Playing with dolls

just to divert your attention away from the fact that the Clipper pattern still hasn't been graded, and that the Victoria pattern is being held up by my inability to knit 20 rows...

say Hi to the Dolly Mixture Collection: sizes 1,2, 4, 6, 8 years

the cardigan - which would look just as cute without the intarsia

the scoop neck vest with action in the front

and the back!

and the skirt - which you met a while back - it's been waiting for me to finish.

I'm trialling something new with this set - a "limited licence"

It means that while this design is my property and you can't sell or lend the pattern to anyone, you can now sell the garments you make from the pattern - as long as you are an individual doing it for your own gain (my existing licence gives people permission to knit a certain number of garments for charity) e.g. you can sell finished garments on www.toggle.co.nz, or www.etsy.com and other online marketplaces or craft fairs, just be sure to credit the design to me on the sales tag or website.

Skirting the issues

Knitted skirts present a conundrum, the qualities of knitted fabric – which make it so suitable for upper body garments, such as stretch and drape, can sometimes work against us when knitting pants and skirts, drape is not good across the butt, and stretch not so attractive across the tummy!

Luckily this is not such a problem when knitting for littlies, the amount of fabric required is usually not heavy enough that stretching and dropping are a problem – unless a rayon or hemp yarn is used. Good old wool and cotton are stable enough and practical.

A few weeks ago I was experimenting with various designs incorporating “cherries” as a central theme, I had knitted a sweater and had moved on to a cardigan design, I wanted a lot of ruffling around the bottom edge of the cardi – culminating in a fitted, button up bodice. I started knitting and soon realized that the stitch pattern I was playing with was ideal as a skirt – a swirly, twirly, toddlers skating skirt. I knitted on and instead of a cardigan, the skirt became a dress, a cute, warm over dress…a bit of a dead end dress, I feel no desire to take that design any further at present – because I am still intrigued with the skirt.

I am not going to describe the stitch pattern that resulted in the billowing soft pleats, that is for another day, it looks crisp and neat now as I knit it in a DK merino and silk yarn, and as I knit I think about ideas for more skirts, for wee girls I imagine knitted skirts over winter tights and leggings, a tidy button front a-line with stripes, a red dirdnl with peekaboo side panels in a bright Fairisle, the grey and cream skirts that my daughter Charlotte lived in as a 3 year old – with matching striped sweaters and red argyle tights.

A pen and paper always sit beside me as I knit, as I am engrossed in the stitches my mind opens and ideas fly, catching them is important – the moment fleeting.

No matching suits, no skirts with pants attached, no flimsy fabrics or inappropriate styles, just cute, practical and beautiful skirts for little girls who love to dance and run and climb.

A very general outline, with generous boundaries – looks like Autumn has suddenly become my season of skirts!