HighFiber: doll clothes

Showing posts with label doll clothes. Show all posts

Monday, January 29, 2024

Keeping Entertained

Zachary's quilt is with the quilter. I dropped it off on Thursday.

I forgot to get a photo of the backing fabric, but I think this is it (website photo).

I have the binding sewn, pressed and ready to go.

To go with the quilt for Zachary's birthday, I have the Ruby Red Fashion Friends doll, Alex. I'm making him some clothes, including pajamas. I made him a sweater using my free pattern Pippa's Wonderland Turtle.

It's a quick and simple pattern. I used some Essential (Stroll) sock yarn from Knit Picks in "Flint Tweed." I've had it a long time, since before they changed the name. They still have Stroll yarn. It's basically the same, but they changed the name shortly after I bought what I used for the sweater.

Dolls don't like to have clothing pulled on over their heads, so it buttons down the back. This way, it can be used as a cardigan, too.

I finished Clue #1 in the Rose City Yarn Crawl Mystery Knit Along and started Clue #2 on Wednesday, when it came out. I really like how the beads look.

Saturday I finished the second clue.

I can't work on the MKAL project until the next clue. This means I had nothing to knit, so I wound up the yarn for the Milk Thistle shawl on Saturday and CO on Sunday. The kit was a nice present for my birthday. The herringbone stitch is proving to be a challenge. I frogged and started over again more times than I can count. It has I-cord edges, so it will take a while for it to look right, I think, but I'm not planning to start over again...again!

The pups were still wearing their sweaters until the weather warmed up a bit. Here they are, working their shift at KP duty, where they are pre-rinse specialists.

Because it warmed up, I've taken the sweaters off. We have snow melting, a muddy backyard and wet streets, but it's noticeably warmer. To keep out of the mud, we have been walking around the block or along the streets instead of on the trails.

There's still ice in some places. When we find that, we step over into the street and walk around. I expect we'll get more snow. After all, it's still January.

I have a lot of difficulty responding to comments to my blog posts because of technical issues beyond my control (my lack of understanding of how things work). Message me on Facebook, Ravelry or Spoutible if you need information.

If you have a few minutes and are willing, please go to Amazon and B&N and search for "Our Favorite Verses: Poems from The Doll's Storybook by Peggy Stuart". Every click on the page for the book makes it more likely they will keep a good supply in their warehouse and stores. If you are outside the US, you may have a separate website for these retailers. If you have a copy of any of our books, including Emil, Mariah or Classic Tales Retold, please leave an honest review on the websites, especially if you bought from them.

Where's my blog: If you want to follow my blog, go here and sign up to follow.

What's on my needles: Still the Happier Days Shawl, the Mystery KAL for the Rose City Yarn Crawl 2024. I'm waiting for Clue #3 on January 24th. The Milk Thistle, for which I have the kit, newly started.

What's on my loom: Still folded up

What's on my sewing machine: Ready to put on the binding when I get Zachary's quilt back. Need to start some pajamas for the doll Alex.

What's in The Doll's Storybook: In A Visit to the Mesozoic, Billy gets some help from Mandy when studying for a test.

What's on my iPad/iPhone: Finished listening to Ginny by M. C. Beaton. Now listing to Another Time, Another Place , #12 in "The Chronicles of St. Mary's" by Jodi Taylor.

Also still reading Harry Potter und die Kammer des Schreckens by Joanne K. Rowling (in German), the physical book, which I received for my birthday.

What's in my wine glass: Pleno Voo vino tinto 2021 from Portugal. It seems very nice, but I still don't have my sense of smell back, so I'm not sure I can really vouch for it (or any wine, for that matter).

What's my tip of the week: Just sewing a strip of cloth along one edge of a quilt top for a border until you run out quilt top may seem a way to save time, but you can end up with a quilt that looks like a potato chip. It's best to measure the length of the middle of the quilt. I sew the longer border on first, so I measure the length of the quilt top from top to bottom, then cut two border strips exactly that length. I pin and work in the ease as needed. Then I measure again for the width of the quilt, which is now larger by the width of the borders. I sew the top and bottom borders on the same way. I end up with a quilt top that is flat.

Where are my books: The stories in each book first appeared in the blog and they are reproduced with a few changes.

Our Favorite Verses: Poems from The Doll's Storybook is available from the BookBabyBookshop and other booksellers worldwide. Poems included are Valentine's Day, Keeping Pets, Back to School, Victor the Vulture, The Week Before Christmas, Insomnia and Veronika's Vocabulary Verses.

The stories in Classic Tales Retold: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are Little Green Greatcoat, The Boy Doll Who Cried Wolf and Lost in the Woods.

