Manga Spirits have arrived!

After a little bit of trial and error I can now share the pattern for a Crochet and a Knit Manga Spirit doll :-)  The Spirits are a shade over eight inches tall, and very simple to either knit or crochet.  There is a tutorial available on my Flickr site for making their eyes.

You can find the pattern by clicking Crochet or Knit Manga Spirits

The heads are button jointed to the body, which is a simple and inexpensive way to get a move-able head.   Move-able heads are amazing fun to play with and pose.  The legs are swing jointed to the body, and feet and hands are very, very simple (or nonexistent, in the case of the feet!  Shoes will provide foot definition).

Coming soon will be some clothes, so they don't have to hang around in their birthday suits.  Hope you enjoy the knit and crochet!

Manga Eyes

Fiona McDonald introduced me to the real potential of painted eyes for knit and crochet.   Manga eyes are a variation of this idea.  I have a picture tutorial available on my Flickr site to show you how these were made; you can find it here;

Manga Eyes

Meantime, two Manga Spirits have arrived, without clothes, but they are happy to be here.  Meet Kellan and Aimee!

The pattern for the Knit Manga Spirit needs a bit more work; when that is done, the patterns for these two will be available here.

Getting closer

Manga Spirits are almost finished!  The knit doll needs a few tweaks...a different body construction and smaller neck spacer, but on the whole I'm happy with how close in size they've turned out.

The girls also need hair, which is my favorite part of dollmaking :-)  I'm going to wig these two, then tweak the knit pattern.  Then, I will have something to share with you.

Two heads are better than one...

Especially if one is crochet and one is knit!

Work progresses on the Manga Spirits; more coming soon :-)

Manga Spirits

Is anyone else fascinated with Manga artwork?  I confess that I am, and I've long wanted to create a doll with this kind of vibe.  And lately the idea has been circulating in my head of a doll that could be either knit or crocheted, and share a knit and crochet wardrobe. 

Wouldn't it be cool to be able to draw this doll, then create it!  I am definitely art-challenged in this respect, but I picked up a book at the library (which subsequently I've bought) entitled "Manga for the Beginner:  Chibi's"

This is a fun book, full of ideas and lots of help for any beginner.  The result for me is the four kids at the top of the page.  They are concept drawings of the next doll I plan to create.  A doll in either knit or crochet, with big eyes, wild hair, and sweet expressions.  A small doll, under nine inches tall, with a simple wardrobe.  Should be a lot of fun!

The doll will have the swing legs that the Spirit dolls have, and both knit and crochet will have a move-able head.  I'm going to try using buttons this time and see how that works.  No feet and simple hands.  This should be a wonderful doll for children, of all ages.

So stay tuned!