Keeping busy

This has to be the prettiest thing I've seen all week. A little white rabbit dressed in shades of violet and lavender (my favourite colours) holding scissors and bead-top pins to match her outfit. She certainly makes the perfect sewing companion.

The pictures were sent to me by Colette who lives in Belgium. She has only been knitting for a short while and decided to try and make my Rowena Rabbit sewing companion. Although fairly new to the craft I think you'll agree she has made the rabbit beautifully. What makes her success even more amazing is the fact that English is not her first language and so unfamilar words and instructions all had to be translated. Don't you just love the way the mirror reflects the rabbit from the back. She's lovely.

I'm full of admiration for knitters who don't speak English as their first language but are brave enough to buy my patterns and translate them in order to knit my little dolls and animals.

If you'd like to knit your own Rowena Rabbit sewing companion like the one shown made by Colette you will find the pattern in my Etsy shop. I aim to make all my patterns easy to follow and every row is numbered. I include plenty of step by step pictures alongside the instructions.

Have I been doing anything creative this week? I'm afraid not! Not unless you consider cleaning windows to be a creative activity. We have leaded windows in our house and each small glass pane has to be cleaned individually. After a long winter the dirt rests stubbornly in the corners and the best way to attack it is with an old toothbrush and plenty of soapy water. This is the view through the dining room window. As you can see, our Lakeland skies are still grey but the daffodils are in bloom and at last everything is beginning to look a bit greener. (Just in case you are wondering . . . these windows haven't yet been cleaned!)

As you might expect, there has been no cleaning of windows in the playroom. This morning I found Kate and Lucy playing a game of 'how many dolls can you squeeze into a box?' It looked to be a very uncomfortable activity for the those inside the box but no one appeared to mind. Empty boxes never remain empty for long. 

In another part of the playroom I noticed the crayon box was being emptied onto the floor as three dolls chose their favourite colours. They seemed completely oblivious to the fact that baby bunny was about to fall head first into the box. Never mind, it's all good fun I suppose.

I hope you have a fun weekend wherever you are.

Bunny's lunch - free pattern

The arrival of the baby bunny in the playroom created much excitement but the dolls were very concerned when the little cutie refused to eat.

Kate offered bunny some cheese sandwiches but they didn't interest her. 

Then Lulu decided an apple might be just the thing, but bunny wasn't tempted.

Lucy was sure a ripe red tomato would make excellent bunny food, but it seems she was wrong.

Luckily our two new dolls, Fern and Flora, have lived in the wood and know exactly what baby bunnies like to eat.

They filled their little baskets with tiny carrots and juicy radishes and of course, when she saw them, baby bunny's appetite returned immediately.

The baby bunny and all the dolls in this blog post can made from my patterns which you'll find in my Dollytime Etsy shop. Meanwhile, if you have a little bunny who might enjoy a meal of radishes and carrots you will find a free pattern below. They are quick and easy to make and only take small amounts of yarn.

Radish and carrot pattern

Materials needed:
A pair of 2.75mm needles (US size 2)
DK (double knitting) yarn radish red, white, carrot orange and leaf green.
USA use worsted and Australia use 8 ply.
Small amount of stuffing

Abbreviations:
k2tog - knit two stitches together
p2tog - purl two stitches together
k3tog - knit 3 stitches together
st - stitch(es)
st-st - stocking stitch (stockinette stitch)
cast off (bind off)
All rows are numbered

RADISH

approximately the size of a standard radish

Cast on 12 stitches in radish red
1 - 6. st-st starting with a knit row
Break off red and join white
7 - 8. st-st (white)
9. k2tog across row (6st)
10. p2tog (x3) (3st)
11. k2tog, k1 (2st)
Cut the yarn leaving a 5cm (2in) tail and using a tapestry needle take the two remaining stitch from the needle onto the tail. Pull to tighten. This tail will form the root of the radish so cut to the required length (approx 2cm). With right side facing out, stitch the seam from the bottom to the top cast-on edge. Stuff the radish to make it firm and rounded (about the size of a small marble). To gather the top, whip-stitch around the stitch loops on the top edge and pull to tighten. Fasten off

Leaves
Cast on 10 stitches in green
Cast off
Pull to straighten and then weave each yarn tail down to the centre and cut it off. Fold the leaf in half to make a 'v' shape and stitch to the top of the radish.

