The Weekly Swatch: The Net Knit Stitch or Filet Net Knit Stitch

For this week's knit swatch I have prepared the Net Knit or Filet Net Knit Stitch. This is an uncomplicated openwork lace knit stitch, which is worked over two rows, creating a mesh fabric. 

When playing around with the swatch, I got the idea that this stitch might be suitable for a project incorporating beads and the below photo of the swatch with black yarn showcases the stitch worked with wooden beads, which were incorporated on the 2nd row. 

Net Knit Stitch or Filet Net Knit Stitch (Yarn: Stylecraft Kon-Tiki) 

Doll Customising: Easy Beginner Projects - Acrylic Yarn Wigs

Getting Into Doll Customising 

Regular readers of my blog will have noticed that I have been busy creating a number of custom outfits for Monster High and other dolls over the past months. I have to confess, by now my interest in doll customisation has become a bit of an obsession, judging by the time I spend marvelling at the many fantastic custom creations available on the web. 

Though I have been aware of the existence of custom or ooak (one of a kind) dolls for a number of years, especially since many Blythe doll collectors roaming the craft scene are very accomplished knitters and crocheters. Yet, I didn't feel confident enough to launch into my own custom projects for a long time. 

What's more, doll customising sounds like a bit of an obscure past time, especially for grown-ups. For this reason, I felt reluctant to admit to myself that I actually felt intrigued by it. So intrigued in fact, that I would want to give it a go myself.

Despite its growth over the past decade thanks to social media platforms such as Tumblr, Pinterest and Youtube, the community of doll customisers is still comparatively small and the number of  tutorials and readily available information on techniques, tools and materials is consequently rather limited, especially when compared to mainstream crafts such as sewing, knitting, or crocheting. Due to their familiarity with materials and tools in use by doll customisers, all those familiar with model-making are likely to have an advantage when branching into the custom doll sphere. For a knitter like me, doll customisation is entirely new territory.

Monster High Acrylic Yarn Doll Wig

The Weekly Swatch: Trellis Lace Knit Stitch

Trellis Lace Knit Stitch

For this week's swatch I have chosen the Trellis Lace Knit Stitch, a simple stitch motif that results in an open mesh fabric, ideal for summer garments, scarfs and throws. There is nothing complicated about this stitch. The pattern is knitted over four rows, all even rows are purled throughout and the lace pattern can be memorised easily. 

The stitch motif is suitable for yarns of all weights and I chose to showcase my swatch sample utilising Stylecraft Kontiki (grey) and Patons UK Vintage (pink). 

Trellis Lace Knit Stitch (Yarns: Stylecraft Kontiki - grey and Patons UK Vintage - pink)

The Weekly Swatch: Another Zig Zag Lace Knit Stitch

As mentioned in my last weekly swatch post, in which I was showcasing a 'zig zag lace stitch pattern', there are many variations of the so-called 'zig zag stitch' motif in lace knitting. That's why I have decided to knit up another zig zag swatch for this week's not-so-weekly, weekly swatch. 

Zig Zag Lace Knit Stitch Variation, Yarn: 4 ply Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light

Here, we have another zig zag stitch motif. It requires a multiple of 9 stitches and is knitted over 16 rows. Stitches on all even rows are purled throughout, all in- and decreases are a combination of yos, k2togs and pssos.

Free Pattern - Picot Dress for Monster High Doll

As promised a little while ago, I have been busy designing another Monster High doll dress pattern. Originally, I just wanted to have a go at designing a jumper. I ended up knitting a few pieces before arriving at the final pattern and whilst working on the design, I got the idea to extend the jumper and made it into a dress, featuring a Picot border instead. Adding the Picot bind-off is optional and my pattern also gives you the option to knit a 2x2 ribbed yoke or work the yoke in plain stockinette stitch. 

For this project, I was playing around with different yarn options. The photographs show the dress knitted with both fingering weight mohair (Yeoman's Elsa, modelled by both Frankie and Madeline), 2ply dk weight (also Yeoman's) as well as 4ply sock yarn (Knitglobal). All of these yarn types are suitable without making any alterations to the pattern as such, but will give the finished dress a very different look and feel. 

