Reconstructive Surgery

Kellan was the first knit Manga Spirit that I made.  I love her impish smile and green hair, but wasn't happy with the neck spacer, so the pattern was tweaked, and the knit Manga Spirits now have a smaller neck spacer.

But here was Kellan, wanting to be a real doll too!  So, I took off her head, removed the spacer, and ladder stitched the head back on.  It doesn't move, but she doesn't mind, and we are both happier with the way she looks.

Very cute in parti-colored rompers, don't you think :-)

Manga Spirit Sweaters to crochet and knit

To keep the chill off on these early spring days, here is a sweater to crochet or knit for your Manga Spirit.  Click Manga Spirit Sweaters to access the download for this sweater.

The sweaters are made from sportweight yarn, using a D hook for the crochet sweater, or size 4 (3.5mm) single point needles for the knit sweater.

Enjoy!

Knit Manga Spirit Dress and Rompers

A simple knit dress and rompers for your Manga Spirit :-)  This will fit either the knit or the crochet doll.

Both are knit with sportweight yarn and  size 4 (3.5mm) single point needles.  The dress has a pretty little picot hemline that is accomplished with eyelet stitches in the sixth round, then the hem is pressed up and sewn.

Knit Manga Spirit Dress and Rompers

Enjoy!

Crochet Manga Spirit Outfits

Some simple styles to crochet for your Manga Spirit, based off one basic bodice pattern.  I love this side-to-side bodice, is is infinitely adaptable to dresses, tops and even rompers.

The outfits are crocheted with sportweight yarn and a D hook, and make up very quickly.  Have fun with these!

Crochet Manga Spirit Outfits

One last note:  a good Flickr friend of mine, Lorraine, introduced me to an incredible site filled with links to free amigurumi patterns.  I've place the link into 'Blogs I Enjoy' on the left sidebar; you can access it here  as well. 

Up next, some knit clothing for your doll :-)

Manga Spirit Undies

When I make a new doll, I like to start with underwear as the first pieces of clothing.  They create a good foundation for beginning, giving me an idea of how many stitches are needed to  fit around the waist, how many rows are long enough for a top, how large does the armhole opening need to be...you get the picture.  From the basic camisole and undies, all the other clothing pieces can be worked out.

So here you can start with crochet or knit undies for your crochet or knit Manga Spirit :-) 

Manga Spirit Undies

The Spirits can wear either one; they are interchangeable.  These are knit and crochet with sportweight yarn; I used Bernat Baby Jacquards for all the pieces, and let it do the striping :-)

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 :-)