Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Heads Up!

I've been wanting to play around with faces on dolls, so I made up several heads to work with.  For me, on crochet, the simplest faces seem to work the best.  I wasn't real happy with the face on the peach head (the one with the dark red curls) so I picked out the embroidery and reworked it.

Don't be afraid to rework your doll; they are really quite patient and both of you will be happier :-)

All of the heads were crocheted with Vanna's Choice yarn with the exception of the peach complexion, which is Red Heart Classic in light peach.

I worked up the dark toffee colored doll first, as a little cat girl with Lionbrand Fun Fur for hair.  She has furry underwear that her tail is attached to, and little ears peeking out of her shaggy hair.  I love this rich colored skin tone, and gave her gold eyes, the better to see in the dark :-)

This is Mehitabel.  If you recognize the name, can you tell me who her best friend is? 

Here is the pattern for her Simple Knit Sweater.
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38 comments:

  1. AnonymousSeptember 11, 2012 at 5:40 PM

    Such lovely heads for lovely dolls. I need to practice embroidery more as mine tend to come out as dolls from a horror flick. :)

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  2. TypstattingSeptember 11, 2012 at 6:01 PM

    Those faces are so cute!

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  3. Pink PrincessSeptember 11, 2012 at 8:27 PM

    OMG they are all SO cute and lovely!! Archy is her best friend :D

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  4. BethSeptember 11, 2012 at 8:49 PM

    Thanks so much, Sara, Typs, and Pink :-)

    Beth

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  5. Lois EvensenSeptember 11, 2012 at 9:31 PM

    How darling! I love your little dolls. I must admit I like the happy ones best. :)

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  6. jokiedebeerSeptember 12, 2012 at 1:50 AM

    WOUW wat zijn ze prachtig en de kat pop is helemaal top.

    groetjes joke

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  7. Flutterby PatchSeptember 12, 2012 at 2:56 AM

    An early morning smile for me here in England. What a lovely group they make and I love your choice of hair and styling.

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  8. TypstattingSeptember 12, 2012 at 3:16 AM

    Beth which is the pattern for Mehitabel?

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    1. BethSeptember 12, 2012 at 1:20 PM

      Hi Typs,

      I used the Crochet Bleuette doll pattern, and just gave her cat ears on top of her head instead of regular ears. And, gave her more of a cat-like mouth (inverted V works well). Her hair is just a crocheted wig cap of Lionbrand Fun Fur. I knit her underwear with the fun fur, but you could crochet it and it would probably look no different.

      Beth

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  9. AnonymousSeptember 12, 2012 at 3:22 AM

    hello from france
    where i can find the Mehitabel pattern
    thank you merci beaucoup
    valerie

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    1. BethSeptember 12, 2012 at 1:22 PM

      Hello Valerie,

      I used the Crochet Bleuette pattern for Mehitabel; look for it on the left sidebar under Crochet Bleuette. I gave her cat ears instead of regular ears, and a cat-like mouth (inverted V). Her hair is just a crochet wig cap of Lionbrand Fun Fur.

      Beth

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    2. AnonymousSeptember 13, 2012 at 2:47 AM

      MERCI BEAUCOUP POUR LES INFORMATIONS
      THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATONS
      BYE BYE

      Delete
  10. HelenaSeptember 12, 2012 at 3:43 AM

    Hello, I have to write how you are incredibly handy, I really like your crochet devil, I looked for instructions but I found him. I am writing from the Czech Republic and apologizes to you for my English, I have to write how much you are smart and I admire you, have a nice day. Anelain@seznam.cz

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  11. Chain Stitch CrochetSeptember 12, 2012 at 8:03 AM

    You are so good with the faces. I have the hardest time with faces on my dolls.

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  12. yaseminkaleSeptember 12, 2012 at 8:46 AM

    all so cute...

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  13. RetroSandieSeptember 12, 2012 at 12:15 PM

    Ohhhh, Mehitabel is sooooo cute!!!! All of the faces are adorable. Thank you for the tips!!! (I love the eyes, too.)

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  14. BethSeptember 12, 2012 at 1:22 PM

    Thank you all for your good words!

    Beth

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  15. bybidoSeptember 12, 2012 at 2:24 PM

    Very sweet. It's almost always worth the effort to go back and rework a face, if you're not satisfied. I love the expressions you capture.

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  16. JoyceSeptember 13, 2012 at 8:16 AM

    Mehitabel the Cat and Archie the Cockroach....I loved that play. I believe it was Glynis Johns who played Mehitabel. I still remember some of the songs from that play. Thanks for stirring up those memories.

    I love your rendition of her, she is beautiful!

