Giveaway - Milly Molly Mandy Doll

It's four weeks since my last dolly giveaway and at that time I promised I would make a little Milly Molly Mandy doll as another giveaway and here she is. To enter the giveaway please go to my Dollytime Facebook page.

This little doll is 15cm (6in) tall and wears a pink and white striped dress (Milly Molly Mandy always wore pink and white stripes). My aim was to make her as similar as possible to the little girl in the story books.

Milly Molly Mandy lives with her family in a 'nice white cottage with a thatched roof'.

 

Here is a map of the village where she lives. Her cottage can be found top left. She often takes her basket to visit the village shops in order to buy things for the family. The shops are on the right. Her village school is in the bottom right corner.

 

 

And here she is at her school sports. With her friend Billy Blunt she is winning the three legged race. Don't you just love the 1920s clothes worn by the onlookers.

 

 

And here is Milly Molly Mandy having her photograph taken (looking very serious and trying to keep very still).

 

 

There are several Milly Molly Mandy books written and beautifully illustrated by Joyce Lankester Brisley. In my view the modern day reprints with coloured pictures are nowhere near as charming as the originals with detailed black and white line drawings. The books date from the 1920s and the short stories have never lost their appeal. They aren't exciting by today's standards but each one is a reflection of village life in days when children could safely roam the countryside looking for blackberries, ride bikes along country lanes, camp in a farmer's field and cook potatoes on a bonfire.

 

 

I know many of you are familiar with the Milly Molly Mandy stories but if you aren't and would like to read the books they can usually be found online in second-hand bookstores. I think you'll enjoy them.

 

Each book contains one coloured picture at the front. This one is in the book entitled 'More of Milly Molly Mandy' and shows her making the bed in her new attic bedroom. The creation of the new bedroom is one of the stories in the book.

 

 

Don't forget to visit Facebook if you'd like to enter my Milly Molly Mandy doll giveaway.

 

 

Am I too old for a doll?

Knitters sometimes say to me . . . “I really love the little doll I’ve just knitted and I don’t want to part with her. But I’m too old to have a doll so I’m giving her to a friend who has children.”

When knitters tell me this it makes me feel really sad. Not because it isn't a nice gesture to give your knitted dolly to a friend's children but because no one is ever too old to have a doll, especially a doll that you've put your heart and soul into creating. 

So, if you love your little knitted dolly then keep her at home with you where she belongs. If she takes up too much room on the sofa you can consider getting her a little chair of her own.

My father made this doll's chair many years ago from wood that he found around the garden. With a couple of coats of varnish it has stood the test of time really well.

I guarantee your doll will love sitting in her own chair.

But if you think she looks a bit lonely sitting there all by herself then why not make her a friend?

And of course once she's found one friend then it won't be long before another friend comes along. And of course the big dolls will eventually want little dolls of their own!!

Their happy smiling faces will always be there to greet you when you come into the room and I'm certain the dollies will receive cuddles from all your friends and relatives whatever their ages!

So please remember . . . . . No one is ever too old to have a doll (or several!)

If you can knit but have never made a doll you will find my patterns easy to follow with lots of photos to help you. The dolls shown in this post are Belinda Jane, Alice in Wonderland, Tilly and the three little dolls are from the 'Jenny and the Jolly Dollies' pattern.
Patterns are available as instant downloads from Etsy, Ravelry, and LoveKnitting which is a UK shop.

FREE PATTERN - Baby in a basket crib

Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge who now have a sweet baby daughter and Prince George has a little sister.

 

To commemorate the happy arrival of the baby princess I have created a FREE knitting pattern for a tiny baby in a Moses basket.

The baby measures just 5cm and the basket is 9cm, the perfect size to sit on top of a Christening cake. I've dressed the baby in white and she has a pale pink blanket and pillow.

FREE PATTERN

MATERIALS REQUIRED:
Pair of 2.75mm needles (US 2).
Double knitting yarn (or 4ply) in following colours.
Beige for basket.
White for baby.
Pink for blanket and pillow.
Flesh colour for face.
Small amount of stuffing.

Brown sewing thread (or single strand of embroidery floss) for eyes.

 

ABBREVIATIONS:
K - knit
P - purl
St - stitch
St-st - stocking stitch
K2tog - knit two stitches together to make one
*    * - repeat the pattern within asterisks
Kfb - Make 2 stitches out of one by knitting into the front and back of a stitch.

 

I advise knitting the basket first as it is easier to make a baby that will fit the basket than a basket that will fit the baby!

BASKET:
Using beige yarn cast on 66 stitches.
1 – 2. Knit.
Start basket pattern.
3 – 4. *K3, p3* repeat across row.
5 – 6. *P3, k3* repeat across row.
7 – 14. Repeat rows 3 – 6 four more times.
15 – 16. *K3, p3* repeat across row.
17. K4, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k15, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k8, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k15, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k4 (58st).
18. Knit.
19. K4,*k2tog* (twice), k13 ,*k2tog* (twice), k8 ,*k2tog* (twice), k13 ,*k2tog* (twice), k4 (50st).
20. Knit.
21. K3,*k2tog* (twice), k11 ,*k2tog* (twice), k6 ,*k2tog* (twice), k11, *k2tog* (twice), k3 (42st).
22. Knit.
23. K3, k2tog, k11, k2tog, k6, k2tog, k11, k2tog, k3 (38st).
Cast off.
Over-sew the two short sides together and then fold the basket in half with the seam at one end. Over-sew the cast-off edges together to create the base of the basket.

