The Yarnigans Blog

Who says Henri has to be a boy?

Jun 2, 2009
5 comments

I really enjoyed knitting lace dresses for the blank slate dolls, so today I tried to make a smaller one to fit the Henri and Marisol patterns. This is what I came up with:

marchelle 1

I'm not sure that I'm totally happy with how the dress came out, but now I have an idea of what I'm doing. Hopefully I'll get it straight and find the perfect dress pattern for these guys!

The knitted lace doll dress

May 29, 2009
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I should have put this up last week! Sorry it took me so long....

dress

Here's the pattern for the knitted lace doll dress that fits the blank slate dolls. The skirt is worked in a lace pattern adapted from the stitch "horseshoes" in Reader's Digest 1979 Complete Guide to Needlework. My doll's dress was made out of Lion Brand Wool Ease in heather grey and I used the same US3 needles to make it that I used to make the doll. I knitted it in the round because I didn't feel like seaming up the back but there's no reason you can't change the pattern to knit it flat.

CO 20, arranging evenly over dpns.

Work 4 rows in garter stitch.

Work 11 rows in stockinette stitch.

Work 4 rows in garter stitch.

M1 (k2, m1) 10 times.

K 1 row.

Row 1 of lace pattern: K1, *yo, k3, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k3, yo, k1.* Repeat from *.

Row 2 of lace pattern (and all even rows 4-8): Knit.

Row 3 of lace pattern: K1, *k1, yo, k2, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k2, yo, k2.* Repeat from *.

Row 5 of lace pattern: K1, *k2, yo, k1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k3.* Repeat from *.

Row 7 of lace pattern: K1, *k3, yo, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo, k4.* Repeat from *.

Repeat rows 1-8 another 2 times.

Bind off. Crochet straps onto the dress if desired.

Blank Slate Doll Pattern

May 21, 2009
2 comments

dolls 1

The Blank Slate doll is worked on 4 or 5 US#3 dpns. I used plain old kitchen cotton for the skin but any yarn could be used, as long as you adjust your needle size accordingly. Gauge is not important, but you want to create a fairly tight fabric so that stuffing won't leak out. You can knit the entire body in one color and then clothe her later, or you can change colors throughout to knit her a bodysuit, underwear, socks, shoes, etc.

WARNING: The legs on this doll are VERY fiddly, because I wanted her to have real-looking feet and leg shape. They are easy enough to do, but they are a PAIN in the BUTT. I feel confident you can do them, but I do not feel confident that you won't hate me afterwards. Now you can't say I didn't warn you!

Head and torso:

CO 4.

Row 1: Kfb around, arranging evenly over 4 dpns.

blonde 1

Row 2: (K1, kfb) around.

Row 3: (K2, kfb) around.

Row 4: (K3, kfb) around.

Row 5: (k4, kfb) around.

Row 6: (K5, kfb) around.

Row 7: Knit.

Row 8: (K6, kfb) around.

Rows 9-24: Knit.

Row 25: (K6, k2tog) around.

Row 26: (K5, k2tog) around. Stuff head.

Row 27: (K1, k2tog) around.

Row 28: K2tog around.

Rows 29-31: Knit.
Row 32: (Kfb) twice, k2, (kfb) twice, k2.

Row 33: (Kfb, k2) 4 times.

Row 34: Kfb, k4, kfb, k2, kfb, k4, kfb, k2.

You're going to have 2 needles that have 8 stitches on them (the front and back) and 2 needles that have 2 stitches on them (the shoulders). Stuff the neck firmly to prevent the head from being droopy.

Rows 35-55: Knit, making sure that you end on a needle that has 2 stitches (your next row will start on a needle that has 8 stitches).

Row 56: K2tog, k4, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k2.

Row 57: (K2tog, k2) 4 times. Stuff torso.

Row 58: K2tog around.

Cut yarn and thread through remaining stitches. Pull tight to close opening and weave in ends.

Arms (make 2):

CO 4.

Row 1: Kfb around, arranging evenly over 3 or 4 dpns (Your choice. These arms are so tiny I find it easier to work with as few needles as possible).

Row 2: K3, kfb, k3, kfb.

Row 3-6: Knit.

Row 7: K3, k2tog, k3, k2tog. Stuff hands.

