Friday, February 19, 2016

Gauge matters; playing with yarns and hooks

From the left, Jane Doll in fingering weight, sport weight, and worsted weight yarn

The first doll I made from Kelly DeSandro's pattern was Ebony Jane, in the center of the picture.  I crocheted her with sportweight yarn (Knit Picks Wool of the Andes sport) and a size 1 steel crochet hook.  For the second doll, Azure Jane on the right, I used worsted weight yarn (Patons Classic Wool) and a size C hook.  And finally, for Emma Jane, on the left, I used fingering weight yarn (Knit Picks Palette) and a size 1 steel crochet hook.  The dolls range in size from 8.5 inches, to 9.5 inches, to 11 inches tall.  

This is the versatility of gauge, and matching up the yarn and hook to create a firm fabric for making a doll.  This way you can satisfy yourself with a larger or a smaller doll, just by changing around the yarn and hook.

I created a wardrobe for Ebony Jane, but I wanted to be able to use the same patterns for the other two girls.   I made each of them the basic camisole and undies/pants, plus a cardigan sweater, to work out what hooks and yarns worked best for each doll.


Ebony Jane's Wardrobe includes information for making these garments to fit three different size dolls, depending on what yarn and hook you choose to use.

Happy Dollmaking!

16 comments:

  1. Lovely dolls. Good to see the difference. The wardrobe for Ebony Jane is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing the pattern.

    Have a great weekend, Margaret

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  2. Una ropa muy bonita Gracias por la informaciĆ³n

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  3. I love your dolls. I have problems sewing the head to the body. Do you have any tips for this? Thanks.

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    1. Charlotte, the easiest and most fun way to join the head to the neck is to joint it! That is what I've done with these dolls, and almost all of the dolls I make.

      Here is a picture tutorial on Flickr that will hopefully help you:

      https://www.flickr.com/photos/29184580@N04/sets/72157629990163332/

      warmly,

      Beth

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  4. Greetings! This is really good information, that those of us who don't bother to do a gauge swatch need to hear. I wrote a similar post on my blog a few months ago, about how different my results were when I used the same pattern and same hook/needle size with two different fingering weight yarns.

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    1. I don't like to swatch, but sometimes it is necessary :-)

      Thank you for the good words!

      warmly,

      Beth

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  5. Thank you for your sweet words, dear Joyce :-)

    warmly,

    Beth

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  6. I LOVE them!!! Especially Azure Jane...I'm a sucker for colorful hair!

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    1. Kelly, I love your pattern (obviously!). Thank you so very much for the cool updates :-)

      warmly,

      Beth

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  7. Hi Beth, Love the clothing you designed for Kelly's Jane Doll. Thank you so much for sharing. I just purchased the pattern and have begun to make my own. I have a question though. Have you thought about modifying the doll so she can sit? Just curious!

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    1. Hi Linda,

      This would be very easy to do. After you finish the second leg, simply work the next round like my Simply Ami dolls: sc across the second leg, then across the first leg, to crochet them closed.

      The only thing you will need to watch out for is when you get ready to join the arms to the body; the stitch count may be off, so simply attach them at the sides of the body where appropriate.

      Enjoy! It is a fun pattern that makes a delightful doll :-)

      warmly,

      Beth

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  8. How darling! Isn't it fun to do what you love doing. :) Your dolls are precious and such wonderful heirlooms.

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    1. Thank you, Lois, and it is definitely a blessing to be able to do what one loves to do :-)

      warmly,

      Beth

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  9. Have you thought about making a similar size as the 18 inch American Girl dolls? Those dolls seem pretty popular now among kids

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    1. Hello Aya,

      I have made larger dolls in the past, but my heart is truly in small dolls :-)

      warmly,

      Beth

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