Horse and Cowgirl

My sister just received a brand new baby great granddaughter.  I wanted to make something special for the new little girl.  I decided to make a horse that I made once before for my granddaughter, Portia.  As I was making the horse, I thought it would be fun to make a little cowgirl doll to put on the horse.  I wasn't sure if it would work because the legs were real floppy with Portia's.  The directions said that I could use some special kind of rolled paper to stiffen the legs so that the horse could stand.  I had never even heard of it before, and I certainly didn't have anything that seemed like it would work.  I finally came up with the idea to use rolled plastic canvas.  I knew it would be stiff enough to support the horse and be flexible enough to roll.  However, I wasn't sure that it would work.  I tried it and was very pleased to see that the horse could stand if balanced just right. 

Next, I had to make adjustments to my doll pattern.  It was for a fairy doll, and I wanted to make a cowgirl.  First, I had to change the look of the shoe to a boot.  I managed something that resembles a boot.  I had to create a way to make it look like she was wearing pants with a belt.  For the most part, I did a good job with that, except for the buckle turned out a little out of proportion. It was taller and narrower than I had thought it would be.  The belt and the loops were great.  Once I finished the doll, I had to sew her to the horse and hope that it would still stand.  Again, with a little balancing act, it can be done. 

From the side, you can see the M I put on the boot tops for her name, Madeline.

This view shows the dolls face and the buttons on her shirt.

Now that I have finished the toy, I will start to make a hoodie sweater for her.  I want to make the sweater that I have made before for three of my granddaughters and for another little girl that was from an order.  I love the pattern and it always looks so nice when it is finished. I will wait until tomorrow to get that started.

Kim's Sweater

I just finished the third Christmas sweater for the ladies.  Kim requested an interesting design that called for three-quarter length sleeves and body to be used over another longer top.  She chose a bright gold color and the pattern of the stitches was called a star pattern.  There are no buttons or zippers in this pattern.  All the borders are doubled with a facing.  It was interesting to learn how to do this.  I really enjoy learning new things about knitting, so this was fun to do.  The sleeves were done in rounds by using four double pointed needles like doing socks.  It was tricky trying to keep the pattern for the stars straight, but I love a challenge.  I had to actually redo both arms after completing about 2/3 of each of them.  With the first one, I decided it looked much too big for Kim's skinny little arms, so I took it out and converted the pattern to an even smaller size than the smallest size called for.  I had to increase the number of stitches as I went along to be sure that I would end up with the same number that the smallest size called for by the time that I got to where the sleeves tied into the yoke of the sweater, since for the rest of the way up the sweater, it was being knit as one piece across the sides, sleeves, and back.  With all of the decreases that was going to be done going up the yoke, I didn't want to even try to convert the pattern.  Besides, I thought it would be too small if I did.  Anyway, after redoing the first sleeve and finding that I was happy with it, I started the second sleeve.  I was moving along nicely, thinking that I was doing everything exactly like the other sleeve.  Not!  After knitting a long way up the sleeve I took a good look at it and realized that it was much too small.  I couldn't figure out what I had done wrong.  I started rereading the pattern to see what I could have done.  I finally realized that after knitting the cuff rows, I was suppose to increase eight stitches before starting the star pattern.  Once I corrected that error, I was once again able to get a sleeve that looked the correct size, and like the other sleeve.  It was challenging to tie the sleeves into the rest of the sweater, but once I did, it was smooth sailing the rest of the way.  I was able to finish in just a couple of days.  I was still a little worried about it being too small, so I had Kim try it on (even though it is a Christmas present, it is not a surprise).  It fit perfectly!  Hurray!!!!!!

From the back

and from the front

 

Now that I have these sweaters done, I need to start new projects.  I have a few to do.  I have chosen sock slippers for the men.  I found suede soles that had patterns for making the sock portion of the slippers.  They should be fun to make.  I also have some baby things to make for a grand niece.  I will need to get started on those right away, since she is already about a month old.

Gifts For Des

Another baby is about to be born to a lady at church.  She has been Nursery Leader for many of my grandchildren.  She is a sweet lady, and I am having fun making a few things for her new little boy soon to join us.  I understand that she may want to try using cloth diapers, so I made a set of twelve pocket type diapers like I made for my grandson, Ezra. I also made a couple of water proof covers, but they look too small to cover the diapers.  She may not be able to use them like I hoped, so I bought some plain ones from the store to cover the diapers I made.  She has requested blankets, so I made a variety of blankets, so she can match them to the weather.  She wants a boppie, and I have a very little used one with a purple cover that has a zipper for easy removal for washing.  Since she is having a boy, I thought a different color might be better. 

These are the diaper covers.

There is one monkey, one football, and two of the X Marks the Spot blue diapers.

There are two of each of these patterns.

This cuddly friend blanket does not show the bear's face, but it is adorable and should make a nice, soft cuddly friend.

Flannel Receiving blanket

Flannel Receiving blanket with a hood.

Tied fleece blanket

Boppie pillow with the new cover.

I was going to knit a blanket and embroider a poem on the squares, but I have decided not to finish it for this baby.  It will take too much time, and I have made enough other things.  I will continue to work on the knitted blanket, but I will save it for my next grand child (if I get any more).  I know at least one family wants to have another baby, so I should be able to give it to that baby.  Hope it will be a boy, since the color of this blanket is a variety of blues framed with white.