Ever After High Cocktail Dress with Picot Border and Stockinette Yoke (Yarn Yeoman's 2 ply DK Weight)

The dress is designed for Monster High dolls approximately 25cm tall, but the design is also suitable for Ever After High Dolls, as is evidenced by Madeline. Please note the photos of the grey dress below show the dress unblocked. As soon as it's finished blocking, I will post an update with photos of the blocked dress and more in-depth information on my finishing techniques, including options for fastening the dress at the back.

Monster High Cocktail Dress with Picot Border and Stockinette Yoke (Yarn Yeoman's 2 ply DK Weight)

Monster High Cocktail Dress with Picot Border (Yarn Yeoman's 2 ply DK Weight)

Pattern Notes

Materials and Tools

• app 5 - 10g of: 4 ply Sock Yarn or 3 ply Mohair Fingering Weight or 2 ply DK Weight Yarn 

• 2 - 3mm Double-Pointed Needles 

• Scissors

• Safety Pin x2 

• Darning Needle or Sewing Needle (for sewing in ends) 

• For fastening the back of the dress: Button(s) / Hook and Eye Clap or Contrast Yarn

The Weekly Swatch: Lace Zig Zag Stitch Pattern

My blog post directory tells me that I published my last 'weekly' knitted swatch (the lace rib knit stitch) in September 2018. This is unacceptable and shows how busy life has been over the past year. 

After Pickle's passing at the onset of 2019, I finally seem to have regained my mojo for knitting, crafting and blogging somewhat. So, without further ado, here is my latest swatch project, showcasing a lace 'zig zag' pattern. 

There are many variations of 'zig zag' lace stitches out there. This one is extremely simple, utilising k2togs and pssos for the decreases and yos for the increases. 

After a few rows practising, you won't have any trouble memorising the pattern. The stitch is knitted with a stitch count of 6 plus 1 stitches over a multiple over 12 rows. All even rows are purled throughout. 

Zig Zag Lace Stitch Knitting Pattern

Monster High Doll Picot Maxi Dress

My new Monster High Picot Maxi Dress (designed for a 25cm Monster High Doll), has finished blocking. 

Time for a little outing and a few initial shots. 

Monster High Doll Picot Maxi Dress (Yarn: Yeoman's Elsa)

Another Monster High Doll Clothes Pattern

Work has commenced on another Monster High doll clothes pattern. This time, it's a simple jumper, which can be easily modified into a mini or maxi dress. 

Whilst my Monster High I-cord dress pattern is worked from the bottom up, this pattern is initially worked flat, before it's finished seamlessly in the round from the waist down. 

Monster High - Knitted Jumper Dress

When refining the design, I was playing around with yarns and needle sizes and ended up favouring the fine mohair blends (Patons UK Misty, Yeoman's Elsa) to give the piece a fluffier look.

Free Monster High I-Cord Dress Knitting Pattern

After a long period of absence, I'm finally back attending to my many craft projects and I thought it would be a good idea to make a start with the release of my long overdue Monster High doll dress pattern. 

Free Monster High Doll Dress Pattern (Yarn: Araucania Botany Lace, 4 ply sock yarn)

The mini pencil dress, which will fit a Monster High doll measuring approximately 25cm, required less than 5 grams of yarn. For the pink Monster High dress I used Araucania Botany Lace, which is a 4 ply fingering weight sock yarn. For the other dress, I utilised leftover scraps of 4 ply Knitglobal sock yarn (shade: plum). Any sock yarn with similar attributes will be suitable for this pattern. 

Free Monster High Doll Dress Pattern (Yarn: Knitglobal 4 ply Sock Yarn) 

Recquiescat in Pace

A Sad Farewell to Our Beloved Pickle

Some three weeks ago I was composing a blog post for an update on Pickle's health in my head. It would have been a cheerful post. At the onset of 2018 she was diagnosed with feline colorectal adenocarcinoma, a very aggressive, malignant cancer with the ability to rapidly progress. The average life expectancy following diagnosis lies between 8 weeks to 18 months. This January our beautiful Pickle was just about to turn a massive corner, completing her first year more or less without symptoms since the diagnosis. Things were looking good. 

