Doll Bunting

This is the toddler's new baby doll, one of those inexpensive ones you find in discount stores. It didn't come with much clothing, so I was asked to make something to 'keep baby warm'.

So, I sat down to knit a simple bunting.

As you can see, when the doll is in a sitting position, the legs spread quite wide. This is a problem. If the bunting is made in the same way a real baby garment is, it would be too narrow to fit around the legs while seated. If the garment is made wide enough for the legs, then it is much too bulky in the torso. Some shaping is required to make it fit properly.

I decided that I would make a prototype to test shaping and ease. If it turned out well then everyone would be happy. If it didn't go so well, then that would be ok too, it's just a test: a learning experience.

I chose garter stitch because it's easy and quick to work and the proportion of rows to stitches helps simplify the math. I decided to use raglan sleeves because they are easy to knit and to fit.

This doll's measurements:
Approximately 9 inches tall (23 cm.)
5-1/4 inches around belly (14 cm.)
10 inches around widest part of legs in seated position (25 cm.)
2-1/2 inches to fit loosely around thickest part of arm/hand (6.5cm)

Here's what I did:

Sleeves

Cast on 14 stitches, knit 18 rows or 9 ribs of garter stitch, cut yarn about 6 inches long and use a yarn needle to pull the yarn end through the stitches on the knitting needle- this works as a stitch holder. Make second sleeve to match. Set aside.

Body

Cast on 10 inches worth of stitches. I used King Cole brand Smarty Double Knitting yarn, which has a gauge of 22 stitches to 4 inches/10 cm. on US 5 needles (4mm). So, I cast on 56 stitches because I wanted an even number of stitches to divide front and back.

I knit straight garter stitch for a length that I thought would cover the legs from foot to knee, 24 rows or 12 ribs*. I then started decreasing at the sides to bring the width down to a good size to fit around the belly with some ease, 6 inches/15cm. I did it this way:

Row 25: Knit 12 stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit 24 stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit remaining 12 stitches- 52 stitches.
Row 26: Knit all stitches.
Row 27: Knit 11 stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit 22 stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit remaining 11 stitches- 48 stitches.
Row 28: Knit all stitches.
Row 29: Knit 10 stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit 20 stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit remaining 10 stitches- 44 stitches.
Row 30: Knit all stitches.
Row 31: Knit 9 stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit 18 stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit remaining 9 stitches- 40 stitches.
Row 32: Knit all stitches.
Row 33: Knit 8 stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit 16 stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit remaining 8 stitches- 36 stitches.
Row 34: Knit all stitches.
Row 35: Knit 7 stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit 14 stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit remaining 7 stitches- 32 stitches.
Row 36: Knit all stitches.

I then knit straight garter stitch for 10 more rows or 5 ribs to cover the area between the hip and armpit area where the sleeve opening begins.

Adding in the sleeves

Row 47: Knit the first 8 stitches, then take one sleeve and carefully put the sleeve stitches onto the left needle and pull out the stitch holder yarn, leaving the 6-inch tail hanging on the right edge of the sleeve. Smooth it out of the way of the work. Now, this is going to be awkward, trying to fit the sleeve stitches in between existing body stitches- just take it slowly and don't worry if things get a little loose, it can be fixed when you sew the underarm seam. Knit the 14 stitches of the sleeve and then knit the 16 stitches of the back. Again, carefully put the stitches from the second sleeve onto the left needle and remove stitch holder yarn. Knit stitches from second sleeve, then knit remaining 8 stitches. 60 stitches on the needle, sitting rather awkwardly, being pushed and pulled in different directions. This tightness will ease up with each row you knit after this.
Row 48: Knit all the stitches.

Raglan Decreasing

Row 49: Knit 6 stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit 10 sleeve stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit 12 stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit 10 sleeve stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit remaining 6 stitches- 52 stitches.
Row 50: Knit all stitches.
Row 51: Knit 5 stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit 8 sleeve stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit 10 stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit 8 sleeve stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit remaining 5 stitches- 44 stitches.
Row 52: Knit all stitches.
Row 53: Knit 4 stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit 6 sleeve stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit 8 stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit 6 sleeve stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit remaining 4 stitches- 36 stitches.
Row 54: Knit all stitches.
Row 55: Knit 3 stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit 4 sleeve stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit 6 stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit 4 sleeve stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit remaining 3 stitches- 28 stitches.
Row 56: Knit all stitches.
Row 57: Knit 2 stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit 2 sleeve stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit 4 stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit 2 sleeve stitches, K2tog, K2tog, knit remaining 2 stitches- 20 stitches.
Row 58: Knit all stitches.

Knit 8 rows or 4 ribs of garter stitch for collar. Bind off.

Front Bands

Pick up 33 stitches along right front, knit 2 rows garter stitch, bind off. Repeat on left front.

*At this point I tried on the garment and discovered that I hadn't made it quite long enough, so I picked up stitches along the bottom edge and knitted another 10 rows or 5 ribs to make it long enough. I decreased on the 5th, 7th and 9th rows to make a curved bottom. It would be better to knit 34 rows to begin the work and pick up 38 stitches for the front bands.

Sewing up

Remember those 6 inch tails from the sleeves? that's what I used to sew the sleeve seams. It may need a little finessing and reinforcing to avoid having a hole in the armpit, so do that first before using matress stitch to sew the sleeve seam.

