Who Dares Steal a Tiger’s Vestments?

Several shoppers at the craft show asked if my teddy bear sweaters fit American Girl dolls.  They don’t, but the question got me wondering if the sweaters would fit any other type of doll. Today, my two original Cabbage Patch Kids answered the question by coming out of the woodwork and stealing two of Bengalina Tigress’ fancy sweaters right out from under her nose. They were even bold enough to have their picture taken!

Yes, the sweaters fit 14″ Ruth and 16″ Mary just fine. I only hope I can steal them back to list on Etsy later in the week!

Craft Show Review

Well, my first craft show day came and went as of Saturday.

I didn’t do that well, but selling anything is an accomplishment in this economy, especially when your booth is located in a church basement across from the American Girl doll clothes. Staying awake the whole time was an accomplishment too.

I plan on trying Etsy next – sometime within the week. Can’t give up now with all this leftover merchandise to move! 

From Blog to Business

Hey all – The Knitted Rose is now on Facebook! I’m gearing up to participate in my first craft fair this October, and Facebook is probably the cheapest way to advertise. The exact URL is: https://www.facebook.com/theknittedrose. You can also contact me through e-mail via theknittedrose@gmail.com. I’m ordering business cards next week. Wish me luck!

Oh, wait . . .

. . . almost forgot to show you some of the stuff I’ve been knitting for the craft fair:

If you live in or around Rockford, Illinois, then come check it out! It’s the TLC craft fair at Christ United Methodist Church held on Saturday, October 19th from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm.

A Glam Gown For Barbie*

Materials: Red Heart sport weight cotton yarn, and whatever this is:

(Based on a picture I found on Etsy, I think it might be Plymouth Frizzato yarn. Any kind of short eyelash yarn would probably work.)

Bodice:

Cast on 18 stitches

Work 10 rows stockinette stitch

Row 11: knit 1, knit 2 together twice, knit 8 slip slip knit twice, knit 1 – 14 stitches

Row 12: Purl

Row 13: Knit 1, knit 2 together twice, knit 4, slip slip knit twice, knit 1 – 10 stitches

Rows 14-16 stockinette stitch

Row 17: Knit 1, knit 2 together, knit 4, slip slip knit, knit 1 – 8stitches

Row 18: Purl

Row 19: Knit 2 together across – 4 stitches

Row 20: Purl

Row 21: Cast off

Skirt:

Cast on 36 stitches

Work in stockinette stitch until piece measures approximately 4 and 1/2 inches long

Gather up live stitches and pull until the top of the skirt is about 3 and ½ inches around

Join the skirt to the bodice, picking up 3 loops along the top of the skirt for every stitch on the bottom of the bodice

Flounce:

Cast on 108 stitches with sport yarn and sparkle yarn held together

Work in garter stitch until piece measures 2 and ¼ inches

Gather up live stitches and pull until piece measures approximately 6 inches wide

Join the flounce to the skirt, picking up 3 loops for every stitch along the bottom of the skirt.

Finishing:

Weave in all ends

Crochet along the top edge of the bodice, leaving long tails for a halter tie

Sew 7-8 small snaps up the back of the dress, leaving approximately 1” space in between

 

* In case you’re wondering, the doll is a Crystal Barbie from 1983. She’s a much-cherished hand-me-down from my cousin.

 

Felting Experiment

I’ve wanted to try felting ever since it was popular about 10 years ago. These rose pins were the perfect guinea pigs because it didn’t matter how much they shrunk.

One set of instructions said to use a zippered pillowcase to wash the knitted items. I just tied a regular pillowcase with string. This is what happened:

Note to self, tennis balls disintegrate in hot water. Also, they weren’t fuzzy enough. I had to put them back in, using a zippered pillowcase along with the tennis balls and an old pair of jeans for more friction. I don’t remember who suggested the jeans, but they worked! This go round they came out fuzzy as an old man’s beard.

This is what they looked like after I dried them. They still had to be shaped and have the pin backs sewn on. A pretty involved process, but at least I finally made use of that hand-me-down yarn. Now to sell them at a craft fair! Will that part be harder yet?

Swimsuit for the First Day of Summer

Tiger Teddy Bathing Suit

This Time it Worked!