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    1. BethSeptember 13, 2012 at 9:36 AM

      That's right! I've seen it as a compilation of the news column, but didn't realize it had been made into a play :-)

      Beth

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  17. AnonymousSeptember 13, 2012 at 6:20 PM

    Your dolls are the most precious! The faces of these ones are so expressive and Mehitabel is simply adorable. I wish my dolls could have a chance of coming out so beautiful.
    (You can see some pics of my dolls from your patterns on Ravelry as CrochetCrusaders1)
    Rebecca from CA

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    1. BethSeptember 13, 2012 at 10:22 PM

      Wow, Rebecca! Your crochet Bleuette is beautiful! I learned to crochet when I was 10, but certainly never did anything as complicated as Bleuette. Very well done :-)

      Beth

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    2. AnonymousSeptember 15, 2012 at 12:19 PM

      Hi Beth, it's Rebecca again. I just wanted to say, I learned to crochet when I was nine and I made that doll this year, and I'm eleven. :) I love your dolls! I think you should make a crocheted American Girl doll, that would be super neat!

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    3. BethSeptember 15, 2012 at 1:00 PM

      Hey Rebecca,

      It is so cool that you are a crochet diva at such a young age; your work looks like you've been crocheting for years and years :-)

      I made an American Girl size doll in crochet many years ago. I liked it, but it took a lot of yarn and a long time. I'll have to see if I still have the pattern.

      Take care!

      Beth

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  18. copilarimSeptember 14, 2012 at 1:58 PM

    I loooove them ... all !!! They are so sweet:).
    hugs
    rux

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  19. UnknownSeptember 14, 2012 at 4:01 PM

    Hi Beth

    I was just wondering if you could give me the pattern for gabrielle? I love her do much and would love to make her,

    Thanks,
    Christina

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    1. BethSeptember 14, 2012 at 10:16 PM

      Hi Christina,

      Gabrielle was made from the basic Free Spirit doll pattern, which is freely available on this blog. Her outfit is from the Basic Edwardian Dress pattern, also available. Look for 'Links to Free Spirit Patterns,' on the left sidebar.

      Beth

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  20. marySeptember 16, 2012 at 7:47 PM

    Beth... It seems like your patterns are FREE???? Can I ask why? You ARE so talented? I am so excited to finish my many projects to try and make a doll.

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    1. BethSeptember 17, 2012 at 2:47 PM

      Hi Mary,

      Thank you for your good words. For me it is just easier to offer the patterns for free; this way I don't obsess over 'perfect' instructions, and get to enjoy a lot of interaction with the folks that make my designs. I did freelance work for Leisure Arts many years ago, and never saw a single item made from one of my patterns. This is much more rewarding.

      And, hopefully, it will encourage others out there to freely share their talents as well.

      Beth

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  21. TypstattingSeptember 18, 2012 at 4:37 AM

    Hi Beth... Just a quick question can I use the patterns for the Free Spirit Doll clothing for the Bleutte doll? As I really like the Edwardian clothing!

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    1. BethSeptember 18, 2012 at 9:51 AM

      Hi Typs,

      Actually, the Free Spirit doll is skinnier than Bleuette, so you would need to do a bit of tweaking to get the Edwardian dresses to fit. You might just look at how the Edwardian dresses are constructed, then use the Bleuette camisole bodice to create your own Bleuette Edwardian fashions. All of the Edwardian Free Spirit dresses are based on the simple side-to-side camisole bodice.

      Beth

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  22. TypstattingSeptember 19, 2012 at 4:27 AM

    Hi Beth,

    Thought you might like to see my Bleuette on my blog as I have just finished her!

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    1. BethSeptember 19, 2012 at 12:05 PM

      Typs, your doll is a total delight! It gives me such a lift to see a design of mine rendered so sweetly, as with your Bleuette.

      Beth

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  23. KayOctober 3, 2012 at 6:05 PM

    Love your dolls!!!! I am captivated by Mehitable! Where can I find a pattern for her?

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    1. BethOctober 3, 2012 at 6:52 PM

      Hi Kay,

      Mehitabel is the crochet Bleuette doll pattern with cat ears :-) I just winged the ears, but the rest of the doll is per the pattern.

      Beth

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  24. AnonymousNovember 3, 2012 at 5:21 PM

    Beth~ You had mentioned before that you have crocheted an American girl sized doll. Have you by chance run across the pattern? I so love your patterns & would love to add that one to my collection!

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    1. BethNovember 4, 2012 at 12:21 PM

      I'm afraid I have not. It was at least 15 years ago, and it didn't get saved onto my computer. I have seen some knit and crochet versions of dolls this size since then; you might try a Google search and see if something turns up.

      Beth

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