Pig Making the Finale

Violet the Pig has been naked long enough. No sooner did she get her dress on than she raided my jewelry box for goodies. She went straight for the pearls.

Violet the Pig

Her ring glitters in the lamp light

Caught red handed with her hands in the goods.  She doesn't bat an eyelash as she sifts around looking for the perfect porcine pearl .  Oh the naughty girl.  



Violet tries to get away but trips on a rope of pearls and goes down in a frothy lavender heap. 

the get away

Pig Making Part 2

Violet the Pig

Oh my goodness I love you Violet. Your keeping me so entertained and up so late at night.  Tonight I have really big plans for you. Feet for one thing. Cloven of course.  Once your tootsies are just right I will get to work on your dress. It has to be fancy as you told me you want to dance in it.  I am even considering running to the fabric store tomorrow after work to find a bit of tulle for underneath the skirt.
Oh and bling...you mentioned you like "Bling".  Searching my button tin for  rhinestones.
:)

Pig Making

It has been delicious to have a day off on a  Monday !. I slept in and then I began my pig knitting.  The first knitting book I have purchased in years is itty-bitty toys by Susan B. Anderson http://www.amazon.com/reader/ASIN/1579653766 and I am enthralled with these cute little critters and how masterfully they have been designed. 

the yarn I am using is really a soft oinking pink and I don't know why it is so lavender here.  I wish I had a good camera or a fantastic phone with a good camera. (dear self put on top line of wish list).  

Hence my little pig is named Violet the Pig.  She is beginning to take on a decidedly piggish character with her fat squishy  belly and little hard snout.

In between knitting I had a bike ride around my neighborhood enjoying the warm Florida sunshine and somewhat shaded  by old oaks that grow in this area.  When I got home my husband made lunch. Big surprise.  He is not a cook, but shortly after I got settled in for another round of knitting he presented me with a large blue glass bowl filled with vanilla ice cream and Hershey's syrup.   A perfect lunch . We always have ice cream on holidays. This being Memorial Day was no exception. It has been written there are no calories on holidays.  

I felt a need to work off the ice cream by asking for a drive to the Venice jetty to over look the Gulf. We loaded Angie into the car and with my pig project packed in my red blood donor bag we went to find a cool breeze. It was breezy and cool for all of five minutes.  Lovely spot to watch dolphins fish, but not today.  We stayed a respectable amount of time given the heat and the panting of Angie. She drank all her water and gave us the look that said , "okay guys get it in gear and take me home."  

The rest of my Monday off was spent blissfully knitting away on Pig.  Watching Gettysburg on the History Channel with Skip and then our taking Angie for her after dinner walk.  

I wish every day was a Monday off. I am perfectly happy to knit and am never bored for a second. Time just passes to quickly as I knit, plot and plan every next stitch. 

Ruby's Swirly Sweater

I first met Gramma Ruby at my job as a cardiac nurse. She came to her office visit in the company of two of her daughters.  Tall and straight backed she carried her purse firmly under one arm and held the arm of a daughter with the other.  A darling ten year old girl and a little wiggly four year old boy traipsed in after this group.  Seated in the exam room the little children pressed up against their Great Gramma Ruby and asking for snacks our introductions began.  The most important part of Gramma Ruby's examination was making note of her family.  She said, " I loves me some babies." She is in her 90's and has over 40 children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Her eyes gleam and she smooths the folds in her skirt when she tells me this truth.  It is all I need to know, and yet there is so much more for her to tell me. It would take an age.  I have five minutes and I want them to last forever.   I knit myself a Gramma Ruby in her honor. 

My own Gramma Arnold taught me to knit when I was a fumble fingered little girl. Wool scratchy and loose in my hands.  What we teach our children is what defines us. What we remember becomes us.  Teach well.

Psalm 92:14

They will still yield fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap and very green,

Gramma hard at work

Gramma Ruby 

Gramma Ruby's Swirly Sweater

hand knit size 18" to 22" doll. 
in-the-round, top-down, raglan, eyelet lace, cap sleeves               
Worsted weight yarn  I used Caron Simply Soft in Orchid
Sz US 8 circular needle
abbreviations: 
CO, cast on
k1fb, knit one front and back
pm, place marker
sm, slip marker
stc, stitch or stitches
yo, yarn over
k, knit
p, purl
tog, together
~Begin~
CO 14 stc
row1:  k1,start raglan sleeve k1fb, pm, k1fb, pm, k1fb, start back k6, start 2nd raglan sleeve k1fb, pm, k1fb, pm, k1 (20 stc)
row2:  p
row3:  k1, k1fb ( v neck increase)  k to stc before marker k1fb in front of and after each marker, k all stc between markers, k to last 2 stch, k1fb, k1 
row4:  p (30 stc)
row5-row15:  k1, k1fb, k to stc before marker k1fb in front of and after each marker, k all stc between markers, k to last 2 stch, k1fb, k1 continue same for all odd rows
row 6-row16:   p (purl even rows)
row 17:  end of V-neck increases and beginning button holes.  k to first stc before marker k1fb in front of and after each marker, k all stc between markers, continue k  to last 2 stc, k1, yo, k1
row18: p1, p2tog, p to end ~button hole~
row19,21: k to stc before marker k1fb in front of and after each marker, k all stc between markers, k to end.
row20, 22:  p
row23:   k to stc before marker k1fb in front of and after each marker, k all stc between markers, k to last 2 stc, k1, yo, k1   (beginning second button hole)
row24:  p1, p2tog, p across row. ~button hole~
row25:  k to first marker, bo all stc between markers for cap sleeve, k across back to second set of markers, bo all stc between markers, k to end. (remove markers)
row26:  k1, p1, joining stc at underarms all across the row. cap sleeves made.
row 27: eyelet row (k2, yo, k1fb) to end. 
row28:  k1, ( k2tog, k2) across row. ~eyelet~
row29-35:  k (odd rows)
row30-36:   p (even rows)
row37:  (k2,yo) across row ending with k3