(Worked on Size 8 Needles with worsted weight cotton yarn)

Front:

Cast on 10 stitches

Work in Stockinette stitch for 4 rows

Row 5: Knit 1, knit twice into the second stitch, knit 6, knit twice into the next stitch, knit 1

Row 6: Purl

Repeat Rows 5 and 6 4 more times, 20 sts

Row 15: knit 1, knit twice into next 7 stitches, knit 4, knit twice into next 7 stitches, knit 1

Row 16 – 20 work in stockinette stitch, starting with a purl row

Row 21: Knit 1, knit 2 together, knit to last 3 stitches, knit two together, knit 1

Row 22 – 24: Work in stockinette stitch, starting with a purl row

Row 25: Knit 1, knit 2 together, knit to last 3 stitches, knit 2 together, knit 1

Row 26: Purl

Row 27: Break off yarn and change to color B. Knit

Row 28:Purl

Row 29: Knit 1, knit 2 together 4 times, knit 11, knit 2 together 4 times, knit 1

Row 30: Purl

Row 31: Knit 1, knit 2 together 4 times, knit 4, knit 2 together 4 times, knit 1

Row 32: Purl

Row 33: Knit 1, knit 2 together, knit 8, knit 2 together, knit 1

Row 34: Purl

Row 35: cast off

 

 

Back:

Cast on 10 stitches

Work 8 rows stockinette stitch

Row 9: Knit 1, knit twice into the next 3 stitches, knit to last 3 stitches, knit twice into next 2 stitches, knit 1

Row  10: Purl

Row 11: Repeat row 9

Row 12 – 14: Work in stockinette stitch, starting with a purl row

Row 15: Repeat row 9

Rows 16-24 Work in stockinette stitch, starting with a purl row

Row 25: Knit 1, knit twice into next four stitches, knit 6 slip last 11 stitches on a holder

Row 26: Purl

*Knit 1, knit twice into the next stitch, repeat from * 5 times, knit 5

*Knit 2, knit twice into the next stitch, repeat from * 3 times, knit 11

Row 30-40: Work in stockinette stitch, starting with a purl row

Break of yarn  and switch to color B

Row 41: Knit 1, knit 2 together 4 times, knit to end of row

Row 42: Purl

Row 43: Knit 1, knit 2 together twice, knit to end of row

Rows 44-46: Work in stockinette stitch, starting with a purl row

Row 47: Knit 1, knit 2 together 3 times, knit 1

Row 48: Purl

Row 49: Knit 1, knit 2 together 4 times, knit 3

Row 50: Purl

Row 51: Cast off

 

Left side:

Re attach yarn, knit 1, knit twice into next 4 stitches, knit 6

*Knit 1, knit twice into the next stitch, repeat from * 5 times, knit 5

Row 2: Purl

Row  3 *Knit 2, knit twice into the next stitch, repeat from * 3 times, knit 11

Row 4-14: Work in stockinette stitch, starting with a purl row

Break of yarn  and switch to color B

Row 15: Knit 1, knit 2 together 4 times, knit to end of row

Row 16: Purl

Row 17: Knit 1, knit 2 together twice, knit to end of row

Rows 18-20: Work in stockinette stitch, starting with a purl row

Row 21: Knit 1, knit 2 together 3 times, knit 1

Row 22: Purl

Row 23: Knit 1, knit 2 together 4 times, knit 3

Row 24: Purl

Row 25: Cast off

 

First Baby Afghan!

I know it’s been forever since I updated this blog, but I’ve got a good excuse. A good excuse in the form of a huge project.

Ta-Da!

I’ve made a couch-sized afghan before, but never a crib-sized one. Here’s the pattern. It’s a fairly simple one.

Nature’s Nursery Baby Afghan (Only because it reminds me of ivy. Maybe I should’ve called it the Hundred Acre Woods Afghan, because it’s going into a Winnie the Pooh nursery? Anyway):

Materials:

Caron yarn in two colors. (You will need about 16 oz. of each color)

Size 10 needles.

Order of Work:

With color A, Cast on 20 stitches

Row 1: Knit

Row 2: Knit 7, purl 6, knit 7

Row 3 – 6 Repeat rows 1 and 2 twice more

Row 7:

• Knit 7.
• Slip next three stitches on a cable needle and hold in back of work.
• Knit three.
• Bring three stitches on the cable needle forward.
• Knit these three stitches off the cable needle.
• Knit 7.

