Cover Girl 

Cover Girl

I just finished my first knitted babe, her name is Cover Girl
She was knitted for my grandaughter Deja.
The doll is a Deja look alike. This week my grandaughter
was sick with a flu bug so it was a nice present for her.
The yarn for the body is handspun from a Shetland sheep
in a fawn color.

kit

i don't have a finshed knitted babe yet - i just thought i'd share the picture of my kit first and then hopefully the finished product soon after. i figure i would buy the kit instead of searching for all the supplies, then i would get an idea of what to get later on when i make more.

My finished babe #2

Here's my babe #2. I'm still trying different ways and shapes for the eyes. This babe - making sure is addicting. I love seeing everyone's babes. It is certainly going to be difficult to let my babes go when it comes time for my nieces to adopt them.

More Babes in Progress

All the babes posted are awesome! I love seeing all the different possibilities. Way to go ladies, and keep 'em coming!

I added a fun fur edge and sash to my original babe as well as little shoes. I photographed her with another (not yet finished) babe made from patons classic merino and a smaller one made with knitpicks palette (and size 2 needles).


As a follow up to knit_to_relax's post regarding increases, I figured I'd post for all to see. I knit through the front and back loop on the second stitches in and avoid unsightly holes that I get using m1.
Here's a pic:

I think it's upside down...but you can still see the tell tale bars made from the ktfbl.

And here is a close up of the hair line on my smallest babe. I did her hair like you would do fringe on a scarf. A bit tedious but I like the way it came out.


Well, I'm going to work on a purple sweater for my smallest babe. Maybe in the coming weeks those two faceless ones will be complete!

Babes on the Couch

It's Tuesday night again at the Knitting Room. We now have 6 babes in all! Sheri knit Daphne and Purl; Kristin knit Roxy and Sophia; Mary knit Jenny; and Patty knit Betsy! Cheryl crocheted the couch complete with pillows and an afghan!

Daphne

Her name is Daphne. She loves carnivals, rodeos, big hair, and loud clothes. She likes to turn heads where ever she goes. As you can see, she always has her face on - heavy eye liner and has even tried Bo-tox......I dare you to look under her skirt.............................

Imogen

Here is my finished babe!


I decided to call her Imogen, although Clare Garland said she would have named her "Dulcie Delice"! I sent Clare an email last week and she was kind enough to reply. Cheers, Clare!

Her hair is made from dyed mohair locks, her body is knit from Dale Baby Ull. I made her skirt by cutting a piece of black felt in half and sewing a simple seam. I used some fingering weight yarn for the drawstring waist & the embroidered flowers on the bottom.

I love her and she's currently sitting on the check out counter in the yarn shop I work at and has garnered a lot of attention so far!

Taking steps to prevent spam

Knitted Babes KAL Members - I'm taking steps to prevent spam, which is now infilitrating our KAL, by requiring you to enter word verification after you post to the blog. It's a quick, easy extra step, and I hope you'll agree it's worth it. What this does is to prevent automated systems from adding comments to our blog, since it takes a human being to read the word and pass this step. These comments that look like advertisements or a random links to an unrelated site are called "comment spam." A lot of this is done automatically by software which can't pass the word verification, so enabling this option is a good way for us to prevent many such unwanted comments. Thanks for your patience.

Babes question

Quick question on knitting these beautiful babes. What increase and decrease stitches are folks using in knitting the head area? With the increases and decreases on the first and last stitch, I don't know which way to do them to get a smooth, tight edge on the front and back pieces so seaming them will not create holes in the seam area. Thanks in advance for any advice.

We're famous!

We're famous! Have you heard of KnitCast, the podcast about knitting? Marie Irshad is the host and she interviewed Claire Garland recently. Turns out they live in the same town. The interview aired on Monday and the subject of our humble knit-along popped up. It's quite a large MP3 file to download--about 13 MB--and I've learned the hard way that it's best not to be working on anything else on your computer while it downloads.

Oops, the picture didn't send with The Knitting Room Babes!

Knitting Room Babes

On Tuesday evenings, Purl, Daphne, Roxie, and Jenny gather at The Knitting Room to exchange stories about their weekends and see what each other is knitting. Jenny seems to have lost her undies and hopes someone will knit her a pair!

Purl on the Town

Here is Purl in a more lady-like position. She is ready for a day of shopping and chinese food: garlic chicken to be exact with extra brocolli! Purl has met some new girlfriends who will be appearing soon. Bye for now!!

Babes Question

I just received my Knitted Babes book (thank goodness!) and I'm just about to start it....I had some questions, though, if any of you would mind helping me out:

1. Is it much easier (and does the Babe look neater) knitted in the round or knitted flat and then sewed together?

2. Does it matter if you knit the legs in curled stockinette or in icord? Which way looks better?

3. I'm still confused about how to do the hair in one piece before attatching it to her head. Does someone have detailed suggestions?

