Hot weather + hectic weeks have made making friends for Lucy a wee bit difficult but not impossible; luckily dolls are very patient.  But I suppose you have no choice when you don’t have arms or a painted-in face.  Oh, and your little midi collar (or shawl, I can’t decide) is missing.

SPEAKING OF SHAWLS, I plan to make at least one chicken shawl for my friend Kara’s new chickens!!  I’m head over heels excited for her and even a little envious because how could you not want your very own chickens?

Have a good Wednesday, dears!

It’s too early in the morning (and week!) for writing paragraphs.  So here are a couple of happy and silly pics for you.  Happy Monday, dears!

It’s a perfectly dreary, drizzly day; not good for photo-taking but just right for hot chocolate (which I’ve already had) and split pea soup (which I plan to make for lunch).  Regardless, I snapped this photo of my latest creation, a rag doll named Lucy!

Drafting a pattern for this doll has been a surprisingly slow process.  It was important to me to make this doll from scratch and while I felt like I was reinventing the wheel at times, it’s satisfying to finally get the proportions down.  My doll-making supplies box is full of forlorn and random limbs, which is both a little creepy and amusing.  But finally something just clicked and I drew up these plans rather quickly.

And the hair is completely experimental - how does it look?  It’s a mohair/silk blend yarn from Rowan. And painting on fabric - did you know?  It’s FUN.

Like with my Leda softie pattern, I’ve looked to old-fashioned dolls for inspiration.  Lucy looks like something you’d find in an old chest in the attic, amidst bone china teacups, lace collars and tattered school primers.

I think Lucy needs friends now, don’t you?

Happy Thursday dears!

Forget the 3-Hour Sweater, how about the 2-HOUR SWEATER?! This lovely 1930s model (seriously, isn’t she adorable?) is wearing a little pullover that the pattern claims will only take you a mere two hours; visit hardrockzombie for the pattern (via Ravelry).  You know I’m going to have to try this out (and it looks like it’s going to cut in line in front of most of my knitting projects).

Also, via Ravelry, I found this wonderful doll shop: Little Black Crow Studio.

I’m truly inspired by all of her deliciously spooky, vintage-looking handmade dolls - they have so much personality.   You can see the love and attention Blackcrow has put into them and I really appreciate that.  They are seriously making me want to revisit my bag of forlorn patterned doll parts (a.k.a. “graveyard of souls”) and try my hand at doll-making again.   I mean, I’ve collected more than enough fabric for them!