2015 Really?

In December I finished the chemise for the
doll I'm working on.  It's cotton with flat felled
seams and tiny lace edging.  It seems like I worked
on it for ages!

It has side gores. 

The last thing I did was make the button loop.

Yikes............... the fabric split.  Nothing to
 do but mend it.  You can see the large stitches 
& uneven button loop. 

Frankly, the chemise is ill fitting.  It looks

like an old mended hand me down, originally

worn by a much fatter dolly, but it will stay

with her.  (She doesn't seem to notice
it's failings!)

I've chosen the fabrics for her dress and cape.

I decided against wool fabric for her cape, it was just too thick

 for a doll this size.  This reproduction brushed flannel is one of 
those horrid period greens I am not fond of, but somehow they look 
so right in the end & I'm always pleased.  Plaids were very popular
 & I will use one of the early 1900 black glass buttons for the closure.

I've wanted to use this early reproduction print for a

long time, even though it's really too large & not suitable for
a small doll dress.  I think the colors are beautiful & these tiny 
antique green hobnail buttons will look lovely down the front.  I
 think the vintage 1/4 inch rick rack will compliment the dress too. 

What do ya' think......way too big?

I also worked on another wool elephant from the

1905 Ladies Home Journal pattern.  This one
 has teeny antique German black glass eyes. 

If I hadn't fallen UP the stairs & jammed the fingers

of my right arthritic hand, I'd be much further along

with these projects!!!  For now, they have to wait.

I couldn't grasp the little needles, so I went for the big ones.
I was in need of a plain warm walkin' scarf, besides, I
thought it would be a good way to get my joints moving.

I only know the very basics of knitting, just enough to 

make simple scarves with no pattern.  With all the

beautiful specialty yarns you can purchase today, the 
stitching doesn't show anyway. 

These are big knitting needles & this scarf has 18 stitches.

Painfully awkward & the image of Struwwelpeter 
 kept floating around in my mind.

This is the plain ole' knit stitch.

I cut some lengths of yarn for fringe.  I had some 

extra variegated green yarn I thought would blend

in nicely.

Attaching the fringe.

 Then pull.

Dampen and lay out flat to block.  I used the
 rotary cutter, lip edged ruler & cutting mat to 
trim the fringe evenly.

Not fabulous, but my joints were beginning
 to loosen up a little, despite the swelling.

Even though my walkin' coat has a hood,

my ears still get cold, so I decided to make a

warm head band.  I made 3 skinny scarves

(knit a row, pearl a row), braided them together

then stitched the ends together.  I made a small

square to cover my ugly stitches.  Not my best
work, but they are WARM.

I added a carved coconut button,
because I LOVE BUTTONS!
I checked You Tube & there are numerous
learn to knit videos that look so easy.

I hope everyone had a good Christmas.  Steve & I had a Christmas
 Eve dinner at the Panda House in honor of the movie "A Christmas
 Story".  Our son Alex came on Christmas and spent several days 
with us.  We enjoyed our time together, great fun.  Leann had shows 
till after New Year's, (something we are used to) but will soon
 be here for an extended stay & we are planning a couple trips.
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 I still can't grip a needle so I've decided to take a blogger
 break.  I have several different projects I hope to do this year,
 along with dolls & a stuffed animal or two.  I also look forward
 to seeing all the posts from my blogger buddies.  Thank you for 
sticking with me and leaving such kind comments, they mean a lot!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Click below to learn about Struwwelpeter if you've 

never heard of him or the other cruel bizarre children's

stories by German author Dr. Heinrich Hoffmann.

Feeling My Age

Struwwelpeter Wikipedia

&

1905 Ladies Home Journal Elephant

My New Year's resolution.........use the hand rail!
Back in February