toy issue of Petite Purls!

Texture Bite by Nancy Anderson

lots more here

100% wool felt

I'm investigating fabric to make some of the toys in the Wee Wonderfuls book...

a few of the toys use 100% wool felt although wool blends are ok to.  We use wool blends at The Woolly Brew (soft and cosy and economical!)  but I was curious at the choice within 100% wool felt...

Quick order to Blooming Felt, and a quick dispatch, delivered this shade card...

love the flower shapes!

very thick!

Is this too thick for doll making?

weaving

These little balls of yarn are for weaving on a paper plate...  inspired by this idea at That Artist Woman.

I'm going to try it out with Four Year Old (if she ever stops digging in the garden) and then try it out at her nursery.

Not sure if it will work out but an egg box filled with centre pull balls looks good....

garden playmat... idea

Ikea Landet

cool greenhouse idea!

new kiddie craft website discovery!

Serving Pink Lemonade as suggested by the lovely Pam.

It has reminded me that I really need to get this finished and presented to Dora (aka Four Year Old)

gingerbread man

Knitting - Cupcake

It is the best cupcake I've done - by knitting or in felt - but  its still a little breast like!  Think I may have to try different stuffing...

Using cupcake pattern from Little Cotton Rabbits.

Cardboard house - another one

inspired by the house at ikat bag.

Its shoddy and the tape is already unsticking but I love the concept.  With a bit more time and care it could be a keeper.

open

closed

back

It needs a roof and a ladder (and a lot more TLC) but Four Year Old couldn't wait any longer...  If I 'get it back' I'll add some extras.  Those square windows need curtains and we need door handles!

The balcony is genius and even Daddy Pig can fit...

Knitting - Rosie

Not quite the original idea!

(backstory here , updated here and here)

 

I have to say, the hair is a triumph BUT I'm not sure how secure it is!  Especially when pulling clothes on and off...

I used Rowan 4ply Soft, held double and knitted on 4mm.  Once I had a good size rectangle I gently washed it, then got fed up waiting for it to dry so put an iron over it!  I unravelled it and followed the pattern instructions for back stitching onto the head.  I may have to redo it more securely at a later date...

I'm much happier with the face.  Four Year Old seems happy too and now even likes the green jacket!  Now she needs a dress, socks and shoes.

Knitting - Rosie's Wardrobe (so far)

Rosie is still hairless and now faceless but at least she has a cute skirt and sleeveless top and (very green) hooded jacket (which Four Year Old doesn't like now, despite watching me knit it!)

Knitting - Rosie

backstory here and updated here.

She is hairless and naked...

I was going to use ribbon to make the hair (like the 'original') and put a call out for 6 inches of fancy grosgrain or satin ribbons.  But I think I might experiment with acrylic felt instead.. I think it would suit her woolliness better...

Nearly 4 Year Old now wants her to have lots of different clothes... ones she can put on and take off herself...

The 4ply cardigan pattern I knitted for All Things Knitting fits nicely (need to shorten the arms though).

And the original Poppy pattern comes with a dress pattern (seen here on my first doll).

And I still have the original idea of flippy/pleated styled skirt on Ravelry.

Knitting - Rosie

Explained here.

Using Poppy pattern by Ysolda Teague. Here's one I made earlier...

Did 3 less knit rows on face to make it less spoon shaped.
Added pink knickers at row 15 of the body but should have started it at row 10.
Tried to add white socks and red trainers but decided to knit them separately instead.
Have found a pattern for flippy/pleated styled skirt on Ravelry.

knitting - Angelina

Using Debi Birkin's design for E's birthday.
 

Everything's Rosie...

is an animation on cbeebies and E's new obsession.

E has now requested some toys for her birthday in August...  She didn't seem to care that this is a new programme and toys will not be released until the lurcative Christmas season.  She simply said, "You make it Mummy".

Mmmmmm

They main characters are a turquoise rabbit (Raggles) and a ragdoll (Rosie), she also likes the annoying acorns...

I found this free pattern for a knitted rabbit at Spud & Chloe and I thought I could knit another Poppy to make a Rosie (with some modifications...)

Or maybe I'll try out this free pattern by Nancy Anderson published in Petite Purls.

The acorns I can do using this pattern found via Ravelry on It's a Wonderful Life.


Of course, I am still knitting Angelina (which to be fair she did NOT ask for)...

Knitting - Angelina

A work in progress for E's fourth Birthday.

I'm using Debi Birkin's Design.  Shes a little bit wonky (as well as naked and armless...)

But then I'm coming to expect that with my knitting!

This is her tutu.  I need to knit 2 rows and purl 1 row for 51cm....  luckily its only 16 stitches but it could still take me a while...

Knitting - doughnuts

for Sea Queen Day.

Sewing - Art Bag/Crayon Roll

I've had a crayon roll on my to do list for a while (Christmas).  A quick search has given me more ideas...

this one at thelongthread
this felt one at skiptomylou
this stationery wrap from soulemama
and this bag at lovelylittlesweetpeas

After the success of my knitting needle roll I decided to strike whilst the iron was hot...  However E (who would be the recipient) has decided she would rather I make a swing set for her Peppa Pig toys and (working) lights for her dolls house...

She's a tough audience.

Cardboard House - part 5

Ongoing project

We added some 'flowers' cut from a plant catalogue.

we still need to paint the 'trees' and add some windowsills, and then its on to the interior...

I have a vision of little button and bead flowers in window boxes...

Cardboard House - part 4

ongoing project...

Little Reindeer said she would paint it grey (she loves black paint).  I said, "Really?  Do you not want to use another colour?"  Thinking that grey was a rather depressing colour to paint a cardboard dollshouse...

She then decided to use all her colours...  I tried to impose a pattern and let each colour dry before adding another as she can often end up with brown... and she seemed quite taken with the idea of stripes (although she has never kept within the lines)

So the house is looking a little psychedelic... maybe grey would have been a better option (or brown).

I also cut out some tree shapes on the back flaps.

Cardboard House - part 3

Ongoing cardboard dolls house project...

Windows and doors cut and the box covered in gummed tape.

Which rather than making it stronger and tidier has made it rather shambolic looking...