Just a Couple of Sweaters

I still haven’t finished drafting my new list, that should be up by tomorrow assuming I can finally decided on a few of the projects.  Anyway, this morning I decided to work on a few little things I had lying around.  Call them “mending” projects.

This is a sweater thing I got for free from a thrift store downtown.  See why it was free?  The crocheted edge was ragged and had come undone in various spots and some of the buttons were missing.  It was mostly a job of removing the rest of edge and buttons in order to fix it.

So after removing the “mess” shown here and adding some ribbon…

…I got this.  Noticeably better.  The ribbon was threaded on a needle and “sewn” on with a running stitch.  I tied it in bows at the ends on the bottom and at the neckline to tie it close.  It’s cute, but sadly it looks very Spring.  Just when we were finally starting to experience Fall weather here.

I guess that where this comes in.  I forgot to take a before photo but it was a pullover sweater made of the softest cashmere ever.  I got it from a friend as a hand-me-down, aren’t friends wonderful?  Anyway, pullovers aren’t quite my style so I opened it up.  I just cut down the front, then sewed some peach-colored ribbon along the edges before turning them under and sewing them down.  After that, all I did was sew a hook and eye to the top and glued two faux pearls.  This was to cover the stitches from the hook and eye which weren’t entirely hidden.  Plus it makes it prettier.  Now I have two similar sweaters for Fall and Spring, and they didn’t cost me a dime.

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Easy Being Green Plaid

For the final project on this list, I saved the best for last.  Actually I think that doll I made is better (see Brown Eyes), but this one is pretty cute too.

See, a pretty new dress.  I bought the fabric months ago intending to make a dress with it.  The problem was that it was summer at the time and this pattern doesn’t exactly scream “summer”.  It reminds me more of Back to School, which is why some of you may notice that it is the same fabric I used for my binder cover (see Clean and Covered).  It a fairly simple pattern, at least it should have been.  The only problem with it is that it is just a teensy tiny bit too big for me in the bust area, flattering right?  Otherwise I love it.  The green bows are removable too, so I can move them to anywhere I want including my hair.

Speaking of hair, a dress isn’t complete without matching hair accessories like this quickie headband.  Just a few minutes with a scrap of fabric, a small length of lace, a metal headband and of course a glue gun.  The best part about it is it’s simplicity.  Makes it easier to wear with other things.

And last but not least, a matching bag.  This one was mostly made out of necessity.  It’s cute and hides easily under my choir robe.  That’s the necessity part, normally for Choir everyone locks their purses and bags in a certain closet in the choir room.  That is until it got broken into some time ago.  I was one of the lucky few who wasn’t robbed then.  Anyway, despite a change of locks and a guard thingie installed, it happened again a couple weeks ago.  Scary right?  I was lucky again this time.  This means we all have carry our bags into service.  It kind of looks strange to see the choir walk in with big old purses hanging on their arms.  Hence, the need for a tiny and discreet little bag like this one.  Maybe I should make more for the other members?  Hmmm.
Here’s the updated list:

• Hair elastics
• Acorn pins
• Tiny shoes
• Tiny purses
• Dress
• Pencils
• Cat toys
• Tiny dresses
• Cloth doll
• Tiny accessories
• Green dress

Eleven down and out, and just in time too.  I’ve got plenty of things I need to make for October.  I’ll have the next list up in a few days.

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Brown Eyes

You can now see why I have been making so many “tiny” things.  It just seems that although I have been making tons of doll clothes, it has been ages since the last time I made an actual doll.  I wanted to make a truly brilliant one, so here she is.



I very carefully drew her pattern by hand.  She is about 19 inches with a relatively thin body and thinner arms and legs.  Her head of course is huge in comparison, I think it’s cuter that way.  She is made with unbleached muslin fabric.



Her face is hand-embroidered and it’s one of my first attempts with embroidery too.  Not bad for a beginner right?  My mom loved the face, especially the pout.  She thinks it looks kind of like my niece.  The hair is obviously yarn and I can’t quite describe the technique I used for it.  It is sort of like rooted hair, but I used an embroidery needle.  Maybe I’ll show you later.