Apart from minor skin issues, which didn't appear to bother her too greatly, she was doing fine with a good appetite and no litter tray disasters. Her coat had improved (not that it was too bad to begin with), her claws were in good condition and, especially during the final three months of her life, she appeared to be more active and playful. She was in a stable state and, as we were unable to determine the stage of the cancer at the time of diagnosis last year, she was not on any medication. 

She had her first follow-up examination in April 2018 and appeared to have recovered well from her dental surgery at the end of 2017, during which the cancerous polyp was removed from her anus. The polyp showed no sign of returning and her vet was not able to detect any obstructions when taking her temperature. Pickle would have been seeing her vet for her next check-up in early 2019 and we were keeping fingers and paws crossed for her. 

RIP Pickle 2009 - 2019

Sadly, I never got round to writing my 12-month update on how well she was doing, as she started to rapidly decline around eight days ago. At this time  we noticed the first significant change in her behaviour. 

Instead of tucking into her dinner (a mix of home-cooked and raw food, which we introduced following her diagnosis) last Saturday, she walked away from her bowl after a few bites. Even though alarm bells started ringing loudly inside my head, I was only able to monitor and offer her a different variety of food, whilst hoping for the best throughout Sunday.

Vintage 80s Knitting Patterns - Part 5

Putting my 1980s vintage patterns up on the blog has been great fun and, going by audience feedback so far, they have certainly put a smile on readers' faces. 

This instalment of 1980s knitting patterns features Patons Book of Knitting Patterns No 259, which contained '11 young fashion designs' utilising the 'Patons special Odpins technique' (basically knitting with two needles of different sizes).

All other 80s knitting patterns and more vintage knitting are available here.

Dolman sweaters and ridiculous poses coming up. Enjoy.

Vintage 1980s Knitting Patterns - Patons Book 259 (Odpins)

Vintage 1980s Knitting Patterns - Patons Book 259 (Odpins) Ladies' V-Neck Sweater

Vanillekipferl - Baking Recipe for Hazelnut Vanilla Shortbread

Vegans, dieters and the health conscious should look away now. 

Though I can occasionally be found dabbling in vegan baking, in this weekend's ventures I made full use of butter, eggs, conventional flour and refined sugar to produce a batch of Vannillekipferl. These crescent-shaped, vanilla-flavoured shortbreads (originally an Austro-Hungarian import into the German cuisine) are a popular Christmas biscuit in German-speaking parts of Europe. Alongside the ubiquitous Stollen, they are synonymous with Christmas baking in Germany.

Vanillekipferl Baking Recipe

Vanillekipferl

Vanillekipferl are best described as a type of shortbread. With the inclusion of vanilla seeds  straight from a pod or vanilla extract / paste and chopped almonds or hazelnuts, the Vanillekipferl is a little more glamourous than the humble butter shortbread. 

Monster High Knitted I-Cord Dress Pattern - Sneak Peek of the new Pattern

-Update: The Monster High I-Cord Dress Pattern is now up on the blog and available here.-


Following on from knitting a small pencil dress for a Takara Dollcena / Petite Blythe and Little Pullip doll (photos below) a few months ago, I have adapted my pattern to fit a Monster High doll.   

Knitted Mini Pencil Dress for Takara Petite Blythe / Dollcena Doll

The pattern for the knitted I-Cord dress for Petite Blythes (above) is available here.

My knitting pattern for the Monster High dress (below) will be on the blog soon. In the mean time, I couldn't resist releasing a sneak peek of the new Monster High dress.

I-Cord Dress Knitting Pattern for Monster High Doll

Vintage 80s Knitting Patterns - Part 4

As always, proceed at your own peril. : -)

Vintage 1980s Knitting Pattern - Argyll Wools Ltd, Leaflet No 576, 1985

Vintage 1980s Knitting Pattern, Ladies' Raglan Sweater - Patons, Pattern 3336

The Weekly Swatch: Lace Rib Knit Stitch