12/52 Self Portraits in Black and White

For the past couple of weeks I've been slightly obsessed with rag dolls. My Instagram and Pinterest feeds are filled with them. I was searching for books and patterns on making rag dolls and realized I already had one. I devoured it in one setting! I see some handmade rag dolls in my future.

Doll

This doll has been in the making for over a year. She had been sitting patiently waiting to be finished and I finally, FINALLY finished her. I haven't made a knit doll in a while and not ready to do one anytime soon. I say that, but who knows. The urge to make a doll can strike at any time. I'm just glad this one is finished and off to my cousin.

10/52 Self Portraits in Black and White - My Love of Dolls

I love dolls. Not the plastic, mass manufactured dolls, but unique handmade knit or cloth dolls. Raggedy Ann was one of my favorites growing up. She still is.

I've written about my love of dolls before, but have never shared my most cherished doll. My Cabbage Patch doll. This was the last doll my Mom gave to me before she died. She has followed me everywhere since I got her. From state to state, city to city, house to house. No matter where my life has taken me, through good times, and bad she's been there. Since we moved to this house, she's been residing on a self in my closet. I smile whenever I see her, think of my mom and last Christmas she was alive. It's bittersweet.

You know as I sit and write this, I realize she doesn't have a name. Well, I'm sure she had a name when I first got her, but I can't remember it, and don't recall calling her anything but "my cabbage patch doll" How sad. I really need to name her. She deserves a name for always being there. A tangible piece of my childhood.

Sami

Meet Sami!

I finally finished Sami and think she's the cutest! Her curly hair is my favorite.

Sami in progress here. 

Doll

I started this doll in the beginning of the summer and then she got pushed aside. Not a lot of knitting happened this summer. I finally picked her back up and I'm almost done!

When starting a doll, you never really know how she is going to turn out. You have a picture of what you want, but once you get started, she may take on a whole other identity. In seeing this doll almost complete I'm thinking she's going to be a tomboy. Not what I envisioned, but obviously what she wanted to be. All I have left to do is stuff and put her all together and figure out what to do for her hair. I'm hoping to have her done during our long holiday weekend.

Lil' Miss Foxy

Knitting has been slow going the past few months. I have a few dolls I'm working on, but just wasn't feeling them. Tried working on an afghan I've been slowly knitting for over a year now, but wasn't feeling that either. So a little knit break I took.

Finally picked the needles back up, started and finished Lil' Miss Foxy within a week. She was a cute, easy knit and got me back knitting. Or maybe it's just because Fall is almost here. Probably both!

Lil Miss Foxy pattern can be found on Ravelry here.

April May Doll and Slippers

I wanted to have this doll done in April, but alas, didn't happen. It's been slow going. Maybe I need a short break from Miss April May. I'm just not feeling her right now.

My Girl Scout troop and I will be going to Girl Scout camp in a few weeks. While going over what to bring for camp, my girls mentioned slippers, along with the most important COFFEE (girls after my own heart) I thought it would be cute if they all had some pink bunny slippers, like the ones I made below, to wear in their cabin. I would need to make five pair, but I think I could do it in a few weeks. Or maybe sock monkey slippers. I can't decide which.

I think I'm leaning towards pink bunnies.

Holly Hobbie/Little House on the Prairie Inspired Doll

Done!

This doll was a lot of work. But I love the way she turned out. On to the next one!

Doll - Done!

And...done!

In the start of this new year, I set a goal for myself. Not a resolution because Lord knows I can't seem to keep resolutions. But quietly, to myself, I said I wanted to make at least one doll a month. With this doll, I am ahead of schedule! 2 dolls finished and it's not even February! Woohoo!

I have several dolls floating around in my head and I'm excited to get started. I've had requests for dolls since posting these 2, and have several dolls needed for Christmas, (yes, I'm taking Christmas orders already) and would like to get a few dolls listed in my Etsy shop.

This truly is going to be the year of Dolls!

Currently On the Needles

Almost done with another doll!

I had to redo her body and legs. I used off white for the dress and white for her undies and socks and didn't like how it looked. So redoing them. a small setback, but I should have her done by Friday! I loved the buttons I found for her dress and shoes. They are made from coconut! I can't wait to see how she will look when done. All the dolls I make have such different personalities.

Check out Valentina - the Valentine doll I made.

Joining in Yarn Along and Frontier Dreams.

Valentina - A Valentines Doll

Meet Valentina!

I normally don't do themed dolls, but Valentina was begging to be created. I was working on another doll, when I got the urge to knit a Valentines doll. I saw red, pink white and hearts. And I just couldn't finish the other doll until I created her. She was so much fun to make!

As you can see, she went through a little hair color change. Customer wanted golden hair to match her own. I think she's cute either way. And even though it's the same doll, her personality changed with the new hair color. Do you see it? Maybe it's just me since I created her, but I'm thinking she is saying blondes have more fun! Even though I don't believe that to be true, I still think she's saying it.

My favorite on Valentina is her little red shoes. I see more stripey socks and colored shoes in my future doll making.

Saturdays

I love Saturdays.

There's normally no schedule, no rushing to do anything, a whole day to just be. Saturdays are also the day I always cook breakfast. The smell of fresh coffee, and bacon sizzling in the oven are a given most Saturdays. The menu switches up with pancakes, waffles, burritos, whatever Fonzy and the boys want, but coffee and bacon are a must! And of course no Saturday is complete without knitting. No day is complete without knitting. The little green dress is almost complete! Need to find the perfect button!

Day 19 - Done!

And we have a doll! I hope the recipient loves her to pieces.

And  I have 2 weeks left of 31 days of doll knitting. Hmmmm...didn't plan on that. I think a Halloween project is in order. And then on to another doll!

Day 18 - Hi!

Putting on finishing touches and this little cutie will be done!

Day 17 - Hair

Hair!

The hair consists of a skull cap, and then whatever type of hair I want or in this case, the customer wants. For this doll, dreads or something like dreads was requested. I think using the twisted loop stitch and this bulky yarn will create a dread effect. At least I hope so!

Day 16 - Doll - I Am Not My Hair

And we have a doll! A bald doll, but a doll none the less. Hair is next!

Day 15 - Stuffed!

Once all the pieces are knitted it's time to stuff and sew the doll all together. At this point I get excited, because I'm almost there.

Seaming is not my favorite, but with each doll I'm getting better and better.