Petit Tricotage

Do-Over

noreply@blogger.com (Ayîk) — Wed, 16 May 2012 06:16:00 +0000

This post came about not because of knitting or crocheting but because of rerooting. This is still, essentially a needle art but involving, brace, brace, brace, dolls. Basically, you get a doll and hate her hair or it is in such poor condition that you replace it (I will update this post with the gazillion links to techniques how to do this... eventually). For now, I use the knot method.

Anyway, the point of the post is that my in-laws have a favourite anecdote about so-and-so's great aunt who was a knitter but went bonkers without losing her knitting skill (sounds like heaven!). However, her "tic" was to knit a sock and then, just at the very end, rip it out. Her family would watch her and save/snatch these socks for completion by someone else. It is a good story but I always wonder: was she really all that crazy. I do this sort of thing all of the time.

So that anecdote is why a balding doll is popping up here. And, it really is needlework. The closest cousin is either rug hooking or tapestry. Regardless, it;s needles and fibers.

And, I think my dear little EW is much prettier with her do-over. Margarita Rosa's suggestion of a beefier needle helped so much. I was "getting by" with needles on hand and they kept breaking. But more annoying was the stubble effect: stray hairs poking up through the most recent but also adjacent holes. On Margarita Rosa's advice I used a proper rerooting needle and saw instantaneous results. Then, of course, it broke. So, I combed through my large gauge needle and found some very long darning needles that seem to work very well. And, best of all, almost no stubble!

So, back to the "do over" theme of this post...

I was 95% done with this reroot. But based upon my findings:

use a needle with a large eye and thick stem (i.e., large gauge), and longer really is more convenient, hence the "reroot needle"
hemostats sound precious and creepy but they actually work better than needle nose pliers... that locking grip is very nice after your 101st plug/loop.
Use many but smaller plugs
Take your time
Don't run from do-over's

I had to cut of and rip off that 95% sub-par reroot to-date. As I snipped the mess into the waste bin, I was thinking about my mental state but no one was around to snatch away the almost complete socks, er, doll head. I persevered.

Anyway, I think that "do over" was actually not so crazy. The smaller plugs are already better... providing silkier, lighter head of hair.

And my pop culture reference (it really has been back of mind), is Liz Lemon's need for a do over. What a wonderful concept.

Daisy Protoype Dress, Take Two

noreply@blogger.com (Ayîk) — Wed, 02 May 2012 17:34:00 +0000

Do you remember the Daisy Protoype Dress?
Well, as expected, it fits Blythe very well too. I cannot decide who it suits more but I really, really like it on Blythe.

Action Line-esque

noreply@blogger.com (Ayîk) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 20:09:00 +0000

I found and finally finished an early interpretation of this groovy Patons pattern

This was made during the still very early days of my crocheting. I had hidden it away after making it, with its ends all hanging out, no blocking, and no buttons. So it was a bit archaeological to pull it out now and "marvel" at some its characteristics while finishing it.

What would I do differently?

• make is looser, primarily in the legs

• rounder shoulders

• longer sleeves

And, oh, make fewer button holes! What was I thinking? I hate sewing on buttons. Oy. Also, the back, buttoned opening seems to be assymetrical. Was this planned? I cannot recall but it does not seem to impact the fit in a bad way. It remains a design mystery.

All in all, I think it was a strong "first pass" at that groovy pattern. I think that I might revisit it again. There are not enough Blythe pantsuits out there.

BLUE BELL HAT Crochet Pattern No 036, Take Two

noreply@blogger.com (Ayîk) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 23:22:00 +0000

Pattern from JT Easy Crochet's Etsy Shop.

This was a second pass at this cute and fun pattern. This time using a slightly softer palette and superwash yarn.

Sun Hats

noreply@blogger.com (Ayîk) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Too late for Easter but just in time for Spring/Summer: colourful raffia hats.
I actually made these last Spring/Summer–some during a trip to Hawaii–but it took me forever to block them!

It has been so long since then but I think I made them with the intent of fitting Poppy Parker and her kith and kin. However, knitting on the road without a fit model can lead to interesting results.

The hats fit Poppy but they are quite loose. The upside is that, with a hat pin, this allows for optimal styling.

I decided to try them on some of my other dolls...
They fit Daisy very well without her wig. In fact, I think that they suit her best. Keep in mind that she is absolutely adorable and everything looks best on her. Heheh.

They also fit very well a certain other Mademoiselle (you know, the one who "is not a doll"). Email me for pictures of that if you are curious.

Available here.

Striped Cardigan

noreply@blogger.com (Ayîk) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 07:00:00 +0000

This cardigan has been hanging around forever.
I kept losing and rediscovering it in my knitting basket... sewing on another button every so often.
Initially, I was really psyched about the colour combination. But as it was being knit, I found it stiff because of the cotton fiber and the gauge of the yarn. I fell out of love with it, which explains the lengthy post-production time.
But, once I finally got it on a doll, I loved it. The stiffness of the tight "weave" makes it look very tidy and tailored. And the fit is spot on for Blythe!

