Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Pocket Cottage

What can you make from Granny squares?  Afghans, scarves, caps, sweaters, dollhouses....Dollhouses?!  Yes, you can!  No power tools required :-)

The idea to make a dollhouse for the Pocket Spirits has been percolating in my mind for a couple months, and with Christmas now a sweet memory, there was time to see if the idea could become a reality.   I love dollhouses, but hammers and nails are not my strong suit.  Making a dollhouse from simple squares really appealed to me, and here are the results.

Roof and ceiling squares

All of the squares for the Pocket Cottage came from the book "200 Crochet Blocks."  I love this book, and had to resort to buying it instead of borrowing it constantly from the library.  Lots of great blocks, lots of great color combinations.

wall squares

These squares worked up to be nine inches, and it took 12 of these, plus two 9x4 rectangles and two 4x4 squares to make the dollhouse.   I used Red Heart Super Saver yarn and a G hook.   

floor and sleeping loft

Carboard is used to make the structure rigid.  Cut the cardboard after the blocks are crocheted and blocked (yes, blocked!  just dampen your crochet and lay it out on bath towels, squared up nicely so all the blocks are the same size).  I covered my cardboard pieces with fabric so the carboard wouldn't show.  
stitching the pieces with carboard in between

Stitch the walls, floor, roof, and loft by holding two squares wrong side together and single crochet around two side.  Insert the carboard between the squares and finish crocheting the squares together, stretching your squares to fit around the cardboard.

living room; time for tea :-)

When the pieces for the walls, floor, roof, and loft are complete, crochet the walls together with slip stitches; the top of the roof with single crochet and picots; the bottom of the wall to the floor and the top of the wall to the loft with slip stitches; and the roof to the walls also with slip stitches.  Crochet the roof apex pieces to the top front and back of the roof. 

Sleeping loft; bedtime with Bearable :-)

When the structure is complete,  give it a finished look by slip stitching around the front and back opening of the dollhouse.   If you like, crochet a fancy trim in the back loops of the slip stitches to mimic gingerbread trim along the roof line and also along the side edges of the roof.

Side view with gingerbread trim

Pretty simple!  The most difficult part of this is some awkward stitching when stitching the rigid pieces together.   A more comprehensive picture tutorial is available here:


Cute, inexpensive, and made with your own hands :-)

Home Sweet Home for the Pocket Spirits!






36 comments:

  1. my dear in heaven!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    where come this idea from to you?

    so cute now is it time I not fund the words I will say at english grr

    cute orginell wunderfull.smile

    but from heart this was fan and cute

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  2. My Goodness but you are soooo talented! This is just stunning. I also love the crocheted Christmas tree. One of these days when I think I can....I want to try to make one of your fairies. You are a wonderful inspiration for us.

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  3. Wow!! Not an original comment, but I was truly speechless. What an amazing idea. A special and unique gift for a child.

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  4. Hola amiga, está de matricula de honor, que buena idea, y quedó genial la casita de muñecas a la hora del té, te felicito y gracias por el paso a paso. Un beso.

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  5. Thank all of you for your good words! This is a dollhouse anyone with a hook and yarn can make :-)

    Beth

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  6. That is so adorable! And I'd better not let my kiddos see it or I will have no rest until I make one for them lol.

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  7. Ohhh!..........................Cosy!

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  8. It is so cute! How DO you think up all this stuff?? :)

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  9. Wow you are absolutely amazing and the doll house is super cute!

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  10. this is amazing Beth!! I love it.

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  11. This is gorgeous, so pretty. xx

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  12. WOW BETH! You did it again girl. WOW! amazing! Just WOW!

    Now we have more ideas to get rid of our yarn scraps...thanks to you.

    Carolyn

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  13. great job! looks so cute! go on creating this beautiful things, i love it!
    greets from germany
    andrea

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  14. O my gosh adorable!! I may have to maake one for my dolls ;)

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  15. Thank all of you so much for the great words! If any of you try your hand at this I'd LOVE to see what you come up with :-)

    Beth

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  16. Agree with the other comments - just adorable!!! Thanks for the inspiration and the detailed instructions!

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  17. Wow, that is so cute! I've been trying to get around to making some of the spirit dolls and now it's a must. I love the little house and all the clothes and extras to make. You're very generous to share the patterns, thank you.

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  18. Thank you Beth for helping with a home for Whimsy.

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  19. Thank you ALL for such good words!

    Connie, is Whimsy a Pocket Spirit? What an enchanting name! I'd love to see her, and a cottage too :-)

    Beth

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  20. Hi Beth,
    I would say Whimsy is, she stands about 5" tall, I used Bernat Baby Coordinates. I had it in stash, just expermenting. I followed your "Pocket Spirit Doll" pattern.
    A friend of mine has developed breast cancer, and this is going to be her 3rd surgery, (today). I feel God has drawn me to her; and to you, to help my friend not be alone while she goes through this time in her life. Yes, the doll is modeled after her, and she is "Whimsy". My friend has a number of friends, but this can be such an alone thing. No, I have never had cancer but I do know what lonely is.
    You can see her and the clothes I made for her to wear here:

    http://wild-clover-a-gypsy-tale.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html

    Thank you so much for all you share for me to share.
    'til next time,
    Connie

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  21. Connie, Whimsy is a wonderful, caring, work of art and heart. Her wardrobe is adorable (I especially love her long cardigan sweater!). Your friend is blessed in her friendship with you.

    Beth

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  22. wow..this is adorable..I love it...be sure and hop by and visit me too... I want to make this.. http://crochetoholic.blogspot.com

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  23. Congratulations, this is a really lovely post. I think this idea is fabulous. I love the squares and the colours you have used. superb, a plesure to visit you today!
    Love Suex
    www.sunshineinternationalblanketsoflove.blogspot.com
    www.suesfavouritethings.blogspot.com

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  24. It is just soooooooo pretty. How did you make the x-mas tree????

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  25. My goodness, this is BEAUTIFUL! How very clever. The results are just wonderful. Thank you for sharing.

    Hugs,
    Lois

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  26. Thank all of you for your lovely comments :-) See the previous post for a link to the Christmas Tree instructions; it is a free pattern from Michaels.

    Beth

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  27. I really think this is a good idea. Very beautiful little house!

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  28. So precious. The colors are gorgeous. You are very talented!
    :)

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  29. I have bookmarked your site for more than a year now and have been an occasional visitor. Each visit has amazed me with wonderful instances of your creativity. This has capped them all. I wish I could stay in such a lovely home!!!

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  30. Thank you so much, Pooch and Sreekala. I wish I could stay here too :-)

    Beth

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