My mom's baby dress circa 1912

row38:  (k2, k2tog) across row
row 39:  k
row40:  p
row41: (k2, yo) across row
row42: (k2,k2tog) across row
row43-45: k2, p2 across row
row46: bind off


finishing:  weave in all ends, sew on two 3/4" buttons
                  weave 1/4" satin ribbon into eyelet row waste. 
~this is a free pattern of my own design for your personnel use only please, all mistakes are mine and mine alone~ 
please let me know of any glaring errors ( I am not a perfectionist, but I  do try)  :)





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Pink Tutu Swirl Dress

Lil Miss Tutu Pants

Pink Tutu Twirl dress for 7" doll.
My own design for dress.
Doll is http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rainbow-babies
Yarn:  Baby  DK 8 ply light
Sz 2 DPN
Simple A-line dress worked in-the-round and  top-down on DPN's. Lace picot hem. 2 button straps.

Cast on 28 stc's and divide between 3 DPN, as 9,10,9
Row 1: k joining in the round taking care not to twist stitches, pm.
Row 2: p
Row 3: k
Row 4-5:  k1,p1
Row 6:  (k1, k1fb) to end of round. Increase row.
Row 7-20: k
Row 21: (k1, k1fb). Increase row.
Row 22: p
Row 23-24: k
Row 25: (k1, yo) Starting Lace..
Row 26: k
Row 27: (k1, k2tog)

Hemming with slip stitch

Row 28-29: k                                                                                                                  
Row 30: bind off leaving a long enough  tail for hemming.
Picot Hem:  fold under and slip stitch hem to the under side of the Purl row.

Straps: Make 2                                                                                                      
on back top  of dress pick up 3 stc's  on side where you want first strap to start.
Knit these 3 stc's for 1 3/4" then
1st button hole row: k1, yo, k2
2nd button hole row: k1, k2tog, k1
3rd row: k and bind off.
Make second strap same way picking up 3 stch's on opposite side of dress back.

Buttons: The fun part. Look through your vintage button collection for 2 tiny  perfect buttons. Pure joy finding just the right buttons for the job.                                                        

 Ready to twirl

                                Abbreviations:  k - knit
                        p - purl
                        k1fb - knit 1 front and back
                        st - stitch, stitches
                        st st - stocking knit stitch
                        MC - main color
                        CC - contrast color
                        pm - place marker

                        k2tog- knit 2 together 

                        yo -  yarn over

~This Pattern is free for your personal use only please~

Crocus in Snow

~Crocus in Snow~

Lambie in the jasmine

Sun Dress for 8" doll. Hand knit.                                                            
Abbreviations:  k - knit
                        p - purl
                        k1fb - knit 1 front and back
                        st - stitch, stitches
                        st st - stocking knit stitch
                        MC - main color
                        CC - contrast color
                        pm - place marker

I made this dress pattern  for the Fuzzy Mitten Lamb http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/fuzzymitten I made from Barbara Prime a favorite  designer.
Yarn Worsted 10 ply, Top down and knit-in-the-round, I-cord
Needles size 3 US  dp
Gauge 12 st 2" and 12 rows 2"
Bib:
With MC cast on 12 st using just 2 needles. Leave a LONG 6' tail

Row 1-3: st st
Row 4: k
Row 5: k1,p1
Row 6: p1, k1 (seed st)
Row 7: k1,p1
Row 8: p1, k1
Row 9: k1, p1
Row 10: p
Row 11: k12
Row 12: p 12
Row 13: cast on 24 st at beginning of row. k dividing between 3 dp needles 12 st each
Row 14: k joining in-the-round being careful not to twist and  pm at end
Row 15: k1,k1fb
Row 16-18: k
Row 19: p
Row 20: k4, k1fb
Row 21: k
Row 22: p
Row 23-29 k
Row 30: change to CC and k
Row 31: p
Ruffle:
Row 32:  k4, k1fb
Row 33: k1, k1fb
Row 34-37: change to white and k
Row 38: p
Row 39 bind off all st leaving long tail for hemming.

Neck strap:
Pick up 3 st top side of bib and using long tail k a 3 st I-cord long enough to go around the neck of your doll and attach to opposite side of bib.  Mine was 4" . With tapestry needle slip yarn back through the 3 st and pull tight to secure. Sew to corner. It will have enough give to slip over doll's head. Or make loop and fasten with a button (when age appropriate).
Finishing Hem:
Fold hem under at p edge and slip st in place with the long tail. This will keep it from rolling.  Weave in all ends.

Mary finds Lambie a bit annoying!

~This Pattern is free for your personal use only please~

Ruby's Swirly Skirt

Yarn Cotton:  Lily Sugar'n Cream Ombres & Prints 1 skein  
Gauge 4 st to 1 "
Needles: circular size 8 US, and size 6 dp
Knit in the round
Cast on 52 stitches or amount you need to fit snug around waist of your doll.
Rows 1-3:  K2, P2
Row 4:  K
Row 5: K4, K1fb, end K2
Row 6: K5, K1fb, end K2
Row 7-10: K
Row 11: K6, K1fb, end K2
Rows  12-16: K
Row 17: K2, K1fb  (start of ruffle)
Row 18: K
Rows  19-20: P
Row 21: K1, K1fb
Rows  22-23:  K
Row 24: P
Row 25: Bind off purl wise using size 6 needle as your working needle for a nice tight hem.

~If needed you can run an elastic through top of waist or a string tie. Ruby was plump enough not to need help holding up her skirt.