4. Did anyone else have a hard time photocopying the pants from the book at the 167% (or was it 143%?). I tried and tried, but my printer would only copy 3/4 of them.

5. What fingering yarns are you using for the doll? Is there one kind of yarn better that you've found? Merino wool? Cotton? Sock yarn? Would love to know what you're using.

6. (Promise, last one...) Will there be a special section in this blog later on for clothing/accessory patterns for us to browse through and share with each other. I'd love to be able to do that, since everyone's outfits are so cute and creative so far.

Thanks so much! (I love seeing everyone's Babes and hearing about them...thanks for sharing!)

Grayling Starr

Good Morning All! Just wanted to introduce my Knitted Babe. Her name is Grayling Starr. She is knitted in the round and her arms and legs are I-cord. She is sitting on the bookshelf, trying to decide which book to read. She just happens to be sitting next to a pix of my son when he was about 3. He'd had a hard day at the zoo and fell asleep on the way home in the car. He's 35 now. -Stine

Construction hint

Meant to include this in Toots' post, but I forgot.

I put a wooden spoon in her. The spoon is in her head, coated with stuffing, and the handle goes through her neck, so that she won't collapse.

Next doll will be knitted in the round, as several of you have suggested, with I-cord arms and legs.

Toots

Toots is an inter-planetary Knitted Babe. She arrived here on Earth (which she calls Planet Three) last weekend, suddenly appearing in the midwest region of the United States. She introduced herself as "Toots" and seems to answer to that moniker alone.

At first, United Nations dignitaries were quite excited about her visit, hoping that she was a roving ambassador from Mars (which she calls Planet Home or Planet Four). Toots disappointed them when she proved to be quite disinterested in foreign policy, interplanetary relations, world peace, or anything of a serious nature.

After many linguistic attempts to understand her motives for coming to Earth, the truth was finally ascertained.

She came to Earth for the "shaaaah-ping" which she learned about on her home planet due to interstellar reception of the Home Shopping Network. She's working on trading her Martian coinage for U.S. currency, but hasn't found anyone who knows what exchange rate to give her as yet.

Toots has no plans to return home, as she is quite thrilled to be here and doesn't seem to have any idea how she traveled here, let alone how to get back to Planet Four.

Until NASA can figure out how to send her back, Toots has been assigned to a foster home here on Earth. She is working her way through the vices of our planet. (Note the cigarette. We got it away from her after the photo session.)

Toots is currently residing at Kool Knits in Naperville, Illinois.

Knitting notes: Toots was knitted using Sirdar Snuggly double knitting, shade 373 (lime green). Her hair and garment were fashioned from Tahki select "lucky," colour 017. Knitting instructions for her garment can be found at cosmo_dk's blog, http://www.livejournal.com/users/cosmo_dk/

Skirt pattern

The crocheted skirt pattern is now posted on my blog.

Purl is all Gurl

Kristin Johnson wanted me to post this on her behalf... she's still figuring out how to post. More photos to come once she gets her groove on. (And yes, my Babe will be up soon. We have a Knit-Out in Louisville this weekend and I'm volunteering behind the scenes - busy busy busy.)

From Kristin: This is Purl. She is all "gurl". Pretty panties, ribbons, and bows a must have. She loves fresh flowers and she reads the New York Times. Purl is free-spirited. She is smart, funny, and stops at the knit shop on a daily basis to catch up with girlfriends on "what's new" in the world of yarn. On her way home this morning, she couldn't help herself but to swing a few times around the monkey bars...Life is good.... Purl was knit on size 2 needles using Cotton Classic. You can meet her at The Knitting Room in Fond du Lac, WI!!

All dressed and ready to play.

This babe is finished. I knitted the raglan sweater without the sleeves and I crocheted her a skirt. I'll post the crochet skirt pattern on my blog later.

All she needs is a name.

That's it from me for awhile. I will definitely be making more but for now, I have to get back to River, Klaralund, Vintage Capelet and Orangina.

Homespun Hair

This is how I added hair to my babe. I measured and cut a piece of felt and then cut the yarn as long as I needed. I used a sewing machine and stitched the yarn onto the felt strip, then I hand stitched the felt-side down onto my Babe.

She's still buck nekkid so I added the tiara.

My first babe - Lila

Here she is - my daughter named her Lila. I did the body following the instructions in the book, but the one which I am making right now I am knitting in the round on double pointed needles to avoid purling and sewing.

I used the pattern for the striped dress, but without the stripes. (I used Sockotta yarn). Has anyone else used this pattern? I had some trouble with the pattern when it started decreasing - my numbers of stitches did not match up with the book at all. I just winged it and it came out fine. I think my yarn was a finer gauge than the book called for, or else my doll is bigger, but the dress came out a little short. So I picked up 14 stitches on each of 4 size 5 double pointed needles and then knitted very loosely in the round with "Fun Fur" to make the dress longer. I also crocheted around the neck line and arm holes with it.

