quick + purly: 5 dolls

Whoohoo! My Jane Austen Knits 2015 patterns and samples are in, which means I can rejoin the world and focus on things other than gauge and stitch counts.

Have you ever knit a doll? I've knit a few teddy bears and dogs in my time, as well as created the Matryoshka Japonais doll set. But I haven't knit a proper doll, by which I mean one with arms and legs and outfits. This week I found five little charmers for you from some talented knitted toy designers.

1. China Doll by Sara Elizabeth Kellner $4.50 USD 

   

   I love that she is constructed like an antique china doll.
   Do NOT miss Sara's other patterns, including China Doll's outfit!

2. Homage to Jane Austen by Noreen Crone-Finlay $6.75 USD 

   

   How could I not include a Jane Austen doll?

3. Tulip Doll by Katie Boyette $6 USD 

   

   Katie's patterns are super-cute!
   I'm still holding out hope that she will publish
   her Henry VIII and Friends projects as patterns.

4. Marie Antoinette Knit Doll Pattern by Amy Gaines $6 USD 

   

   More cuteness! The hair makes me giggle.
   Amy is prolific in the adorable toy category.

5. Theodóra by Hélène Magnússon €5 EUR 

   

   Don't miss the adorable Icelandic wardrobe and sheep dog!

All images from the patterns' Ravelry pages. No copyright infringement intended - I just want to share the love!

There were so many pages of cuteness that I really had to get specific on which dolls to share. I think we will need a mermaid doll post, soon.

I'm off to decide which doll I want to knit most (right now) and to enjoy a calm Mother's Day weekend. Hope you have a good one, whether you are mother, child, or both.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy knitting!

xoxo, Kathleen

Knitted Dolls

As my little lady gets bigger, we get more interested in dolls. Or maybe I just get more interested in dolls. Or maybe I've been interested in dolls since I was a little girl and finally have a safe outlet for my interest, since I don't want to be one of those creepy doll ladies.

Anyway, this morning I discovered some awesome dolls on Ravelry that combine my appreciation of dolls with my interest in historical fiction, particularly the Tudor period. Check out Anne Boleyn with detachable head! The doll is gorgeous, and I love the details. She makes the Jean Greenhow Topsy-Turvy Cinderella in my faves pattern list look pretty blah. No offense to Jean Greenhowe, whatsoever. Her dolls are very sweet, and I have a fondness for topsy-turvy dolls.

And it looks like Ms. Caffaknitted's dolls are going to be in a show here in NYC in December! So, I'll be able to give an in-person report on them then.