Rows 8-32: Knit. Stuff arm if desired (I usually leave them unstuffed).

Row 33: K2tog around.

Cut yarn and thread through remaining stitches. Pull tight to close opening and weave in ends.

brunette 1

Legs (make 2):

CO 3.

Row 1: Kfb around, arranging evenly over 3 or 4 dpns.

Row 2: (K2, kfb) twice.

Rows 3-9: Knit.

Heel:

K4, w&T, p4, w&t.

K3, w&t, p2, w&t.

K1, w&t, w&t again.

You should end up at the heel of the foot.

Knit 13 rounds even, ending at the back of the leg.

Kfb, K7.

K 3 rounds.

Kfb, k8.w

K 6 rounds.
K4, kfb, k4, kfb.

K 4 rounds.

K5, kfb, k5, kfb.

K 10 rounds.

Bind off.

Assembly:

Sew arms to shoulders and legs to torso. Embroider on eyes with black thread.

To embroider on nose, find spot on face where you would like to place it. Thread a yarn needle with a length (8 inches or so) of yarn used for skin. Wrap the yarn around 2 stitches vertically where you want the nose over and over again until the nose is the desired size. See picture for more info.

To add hair, cut the yarn wanted for hair color into pieces slightly longer than twice the length of the desired hair length. Using a crochet hook, thread each piece through a stitch on the head and pull so that each half is even. Tie with a knot. Trim hair when finished to make it even. See pictures for more info. Tip: To make curly hair, use yarn from a frogged project!

hair 1

hair 2

hair 3

Sew or knit clothes for your doll. The pattern for the blonde doll's dress is now posted here: http://yarnigans.vox.com/library/post/the-knitted-lace-doll-dress.html Have fun!

PS - The blonde doll I made in this tutorial is now up for sale on etsy at http://yarnigans.etsy.com if you're interested.

Miles and new patterns

May 20, 2009
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My nephew Miles has finally made his appearance! He was born on 5/7/09 and is in the best of health. Henri the knitted bear finally got to go to his permanent home and Miles has been loving on him ever since. When Miles got his first professional portraits taken this week, Henri made a cameo in those, too. You can check him out at the photographer's blog here:

http://www.bluebugphotography.com/blog/?p=429

and see a picture of Miles in his rainbow djevellue that I knitted him here:

http://www.bluebugphotography.com/blog/?p=437

(pattern here: http://grosblog.wordpress.com/2007/05/16/sweet-baby-cap/ )

I've been busy writing and testing a doll pattern this week that I hope to have up in a few days. It's a "blank slate" doll that you can customize however you want. I'm really happy with how the first finished products have been turning out. Check back soon for the "Blank Slate Doll" debut!

Marisol Mouse

Apr 16, 2009
14 comments

Marisol the Knitted Mouse Pattern

marisol 1

Marisol is worked on 4 size US3 dpns in a small amount of worsted weight yarn. My Marisol is made from Lion Brand WoolEase in a light grey. You will also need a small amount of polyester fiberfill to stuff her and a small bit of pink yarn for her ears and tail, and some embroidery floss for her eyes and nose. Marisol is an adaptation of the Henri pattern. If you made Henri, you're going to find Marisol very familiar.

Head:

marisol 5

1 comment

CO 3.

Row 1: Kfb around and arrange stitches evenly over 3 dpns.

Row 2: Knit.

Row 3: (K1, Kfb) around.

Row 4: Knit.

Row 5: (K2, Kfb) around.

Row 6: Knit.

Row 7: (K3, kfb) around.

Row 8: Knit.

Row 9: (K4, kfb) around.

Row 10: Knit.

Row 11: (K5, kfb) around.

Your work should now look like a tiny pyramid. The point is the tip of the nose, needle 1 is the bottom left half of the face, needle 2 is the forehead, needle 3 is the bottom right half of the face. There are 7 stitches on each needle.

Row 12: Needle 1 - k6, kfb. Needle 2 - Knit. Needle 3 - kfb, k6.

Row 13: Needle 1 - k7, kfb. Needle 2- Knit. Needle 3 - kfb, k7.

Row 14: Needle 1- k8, kfb. Needle 2 - knit. Needle 3 - kfb, k8.

Row 15: Needle 1 - k9, kfb. Needle 2 - knit. Needle 3 - kfb, k9.

