Patterns & Laziness

Given how long between posts, I don't know if anyone actually reads this anymore. But I want to post.

Santa and I had a little chat. He is bringing Elanor a doll for Christmas. She is a Madame Alexander Favorite Friends doll. Very close in size to the American Girl dolls so the patterns & such from one should fit her. After a lot of research, I chose this one. The prices for the AG dolls are *insane*. The MA one is a third of the price. (Don't worry, DD can't read yet. So she won't learn anything she shouldn't about Santa's present.)

So, of course, I want to make something adorable for Elanor & the doll. Given knitting is my particular vice, I figured I would try to make them a matching set. I was surprised that there weren't a lot of matching sets for the girl & the doll.

I did find a pattern book with nine matching patterns. So I decided to buy that. It arrived today. I opened it up and nearly cried.

All the patterns are sweaters you have to piece together. UUUUUGGGHHHH! I *hate* that.

I know, I know. It is me being a lazy knitter. I really should just change my blog name to Confessions from a Lazy Knitter. (I just added it to my subtitle. *laugh*) I hate piece sweaters. And I don't understand why they are the norm other than they are easier on the designer. I really feel like a doll could do without seaming too!

So of course, being me, I am figuring that I should just use a basic pattern, scale it down for the doll. This way I can *skip* seaming work. I have a book of kid knits that are all seamless construction. So I could just work from there.

I know, I know. I should just get over it and do the work. *laugh* But I know myself. I am terrible about putting buttons on. What on earth makes me think I would actually deal with seaming!

I also figured I would get some sewing patterns. Sewing is significantly faster. And believe me, after looking at the prices on outfits for dolls, I *knew* I had to do something. (Honestly, I am not thrilled with the dress the doll comes in so I want her to have options.)

I was thrilled to find McCalls is having a pattern sale. Most of their patterns were only $1.49. The only downside it their shipping & handling was kinda crazy. But I ordered a bunch of doll patterns as well as some young girl patterns & three costume patterns for the kids next year Halloween and/or Ren Faire.

Maybe all of this doll stuff is just my own insanity. Or lack of sleep. *laugh* But I recall my mom making me and my Fisher Price Jenny doll matching shirts. It was kinda sweet. (Mind you I also remember it was 70s and they were polyester...which was fine for a doll, but not so fun for a kid...*winces*)

I really hope Elanor likes the doll. I am not sure honestly. But I am hoping. She likes the dolls she has so far though she hasn't taken a particular shine to any of them. But who knows. Only time will tell.

Ah well. I have a ton of work I need to finish! Conference starts in less than two weeks. *sigh*

New Skill Learned for Merry Cardigan

It is amazing. An actual blog post for my knitting blog. Will it actually happen or will I write half a message and abandon it? One can never tell.

I am proud to say I learned a new skill. Using kitchner in pattern. Woohoo. I feel so proud.

The Cardigan for My Hobbit Elanor sweater is nearly completed. The challenge was to graft the top of the hood together where there was cables. I had never done that before.

But after some searching online and using the noggin, I figured how.

First time through a knit stitch is a purl, second time through is a knit.
For a purl stitch, it is the exact opposite.
First time through to purl is a knit, second time through is a purl.

Took some focus, but it worked!

The hood looks good. Though the end of the cable probably wasn't the best place to send it. It looks a bit different. But honestly, no one other than a knitter will probably notice. I think it looks good. I need to take pictures of that and the half dozen other items I have knit in the past few months! *laugh*

So it is good to go except... It all comes down to everything is done except the *&#@ buttons! (And the i-cord for said buttons.) *sigh* Buttons are the bane of my knitting existence! I even *own* the buttons. I bought four little wooden toggle buttons at Walmart ages ago. It will look good with the sweater. But of course, do you think I can find them?? Nope.

I have to drive into the mess that some decade is supposed to be the guest/craft room. But it may also end up being a room for Elanor or the baby boy due in March. We are going to have to see if they can share a room for a while. DH and his sister shared a room and he said they were sad when they got split up. So I figure we can see if having them in the same room works. It will depend on what sort of sleeper he is since she isn't great. Just have to see when the time comes. (Though I don't even want to think about what we do with all the craft stuff if we do have to use that room for one of the kids!)

Franklin Habit has summed up the day I fear most in Elanor's growth...
http://the-panopticon.blogspot.com/2010/08/development-of-communication-in-human.html

*gulp*

I am happy to report I am taking off this Monday and the 20th through the New Year! It should give me some knitting time. (The next two Mondays I am watching DD as DH has to see clients. But otherwise there is some free time. Woohoo.) I am also hoping that DH will work with me to get what I told him I want for this Christmas. The rest of the apartment unpacked!! *grin* That would be the best present this year! Even better than *gasp* fiber! But then again, it would enable me to actually *find* the fiber I actually own. And maybe, just maybe, I could actually blow the dust off my spinning wheel that has accumulated since DD was born. Just in time for more to accumulate for DS. But hey, even a little spinning time would be nice. Been sooo very long. 14 months at least. *grin*

Okay. I have way too much work to get done to write more. Time to get to it!

Maryland Sheep & Wool

I got to go to Maryland Sheep and Wool!

Here is the beautiful distraction that keeps me from posting here:



This is Elanor at her first fiber fest!

Her dress was made by her super talented aunt! Sorry. I don't know what the pattern is. Bad blogger.

Maryland was an amazing festival. I really enjoyed it and would have enjoyed it more had it not been so $!*@ hot!

I ended up at Creatively Dyed Yarns. I *love* their colorways. So yummy. I got two skeins of Fatima Grace. It is for an Elanor sweater. I am leaning towards a top down yoke cardigan. I think it will show off the yarn well and look adorable on Elanor.

Need to get back to work! I would love to say I will post more, but... *laugh*