Thursday, October 14, 2010

A new look, and a new doll

After over a year, I felt it was time for a new look.  Something a little brighter, and that would make finding the patterns available on this blog a bit easier.  What do you think?  What I like is the way the sidebar items are grouped together.

Please meet Nightshade, my little Goth Pocket Spirit.  The dress was very easy, and a fun way to easily incorporate a piece of favorite fabric in a crochet outfit.  Just crochet a top; cut a piece of fabric 10 inches by 2 or 3 inches (depending on how long you want it).  Zig zag stitch around all four fabric edges to keep it from fraying.  Turn up and press 1/4 inch for the hem and the two short sides; stitch two rows of gathering stitches (either by hand or with a long machine stitch), along the top edge, 1/8 and 1/4 inches from the top edge.

Pull the gathering stitches up to match the lower edge of the top and stitch the skirt to the top.  Make sure the gathering stitches do not show below the bottom edge of the top.  I stitched with short running stitches.  I then hemmed the bottom with contrasting color featherstitching, and stitched up the back seam of the skirt to about 1/2 inch from the top.  The back is closed with four tiny buttons into crochet button loops.

Nightshade

37 comments:

  1. I love the bright new background and your new little goth sprite is too cute!

    ♥Anita
    http://aseknc.blogspot.com/
    http://asesaj.blogspot.com/
    aseknc(at)gmail(dot)com

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  2. You new look is great! Very bright and cheery.

    Nightshade is precious.

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  3. Oh, God! That's a beauty! It's wonderful! I like your dolls! They are incredible.

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  4. I agree. The new look is great and Nightshade is very sweet. My daughter insisted that I made her one for Halloween.

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  5. Wow, all your dolls are awesome.
    I hope that one day I'll be able to do them.
    Many kisses ^^

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  6. Your little Goth sprite is so cute!! I am sending a link to my friend she adores your creations :-)

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  7. I love all of your dolls but this is my favorite!
    I love her so much!!!

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  8. Thank all of you so much for your generous comments :-) And I'm happy to hear the favorable feedback on the blog change. Thanks for your input.

    Have a great day everyone!

    Beth

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  9. The blog looks great :). One of these days, I'll have to try to crochet!

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  10. Thank you Bybido and Joyce, for the good words :-) Hopefully it is a bit easier to see what's what.

    Beth

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  11. elle est vraiment superbe j'adore le nouveau look

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  12. Aaah, I have a soft spot for Goth things and this doll is a real cutie!

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  13. Love the new look! Love the new doll! What did you use for her hair?

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  14. Beth, the new look is wonderful! and of course the new little girl is awesome! Love the background fabric you posed her in front of. I had to buy a piece of that this fall when I saw it! your work is just too die for!I made a pocket sprite for a gift and the little girl really loved her. I even made the wire wings! thanks for the fantastic patterns.

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  15. She is ADORABLE!!! I bet she lives inside a magical Pumpkin that can fly through the sky!!! I LOVE your DOLLS!!!!

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  16. OMG this is too cute for words,i'm in love again with your beautiful design.
    Beth your a dollie,so sweet done:-)

    grtz jacqueline

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  17. I like your blog so very much! And the new litle doll, shes so cute! Hugs from Crea from Sweden

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  18. Just in time for Halloween, my favorite time of year! I really enjoy your creativeness!

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  19. Thank-you all so much for your generous comments :-)

    Ellen, it is so good to see your post, and I'm delighted the little girl enjoyed her doll (always the thing I love to hear most).

    Beth

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  20. Treeskin, I used a yarn called Nashua Creative Focus Kid Mohair, available at www.fabric.com. They have a great selection of yarns, and free shipping for all orders over $35.00. If I can't find it at my LYS, this is where I go :-)

    Beth

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  21. Love the new look Beth! It brings freshness and makes all your lovely creations pop! Nightshade is precious, can't wait to see what you're up to next:)
    ~Shelly

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  22. i love the new look, it's so bright and very easy to find stuff. i've got to say that Nightshade is by far my favorite! She is so sweet.perfect for Halloween.A great way to incorporate fabric with crocheting! i'll definitly have to make a little Goth Girl for Halloween. :D ~Anne~

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  23. The new look is very nice and the little spirit is adorable.
    Best regards Ulrica

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  24. Thank you so much for the good words, Shelly, Anne, and Ulrica :-) Nightshade was a lot of fun to make.

    Beth

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  25. Beth, love the new template. The leaves are so you, nature girl. :) Nightshade is so cute, and her hair reminds me a little of mine. I can't wait to see what your creative mind comes up with next.

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  26. Beth, I like the new autumn look of your blog, and this little doll is perfect for halloween ! you made a wonderful job...

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  27. Thank-you so much, Lisa and Claire; your good words mean a lot to me :-)

    Beth

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  28. I love your dolls! I can crochet but do not like to tackle such tiny work. Would you be interested in swapping a doll for a couple of doilies? Or what would you charge for a doll?

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  29. Amazingly cute - as per your usual! I'm soooooo jealous of your talent, but soooooo happy you share it!

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  30. Charlotte and Cat, thank-you so much for your good words.

    Charlotte, if you can crochet doilies, then these dolls would be a piece of cake. The yarn is sportweight, and the only stitch is single crochet. Give it a try! I'm here to help if you need it :-)

    Beth

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  31. *GASP*

    How cute! Sooo cute!

    Wonderful job. I love all the detail in the face ad her hair is just brilliant!

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  32. love, love, love it. Your creations are wonderful. I love your dolls. Your new look is AWESOME. Thank you for sharing. Gotta make your new doll, Nightshade.
    til next time,
    Connie

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  33. Thank-you so much, Saffron and Connie :-)

    Beth

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  34. She is so adorable! I love her facial features, especially her ears!

    -Baby Cat

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  35. amazing beth! i really need to make many of those.

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  36. Thank you for your kind words, Momma Cat and Linsday :-)

    Beth

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