Lay the bunting on a flat surface with the front facing you and smooth it, overlapping the front bands in the center. Pin in place if needed and sew the bottom together using either a simple whip stitch or kitchener stitch. Stitch center fronts together about 2 inches up from the bottom. Sew 3 or 4 snaps to front bands to hold it together.

After I had finished the bunting, the toddler got hold of my needles again. There just seems to be something fascinating to that child about knitting needles. They are drumsticks usually, but this time the fascination was with splintering and breaking.

More Switch Marker Swap Arrivals

More stitch markers have arrived in the mail during the last week. I came home after a long day, feeling tired, to discover these little delights in my mail box. It really gave me a lift!

Here is the 3rd set of stitch markers I've received for the Switch Marker Swap and they're from Audrey. These markers are petite little darlings and the presentation is lovely. So lovely, in fact, that I don't want to remove them from the card! I'll leave them there for a while until I'm ready to use them.


This is the 4th set, from Jannett. What a luscious shade of blue! They feel wonderful in the hand and will move smoothly in my knitting.

Thank you, Swap Buddies, for your wonderful work!

Free Yarn Arrives

My free ball of yarn from Bernat has arrived! The color, Mr. Brown, is perfect for making a teddy bear or other animal. I'm looking forward to playing around with this yarn, it promises to be a lot of fun!

Have you requested your free ball of yarn yet? If you haven't, then you'd better do it quickly-the offer is only good through December 31st. Order yours here.

More Markers

I've received my second set of markers for the Switch Marker Swap. These come from Wendy and I think they're a hoot! I especially love the one with pink hair, hehe, I actually remember women wearing their hair that way when I was a child. We're all a bunch of doll lovers around here, and these stitch markers are very much like little dolls.

Thank you, Wendy, for giving me such a smile!

Recipe for Yams

This is what became of Yamzilla. Traditionally, my family has always served candied yams at Thanksgiving. Sickly sweet and high in calorie, I wanted to update our recipe to make something a bit more healthful but still satisfy the craving for familiar flavors. This is what I came up with. Even my mother (who is resistant to change in our food traditions) liked it and has asked that we do it this way from now on. Here's my recipe:

Yams with Marshmallows

1-1/2 lbs. yams or sweet potatoes
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 package miniature marshmallows

Peel yams and cut up into chunks. Place in a large pot and add water to cover. Bring to boiling, reduce heat and simmer until yams are tender. Drain and mash with potato masher. Stir in butter and spices. Spread yam mixture in a large shallow casserole or 9x13-inch pan. Top with marshmallows and bake in a 350 degree oven until the marshmallows melt and begin to brown. Serves a crowd of 12-16 people.

To reduce calories further, you may omit the marshmallows and serve as you would mashed potatoes.

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope you have all had a Happy Thanksgiving.

I have been feeling thankful for many things, some of which I will share with you here. I feel thankful for my freedom, prosperity and good fortune in general, which are not the result of my own actions and are not earned by me nor deserved by me to any greater degree than anyone else. I am thankful to have the things necessary for survival; a roof over my head, clothing, food and medical care. I am thankful for the things I have beyond the necessities; the luxury that allows me to have the time and the means to, among other things, knit just about whatever I wish for the simple pleasure of it. I am particularly thankful, however, for my loved ones, for being able to spend another cherished year with them.

I had a most pleasant Thanksgiving meal with my family, though not uneventful. In the process of preparing that meal I had a small mishap with a carving knife and cut my finger. It was a small enough injury that I was able to bandage it up and join everyone for supper before heading off to the urgent care clinic for a bit of Dermabond and a tetanus shot. I returned in time for pumpkin pie.

Unfortunately, I will not be able to do any knitting or other handwork until it has healed. I'm afraid I won't be able to get the second sleeve of my nephew's sweater knitted in time to be shipped to Canada for Christmas. I will ship the other gifts right away, and then send the sweater along later.

Here is a photo of the stitch markers I have made for the Switch Marker Swap. This is not a secret swap, so I am posting the photo right now. They have all been safely shipped out and are on their way to my swap buddies all over the country.

I didn't make them all at once, I worked on them as I had the free time over a period of 6-8 weeks. As a result, they are not all the same, they are each a unique creation. I like doing it this way; with a bit of time in between each set, I can be inspired in different ways and by different sources for each one.

I do hope my swap buddies enjoy the markers I've made for them!

Yamzilla

I simply could not resist showing you the yam I bought at the grocery store this week. It is positively the largest one I've ever seen. It's 1-1/2 lbs, 10 inches long and 6 inches in diameter with an 18-inch circumference, almost as large as my toddler's head. I can use this thing to model hats for little ones until I make Yams with Marshmallows out of it for Thanksgiving dinner. We affectionately call it Yamzilla.

We were invited to a neighbor's house to pick persimmons and came home with a grocery bag full of them. We left some stem attached to help them finish ripening where needed. Aren't they pretty? I want some yarn in that color hehe.

We're going to try out some recipes for baked goods and jams made with the persimmons; this is the first time we've had enough of the fruits to do so. I'll report on our adventures.

My first package came for the Switch Marker Swap. Aren't they adorable? What a cool way to keep them together, using a keychain! I love it!

Thank you, Moze, for a great set of stitch markers!