Break from the fibers: Custom Cosette

It's easy for me to get lost in dying and spinning these days, so it's always a treat when someone comes to me with a really special request for one of my handmade dolls.  In this case it's Cosette!

Thank you Easter bunny

I've been gone for a while, but I'm back for one of my favorite holidays... Bunnies, chocolate, what's not to love? And so it's time for a new pattern! We're going back to basics with my latest WIP: meet William.

William is a classic standing bunny pattern, and like the others he stands about 12-14 inches tall. However he features a few charming differences; He's got accented hands, feet, and ears that allow for an unlimited number of custom variations. He also features a slightly chunkier build than my other dolls. And although William is a solid boy, switch out his shorts for the apron style dress pattern Mia wears and you've got yourself a whole new bunny ;D

I hope you enjoyed this little sneak peek...
Keep an eye out for William, and other new patterns, in my shops this year!
etsy.com
ravelry.com
craftsy.com

Petra: the mummy

Adorable and undead, Petra was my surprise Halloween project last year... and now she's back, available as a pattern in my Halloween collection (etsy shop, ravelry shop, craftsy shop)! And by popular demand, she comes with instructions for both a knit version of her hair, and a crochet version! 
Are you making Petra?Join us on Ravelry: CALwithDawnToussaint

September CAL: Hermione the unicorn

Well, it's been a little while but we're back together for this adorable crochet along requested specifically by our ravelry group! This little unicorn is a fantastic way to feature some of those "must have" custom or specialty yarns that you have lurking in your stash, even if you only have a few yards ;D

For this CAL I definitely suggest joining the ravelry group (if you haven't already) because I will not be around much this month. The group has some experienced crocheters and they have always been great at supporting each other!

I can't wait to see the herds of unicorns come to life ;D

Download the pattern from my website now!

February CAL???

Well, now that the holiday hustle is over... I'm thinking about our next CAL ;D
Of course February means Valentines day (at least it does in my house) so I automatically started thinking of love birds, puppy love, and all that stuff. But maybe your not into Valentine's mushiness? So I want to hear from you! What do you want to see in our next CAL?

BTW: I've opened it up on the ravelry group too... join us over there for more about our next CAL!

Crochet-a-long: Manuel part 2

Part 2 is a piece of cake, enjoy ;D

TAIL(make 1)
Start with (color B) a magic circle into which 6 SC are made.
R1: INCR1 in each stitch across (12 sts)
R2: *SC 1, INCR1* repeat across (18 sts)
R3 to end: SC until piece measures about 5-6 inches from beginning.
bind off and set aside.

MUZZLE(make 1)
Start with (color A) a magic circle into which 6 SC are made.
R1: INCR1 in each stitch across (12 sts)
R2: *SC 1, INCR1* repeat across (18 sts)
R3-4: SC across.
R5: *SC 2, INCR1* repeat across (24 sts)
R6: *SC 3, INCR1* repeat across (30 sts)
bind off and set aside.

Crochet-a-long: Manuel part 1

OMG it's CAL number 2... As requested, it's a monkey, crocheted together (no sewing required)! ENJOY ;D

This pattern will be in 4 installments, Wed & Sat (EST)!

As always, the rules remain the same, so here they are:
1. Ask any question or feedback that comes to mind while working on this project, that's why we're here!
2. Please share your pics, we want to see how it's going!
3. Even though this pattern is free, please don't copy and distribute it... but feel free to link to it here!


So here's the first installment of Manuel:
This pattern assumes that as you work, the "right side" is facing out.
color A is a natural cream colored wool(as seen in my pics)
color B is a brown colored wool(as seen in my pics)

LEGS(make 4)
Start with (color A) a magic circle into which 6 SC are made.
R1: INCR1 in each stitch across (12 sts)
R2: *SC 1, INCR1* repeat across (18 sts)
R3: Make bobble, SC next 17.
R4-5: SC across.
R6: change to color B, work a row of chain st across in front loops only.
R7: SC across in back loops skipped in previous row.
R8-15: SC across.
Bind off and set aside.




BELLY(make 1)
Start with (color B) a magic circle into which 6 SC are made.
R1: INCR1 in each stitch across (12 sts)
R2: *SC 1, INCR1* repeat across (18 sts)
R3: *SC 2, INCR1* repeat across (24 sts)
R4: *SC 3, INCR1* repeat across (30 sts)
R5: *SC 4, INCR1* repeat across (36 sts)
Next row joins legs to the belly (same technique we used for Padma)
R6: *With yarn attached to belly piece, pick up one of the legs and SC next 9sts through both belly and leg.* make sure your toes are pointing in toward the center of the belly! Repeat with each remaining leg, and bind off.

Crochet-a-long: Padma part 4

Last part, here we go!

When we attached the legs to the belly(part1) we left 12 leg stitches open, and these are the stitches we are going to pick up and use to begin the main body. But to minimize gaps between the legs we are also going to work in 2 of the stitches used to attached the leg and belly in our round (one on either side of the leg). That means we will work 14 stitches across each leg of this round. So choose a leg as the starting point (they're all the same so it's your choice), and identify the 12 open stitches, then go 1 stitch before and attach yarn. The starting point you choose will be the center back of the elephant. Begin R1 here.




R1-3: SC across. (56 sts)
R4: *SC 6, DCR1 over next 2 sts, SC 6* repeat across. (52 sts)
R5: SC across.
R6: SC 22, join trunk by aligning back 9 stitches of flattened trunk with next 9 stitches of body, SC through both layers of those 9 stitches, SC 21. (see image RIGHT)
R7: SC 22, SC front 9 stitches of flattened trunk, SC next 21 on body.

Make Padma's tail here by chaining 12, turn, skip 2 ch and work slip st in next 10 ch (working back toward body).
R8: *SC 5, DCR1 over next 2 sts, SC 4, DCR1 over next 2 sts* repeat across. (44 sts)
R9: SC across
R10: *SC 4, DCR1 over next 2 sts, SC 3, DCR1 over next 2 sts* repeat across. (36 sts)
R11: SC across
R12: *SC 6, join ear by aligning 7 stitches of flattened ear with next 7 sts of body, SC through both layers of those 7 stitches, SC 5* repeat.
R13: *SC 4, DCR1 over next 2 sts* repeat across. (30 sts)
Time to stuff...
stuff the legs first, stuffing pretty firmly. Then the body and a small amount in the trunk to help shape the face. Don't over stuff the body, since you will have one last chance to add some stuffing before closing. If you are using safety eyes you will want to attach them now as well.
R14: *SC 3, DCR1 over next 2 sts* repeat across. (24 sts)
R15: *SC 2, DCR1 over next 2 sts* repeat across. (18 sts)
Last chance to get in any stuffing before closing!
R16: *SC 1 ,DCR1 over next 2 sts* repeat across. (12 sts)
R17: *DCR1 over next 2 sts* repeat across. (6 sts)
Bind off leaving a long tail. Weave tail through remaining stitches and pull to close. Secure and pull tail to inside to hide.


All that's left to do now are your finishing touches: eyes, expressions, accessories, anything you can think of!

Let's see your finished product! Post it on Ravelry: CAL with DawnToussaint