Emil: Stories from The Doll's Storybook and Mariah: Stories from The Doll's Storybook are also still available from booksellers. The link for Book Baby is here. The three stories in Emil are Best Buds, Getting What You Want, and The Boys Cook Dinner.

The three stories in Mariah are Being Little, Besties, and Distraction.

If you don't get free shipping from Amazon or B&N, buy from the BookBabyBookshop, because 50% of the price goes to St. Jude. Other booksellers pay much less.

Note: This blog post was produced on the iPad and the MacBook, using the iPhone for some photos and some photo processing. No other computer was used in any stage of composition or posting, and no Windows were opened, waited for, cleaned or broken. No animals or dolls were harmed during the production of this blog post.

<a class="blsdk-follow" href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/highfiber-7365001" target="_blank" data-blsdk-type="button" data-blsdk-counter="false">Follow</a><script>(function(d, s, id) {var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if (d.getElementById(id)) return;js = d.createElement(s);js.id = id;js.src = "https://www.bloglovin.com/widget/js/loader.js?v=1";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, "script", "bloglovin-sdk"))</script>

<a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blog/7365001/?claim=kkvctsdtf4n">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Monday, April 24, 2023

Changes and Projects

The arrangements for Sandy have changed a bit. This playpen has been his "room" when we weren't supervising his play time with Dusty. It still serves that function, with some adjustments.

The dogs have different food, and of course, each wants the other's kibble. Eventually they will both be on the same kibble, but for now, they have to eat separately. We've been keeping Sandy's "free feed" bowl in his green crate. Dusty won't go in there. In fact, we realized that he won't go into the playpen at all when the flaps are down, even when they aren't zippered. He doesn't use the dog door, either, so this is more of the same thing, I guess. Sandy, however, moves in and out of the playpen when the flaps aren't zippered shut. Since this photo was taken, we have removed the crate door. It won't be needed again until we take Sandy back to the vet...if he still fits!

We had been taking the green crate upstairs to our bedroom for Sandy to sleep in, but he had grown a lot. He also has a new friend who stays in the playpen with him or gets dragged out and around the house. This new friend sleeps with him, too. (More on the friend in a bit.)

Because the green crate was getting small, we cleaned and reassembled the big dog crates we already had. The brown one was Rocky's we put it into the bedroom for Sandy and his friend to sleep in. The blanket is to protect the inside from any lights that might shine into the bedroom and for additional warmth.

The mauve crate used to belong to Sunny. That one is now in the family room, so we can put Sandy in it in the evening when we're watching TV or otherwise can't watch him.

Sandy and Dusty play a lot during the day.

Sandy has learned how to participate in KP duty. He helps Dusty with the prewash when we've cooked dog-friendly food, like eggs or oatmeal. He quickly learned how to hold a pan down with his front paws.

We gave Sandy another bath on Tuesday. I love the crazy dance they do after they get toweled off.

We had an online get-together after Sandy was dry and partly brushed out. I held him in my lap to finish combing. It was clear he enjoyed it. It was like having a spa day.

He resists the brushes I use, but I've discovered he's OK with this comb once the preliminary brushing is done.

After our meeting was over, I wanted to get a photo while Sandy was still clean. (He doesn't stay that way long!) I got him to pose for me on the dog bed in front of the fireplace.

As I mentioned earlier, Sandy has a new friend. We have a pile of stuffed animals that used to belong to our daughter. I tried to get the kids to take them, but everyone already had enough suffies. Among the toys was a huge floppy cat. I offered it to Sandy, watching him to make sure he wasn't going to chew it up. We named the cat Snowball. I think Sandy has been sleeping better now that his friend sleeps with him, and sometimes he drags Snowball out of the playpen to join in the play on the floor in other rooms.

We've learned that Sandy sleeps better if we keep the last hour or so before bedtime quiet. He enjoys having me hold him in the rocking chair.

Between the breakdown of our pickup and tow vehicle, the delay returning home, having a cold and looking after Sandy, I got behind in making clothes for the grandkids' dolls. Zachary's Josh (A Girl for All Time Modern Boy Max) didn't get much in the way of a wardrobe so far, and Daphne's Nisha (still at our house for fittings) had nothing but the clothes she came in. Things changed this past week.

She comes in a nice dress and boots, but a girl needs an extra dress, a sweater, PJs, dress shoes, play clothes and a jacket. I started out by making her a simple dress. (I still need to press the fold out of the front of it before I send Nisha off.) I bought the pink tights and the dress shoes, and they were delivered while we were gone.

I had made this cardigan for one of my Happy Kidz dolls, but it turned out rather tight. I tried it on Pippa, but it was too big. I thought about shortening the sleeves but hadn't gotten to it. It's a pretty good fit for Nisha, so she gets to take it with her.

