Off to the Big Smoke

She's got her fluffy clutchbag with her London A-Z and tube ticket. Her shoes are just the newest thing in crochet. As for the whisper of fluff on her white dress, she thought it would add to the festivity of the occassion.

This babe has now left her rural birthplace and is off in search of her true family and her spiritual home: The City!

I have more questions - please.

Hi everyone. I recieved my Palette yarn from knit picks - and I love the colors! I also got size 3 single point needles from Joann's and ordered size 2 and 2.5 from online (for making the clothes). I started my first Babe using the size 3 needles (to check a guage). My gauge with this yarn using #3 needles is: 1 inch = 7.5 stiches and 9.5 rows (right at the recommended gauge for the pattern in the book).

Now here's where I am a little uncertain (confused). When reading the book - on page 23 - it shows the body width to be 3.25 inches (perhaps 3.5 before sewing together). However, the directions on page 26 say to cast on 18 stiches. My body with 18 stiches is only 2.5 ish inches wide and in order to get the desired 3.5 inches width I will need to cast on 25 stiches. So . . . my question is: is the book incorrect on page 26 and should I cast on enough stiches to get a body width of 3.5 inches? Or should I not be concerned and make a skinny little babe with a 2.5 inch body width (won't her head look really big?) ?

I would be very interested to know what you have done , what your results were, and your thoughts.

Thanks so much for your responses. Again - I am learning so much from all of you and I thank you so much for sharing. DD

Maya the mermaid.

This is my Maya. As you can see she is waiting forlornly to go to her new home, where Fred is already settling in. I'm sure she's looking for the sea, since she can smell it on the wind, and the seagulls are letting her know it's not so far away. In the meantime, she sits glancing out of the window hoping for a glimpse of her new friends.

sisters

These sisters recently traveled to their new family, far far away. I wanted to take a moment to introduce them to you. On the left is phanC, a sophmore in college who is interested in studying aviation and works at a country club. On the right is Jayne, her younger sister, still in high school. If you'd like to see these girls modeling their wardrobes, please follow the links above.

Fairy Fred

(Wini)Fred is now on her way to make a little girl's Birthday wish come true. I made her (similar to my first attempt) using the same needles as the pattern requests, no gauge swatches (tut tut), pink bargain dk for body etc, and for the light pink (hair) and dark pink (dress) found one ball of each colour of Elle's Velluto in a bargain bin. She wanted an 'up-do' so has a floppy quiff, and for the observant, yes her wings are on upside down but I found the weight of the felt decoration the "correct" way round just meant they folded over and curled into nothing.

I've found if I use my cast off edge as the top of the arms and legs, this adds a natural slant that enables the appendages to hang more readily.

The thing I really struggle with is the mouth, my 'little' running stitch looks a bit like a row of etched teeth, but with another mermaid requested, I shall try again!

My Babe

Hello all,
This babe is for my 7 year old niece and has not been named yet. (One idea she had was Chloe which I love). I was surprised at how quickly she knit up but had some trouble with attaching hair and limbs. Also had trouble finding fingering weight yarn in a flesh tone! So I used 100% mercerized cotton in more of a sport weight. Since I'm not great at gauge or adjusting patterns I'm a little worried about getting her clothes to fit right but the entire process has been really fun and everyone who has seen her is really impressed, which is nice! The best part was going through the book with my niece and talking about what she wanted her doll to look like. She choose the pink hair by the way. I chose the "Read" sticker as I am a librarian and want this babe to promote reading!
I've been keeping up with the knit-along for ideas ... this blog is so inspiring! If anyone has tips for yarn, hair, and limb attachment I would love to hear from you as I plan on making more babes!

Sally the Seductress...and her nails.

The day was absolutely flawless. Crystal blue skies and no fog in site, which is a rare commodity in this coastal town. The beaches were packed with sun worshippers from all around the bay area. Sally found it hard to part with this beautiful day and so she continued to sunbathe on her front porch. Reading Claire Garland's new book Dream Toys and a manicure was all Sally needed to make this a perfect day. Her feet and hands were knitted as indicated in the book with a few changes. As you get to toward the last 6 rows increase by one, then two stitches to create the widening of the hands. For her toes, I also single crocheted on the last row to add a more rounded edge. Alittle beige color thread to define the edges of the toes and fingers, optional but helps to flatten them. Felting small pieces of pink roving to round circles on the hands and feet make a dimentional surface for the nails. If you look closely, Sally's nose is felted too to a petite round mound. A few stitches to the back of the ankes allow her feet to look more natural. The ideas are countless of what you can create with the knitted babes!

Bikini-Babe

Ohh - the weather is really warm here in Norway. We're all defrosting after the winter. My babe got a new bikini yesterday. (I cut out pieces of felt, and crocheted around the edges.)

Of course the pink bikini matches the colour of her lipstick.

She also have name - finally. My sister Kirsten suggested the name Penelope - and a Penelope she is!

Have a nice, warm weekend.

Hello - can anyone give me some advice?

Hi - I am brand new to the blog and have been enjoying looking at all of your beautiful and creative babes. You are so talented! And so nice to share your ideas, your Babes, and your informaiton/insights. Thank you so much for letting me be a part of this fabulous group!

I finally ordered the Knitted Babes book - and it should arrive on Monday. I opted out of ordering any kits at this time because the cost was about $60 US dollars - and when I did a preview of the book - I preferred the clothing options in the book. However I do need some help. Can anyone shed some light on these questions? (I can't wait for the book! - and I am interested in your thoughts based on your own experiences).

1. Can a brand new never before knitter make a babe? I am going to spend sometime with my daughter (adult) - she has never knitted - and I was going to take the supplies for each of us to make a Babe while I was there. Do you think this is too advanced for someone who has not knitted before - or could I take some scrap yarn - teach her to cast on, knit and purl, and bind off - and then she'd be able to proceed with some help? (I am an experienced knitter)

2. I noticed that someone said there are basic knitting directions in the book. Is this enough or should I get her another basic book. What other book would you recommend?

3. What are you thoughts on the kits? Are they worth the $60 - in terms of time to purchase supplies, cost of supplies, etc.?

Thanks so much! DD Diva (loved the name - hope DD Diva Babe doesn't mind that I borrwed it)

Perdi Bird

I finally finished the Dot Pebbles Perdi Bird kit I got for christmas. I think it looks very cute, and my sewing has improved a bit. The only thing I had trouble with was the apple green for the shoes. There was NOT at all enough of the apple green yarn to make the apples or finish the shoes. I improvised and just didn't make the soles, (sewing the fronts up into mini socks and connecting the white tweed to that). I found the rosette hard to make, however, I think it looks fairly nice. Tell me what you think!

Sally the Seductress...

Sally sits on her front porch. Its a typically overcast gray skied day in the small coastside town of Pacifica, California. The ocean view lies behind her. Ho...hum... what to do on such a gloomy day! She wears a light blue brimmed sun hat and a matching blue knitted halter top. Blonde braided strands of yarn are hung as glittery golden beads fall over her shoulders. Sally is sitting upright without falling due to a styrofoam tubing claimed from my son's guitar holder that is inserted in the neck. Her nails are dark dusty pink, made by felting them on with wool roving and toe nails to match of course. Pastel pink and white slippers adorn her tiny feet and are attached by velcro never to be misplaced.
Temperatures are cool today, maybe another day to go to the beach......

Knitting Ann

Knitting Ann (have a look here) has got a stola ;-))

I've seen all the new Knitted Babes... will soon knit some new ones!