For accessories, I made this cute little handkerchief in her purse.  It’s just a square of fabric with lace sewn to the edge.

I cut up a pair of old socks to make socks for her.

And to finish the look, a simple, lace-y hair accessory with matching bows.  Nothing left to do but give her a name, any ideas?

Here’s the updated list:

• Hair elastics
• Acorn pins
• Tiny shoes
• Tiny purses
• Dress
• Pencils
• Cat toys
• Tiny dresses
• Cloth doll
• Tiny accessories
• Green dress

Ten down, just one more to go.  The last one should be up this Weekend i.e. Monday.

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Perfectly Patterned and Pink

So I made this lovely doll-sized dress, just one.  I intended to make more, but found making one enough of a challenge.  There were parts of the bodice that were surprisingly difficult to do because of the smaller size, mainly the sleeves.  The rest was simple.  The dress is basically a smaller version of the many dresses I’ve been making for myself.  I made the pattern from scratch so I was a little concern about how it would turn it.  But it came out great so I guess this means my pattern making skills have improved.  I wonder if I should try more elaborate doll dresses in the future?  Or possible go for a smaller size?  This one might fit a very slender 18 inch doll, but what if I made one for a 11.5 inch doll?  Hmm.
Here’s the updated list:

• Hair elastics
• Acorn pins
• Tiny shoes
• Tiny purses
• Dress
• Pencils
• Cat toys
• Tiny dresses
• Cloth doll
• Tiny accessories
• Green dress

Eight down, just three more to go.  The next two will be up together by Wednesday.

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7 is Old?

Today is Midnight’s birthday.  My dear cat is now 7 years old, the age marked on bags of “senior diet” cat foods.  Well, she doesn’t seem to care so it shouldn’t worry me either.  She’s a healthy, active cat with no problems.
And what every healthy, active cat needs is plenty of toys to keeping her healthy and active.  So I made plenty, not all of them are for her though.  I thought it would be good to have a few extra, maybe to list in my shoppe or give as gifts.  Plus they are fun to make.  They are all made with scraps of fleece and are supposed to be shaped like fish.  It’s not because Midnight eats fish (fish really isn’t very good for cats to have too often anyway since it can lead to steatitis), I think the shape makes it easier to play with for people.  I can easily hold the tail end and wave it around while she aims for the head, and that way my fingers don’t get bitten.  These would be especially useful for kittens since that’s more of a problem in younger cats.  Anyway, Midnight will be having loads of fun today.  Plus for dinner she’s getting one of four different flavors of these pouches I got.  They are turkey and giblets, beef and gravy, tuna with sauce, and chicken.  I still not sure which one to give her.  Which seems more “birthday” appropriate?
Here’s the updated list:

• Hair elastics
• Acorn pins
• Tiny shoes
• Tiny purses
• Dress
• Pencils
• Cat toys
• Tiny dresses
• Cloth doll
• Tiny accessories
• Green dress

Seven down, four to go.  The next project will be up by Monday.

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Not Too Nuts

Just a quick one today.  I made these pins late last night which is why I am currently only half-awake.  I wanted something for Fall that wasn’t pumpkins and Halloween stuff.  I thought “why not acorns?”  I used scraps of fleece for the parts of the acorn and some felt to back them up since the fleece is a little flimsy.  I’m not sure about them, they aren’t quite as cute as I thought they would be.  Maybe I got the colors wrong, or possibly the shape since it was really hard to cut them.  I tried to mark the shapes but the chalk pencil didn’t show up very well on the dark fabric.  The funny thing is that they are about the same size as real acorns.  That’s something at least.

Here’s the updated list:

• Hair elastics
• Acorn pins
• Tiny shoes
• Tiny purses
• Dress
• Pencils
• Cat toys
• Tiny dresses
• Cloth doll
• Tiny accessories
• Green dress

Six down, five to go.  The next project will be up by Friday for a very special reason.

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