Available here.

Red Cardigan

noreply@blogger.com (Ayîk) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 22:43:00 +0000

Remember the red cardigan prototype? It also fits Blythe (and therefore it should fit Moofs and Momokos and some other 1:6 dolls).

The fit is still loose on Blythe which means it might even fit some more busty dolls. I should try it on my FR2's body.

It is en route to a new home in Seattle!

Daisy Protoype Dress

noreply@blogger.com (Ayîk) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:39:00 +0000

This was my second prototype for Daisy: a dress. The fit was much closer than the cardigan and turned out very well. This seems like a great style for her.

This is also the latest attempt to perfect puffed sleeves. It seems really close to the mark: a nice pouffy, rounded shape that stands up nicely. I will be using this technique again!

And, oh yes, those buttons work!

Daisy Prototype Cardigan

noreply@blogger.com (Ayîk) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 07:00:00 +0000

This was my first pass at a prototype sweater for Daisy.
I used my favourite doll-scaled yarn, Enchanté by Kaalund, in their Pointsettia colourway. It photographs much more variegated than it appears in person.

I was concerned about Daisy's curvy figure fitting into my default Blythe-sized knitting. I tried to loosen it up a bit. It fits her but looser than I had imagined it would. The cuffs were fine and fit over her hands easily with the use of dressing mitts.

All of the buttons and buttonholes are operable.

This was also an exercise in perfecting the puffed sleeve without resorting to an inset sleeve. I was mildly pleased with the effect but have since made a revision to a portion of the technique. It might be the solution.

Next it needs to be tried on Blythe and Una but it should fit them fine.

Long Gradient Yarn

noreply@blogger.com (Ayîk) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:17:00 +0000

I stumbled upon a wonderful, mathy-y knitting blog called The Work Is Getting To Me. It had a post on long gradient yarn and how to make it yourself!
I was immediately reminded of Moonstitches's highly covetable yarn, Diamondokeito/Diakeito, DiaScenery/Diamusee Fine.
The nice thing about the technique is that she does not use lacerating chemicals, just Kool Aid! Cheap and easy!
I plan to make this hat, also from The Work Is Getting To Me.

Turban

noreply@blogger.com (Ayîk) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Trying out a turban on-hand...
The FR turban was a bit snug but still fit.

Daisy is the delightful new doll by Jung Hee Park of Bambola World. She is approximately the size of a Blythe but with a more proportional head. She is super cute and comes in an increasing number of face iterations.

Anemone Mittens

noreply@blogger.com (Ayîk) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Making the tendrils for Cat Bordhi's Anemone Hat was so much fun that I decided to make some mittens that featured them.

I used the same yarn but slightly smaller needles and cast on 32 stitches after doing some gauge calculations. The pattern is a simple, gusset-thumb, cuffed mitten but with tendrils all over the back of the hand.

Big Boy likes them and so do his classmates, petting them at every opportunity.

Water Lily Scarf

noreply@blogger.com (Ayîk) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Noro Catherine Wheel Scarf by Michelle Mooney.
Koigu Painter's Palette Premium Merino (KPPPM).
Inspired by Moonstitches Rhubarb Scarf.
Colour palette inspired by Monet.

I wish it had been a bit denser but I did not have enough yarn to make it as long as I had hoped and so it had to have the bejeezus stretched out of it, when I blocked it.

NB:
Buy more yarn… at least two skeins of each colour next time.
On final row (i.e., the ruffled edge), instead of 1sc, 3ch, 1sc in each of the previous rows dc’s, do this: 1sc, 3ch, 1sc, slip 1 in next dc, repeat. This creates a flatter ruffle but I like it more than the busier, original ruffle.

Anemone Hat

noreply@blogger.com (Ayîk) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0000

This was easy and fun to knit once I stopped thinking too much about the mechanics of a moebius brim.

The two best things about making it were learning to:
• make those wormy tendrils, and
• execute Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off

Cat Bordhi's Anemone Hat

Swallowtail Shawl

noreply@blogger.com (Ayîk) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 08:00:00 +0000

Swallowtail Shawl, Pattern by Evelyn A. Clark

Next time I would use a yarn less fuzzy than this alpaca to better show the pattern.