Row 16-18: Knit.

I embroidered on my eyes and nose at this point. Having the back of the head open made it easier. If you want to wait to do it, that's fine too. Now is also a good time to stuff the head, before you close up the opening.

Rows 19 and 20: K2tog around - 7 st remaining.

Cut yarn and thread it through remaining stitches, pulling tight to close. Tie off and pull end into head.

marisol 3

Ears (make 2 with pink yarn):

CO 3.

Rows 1-5: Knit in stocking stitch (purling even numbered rows).

Row 6: Sl 1, k2tog, psso.

Cut yarn and thread through last remaining stitch. Sew onto head, purl side facing forward.

Body:

CO 3.

Row 1: Kfb around, arranging evenly over 3 dpns.

Row 2: Kfb around.

Row 3: (K1, kfb) around.

Row 4: (K2, kfb) around.

Rows 5-17: Knit.

Row 18: (K2, k2tog) around.

Row 19: (K1, K2 tog) around.

Stuff body.

Row 20: K2tog around.

Cut yarn and thread through remaining stitches. Pull tight and fasten off. Sew body to head. To give your mouse a bit of extra character, sew it on at a funny little angle.

Arms (make 2):

CO 3.

Row 1: Kfb around, arranging evenly over 3 dpns.

Rows 2-10: Knit.

Cut yarn and thread through all stitches. Pull tight and fasten off. Sew arms to body.

Feet (make 2):

Make the same as arms. Sew under body.

Tail:

Using pink yarn, knit an i-cord of the desired tail length. Sew to body.

marisol 4

Baby Shower Invitations

Mar 9, 2009
1 comment

Last week I spent hours scouring the internet for instructions for DIY baby shower invitations. I was shocked to come up empty handed. I headed off to Michael's anyway, determined to come up with something creative. I did come up with something creative, and I decided to blog it so that maybe I could help someone who was in the same predicament.

In their blank card aisle, I picked out a pack of scalloped light blue cards that came with a brown background card. They come in packages of 10 and include envelopes. I got 3 packs to make 30 invites.

invites 1

When I got them home, I used my Fiskars tiny craft punch to punch the shapes of baby animals along the bottoms of the blue cards, so that the brown background would show through. I used ducks, elephants, bears, and rabbits.

invites 3

invites 2

On my computer (Paint Shop Pro), I made up a square with the text that I wanted on the card. I printed them out on a lightly textured white linen paper. I cut them out with my paper cutter and used to a glue stick to attach them to the blue cards.

invites 4

Lastly, I tied a matching blue ribbon with brown polka dots around the cards and tied it with a bow.

invites 5

The cards ended up being about $17 for all 30.

Henri the knitted bear

Mar 4, 2009
3 comments

Henri in the sun

6 comments

Even though my background is in crocheted toys, lately I've really liked the look of little knitted toys. After practicing with shaping a bit, I came up with this pattern. Henri can be knitted with a very small amount of any yarn.

Henri the Knitted Bear Pattern

Henri is worked on 4 size US3 dpns in a small amount of worsted weight yarn. My Henri is made from Lion Brand Vanna's Choice in a light tan. You will also need a small amount of polyester fiberfill to stuff him and a small bit of black yarn to embroider on his eyes and nose.

Head:

Henri in a votive holder

CO 3.

Row 1: Kfb around and arrange stitches evenly over 3 dpns.

Row 2: (K1, Kfb) around.

Row 3: (K2, Kfb) around.

Row 4: (K3, kfb) around.

Row 5: (K4, kfb) around.

Row 6: (K5, kfb) around.

Your work should now look like a tiny pyramid. The point is the tip of the nose, needle 1 is the bottom left half of the face, needle 2 is the forehead, needle 3 is the bottom right half of the face. There are 7 stitches on each needle.

Row 7: Needle 1 - knit. Needle 2 - Kfb, k5, kfb. Needle 3 - knit.

Row 8: Needle 1 - knit. Needle 2- kfb, k7, kfb. Needle 3 - knit.

Row 9: Needle 1- k6, kfb. Needle 2 - knit. Needle 3 - kfb, k6.

Row 10: Needle 1 - k7, kfb. Needle 2 - knit. Needle 3 - kfb, k7.

