Knitted Gnome Doll Pattern

As promised, here is the pattern for Abi's gnome doll. I have never written a pattern before so i hope it goes OK, its a pretty simple pattern so hopefully you'll be able to fathom it out. It was made out of the leftover wool and cotton I had lying around. (Please see previous post for further action shots!)

Tension - not crucial as long as it is tight enough to stop stuffing poking through, so use needles a couple of sizes smaller than those recommended for whatever wool you are using. I used dk/worsted weight throughout, and knitted the doll with 3.25 mm needles, although the hat is also dk/worsted and knitted on 4mms.

Foot - cast on 10 sts.

P 1 row

(K1, K twice into next stitch) repeat to end of row (15 stitches)

Work 7 rows stocking stitch and change to main colour.

Work 2 rows stocking stitch

*Next row - knit twice into first stitch, knit accross to last stitch, knit twice into last stitch (17 sts)

Work 3 rows stocking stitch.*

Repeat from * to * until there are 23 stitches, and leave on a holder. Work a second leg in the same, and then knit accross all 46 stitches.

Body - Work about 30 rows of stocking stitch, or until the body is just a bit longer than the legs.

K2tog accross entire row (23 sts).

P 1 row, and change back to head colour.

K twice into each st, and work about 20 rows stocking stitch.

K2 tog accross next row

P 1 row

K2 tog accross to last stitch, k1 (12 sts)

Cut wool leaving a long thread the draw up remaining stitches and fasten off.

Arm - cast on 8 stitches

P 1 row

(K1, K twice into next stitch) repeat to end of row (12 sts)

Work 5 rows stocking stitch and change to main colour.

Work 2 rows stoocking stitch

*K twice into first stitch, knit to last stitch, knit twice into last stitch

Work 3 rows stocking stitch*

Repeat from * to * until there are 18 sts, then work shoulder as follows:

K2 tog, knit accross to last st, K2tog

P 1 row

Repeat the last 2 rows until 10 sts remain, cast off quite tightly. Work another arm the same.

Hat - cast on 34 stitches (don't forget to use normal size needles for this, I changed colour every 4 rows)

Work about 6 rows garter stitch

Work 4 rows stocking stitch

Decrease at each end of next row

Work 3 rows stocking stitch

Decrease at each end of every following right side row until 6 sts remain.

Work 6 rows stocking st on these 6.

Cut wool leaving a long thread to draw up sts and fasten off.

Sew up the seam down the back of the head and body, using corresponding colours to match knitting. Sew up one leg and leave the other open to turn right side out and stuff, then sew that one up too. Sew up each arm seam and stuff before attaching to body. If you attach the top of the should almost where the body meets the head, the arms will lie at a nice angle. Using the same wool as used for head, sew running stitches around neck, wrists and ankles, pull tight to shape these areas, tie the threads and hide the ends inside the doll.

Sew up the seam of the hat, and then sew neatly onto head.

Done! Please let me know if anything is unclear or wrong.

Gnome Doll

I knitted a gnome doll for Abi. Couldn't be bothered to wait for daylight to take a decent photo!

Abi seemed pretty impressed by the doll before it had a hat. But it looked too strange all bald - much cuddlier now.

D - are you knitting a doll for Abi?

M - yes, I hope she likes it.

D - Will she have lots of dolls?

M - this one should be just fine for now.

D - I expect that when she's older she'll have looaads of dolls...

What is D getting at here? Is there something which he feels he also needs looaads of? If only he were still so easily pleased, but he does have a cupboard full of floppy teddies and other odd projects which he loves a lot, and the knowledge that I only took up these hobbies when I first met him.

Simple piece of Fabric

Abi loves the lovely sling her Pa bought her...but it really gets a bit hot and sweaty for around the house. So I was reading about 'simple pieces of fabric', which I suppose are how most women carry their babies anyway...

...Ben is going to think I have finally lost the plot when he sees this, its just some bit of fabric out of the cupboard (tho I did check out measurements and instructions for using first):

Nice and cool for getting off to sleep round the house. Please don't tell Abi that she might be about to grow out of this cradle-style carry! I think I'll hem the edges when I get time, this could be handy for keeping her happy in this heatwave.

An outfit for the sling

The sling is hot and sweaty in this weather, so something cool was necessary

Around the house, bare is fine, but out and about she needs her legs covered and everything else cool. This is based on a pinafore in 'all year round' but bodged without pattern. I'm gonna make more with a more generous crotch.

Pretty baby!

I bought enough fabric to make myself a matchy skirt but its too sheer :(

Beautiful!

Happiness = painting with children

I love painting with Dan sooo much. Painting isn't, however, one of his activities of choice so I felt a bit bad when, after declaring several times that he could not decide what to do and implying that the responsibility for this fell to me, I declared in response that we would paint. There were initially of course the usual groans...mostly I think because painting can all too easily be about the perception of the picture you end up with, rather than the joy of creation. I know I can be guilty of this when doing creative things with Dan, but school has a big influence of childrens' approach to art too. So I love seeing pictures like the top one here which is one of several similar ones he painted for Abi to look at. We stuck a couple up in her corner of the kitchen where she often gets bunged at breakfast time so we don't trip over her.

Hopefully she will enjoy having some shapes and colours to look at now.

We painted a few more too which I've stuck over the crib and I would have taken a photo of but she is in there right now. Dan loved thinking about how she will be looking at these pictures, and he loved using the watercolour pencils and paints in a free way.

I didn't try to take a photo of Dan painting, much as I would have loved to, as he was so absorbed (and to be honest, so was I!) but here is a sneaky one from yesterday's jam tart baking session
and a (possibly) better picture of abi in her sling - I usually make sure she is more symmetrical than that if we were going out!

Hiding

My children are hiding! Daniel is a bit shy about having his photo taken today, although I think that's more to do with the fun of running away shrieking than any self-confidence issues! He seemed to enjoy playing up for the camera when I took pictures of him running away!

Abi has been hiding her face in the depths of our green sofa, so that I could take a lovely photo of her bottom. When browsing slings yesterday I decided that tights were in order as her legs will dangle in the new one. And also some slippers. And when I saw these tights with hearts on the bottom...yes they are a bit naff, but also very very sweet.

And here is a dodgy picture of me with Abi in the new sling. She is there right now. She has been there whilst Dan and I made wholewheat pastry for a broccoli quiche (we are having a mostly vegetarian week, the outlaws will be proud!)