and I decided that my dolls could really use sweaters on these cold winter days. So I watched a YouTube video on knitting raglan sweaters and started my own before I got to the end of the tutorial. I mean, the end is just casting off, right?  

The next challenge was finally figuring out how to use multiple double-pointed needles to knit in the round. 😮

This is the only way to achieve tiny sleeves. I couldn’t find any videos specific to my left-handed needs, so I just started jamming needles into stitches. What better way than throwing oneself into something with abandon?  I ended up ripping out three entire tiny sweaters (which don’t seem so tiny after HOURS of knitting go into making them...but I’m getting a bit faster). 

This time, I haven’t ripped out any rows (knocking on wood for real right now), and I dare say I’ve got a fairly decent idea of what I’m doing. I tried it on a doll and it fit!  And it was darling. I’ll post the finished product, hopefully soon. Though I am a left-handed knitter, and I’ve been told I knit the slow way. So we shall see. Excited anyway. 

The Elephants

chelsea peanut

backside

chelsea's t-shirt, cand-cut freezer paper stencil

details: glasses, stitches, tusks, scarf

chelsea peanut, cousin to elsie:

the new elsie peanut

elsie, leaning in for the best angle

rosey bottom

Recent Work: May 2015

I started rosey rag doll back in november, and I have been throwing bits of social media into my work load here and there.  It is quite hard to balance the work of a new business when caring for a 1 year old all day, and a 7 year old too.  I truly only have nap time to get stuff done.  My house work has suffered, my studio is a perpetual mess, my blog and facebook pages have been growing a lot of distance between entries, and I still haven't learned how to manage my time as well as i should.  but I haven't lost heart yet.  My creative work is an essential part of my personal development and maturity.  I simply must press on.  I have lots of pictures to sort through and find online homes for.  I NEED to start using pinterest in the mix.  I spend lots of time there, but I never put my own work into the shuffle.
Luckily I've recently been inspired to take my work in a slightly new direction.  Still the same, but taking greater control of the details.  I'm really excited to learn some new skills, and then to share them here, and on facebook, and pinterest, and most of all, ETSY!  Because when it comes down to it, I'm working toward self reliance, and expanding my relationship with money.  It is new for me to think in this way, but I'm ready for the challange.  I hope the world is ready for what I can offer.  I think it is ;)

Here is my most recent work:

Chloe Ballerina

This was a fun, quick project from start to finish.  On friday, my husband reminded me that my daughter was going to her good friend's birthday party the next day.  He actually said "aren't you guys going to Chloe's birthday tomorrow?" and I said "yeah" all non-chalant.  Then iI was like (inside my head) "crap!  that's already tomorrow?!"  so after family movie night, and after the kids were sweetly tucked into bed, I got to work!  I decided to use the recent calla illustration to my benefit, so i shrunk it down to fit on a regular 8.5x11 sheet of paper and printed it off.  Then i reshaped the head to be less fluffy-cat and more round-girlie.  Everything was basically the same as constructing calla ballerina kitty, except way smaller.  Luckily i recently bought 25 pounds of amazingly awesome stuffing (yes i said 25!) and my husband made me some amazingly awesome stuffing sticks, so those tiny arms and legs were no trouble at all.
She's a great little sister size to the original Rosey Rag Doll (pictured with Jade), and I think she must be the star student to calla kitty herself.
I love how the stories of my creations evolve as more of them appear, and begin to relate to one another.
The real chloe, for whom the doll was made, is quite an excellent ballerina herself.  her mama sends word that doll and girl are already quite good friends!

 My little lady is eagerly awaiting her own little ballerina doll.

Elsie Peanut

I started the Rosey Rag Doll project back in November as an outlet for my creative yearning.  Baby #2 was  7 months old, and oldest girlie, 7.  it was TIME to create!  No more waiting, no more excuses.  I mean, come on.  Who needs sleep anyway?  :)
The itty bitty princess and the pea set was my first sale on Etsy!  Woo hoo!  Then i made Catlin cat, and it just kind of took off from there.  Its amazing how far I've come in such a short time.  I guess all you really have to do is commit yourself to an activity and it kind of commits itself to you too.

For example, I love how I can kind of judge just how much thread I need to sew on a particular piece.  Its such a thrill when I come to the end and there's just enough to tie it off and trim!  It's the little things, isn't it?

Now I feel like I'm really getting the ball rolling.  I went through a little beginners luck there for awhile where several facebook friends jumped in to support me, and then some strangers too (Australia even!).  I have some wholesale purchasing plans in the works, and I'm setting up my brand with some social media outlets.  This is a lot of work to do during a baby's nap!

Finally I feel like I'm ready to make it happen.  I made the decision and the Universe just kind of opened itself up to my dreams.  I look forward to everyday because I have a little bit of time to make something new, or add a cool new feature to somebody, or sew clothes!  I love fun :)

Elsie Peanut has lots of little hidden details.  I love how her glasses snap on.  She has little leather peanuts in her over-the-shoulder pouch, the strap can be a belt or a trendy little bracelet for Elsie's human friend.  And of course, a cute little bow clip that can also be added to the end of a long blond braid (that's where ours ended up).

I love Elsie.  She is a little like me.  Though, I guess they all are.

Genevieve Giraffe

I designed Genevieve Giraffe last night, and then I sewed her up today while baby boy had his nap.  Her body is a variation of the first Rosey Rag Doll I made in December, Catlin Cat.  Shortly after was born Foxy fox and then Robbie raccoon.  I have many other critter designs, and I'm excited to make each of them for the first time.

zipper challenge

i love a challenge!  recently a customer contacted me and asked for zipper pouches in 3 of my rosey rag dolls.  seeing as how i'd never done this and barely have any experience with zippers, i said YES!  of course!  so i watched a few tutorials, did a little measuring, and then just went for it.  i have to say, i'm impressed with how it turned out. 

so one down, 2 to go.  i usually find i experience a little beginners luck and then repeating it is a whole new challenge.  here goes nothing!

i've provided the links to the 2 main tutorials i used, in case you would like to give it a go as well.

add a zipper pocket

how to shorten a zipper