Row 11-18: Knit.

I embroidered on my eyes and nose at this point. Having the back of the head open made it easier. If you want to wait to do it, that's fine too. Now is also a good time to stuff the head, before you close up the opening.

Rows 19 and 20: K2tog around - 7 st remaining.

Cut yarn and thread it through remaining stitches, pulling tight to close. Tie off and pull end into head.

Henri and the cocoa

Ears (make 2):

CO 3.

Rows 1-3: Knit.

Row 4: Sl 1, k2tog, psso.

Cut yarn and thread through last remaining stitch. Sew onto head.

Body:

CO 3.

Row 1: Kfb around, arranging evenly over 3 dpns.

Row 2: Kfb around.

Row 3: (K1, kfb) around.

Row 4: (K2, kfb) around.

Rows 5-21: Knit.

Row 22: (K2, k2tog) around.

Row 23: (K1, K2 tog) around.

Stuff body.

Row 24: K2tog around.

Cut yarn and thread through remaining stitches. Pull tight and fasten off. Sew body to head.

Arms (make 2):

Henri looks in

CO 3.

Row 1: Kfb around, arranging evenly over 3 dpns.

Rows 2-15: Knit.

Cut yarn and thread through all stitches. Pull tight and fasten off. Sew arms to body.

Legs (make 2):

CO 3.

Row 1: Kfb around, arranging evenly over 3 dpns.

Row 2: Kfb around.

Rows 3-8: Knit.

Row 9: K4, k2tog, k2tog, k4.

Row 10: K3, k2tog, k2tog, k3.

Stuff foot.

Row 11: K2, k2tog, k2tog, k2.

Rows 12-20: Knit.

Cut yarn and thread through all stitches. Pull tight and fasten off. Sew legs to body.

Henri looking out

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Orange and white mittens - finished

Feb 20, 2009
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After admiring the first finished mitten for about a week, I finally cast on the second one and finished it in about 2 days. I just did some stitching to reinforce the thumb and the pair is finally done.

CIMG3741

CIMG3738

I love these. Love, love, love these. Dark orange is my favorite color right now so I love how it looks with the off-white. I made up the chart with the help of http://jessica-tromp.nl which has so many it was hard to decide on one or even a few to combine. I think that website is a big part of why I can't get enough of Norwegian mittens right now.

Although I'm extremely tempted to wear these in this horrible late-February weather, I know I already have enough pairs of mittens. I'm going to put them away and hopefully gift them come Christmas.

Mitten knitting

Feb 19, 2009
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The Valentine's holiday was a very successful one indeed over at yarnigans.etsy.com. I sold out of almost every Valentine's Day creature I made, and now I'm taking another small break from my etsy shop. This is usually a slow time of year for sales over there, so I'm using it to catch up on some knitting.

Just before Valentine's Day, I found a pattern on ravelry by Hello Yarn for Generic Norwegian Mittens. I've never been very big into Fair Isle before, in fact, I usually dismissed it as something that was beyond my skill level. But then I started looking at the finished projects from this pattern on ravelry-- I knew I couldn't resist at least giving it a shot.

I still can't believe how quickly this project went and how fun and easy it was! I was able to design my own pattern chart, so I made something simple with hearts for Valentine's Day. The mittens turned out amazing!

CIMG3706

The palm is a simple checkerboard and there's a heart on the thumb.

CIMG3703

All in all I think they took me 5 days, and I didn't work on them consistently. The grey is Lion Brand Wool-ease, the multi is JoJoLand wool in Rhythm, something I bought on ebay ages ago and never used. I have 4 skeins left so I will probably use it for more Norwegian mittens. I love this pattern!

I still can't believe how successful the whole endeavor was. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I cast on again right away after finishing these. The next pair of mittens has a flower design and is in dark orange and off-white. One is done, and the other just needs its thumb.

Snow bunny

Jan 27, 2009
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We finally had a very snowy day here in Maryland!

I used my time inside to finish up the light blue Love Bunny. I sewed cotton fabric to the inside of his ears and used it as his nose--a first for me. I also used a bit of white faux fur as his tail, instead of crocheting it.

blue bunny amigurumi 2

He's so furry and floppy that it was hard to get a good picture. I listed him on etsy with the pics I took, but I may go back and change them out for better ones.