Thursday, December 20, 2012

The gift of handmade love

Three years ago my good friend Bev asked me to make three Free Spirit dolls for her Grandgirls.  It was a fun project, and even now the girls still play with their Free Spirit dolls (which is the very highest complement a dollmaker can get!).

This year, Bev asked me to make some tops for the girl's Free Spirit dolls, that she could pair up with some skirts that she would make, to give them for Christmas.  Pictured above is the wonderful gift that Bev will give her Grandgirls this year.  The skirts are all separate, so they can be mixed and matched with the tops.  And then, Bev knit each doll a sweater/cap/mitten set! 

I love everything about this gift, and I wanted to share it with you.

 The Grandgirls Free Spirit dolls

If you are interested in making the mittens for your own dolls, the pattern is a freebie from the WEB's yarn site.  Here is a link:  doll size mittens

One last picture to share.   One of my little Bleue's went to live with Bev, and what a lucky little Bleue she is!  Bev has knit her several sweaters, caps, mittens, and the sweetest little bear muff.

 Bev's Bleue, little Beth Jane, with her snuggly knits made by Bev





31 comments:

  1. Dearest Beth - it is always a pleasure to read your posts.
    Thank you so much for bringing joy to us with this pictures:)
    hugs
    rux

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    1. Thank you so much, dear Rux, for your sweet words. Have a blessed holidays!

      Beth

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  2. Very cute dresses! :) lovely colors too ! The girls will be overjoyed seeing these:)

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  3. What lovely things for lovely dolls. I, too, make things for a family I have "adopted" out east. I met them at a craft fair and I have been making things for their children ever since. It gives me unbounding joy.

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  4. A beautiful and stylish joint effort.

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  5. It's all so adorable! I love the Free Spirit dolls. I'll have to look for the pattern. Happy holidays :)

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  6. On behalf of Bev, thank you so much, Preeti, Kate, Lizzie and AngelRose for your sweet words :-)

    Beth

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  7. Those outfits are gorgeous! Also I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year!

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  8. Margie and Typs, thank you for your good words! Have a very blessed Holy Day season!

    Beth

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  9. What a beautiful present, very inspiring. I'm sure the girls will be thrilled. I'm making my own grandaughter a doll for Christmas at her request and I couldn't be more pleased. Happy Christams to all.

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    1. Fiona, it is always wonderful to hear from you! Lucky granddaughter to have one of your handmade dolls for Christmas. I know, since I have one myself :-)

      Merry Christmas to you, and may wonderful things come your way in 2013!

      Beth

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  10. I dream of your dolls sometimes Beth, they really are gorgeous. I'm sure you'll have even more inspiration in 2013 and I look forward to sharing it with you. Warm greetings of the season from damp old England. Eli x

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    1. Dear Eli, your words always brighten my day! Have a joyful Christmas, and may 2013 be filled with creativity to share :-)

      Beth

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  11. Gorgeous dolls and such lucky little girls! I just wanted to thank you so much for this amazing site and the wealth of patterns here. I could lose myself for days browsing! I've made nearly all the prairie doll clothes patterns for my daughter's waldorf doll, and now I'm giving the teacup sprite pattern a try. Happy holidays to you and yours and thanks so much for all the sharing and lovely inspiration on behalf of doll lovers everywhere! :)

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    1. Thank you so much, Anna, for your warm words :-) I'm delighted you have enjoyed the site and the patterns.

      Happy Holy Days to you!

      Beth

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  12. Je suis émerveillée par votre talent, vos créations ..je suis tentée par la jolie "Bleuette"..et je vous remercie de vos partages. Je vais essayer de traduire vos explications en français afin de la réaliser. Votre blog est une merveille.je suis heureuse de l'avoir découvert.je vous souhaite une bonne fin d'année et un joyeux réveillon ainsi qu'une Bonne année 2013
    Bonne soirée..

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    1. Je vous remercie beaucoup pour vos bons mots.

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  13. Thank you so much for all the beautiful dolls and outfit that you share with us!!! I love all of it and I am making a chrochet bleuette doll from your patron. It is so fun to make and I love all of it.
    Thank you for sharing and I wish you a wonderfull and creative and healty 2013!!

    Love, Marga

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    1. Thank you for your lovely words, Marga; have a blessed and creative New Year, and enjoy crocheting your own Bleuette :-)

      In friendship,

      Beth

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    2. Thank you Beth.
      I hope to show you my bleuette when she is ready.

      With love, Marga

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  14. Alas,everybody grew up. Then suddenly a new baby this past year, a boy so no dolls but animals are good, and two more due in 2013. We all ready know one will be a girl. Looking forward to lots of knitting for her. This will make 13 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. 54 years ago i accepted an invitation to go to Disneyland and all this resulted from that. Who knew?

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    1. Sounds like you are surrounded by wonderful family. Hope that 2013 is filled with creativity and joy for you and those you love :-)

      Beth

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  15. I will wish you happy new year from me and sweden
    and say thanks for all joy and fun you give me whid you sajt and all this generose free pattern and idee

    it is like a goldend for me at the day coming in here

    so thanks agin and jesus bless you

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    1. Viveca, thank you so much for your sweet words! May 2013 be joyful and creative for you in Sweden :-)

      Beth

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  16. Hi, I love all the sweathers and skirts. They are realy great presents for the girls and even dolls. I would like to ask for something. On the picture with all clothes is a tiny crocheted doll. Can you tell me, what kind of doll it is? Is it one from your patterns here? I love her very much.

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    1. Hi Anna,

      The little doll is a Teacup Spirit, and the pattern is available here. Look on the left sidebar for 'Teacup Spirit Doll Patterns.'

      Beth

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  17. Your blog is the best surprise of the year for me :)

    Thanks for sharing :)

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    1. Such a lovely thing to say; thank you very much!

      warmly,

      Beth

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  18. ^_^

    Beth, is there any kind of tutorial (or pictures) of the following instructions (Free­Spirit  Amigurumi Doll)?

    "[...]

    Fasten off yarn for first leg.  When second leg is complete, DO NOT fasten off.  Flatten the last round
    of the second leg so that the feet point forward,  If necessary, add a stitch or two so the yarn is located
    at the side of the leg.  Sc the leg opening closed, join to the first leg and sc leg opening closed.  The
    legs should be closed with five sc each, for a total of 10 sc.
    Torso....work the first round of the torso in a single  loop of the sc that closed the leg openings.  Use a
    row marker to keep your place.  This will yield 20 sc around the body.
    1:  Sc in front loop of each sc across the top of the legs, turn the body and sc in the back loops of each
    sc across to the first sc.  Do not join; continue working in rounds.  20 sc"


    I'm about to crochet it and I couldn't figure out how it work.

    :/

    [Please, don't mind my English]

    Thank you!
    Mar

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    1. Hello Mar,

      I'm afraid I don't have any picture tutorials on this, but what you are doing is crocheting first one leg, then the other leg. Instead of fastening off the second leg, you flatten the top and crochet it closed, then, without breaking the yarn, flatten the first leg and crochet it closed. Now you have both legs closed and joined. At this point, you can begin crocheting the torso, and you never have to sew the legs to the body since they are already joined.

      I hope this makes some kind of sense.

      Warmly,

      Beth

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