Projects
Knitted vest for 6 inch baby
n.b. Repeat instructions are in Bold print.
Using Perlé 8 cotton and 1.25mm knitting needles, cast on 64 stitches, loosely.
- First Row. K1, P1, to end of row.
Single rib for at least 2.5cm.
- K2tog, Rib 26, K2tog twice, Rib 30, K2tog.
- K2tog, Rib 28, K2tog, turn. Work on these 30 stitches. (Front)
- K2tog, rib to last two stitches, K2tog for next four rows.
- Rib 22 for two rows.
- Rib 9, cast off 4 sts ribwise, Rib 8. (separate at neck.)
- Rib 7, K2tog., turn.
- K2tog., Rib 6.
- Rib 7 for two rows.
- Rib 5, K2tog..
- Rib 6 for two rows.
- K2tog., Rib 4.
- Rib 5 for four rows.
Cast off.
Join in cotton at neck edge.
- K2tog., Rib 7.
- Rib 6, K2tog.
- Rib 7 for two rows.
- K2tog., Rib 5..
- Rib 6 for two rows.
- Rib 4, K2tog.
- Rib 5 for four rows.
Cast off.
Back.
Join in thread at armhole.
- K2tog, Rib to end last two stitches, K2tog for next five rows.
- Rib 18 for 6 rows.
- Rib 6, cast off 6 sts ribwise, Rib 5. (separate at neck.)
- Rib 4, K2tog.
- Rib 5 for 4 rows.
Cast off.
Join in cotton at neck edge.
- K2tog, Rib 4.
- Rib 5 for 4 rows.
Cast off.
Join side and shoulder seams.
Double crochet or buttonhole stitch around neck and armhole edges.
Tassel doll to suspend or stand.
The tassel doll is a decoration you can suspend; on a curtain, a wall, beside a mirror or even in a picture frame or a curved stand. To suspend your tassel doll you will need to have a half doll with a hole already in the top of her head. You can find these specially made for this purpose, as the hole is inserted in the greenware stage. Please do not try to drill a hole as the porcelain may shatter.
The other way to display your tassel doll (you will not need that hole in the top of the head this time), is to place her on an upright stand.
Whichever way you go, the principles are the same. There are just a couple of differing steps.
We will begin with the basic steps for the tassel doll to suspend.
First step. You will need some fine wire (e.g.20cm of fuse wire) and a piece of cord or ribbon at least 20cm in length.
Double the cord and firmly tie an overhand knot in the end. Slip the wire through the loop in the cord, fold the wire in half and twist the ends together (see in pic below).
Thread the twisted end of the wire up into the base of your Half Doll and guide it through the hole in the head. Pull the wire and the cord through the hole until you reach the knot, then discard the wire.
A dob of glue will ensure the cord stays in place.
Your Doll is ready to decorate.
There are lots of ways you can decorate your Tassel Doll. Let your creativity go wild. Try different ideas.
Pretend to be a fashion designer. It’s good therapy.
Suggestions on items to decorate. Guipure Lace, Ribbons, Beads, Feathers, Beads, Silk flowers. Because your Tassel Doll is not designed to be washed, you do not need to set the colour if you are dying any of the items. So long as you have covered joins and the top of the fringing, the rest is up to you. Add by stitching or gluing. I find a hot glue gun is really handy for this project.
Fringing.
Fringing is basically for lampshades and home decor, and comes in a variety of colours, and it dyes very easily. There are also different sized drops in the fringing. I favour the longest one.
The amount of fringing you will need, depends on the size of the Half Doll you are decorating.
For a rough estimate of how much you would need, I suggest…….. Large Half Doll approximately 50cm Medium Half Doll 30cm
Measure one length of fringing around the base of the hips, cut and set aside. Wind the remainder, or as much as the inside base of your lady can accommodate, and glue in place.
Then glue the fringing that you have set aside around the hips or base of your doll as pictured above.
If you have decided to display your Half Doll on a stand,
you just need an upright stand and the fringing for this step.
Measure one length of the fringing around the base of the hips, cut and set aside, as before. With the remainder of the fringing, attach one end at an appropriate height to the pole of the stand and tightly wind the fringing around the pole, forming a small platform the size of the base of your half Doll as pictured below.
Glue the fringing in place and leave to set. Add your lady, then attach the cut piece of fringing around the base of her hips.