I think I need to add more hair - my daughter does not like how she is bald underneath the pigtails. I know nothing about sewing so any ideas would be appreciated!

Bottomless but Hairy

So, here's my babe-with-no-name sporting some hair and a dress/shirt. I'm trying to decide whether to sew or knit pants, or maybe a skirt or bloomers for her. Anyway you slice it, she's a little obscene with no bottoms. I think what was supposed to be a dress makes a cute hippie shirt, if I could only find good material to make flared jeans.

I sewed the hair on and am moderately pleased. I think I'm going to try a different way of doing hair on the next one.

Questions? I've got questions!

1) Are the facial features supposed to be sewn on before putting the doll together? I noticed the picture on page 29 of the book has the features on the unsewn doll but the book doesn't really specify either way.

2) Did I put the eyes on backwards? Which way are the "whites" supposed to point?

3) The book suggests to sew the hair on as a single unit but on page 49 the hair is clearly looped on like afghan fringe. Has anyone tried either way?

4) It's official, my kids are giving me the "what ARE you making?" look.

So many projects, so little time...

I read about the book on Knitter's Review and then found the book quite by accident at my local bookstore this week. Of course I had to start a babe right away, along with all the other knit and crochet projects I am working on. I don't think I'll be quite as quick as you guys because I like to alternate between projects!

I am trying a new yarn/thread from DMC called Senso Wool Cotton. It's a very soft, size 3 crochet "thread". I am not comfortable working with small needles, so the soft yarn may help with the size 2 needles. I usually knit on size 9 and larger needles, so I may have to switch to a Patons Wool with larger needles like others have. Will let you all know how it works out!

My 1st Babe in the making...

Ooh, the mail brought along my Knitted Babes book! Being the freaky doll lover, I could not wait to cast on. These are so quick and easy that I finished the body while waiting at the doctor's office. I have 7 nieces to knit these dolls for and there is also my daughter, so this project should keep me happy for awhile. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Okay, this very out of focus, distorted (I'm too close) photo was taken by a Polaroid camera. Remember those?! Yep, we still have a working one. Of course, the new fangled high priced automatic camera that was only 3 years old is broken but the 20+ year old Polaroid is still working.
Here are my babe specifics. He/She/It is made from Patons Classic Merino - Natural Mix #00229 and size 2 needles. The patterns call for fingering weight but I just knitted very, very tight. The unsewn head/torso measurement is approx 8 ½" long.

I have a nonblogger blog here and I'll be posting my babe's progress/adventures there also.

Knitted Burns

I posted this on my blog but thought you guys would like to see it. FYI, my cellmate is my coworker, I am not in jail or anything ;).

Okay, my cellmate just brought something to my attention that had me laughing for a good 20 minutes. My knitted babe looks like alien Mr. Burns from The Springfield Files episode of the Simpsons.



Good morning starshine....the earth says helLOOOOOOOOOO!

And so now, I must make myself a knitted Burns. ;)

And now I promise not to post for a while...

Naked and Hairless

Guess who needs some clothes and hair?

SHE DOES!

She measures 13.5" from the top of her head to the bottom of her torso. As you can see I bought some felt. :) I hope she looks less like a bowling pin when she has clothes on!

The Queen's First Babe (WIP)

Hello all!

I bought the Knitted Babes book late last week and couldn't wait to get started. I made the front and back of the body and the arms so far. By tonight I should have the legs finished and the doll sewed together and stuffed.

My next mission is to find a place by me to get some felt. The last time I bought felt had to be at least 10 years ago, so this should be pretty fun.

I don't know how I want to dress her yet. My Goddaughter just started her first year of school so I was thinking of making it a first day of school type of doll, complete with backpack etc. But knowing me I'll want to keep the first one for myself and make a second one as a gift. :)

So without any further ado, here is a progress shot of my first knitted babe (Please ignore my toes I took the pic really early this morning):


Yarn: Patons Classic Merino (I had no fingering weight yarn)
Needle: Size 7 Denise Interchangeable

I also made her head a little narrower (by 4 stitches) completely by accident. I shouldn't knit late at night. I'll post her measurements once she's stuffed and sewed together.

We have a new KAL button

We have a new button for the Knitted Babes KAL (thanks Michelle!). Feel free to right click on the image and save to your web sites and blogs and help spread the word.

Knitted Babes

Finally! I work at a knitting shop (Knitting Today) and the book "Knitted Babes" finally arrived. I know I won't get through the day without at least starting the Babes body.

The shop is having the Knitted Babes trunk show in December. So, I must get my Babe done and dressed to meet the other babes.

This is my first blog and I think it is going to be as much fun as the knitting.

Penny

Can't wait to knit the babes!

I'm bribbing myself to finish the garments I need for Stitches East so that I can begin my "babe". My friend, Susan, got me interested in the Knitted Babes and I am sure that we will get a group of folks together to make them.

I sooooooooo afraid that this will be a crazy addiction.

Sue