Rainbow Rascals are finished

If you've popped into Flutterby Patch recently you'll have seen me doing battle with these little Rainbow Rascals. I began by telling myself I'd knit just one, then two, but eventually I made four, and here they are.

The fun part has been playing with so much colour, both yarn and fabric. I selected the fabric first and then matched the colours in the fabric to DK yarn that I had in my stash. The dolls are all made from the same basic pattern.

When I'm creating a new pattern I prefer to keep things simple so that people who have only basic knitting skills will be able to make a dolly. These little characters are VERY easy to make. If you can cast on, cast off (bind off), knit, purl and knit two stitches together then you'll be able to make a doll and her knitted clothing. The little cotton skirts require a short length of fabric so patchwork cotton remnants are ideal. Only basic sewing skills are required to make a fabric skirt.

 

The knitted skirts, waistcoats and fabric skirts are all easy to put on and take off and when the little dollies have decided which clothes they are going to wear they can choose a little bag to carry. The buttons are an added extra and can be omitted if a doll is being given to a baby or very young child.
You'll find the Rainbow Rascals pattern in my Etsy shop. UK knitters who would prefer to pay in pounds sterling will find it in my UK Dollytime shop.

Dolly progress

Last time you saw us we looked like this. I think you'll agree we look a lot prettier with hair.

Our knitting pattern should be in the Dollytime Etsy shop in a day or two so we look forward to seeing you there. Meanwhile we are off to be measured for pretty floral skirts. What fun it is being dollies!!

Looking for treasure

A short trip this afternoon took me to the coast and nearby Morecambe Bay. Being an estuary there is no golden sand but the place has its own stark beauty.

In winter the wind-whipped tree branches are covered in lichen and the dry grasses cling to the gravely shoreline

I crunched my way along the shingle determined to find treasure.

I confess this place is not a treasure seeker's paradise but I kept on looking

A lone feather caught my eye but it could hardly be called treasure.

But then I struck gold! Well not quite gold but it was good enough for me on this blustery February day.

This small piece of green sea glass sat twinkling in the sunshine. My birthstone is emerald so I had found treasure indeed.

Happy faces

After I opened my Dollytime Etsy shop in September 2009 I was thrilled when I sold my first pattern after only two days. I never imagined for one moment that my little dollies would prove popular with knitters around the world so a very big thank you to all of you who have purchased a pattern from my Etsy shop over the past 18 months.

Living in the UK I've always felt guilty that buyers from my own country have been required to purchase patterns in American dollars. Happily I'm able to tell you that I have created a little shop where my PDF email patterns are available for purchase in Pounds Sterling for anyone with a Paypal account.

To view the patterns and purchase them in Pounds Sterling (GBP) please go to http://dollytime.blogspot.com/ where you will find this little dolly waiting to welcome you.

So, what else have I been doing this week?......... I hadn't planned to design any more patterns for a while but the weather here in northern England has been so dark and dismal that I couldn't resist playing around with pretty fabrics and brightly coloured yarn from my stash.

And here is the result.... a collection of little cuties with enormous smiles, each dressed in a different colour. I admit that in their bald state they don't look very promising but I'm hoping to give them hair later in the week when their clothes are finished. Don't you just love bright colours when skies are grey?

Hoping you have all had an enjoyable weekend, wherever you are.

First snowdrops

I love to think

That long ago,

There fell to earth

Some flakes of snow

Which loved this cold,

Grey world of ours

So much, they stayed

As snowdrop flowers.

Isn't that just the sweetest poem. It was written by Mary Vivian.

 Thank goodness these brave little blooms will thrive in freezing conditions.