My first knitted doll

I got an urge to knit after I received four sweaters as gifts from my husbands grandmother. She is an expert knitter and she knitted four beautiful sweaters for me. When ever I wear them people notice my sweater and complement. I wanted to knit but I did not know how to go about. Luckily my neighbor In my old apartment taught me how to knit. It was a quick crash course since she was moving to Chicago and I had less than a week to learn to cast on, knit, purl and cast off . She did what ever she could and I am very grateful for that... After practicing for sometime I bought a basic knitting book from border's . I always wanted to make vests and sweaters so there was an easy sleeveless vest pattern in the book, I started making the vest. Even though the knitting was good , the armhole shaping and the neck shaping was a disaster :( , even the size became too big, I then realized that the yarn that I used was not appropriate. I also realized that armhole shaping and the neck shaping is not a walk in the park ....so my first vest was a big disaster :)

I did not give up started a new project which was a shrug . This time was I successful ? Nay, was not :( . This time the shrug became too small :) may be it could have fitted a doll, but I don't know what happened to that shrug I was too disappointed and I got rid of that shrug if I knew I was going to make dolls in future may be I would have retained that shrug ....

Anyway my third project began and it was a shrug again :) I did not give up on cardigans, vests and sweaters yet ;) . This time I wanted to make this shrug to gift one of my friends who taught me to sew. She was leaving to India for good and I wanted to give her a thank you gift ,which was also a parting gift ,so started this shrug I was too ambitious and made with two colors black and white :) , I completed the shrug I wanted to add a flower I didn't know how to crochet I asked my friend to crochet a flower so that I can embellish on the shrug everything was ready I gave the shrug to my friend and I thought she will be thrilled but she was kind of disappointed :( . I can say that it was not very good but it was not bad either, since it was handmade with love I thought she would accept but she returned the shrug back to me :( I cannot blame her everyone likes to receive a good gift. I then gifted her a three strand bracelet and a black necklace that I made and she loved them...

After this incident I was slightly upset about my failure ,then my husband gave a very good suggestion that I should first make small projects and then move on to big projects, then I was looking for small knitting projects and I came across this easy doll pattern and then I decided that I should make dolls. I took a long time to make but I was happy with the end result.

I called her pinku .then I made a slightly bigger doll called Rinku. I showed that doll to one of my friends who use to work In a women's center library and she loved it and wanted to buy this doll for her mom for Mother's Day. So I was only left with pinku.. ...
So this is how my doll making thing started. Which I am enjoying. I went on to make few more vests . They came well, not excellent but not bad,I still get complements when I wear them. Even though I want to make dolls, I want to try making other things as well.
Lastly I want to dedicate this picture to one of my childhood friends. I love her and she is my best friend. I wanted to give Rinku to her but I can always make another doll for her :) .

Lil piggy off to school....

So this cute piggy was my first crochet project . I crocheted him may be a year ago. I learnt to knit may be 4 years back but I could not crochet. I had a friend who could crochet very well and she taught herself how to crochet thanks to the online tutorials. She tried teaching me as well, we use to do a lot crafts together and that was fun. She taught me how to sew, but she was not successful to teach me how to crochet, I can't blame her :). Anyway one day she had to go back to India and so our craft activities came to an end :( . But I always wanted to learn how to crochet.

One day I was telling my mom on the phone that I don't know how to crochet and that's very bad because my mom use to crochet when I was a kid. She use to make clothes for my doll. But I never learnt from her either. So she just motivated me by telling that When I can knit I can crochet as well. She said just take some yarn and a crochet hook and try for some time and you will get it and that's what I did exactly. I just sat on my couch took some yarn and a crochet hook and learnt some basic crochet stitches and I was very happy. I discovered that with just single crochet you can make so many things. Amigurumi is just excellent and fun, it's easy and fast to make. I Found a cute and easy pattern online and in few hours little piggy was ready just like that... I have to really thank my mom for this :)
And after this no looking back, I have crocheted many cute things and hope to continue for ever...
I love his bag and his face. Adding a button for his nose was such a cute idea :) . Overall I just enjoy making dolls :) .

Little Dumpling ladies....

I created this blog may be in 2009 and then I had 10 posts those were just some recipes which I had posted and now i decided to delete them. I was new to the United States at that time and well since I was just married and new to cooking was very excited to try new recipes. I like manjulas kitchen and all her recipes are good, I can say I was quite successful with my cooking and now I think I am addicted to knitting and crocheting . I just love yarn. I have to credit my neighbor who taught me how to knit, when I was living in my old apartment , since then no looking back I have made many projects. Even though I always wanted to make vests and sweaters I realized making dolls is quite exciting and refreshing ..... Dolls can make any one smile whether a child or an adult .I have knitted many dolls from past 4 years and recently I discovered about Greenjeanhowe , who designs dolls. I just finished one of her books called ' little dumpling village ladies' each doll is having its own character and details. There are totally five dolls in the book, even though the basic doll is the same , the outfits, the profession and character of each doll is different. Each doll is free standing and measures about 7 inches .

1. Lady Letitia - she is the manor of little dumpling village and she is affectionately known as lady Tish. She has a dog called Rascal and when ever she goes for shopping she takes Rascal along with her...Rascal is a very mischievous dog...

2. Mrs . Mopitup -Mrs Mopitup works for lady Letitia , who really enjoys keeping the dust and cobwebs at bay. While she is busy working she is also curling her hair so that she can look her best tonight when she goes out for dinner with her hubby :)

3.Daphne Dabble -
Daphne is the local artist of Dumpling village. She is well known for her delightful rural paintings of little dumpling village . Lady Letitia is a great patron of arts and many of Daphne's paintings can be seen on the walls of the manor....

I just wonder why rascal is so amazed at the painting ;)

4 . Winifred's wool shop - lady Letitia goes to Winifred's shop to buy some wool, while they are busy discussing about the new Humpty Dumpty toy pattern, Rascal wags his tail with a thought of unravelling all those colorful yarn balls. Kind hearted Winifred sets aside a ball of wool especially for Rascal.

5. Miss muffin's tea shoppe -Miss Muffin is famous for delicious home-baked cakes and pastries and the welcoming atmosphere of her cozy shop :) . Rascal likes miss muffin's jam tart very much...

Well Dumpling village is full of busy people and I love all the lovely ladies, I love the vibrant colors that jean has used in all her designs. I just love lady Tish's hat and her cape, Rascal is a delight. His head can be tilted in any direction, and he has given beautiful expressions. I love the sweeping brush and the bucket of mrs. Mopitup , I love daphne 's painting and the easel, who would have thought of knitting a painting? Also her palette and the painting brush.
Winifred's wool shop is excellent. I wish her shop was near my house because there is no wool shop where I live :) the knitting pattern folder, the little yarn balls, the Humpty Dumpty toy, the baby set and the shop counter and the basket simply wonderful.
What can I say about miss muffin, I love her cap and the apron and the tea towel. Love her teapot and the entire thing reminds me of my childhood days, my nursery rhymes, hot cross buns.
I am so glad that we have such a talent like Jeangreenhowe, and I feel so blessed that I can knit and can reproduce jean's designs..