HANDLES (make two)
Cast on 12 stitches and then cast off loosely. Stretch the knitted piece. Stitch a handle to each side of the basket (use picture as a guide).

BLANKET
Cast on 20 stitches in pale pink.
1 – 3 Knit.
4. K3, p14, k3.
5. Knit.
6 – 23. Repeat rows 4 and 5 (x9)
24 – 26. Knit
Cast off.
Press lightly with cool iron if necessary.
The baby can be wrapped in the blanket or fold the blanket to create a mattress.

PILLOW
Cast on 12 stitches in pale pink.
Work in stocking stitch for 24 rows.
Cast off.
Fold in half and stitch each side seam. Put a tiny piece of stuffing into the pillow and over-sew the open end.

BABY’S HEAD
Cast on 6 stitches in flesh.
Row 1. St-st starting with a purl row.
Row 2. Kfb across row to last stitch, k1 (11st).
Rows 3 – 9 . St-st.
Row 10. K2tog across row to last stitch, k1 (6st).
Cut the yarn leaving a 15cm tail and using a tapestry needle remove the 6 stitches onto the tail. This will be the top of the head so leave it open for stuffing. Over-sew the sides of the head together and stuff the head. The finished head should be approximately the size of a hazelnut. Gather the top and fasten off.

 

Make the head ball shaped.

BABY’S BONNET
Cast on 18 stitches in white
1 – 2. Knit.
3 – 8. St-st.
Cut the yarn leaving a 15cm tail and using a tapestry needle remove the 18 stitches onto the tail (don't gather, leave open).

 

Wrap bonnet round the head as shown above.

 

The gathered edge at the back should be left open until the eyes are stitched in place. Using a single strand of brown sewing thread or floss, push the needle from the back of the head to the front and make one or two stitches to create sleeping eyes. Fasten off at the back. Now gather the back of the bonnet and then stitch the white edges of the bonnet together at the base of the head. Fasten off.

BABY’S BODY
Cast on 15 stitches in white.
1 – 16. St-st.
Cut the yarn leaving a 15cm tail and using a tapestry needle remove the 15 stitches onto the tail (leave open for stuffing). Whip-stitch the cast-on edge and gather. Stitch the sides together. Stuff the body (not too much) and gather the open end. Fasten off. Stitch the head to the body.

ARMS
Cast on 6 stitches in white.
1 - 8. St-st.
Cast off.

HAND
Cast on 4 stitches in flesh.
Cast off.
Fold the white arm in half lengthways and tuck the flesh piece of knitting inside so that only two stitches are visible (these will create a tiny hand). Over-sew the arm seams.
 

 

Bend each arm slightly and stitch them to the baby as shown below.

 

Tuck the tiny baby into her cosy basket crib.

Sweet Dreams

There will be another FREE knitting pattern coming soon. You'll find regular updates on my 'Dollytime' Facebook page.

Milly Molly Mandy Stories

I'm popping in to thank those of you who visited my Dollytime Facebook page and entered the recent 'Dolly Giveaway' by choosing a name for this little girl.  The winner has given her the pretty name 'June' and she will soon be skipping around in lovely Hampshire.

 

I mentioned previously that she would make a perfect pupil in Miss Read's 'Village School' stories but several of you have suggested she could also be a character in the Milly Molly Mandy books and I have to agree. 

 

If you're familiar with my blog you'll probably know that I have a selection of Milly Molly Mandy books and as you can see they aren't in the best condition as the much loved stories have been read countless times over the years. They aren't exciting stories by today's standards but could perhaps best be described as 'comfort reading'. Milly Molly Mandy and her friends enjoy roaming around in the countryside, having picnics in hollow tree trunks, cooking potatoes on bonfires and spending a few pennies at the village fete.

 

 

 

The stories, written and illustrated by Joyce Lankester Brisley, were first published in the 1920s and the wonderfully detailed illustrations give a romantic view of life in an English village at that time. Milly Molly Mandy, always wearing a pink and white striped dress, lives with her family in a 'nice white cottage with a thatched roof'.

 

Her best friend lives in a nearby farm and is affectionately known as 'little friend Susan'. This picture shows the two of them heading off in search of blackberries.

 

 

Family meals are of course always eaten round the large table in the kitchen.

 

This is the village shop owned by Miss Muggins and on this occasion Milly Molly Mandy has been left in charge. I love the array of merchandise on display. It's hard to believe shops ever looked liked this but local towns in those days were often not within easy reach and so village shops had to cater for everyday needs.

I am currently working on another Dolly Giveaway and this fabric might give you a clue as to what it will be. When ready I'll announce the Giveaway here and also on Facebook.

I've just popped in to let you know about my Dolly Giveaway on Facebook (book not included).

 

Summer is a time for skipping and while I was making this little doll I was reminded not only of my own school days but also the children in the Village School books which I know many of you enjoy reading. If you'd like to find out more about my Dolly Giveaway please pop over to Facebook. All entries to be submitted on Facebook and not this blog.