I made the pajama pants using the same pattern I used for Zachary's doll, but for a top, I cut and hemmed the cuff on a girl's lace sock, and added a ribbon and a button. You can hardly see the button in the photo, but it's a black shank button.

For play clothes, I purchased a turtleneck shirt and made some leggings. I've tried to find sandals to fit this doll but with no luck so far.

Since Josh is not here, Nisha has been my model for his clothes. I made him this shirt, and the pants were purchased. Josh can wear it with his brown lace-up shoes.

I made simple jackets for both dolls. This one is for Nisha.

With the hood up:

I had enough of some aqua blue fleece to make one for Josh from the same pattern.

It was fairly easy, once I got the pattern worked out. My pattern and instructions are here.

Finally, I'm finishing up this "pullover" for Josh. I'm making the button/buttonhole bands now and still have the neckband to knit. Then I have to sew the sleeves in and sew the buttons on.

We've been thinking of switching out our camping trailer for something smaller and more manageable. Someone posted this on Facebook, and I thought it would be perfect! (Assuming there's a little bathroom, a kitchen area and that the bookshelves fold down to provide a place to sleep.)

I got a surprise package this week from our daughter-in-law, who was sending me paint sample cards for the boys' rooms, so I can make quilts for them for their birthdays. The yarn came from Beyond Yarn in New Jersey, a Black-owned business that has been subjected to racist abuse. They sell online, if you don't live in New Jersey but want to patronize the shop. I'm going to have to figure out what to do with the yarn. Something fun! The fabrics will join other fabrics I have and end up in a quilt or two.

If you have a few minutes and are willing, please go to Amazon and B&N and search for "Classic Tales Retold: Stories from The Doll's Storybook by Peggy Stuart" in Children's. Every click on the page for the book makes it more likely they will keep a good supply in their warehouse and stores. If you are outside the US, you may have a separate website for these retailers. If you have a copy of any of our books, including Emil and Mariah, please leave an honest review on the websites, especially if you bought from them.

Where's my blog: If you want to follow my blog, go here and sign up to follow.

What's on my needles: Still the Talvinen cardigan (no progress this week, but soon!) and the EmPower People Kerchief (hibernating). Finishing up the doll sweater.

What's on my sewing machine: Waiting for more quilt work.

What's in The Doll's Storybook: For a doll, life really begins when they are carefully removed from their boxes in their new homes. In Existing Outside the Box Mandy explains to the newly arrived Jolena what their purpose is as dolls and what a doll's life is all about. This was our second story, as I continue to take time off for "pawternity leave."

What's on my iPad/iPhone: Still listening to The Weaver's Daughter by Sarah E. Ladd. Not much progress this week.

What's in my wine glass: Colossal Reserva 2018, which is pretty good, from Lisbon (Portugal).

What's my tip of the week: I have a tiny bottle of Kookaburra Wool Wash I take with me when we go camping. It comes in handy if I need to wash out a few things but don't have enough clothes to go to the laundromat. I just soak the items in a dishpan with hot water and a small amount of the wool wash for 30 minutes or so, then squeeze them out, roll them in a towel, then put them somewhere to dry. I really like that it cleans without needing to rinse. I have a big bottle and a bottle of Euclan (similar product) at home for cleaning and blocking knitting projects.

Where are my books: The stories in each book first appeared in the blog and they are reproduced with a few changes.

Classic Tales Retold: Stories from The Doll's Storybook is available from BookBabyBookshop and other booksellers worldwide. The stories are Little Green Greatcoat, The Boy Doll Who Cried Wolf and Lost in the Woods.

The three stories in Mariah are Being Little, Besties, and Distraction.

If you don't get free shipping from Amazon or B&N, buy from the BookBabyBookshop, because 50% of the price goes to St. Jude. Other booksellers pay much less.

<a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blog/7365001/?claim=kkvctsdtf4n">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Monday, June 13, 2022

Finally Progress!

Some progress happened this week. A few more rows on the Hinterland Pullover. Mindless knitting goes faster, of course...except that it doesn't, because it isn't as interesting. When I have a meeting or a Zoom call with the kids, though, I can get a few more rows done.

I published my pattern for Pauly's Stripy Pullover a couple of weeks ago, but I wanted to see if I could make the transition to the ribbing look smoother, so I'm making a new one. It's working, so I plan to publish an update to the pattern.

I have the sashing strips for the T-shirt quilt all sewn to the strips of blocks, so now I have to finish sewing the rows together. It's going quickly...when I get to it.