CARROTS

Small excluding leaves and root approx. 5cm (2in)

Large excluding leaves and root approx. 7cm (2.5in )

SMALL CARROT

Cast on 14 stitches in carrot colour (orange)

1. knit
2. purl
3. k3, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k3 (12st)
4 - 6. st-st
7. k2, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k2 (10st)
8 - 10. st-st
11. k1, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k1 (8st)
12. purl
13. k1, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k1 (6st)
14. purl
15. k2tog (x3) (3st)
16. purl
17. k2tog, k1 (2st)
Cut the yarn leaving a 5cm (2in) tail and using a tapestry needle take the two remaining stitches from the needle onto the tail. Pull to tighten. This tail will form the root of the carrot so cut to the required length (approx 2cm). Stitch the seam from the bottom to the top cast-on edge. Stuff the carrot to make it firm but not too wide (use the end of a blunt pencil or point of scissors to push stuffing to the bottom). To gather the top, whip-stitch alternate loops on the top edge but before gathering you need to add the leaves (see below).

LARGE CARROT
Cast on 14 stitches in carrot colour (orange)
1 - 4. st-st starting with knit row
5. k3, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k3 (12st)
6 - 8. st-st
9. k2, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k2 (10st)
10 - 12. st-st
13. k1, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k1 (8st)
14 - 16. st-st
17. k1, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k1 (6st)
18 - 20 st-st.
21. k2tog (x3) (3st)
22. purl
23. k2tog, k1 (2st)
To make up follow the instruction for small carrot (above).

Leaves
For small carrot cut 8 lengths of yarn approximately 10cm (4in) long
For large carrot cut 12 lengths of yarn approximately 10cm (4in) long.

Tie a knot in the centre to hold the yarn bundle together (see below).

Push the knot into the open top of the carrot and pull the gathering yarn so the top encloses the knot. Pull the gathers to hold the knot firmly in place and fasten off. Trim the leaves to the desired length (I like to make them all slightly different lengths).

A new arrival

I've been keeping quiet about this little bunny baby as I wasn't sure how long it would take me to finish her. But I've persevered and today I was able to introduce her to everyone in the playroom. She's a bit of a rascal as you can see, so I knew I'd need several dollies to keep an eye on her. . . . . . . I wondered if there would be any volunteers

"Who will volunteer to look after this bunny baby?" I asked.

I think this picture speaks for itself.

I'm guessing the little rascal will be thoroughly spoilt by everyone.

If you know anyone who would love to give this little bunny a cuddle and you'd like to knit her then you'll find the pattern (which includes the basket crib, pillow and blanket) in my Dollytime Etsy shop. The link can also be found in my blog sidebar.

Playroom chaos

As spring approaches and days grow longer, the playroom seems to grow ever more chaotic. Playthings are strewn everywhere and everyone is looking forward to spending happy hours in the garden.

My complaints and requests for some tidying to be done fall on deaf ears and Lucy Lavender is more than happy to point out the dolls best friend . . . a large Minnie Mouse who tells me 'mess is best' or words to that effect.

 I hope the sun is shining for you in your part of the world.

Enjoy your weekend.

Fern and Flora - new dolls

Two new little dolls arrived in the playroom today.

The sun had been smiling on us all afternoon and the little sisters had decided to go for a walk in the wood to search for flowers to pop into their tiny baskets.

Not surprisingly their baskets had remained empty as our woodland flowers have yet to bloom.

So who were these little girls?

They both made a polite curtsy and introduced themselves as Fern and Flora.

But it is only February and surely much too cold for the two sisters to return to the wood. Kind Tilly was the first to ask if they'd like to live in the playroom with the other dolls. Fern looked very pleased with that suggestion.

At which point Kate couldn't resist giving little Flora a big welcoming hug.

In no time at all the newcomers had made themselves at home and were surrounded by lots of smiling friendly faces.

I've always loved Waldorf dolls with their plump cheeks and tiny noses but have never tried making a knitted version, until now. Fern and Flora are the result. Inspired by the Waldorf method of shaping heads, these little dolls have a shaped knitted inner head that is covered with an outer head.

If you are not familiar with the way Waldorf dollies are created then this method might sound complicated. But my step by step pattern is easy to follow and there are plenty of pictures to guide you. However, if creating chubby cheeked dollies in this way isn't for you then you can follow the same pattern and simply omit the head shaping (details given in the pattern).

You will find the pattern for Fern and Flora in my Dollytime Etsy shop