Body Parts....Phase 2

This knitted project is taking me longer than I thought it would. But then again, I have been doing other things as well. Anyhow here's the next instalment. My intention was to knit and make up exactly as the knitting pattern, but I have had to make some adjustments, owing to the fact that the sizing of some pieces were incorrect. Here's a picture of the main body pieces once I'd sewn them together...

....still looks like a Frankenstein creation to me, but I'm sticking with the pattern. All the pieces were knitted and sewn up as instructed. This is the back view.....

......looks even more like a monster!!! Then it was on to the kimono......

....it was here where I made the first adjustment. After measuring and pinning all the pieces together, if I'd sewn the kimono up according to the pattern, it would in no way have fitted the doll. The tops of the sleeves were too narrow. The choices were, to undo and re knit the pieces bigger or to extend the edging detail! Well I opted for the second choice. The pattern says to work 2 rows of double crochet along lower edges of sleeves, back, front and side slits. Well, to make the sleeves wider I double crocheted around the inside seams of the kimono sleeves and sides.....

....once I'd sewn it all together I "dressed" my little Geisha....

......that was much better. It actually looked and fit better....

..I still think that the pattern is wrong and don't like the neck and shoulders, but it was made as the pattern was written. She still doesn't have hair or features as you can see. They will be done last. Here are the pieces for the shoes......

...still to be sewn together and fitted on to the feet. I am hoping to get it completed within the next couple of days. One thing's for sure, after having this pattern since the early 70's and only just knitting it, I can see now why I've never seem many of these knitted up! I'm already making my own draft of this pattern, with less pieces, more shape and a few other adaptations. That's for a later date, along with some other things I have in my notebook......

One of our grand daughters had a 4th Birthday recently. She loves anything to do with cupcakes, eating them, drawing them and helping her mum make them. So the theme for her birthday card was just that....

....I used these lovely Kanban clear stamps. Great stamps, very clear images. I also used Promarkers and Art Institute fine glitters. It seems to be the norm that the craft experts tell us to use bright white card when using Promarkers.....

...well I didn't. I used a lovely smooth off white card. I purchased it when the Papermill Shops were on the high street. It was a box of the "Managers Special" card, a box for £2.99. It's one of the best buys I have ever bought. It even goes through the printer and the results are great. The colours of the Promarkers looked lovely on this card.....

...they blended lovely, and the shades looked so pretty.....

....and once the glitter was added.......

.....and the "cherry" toppings were added to the background....

...they looked good enough to eat.....

.... as our grandson said!! I have other cards to make over the next few days. We have quite a few birthdays in the family in May, June and July. Some of the card will be stamped and coloured, and some will be digital imagery. That is something which seems to spark a debate too, just lately, digital crafting! I shall be posting on that shortly. Some other things I've lined up for myself over the next few days include some sewing. I have a small pile of things waiting by my sewing machine, some dyeing of fabric and now my little dropper bottles have arrived I shall be making alcohol inks. But I still have to gather some other small receptacles together before I begin with that. Now the sun is shining at last and we still have planting and other jobs to do in the garden. There's nothing better than being busy and creative!