Row 8: Repeat row 2

Repeat these 8 rows until the piece measures 52 inches

Work 3 more strips in this manner with color A

With color B, Cast on 16 stitches

Row 1: Knit

Row 2: Knit 5, purl 6, knit 5

Row 3 – 6 Repeat rows 1 and 2 twice more

Row 7:

• Knit 5.
• Slip next three stitches on a cable needle and hold in back of work.
• Knit three.
• Bring three stitches on the cable needle forward.
• Knit these three stitches off the cable needle.
• Knit 5.

Row 8: Repeat row 2

Work 2 more strips in this manner with color B.

 

Sew the strips together using a tapestry needle and color A

With a size 7 hook, single crochet along the top and bottom of the afghan with color A to give it a more polished and unified look.

The finished afghan measures 48” by 33”

Knitting Doll on Duty

Ever used one of these? I haven’t, but have known of them for some time. At first I thought they were usually female, but apparently I’m wrong. My mom picked up this specimen at church when one of the older ladies was moving and doing some ridding out. The base says he’s from Czechoslovakia, but he looks more like a British solider to me. Only soldiers don’t wear top hats. And why is he winking? Does he know something I don’t? Probably does. He’s much older than me, and like I said, I don’t even know how to work with him. But if anybody ever comes to steal my yarn, they’ll have one battle-hardened little sentry to deal with. Heads up, he’s about to shoot off one of those carpet tacks!

(P.S. Sorry for neglecting this blog for so long. It happens when you’re working on an afghan. I probably won’t post every week ever again, so should I shoot for every two weeks?)

Top Five Reasons to Give Hand-Knitted Gifts

1. Where would you rather be on Black Friday: At the mall fighting over the last of the hot whatevers, or on your couch knitting and watching Miracle on 34th street?

2. With just a little thinking outside the box, that hard-to-buy-for friend or relative can be easy to knit for.

3. Hand-knitted gifts are always appreciated.

4. Hand-knitted gifts are better for the environment than store-bought gifts. You can’t give too many on account of how much time they take to make, and people almost never throw them away.

5. Hand-knitted gifts are fun to make. Designing patterns, altering patterns, making things, and making them your own – this is what I was born to do! Once all the gifts are open and the surprise factor is over, I can start sharing some patterns here again.

(One word of warning though: Hand-knitting gifts can lead to what Anna Dewdney’s Llama Llama called “Too much glitter, too much fluff, too much making too much stuff!” Especially when you start in September and make gifts for all the extended family too. It was fun once, but next year I think I’ll scale back to just making a few items instead of an elfin factory full.)

Charlie Chaplin’s Dirty Chores Rag

The place: Rock Valley College, Fall 2009

The Movie:Modern Times

The Mistake: I forgot my knitting needles and dishcloth patterns

Since I can’t watch a movie without knitting anymore, I ran to the craft store for knitting needles and yarn. I still didn’t have a pattern, so I cast on 34 stitches and worked in seed stitch (knit 1, purl 1) until the piece measured about 10 inches in length. The result was a tight-knit rag that could handle just about any chore without falling apart.

Top 10 Places to Knit a Dishcloth:

1. At a ballgame

In my case, it was a game at Miller Park. I showed up in a Cubs shirt carrying a Bears bag with no intention of following the score. Ah, how fortunate not to be good fistfight material.

2. At a family renunion

Nothing is more soothing when everyone is talking at once.

3. At a Greek restaurant while (ugh) waiting for food

If anybody spills anything later on, viola!

4. At any kind of church or office potluck/get-together

No, it’s not rude or “anti-social”. In Great-Grandmother’s day, it was considered perfectly normal to keep one’s hands busy while gabbing, socializing, gossiping, and unionizing. Now, it just makes a good conversation starter.

5. On a sixteen-hour bus ride to and from Mississippi

I’d use plastic needles for this one. You’ll probably be falling asleep on them.

6. On the plane

Once again, plastic needles are best. (Touchy ol’ TSA)

7. During slow periods at work

In my case, it was a tutoring job when I had no “tutees”, no homework, and no copies to make for the teacher across the hall. (Did that ever happen?)

8. In traffic jams

It works too well. You’ll be having so much fun knitting, you won’t even notice when the traffic starts moving  again.

9. At a historical re-enactment

Such as Civil War Days, Old Settler’s Days, etc. This is where I learned!

10. In the bodyshop waiting room

Must. Keep. Sane.

(This represents one improperly done strut job on a rainy Sunday morning.)

What are your favorite, least favorite, and most creative places to knit? Please comment below; I’d love to hear your stories!