I had my mammogram this week, and while I was waiting another lady stopped to see what I was knitting. We chatted, and I found out she was a quilter, too, and in the course of conversation, I obtained the name and phone number of a machine quilter in Terrabonne (town close to Suttle Lake, which has been mentioned in my blog before, so not too far away). That gives me a potential place to get my T-shirt quilt quilted.

We had four bananas that were getting a bit...ripe, so I made oatmeal banana bread.

Usually when I have a couple of overripe bananas, I either make my banana-oat waffles or use them in a smoothie. Four was a bit much, though, thus the banana bread. (Recipe below.)

As is the case each week, I made a loaf of sourdough bread and bed my starter, which responded by expanding in its jars. I rarely use purchased yeast anymore.

Saturday we participated in the local gun-safety march. It was raining, but we met at Drake park, where at least the ducks and geese were happy.

The rain was mostly just a drizzle, and we wore our parkas. We had umbrellas with us in case the rain got too heavy.

I meant to get selfies of us, but we were late getting there, and as soon as we had finished signing petitions, the march took off. We passed people sitting and eating at sidewalk restaurants. I did manage to catch Dusty in one photo, though. He had a great time.

Rocky rode in his stroller. He was wearing his red fleece jacket. The back and sides of the stroller have mesh windows, so you can see Rocky, labeled here, "Dog." That's my foot in the lower part of the photo.

Sunday was our last day to sing as a choir. We had a baptism and confirmation, so the bishop was there. Our bishop lives in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and drove over on Saturday.

Later that afternoon, the choir had a party. We met at one of the choir member's homes. They have a lovely lake with ducks.

I should have taken photos of her lovely quilting studio. She makes art quilts and has a long-arm quilting machine. The workshop was impressive to say the least.

The grandkids and their activities are always fun to include. Here's Johan with Louis. I don't know where Soren was; probably home with Dad.

The other grandkids were in Florida with their parents this past week. They saw all the sights: Disney World, Epcot Center, Universal Studios and Disney Springs. They will remember this trip forever.

I have looked at so many of their photos showing where they went, my feet hurt!

If you have a few minutes and are willing, please go to Amazon and B&N and search for "Emil: Stories from The Doll's Storybook by Peggy Stuart" in Children's. Every click on the page for the book makes it more likely they will keep a good supply in their warehouse and stores. If you are outside the US, you may have a separate website for these retailers. If you have a copy of our first book, Mariah: Stories from The Doll's Storybook, it would help if you left an honest review on the websites, especially if you bought from them.

Where's my blog: If you want to follow my blog, go here and sign up to follow.

What's on my needles: Still the Hinterland Pullover, a few more rows done, and the emPower People Kerchief, removed from the dog stroller 😆. (I guess that's progress!) First sleeve of the blue and white Stripy Pullover for Pippa.

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hinterland-5

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/empower-people

What's on my loom: No progress.

What's on my sewing machine: T-shirt Quilt.

What's in my hoop: Whole Cloth Quilt, no progress.

What's in The Doll's Storybook: Rolling Into Summer Camp. Emil gets a letter from Pen Pal Holly, who is at summer camp with her human child. The camp is special for children who need to use a wheelchair to get around. Holly included photos.(I was able to get permission from Boise Parks and Recreation to use their photos from a similar program they have for kids who use wheelchairs or otherwise have challenges making regular camp impractical.)

What's on my iPad/iPhone: Still listening to The Woman Who Smashed Codes by Jason Fagone on the Audible app.

What's in my wine glass: Sancho Garcés Rioja Tempranillo from Spain. Nice. Different.

What's my tip of the week: Here's my recipe for Oatmeal Banana Bread:

Ingredients

3 ripe bananas

2 eggs

1/2 cup maple syrup

1/2 cup milk

3/4 cup slow-cooking rolled oats

1/4 cup oat bran

1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350ºF.

Spray a bread loaf pan with cooking spray.

Place bananas, eggs, maple syrup, milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda and oats in blender. Blend until smooth.. Add in whole wheat pastry flour, Mix until just combined. Pour batter bread pan. Bake for 50 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Where are my books: The stories in each book first appeared in the blog and they are reproduced with few changes. Emil: Stories from The Doll's Storybook is now available for preorder from booksellers world wide. The link for Book Baby is here. The three stories are Best Buds, Getting What You Want, and The Boys Cook Dinner.

Mariah: Stories from The Doll's Storybook is also available. The three stories in the first book are Being Little, Besties, and Distraction.

If you don't get free shipping from Amazon or B&N, buy from the BookBabyBookshop, because 50% of the price goes to St. Jude. Other booksellers pay much less.

<a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blog/7365001/?claim=kkvctsdtf4n">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>