Pincushion Doll
To make this pincushion doll you will need
medium sized half doll
matching legs (optional)
plastic aerosol can lid
stuffing
fabrics for skirt and base (lining and outer)
glue
Method
Cut the plastic lid in half sideways and discard the open end. Pic 1
Cut the lining fabric approx. 9cm x 23cm and join the two 9cm sides together to fit around the upturned lid.
Glue in place and leave to set.
Half fill with stuffing and stitch gathering thread around the top edge. Pic 2
Pull the thread in tight and tie off. Turn down the excess fafric.
Draft and cut outer fabric for base of the pincushion........ 28cm diameter (approx extra large dinner plate size)
Stitch gathering thread around the edge.Pic 3
Place pincushion base on the centre of the circle and draw up the gathering thread.
Pull tight and wrap excess gathering thread for a firm base for your half doll.Pic 4
Pic 1
Pic 2
Pic 3
Pic 4
Draft and cut fabric for the skirt....... 22cm diameter. Hem the skirt and embroider or embelish as you wish.
Cut a hole in the centre a little larger than your half doll's base.
Stitch a gathering thread around the centre hole.
Slip the skirt when finished onto your half doll, gather in at the waist, folding under the raw edge as you go.
A dab of glue will hold it in place if needed.
Stitch you half doll and legs (optional) in place on your pincushion .
You will need to gather up or fold in the front of the skirt the show the legs.
Your pincushion is now ready to use and enjoy
Fabric Body Connection for medium size legs
To make this connection, you will need
Medium standing legs
two satay or kebab sticks
a piece of Homespun or similar weight fabric 5cm x 9cm
filling
Method
Cut fabric to size, and join the 5cm ends together.
Glue the satay sticks into the legs and one edge of the fabric around the top of the legs.
Add some filling and gather in the top.
Cut the sticks to the correct height for your doll. Tie the two ends together and glue in place.
Cover the join with a piece of narrow lace.
Add your doll and her skirt.
Mermaid top
Slip Approximately 2½ strands of beads onto your cotton, and with you knitting needles,
Cast on 40 sts
- K1, slip 15 beads, slip the next 2 stitches onto the right hand needle, K1, ten times.
- Knit.
- K2, slip 10 beads, K2, slip 1 bead, K2, nine times, slip 10 beads, K2.
- Knit.
- K1, slip 1 bead, K2, to last stitch, slip 1 bead, K1.
- Knit.
- K2, slip 1 bead, K2, to end of row.
- Knit.
- K1, slip 1 bead, K2, to last stitch, slip 1 bead, K1.
- K32, turn.
- Slip 1 stitch, K1, slip 1 bead, K2, fifteen times.
- Cast off 2 stitches, knit to last 12 stitches, turn.
- Slip 1 stitch, slip 1 bead, K2, twelve times, slip 1 bead. K1.
- Cast off 2 stitches, knit to last 16 stitches, turn.
- Slip 1 stitch, K1, slip 1 bead, K2, nine times.
- K2together, K14, turn.
- Slip 1 stitch, slip 1 bead, K2, seven times.
- K2together, K11, turn.
- Slip 1 stitch, K1, slip 1 bead, K2, five times.
- K2together, K8, turn.
- Slip 1 stitch, slip 1 bead, K2, four times.
- K8, turn.
- Slip 1 stitch, slip 1 bead, K2, three times, slip 1 bead. K1.
- K7, turn.
- Slip 1 stitch, slip 1 bead, K2, three times.
- K6, turn.
- Slip 1 stitch, slip 1 bead, K2, twice, slip 1 bead. K1.
- K5, turn.
- Slip 1 stitch, slip 1 bead, K2, twice.
- K4, turn.
- Slip 1 stitch, slip 1 bead, K2, slip 1 bead, increase in next stitch by knitting into the front of the stitch, then into the back of the same stitch
- K4, turn.
- Slip 1 stitch, slip 1 bead, K2, increase in next stitch.
- K3, turn.
- Slip 1 stitch, K2, turn and cast on 17 stitches.
- K52.
- K1, slip 10 beads, K2, to last stitch, slip 10 beads, K1.
Cast off.
Slip the shoulder strap over her bare shoulder and join the end into the join at the back. Run a gathering thread around the base of her top and tie firmly.
