Knitting & Crocheting

This project started off on a whim. I was at my mom's and had forgotten my knitting bag at home. What to do while enjoying a cup of coffee while the kids played? I raided my mom's stash of felt-able wool and came up with this cute little pouch.

I was originally intending it to work for me as a cell phone/wallet carrier. My hubby harps on me because I never have my cell phone on me... I always leave it in my purse in the car. The pouch size turned out perfect for my cell phone and wallet... but the strap wasn't quite long enough to work as a messenger style strap... which is what I wanted. BUT it makes the cutest purse for my girls! Fairy inherited this one and I will be making another one for Pixie... and yes probably a third for me with double the length in strap.

Needed:
Worsted Weight Felting Wool (don't know how much... I was stash busting scraps)
Size 11 needles
Large button
Gauge is 6 sts = 2"

Cast on 41 sts with two strands of worsted weight 100% wool. Work with double strands of yarn throughout the piece.

All rows: Slip 1, Knit to end until piece measures 6" x 13".

Fold in half and stitch up the sides.

Cast on 7 sts. Work in garter stitch for 3 feet (for child), 5-6 feet (for adult). NOTE: I like the 7 sts width for the child pouch but I will probably only use 5 sts when I make one for myself. Stitch the strap in place.

Braid 6 strands of yarn into a 4 inch long cord (or make an i-cord). Sew it in a U shape to the top edge of one side of the pouch.

Wash and dry on hot along with a towel to felt. Sew on a large button on the opposite side of the opening for your closure.

 

The next two weeks are non stop busy. Time to put away the crafts and focus on what's important, right? Well, for me, crafting is important. And the busier I am with life, the more important crafting becomes. It's how I find balance. It gives me serenity.

That is why, at the beginning of my week, with enough on my plate to sate an elephant, I decided to make 1 more shower gift for the Little Lady. Meet Baby Doll. (Name to be given someday by her mommy!) Her body was knit from merino wool and her hair is a combination of organic cotton and bamboo. Her little sleeper was made from organic cotton flannel. She is so soft and cuddly. I know that someday the Little Lady will love her dearly :)

I don't have time to share the pattern right now, but I did want to share the Baby Doll before she left for her new home on Saturday. The doll was made using our Basic Knit Doll pattern with a few changes. I knit it in the round instead of flat, I added hair, and a face. I also made a very soft little sweet-pea sleeper. I'll be sharing the directions soon.
 
Just a note... in the past, whenever I've crafted toys, they have always been for Michelle's children. For the past several weeks, Bug, Fairy and Pixie have been watching me create things, then put them away for the Little Lady. Although they totally understand the logic behind this, it is a little difficult sharing my creations. Both girls fell in love with Baby Doll. Although they know this one is being given away, they have both made requests for dolls for their fall birthdays.

"No problem", I tell them. "What color should I make the hair?"

Song of a Scarf: Quick Bias Scarf Pattern
Size 11 Needles
Gauge not important
Yarn 1 Skein - Mine was hand spun and varied a lot in weight... basically this is a great pattern use funky yarns with... very forgiving.

Cast on 17 sts
Row 1: KFB, K14, K2T
Row 2: K
Repeat rows 1 & 2 until you reach your desired length.

My souvenir from Vermont was splurging on this skein of hand-dyed cotton yarn. I have animal fiber allergies and am so envious of all the dazzling wools others can wear. I don't normally run across specialty cotton yarns and fell in love with this dreamy skein of yarn in the soft blues and violets. But now here is the question... what shall I make. This is a just for me... I actually get to keep it project. It is about 550 yards worsted weight. I would love to hear some of your ideas.

Several months ago we received an email from Michelle at Will Knit For Food. She asked for permission to use our Basic Knit Doll Pattern to create dolls to send to a village in Africa were her sister Hallie was volunteering this summer.

Our answer... a resounding YES! We did ask her, however, to share pics with us, especially photos of the dolls in their new home. Last week we received the photos you see in this post. Michelle also shared a little bit about her sister's experience.

 

Hallie is a student at Northern Illinois University. She is in her final semester of nursing; she was able to join the group she traveled with as medical assistance. The group she traveled with are engineering students who are working with "Engineers without Borders". This is the second year the school has taken a group to do work. They are committed to four years of work, so they will be going back to continue improvements for the community. This year, the team installed solar panels and lighting fixtures into the school buildings at their site in Tanzania. Last year, they built a dormitory for the school.

I learned so many things from talking with Hallie about her experience, i.e. most people do not have access to running water or electricity. And, children who attend school are required to purchase a uniform in order to do so; if they can't afford a uniform, they are not allowed to attend.

The professor who oversees the project is an African native, and he and his wife have started work on a separate, independently funded project to build a school and dormitory for children who cannot afford to attend traditional school and/or who are orphaned.

To learn more about Hallie's experience, read Michelle's post Out of Africa.

Here are all of the dolls that found new homes in Tanzania.

At Wee Folk Art we share our crafts in hopes of promoting global goodwill and friendship. NOTHING delights us more than receiving comments and emails that readers share with us on how they have used our projects to bring joy to others. As you can well imagine, to see our dolls being loved by children so far away, validates what we do here. We hope you find this as inspiring as we did. Thank you, Michelle!