Blocking

noreply@blogger.com (Ayîk) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 08:00:00 +0000

Blocking Rods/Wires:
At Lacis

Alternatives to blocking rods/wires:
String blocking at Knitting on Circular Needles.
At a welding supplier, ask for stainless steel "tig" rods (approx. 30 or so, each 3' long in a plastic tube for about $16)

Blocking Boards:
DIY board using homosote and gingham at Yarn Maven.
Flexible Interlocking Blocking Tiles by Coco Knits and at KnitPicks.
EZ Blocking Boards,
Large Bi-fold Format.
Wondermat, a thrifty alternative

Other uses of blocking:
Add a zipper with blocking wires photo-tutorial at Split Yarn

Yarn Stores

noreply@blogger.com (Ayîk) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 08:00:00 +0000

Rohrspatz & Wollmeise
Andreas Wellmann
Schulstr. 10
85276 Pfaffenhofen/Ilm
http://www.wollmeise-yarnshop.de/

Artfibers - They are back in the city on Sutter near Grant!
266 Sutter St., third floor (elevator)
San Francisco CA 94108
Phone: 415.956.6319
Toll Free: (888) 326-1112
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday: 11-6 closed Monday
http://www.artfibers.com

Jimmy Beans Wool - excellent online service; Panda Silk available
5000 Smithridge Drive #A11, Reno NV 89502
Phone (775)827-YARN (9276)
Toll Free (877) JBW-KNIT (529-5648)
http://www.jimmybeanswool.com

Atelier Yarns
1945 Divisadero St
San Francisco, CA 94115-2518
(415) 771-1550
http://www.atelieryarns.com/

Imagiknit - massive selection
3897 18th St. (at Sanchez)
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 621-6642
Monday-Saturday 11-6:30, Sunday 11-4
http://www.imagiknit.com/

PURL
137 Sullivan Street
New York, NY 10012
phone: (212)420-8796
(212) 420-8798
Monday through Friday 12-7;
Saturday and Sunday 12-6
http://www.purlsoho.com/purl

Claire-Anne O'Brien

noreply@blogger.com (Ayîk) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 07:00:00 +0000

At the complete opposite end of the scale from Petit Tricotage, we have Claire-Anne O'Brien's jumbo knits:

Knit Stools
British Wool Chair

From her website:

"... Her work plays with technique and scale creating playful and tactile fabrics for interiors. This sculptural approach to textiles brings fabrics to life in three dimensions through form exploration and furniture."

Turbans For The 1:6 Crowd

noreply@blogger.com (Ayîk) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 07:00:00 +0000

I was packing up Kyori Fierce Subject last night, as she prepares to head off to her new home, and came across some turbans I had forgotten about that I had loaned to E. for a photoshoot.

Out came the camera for one last session.
Farewell and good luck to Kyori!

Prototype SwimSuit

noreply@blogger.com (Ayîk) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 07:00:00 +0000

I would like to try this again in a purple/yellow combination. Maybe yellow with a purple ring?

This first version was on Etsy. I really should make one to keep for my EW!

Moof Turban

noreply@blogger.com (Ayîk) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Who knew that crocheting turbans would be so addictive. Una is the latest doll to get one.

She especially needed one since all of her hair fell out last week. It is not yet clear if it was because of stress or a terrible balding disease. I suspect some form of deterioration of her hair fibres. It almost looked moldy at the root. Has anyone else seen this phenomenon with a Moof?

In any case, her recent trip to Toronto with me found time for her to have her own turban made from Panda Silk (52% Bamboo, 43% Merino, 5% Silk) with a 2.1 mm hook. Upon our return home, her new hair was waiting for her: a lovely, fine heat-proof hair in light auburn. It is similar to her original hair but more ginger than orange and much, much softer and finer. I think that she is going to look very pretty.

Una Toppers

noreply@blogger.com (Ayîk) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 07:00:00 +0000

This inspirational photo from 1963 Vogue was seen in Herecomesthesky's Flickr photostream.
I love the shape of these hats and wanted to try and recreate it. With some raffia still on hand and one Blythe boater under my belt, it seemed an easy enough task.

In retrospect, it might look more accurate if the raffia was finer, or the gauge tighter. But the profile is close enough. Una's version is a little more curved through the brim and the brim itself is bigger. Take two will have to address these issues and aim to be truer to the original but the general principles for shaping the hat have been established. Now Una can brave the fierce sun of the tropics!

Crochet: Raffia Hat(s)

noreply@blogger.com (Ayîk) — Tue, 17 May 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Mini Dolls shows how to construct a straw boater from Swiss hat braid.

Using my new stash of raffia, I plan to try to crochet a hat.

I am very interested in the double layer crochet technique at Craft Passion. Does it make the item stronger, more flexible, or just thicker?

Chainless Crochet Foundation

noreply@blogger.com (Ayîk) — Mon, 16 May 2011 23:48:00 +0000

My favourite way to start a crochet project!

Wonderful videos from The Art of Crochet by Teresa on:
Chainless Single Crochet Foundation
Chainless Half Double Crochet Foundation
Chainless Double Crochet Foundation

Crochet: Raffia

noreply@blogger.com (Ayîk) — Mon, 09 May 2011 22:11:00 +0000

Where it all started.

Fayme Harper's video tutorial - she also covers shaping and dyeing

Crochet Asylum's raffia