Fashion Doll Fashions to Crochet

Do little girls still play with fashion dolls? I know I did, and both of my daughters had a closet full! My grandmother first introduced me to crochet by way of the clothes she crocheted for my dolls. Designs very much like these downloadable patterns for fashion doll fashions to crochet from Leisure Arts:

Beautiful Bridal Gown & Bridesmaid Dress

Lacy-Ruffles Outfit

Formals

Beach Outfits & Accessories

Poncho Set

Ballet Tutu

Party Dress

Nightwear

Summerwear

Country Dress & Accessories

I especially loved the frilly dresses. Bet some little girls in your world would, too! Wish I still had the ones my grandmother made for my dolls…Are any of you that lucky?

Spring Fashions: Knit & Crochet Vests

It usually doesn’t start feeling like spring in Arkansas until at least the middle of March, but…since the flowers and the trees, and the birds and the temperatures all seem to indicate that spring has decided to come early this year, I’m already behind on restocking my warmer weather wardrobe. Consequently, I’m shopping the Leisure Arts knit & crochet pattern books for vest patterns that I like. Wanna help me pick?

I found a whole book of Fresh Vests to Knit by Edie Eckman:

Really like this Casual Charm Vest…

Or Edie’s Lighthearted Vest…

Or her Something Special Vest (It’s green; of course, I like it!).

The I came across this Casual Vest to knit from Melissa Leapman’s Cardigan’s with a Conscience. (The photo model was made with Bernat Cot’n Corn Solid yarn—67% cotton & 33% corn. I kind of like the idea of a vest made of corn!)

But since I can’t actually knit, (and nobody at Leisure Arts seems to be picking up on my hints), I must turn to our huge selection of crochet fashion pattern books:

One of my favs is this Scallop-Edge Vest from Lisa Gentry’s Unforgettable Crochet. (I meant to make this vest when the book was first released. I even bought the yarn, but I got side-tracked…maybe, it’s time to try again!)

This A-Line Vest is from Curvy Crochet by Marlaina Bird & Jill Wright. (I like the button tabs and the lacy inset in the back!)

Loving the simple lines of Shibaguyz Shannon Mullett-Bowlsby’s Red Rock Vest from And That’s a Wrap!

Lisa Gentry’s The Crochet Closet calls this design, a “Nice Striped Vest.” (And that’s the perfect description of it. The yarn colors really give it a great springy look, too!)

The Crochet Dude Drew Emborsky’s Investing vest design from Crochet It. Love It Wear It! gets my attention because of the its faux lapels that are created with diagonally slanted cables.

Once more, the color green catches my eye with this Sweet Basil Vest from CrochetWear by Anne Regis. (The deep armholes make it great for layering which is vital while experiencing the changing Arkansas temperatures. Plus, I probably need a Humphrey Bogart fedora to wear with it!)

And, then there’s Shannon Mullett-Bowlsby’s newest crochet pattern book—Urban Edge! This book is just filled with go-to designs:

Amsterdam Vest (This design has great classic lines!)

Buenos Aires Maxi Vest (Love the duster length of this vest! Course, now I want a cowboy hat!)

Okay! So what do you think? Which one should I make first? Which ones would you add to your wardrobe?

Mary Engelbreit Pillow Patterns & Book Sale!

All Leisure Arts Mary Engelbreit pattern books are on sale at 50% off regular retail price, so I’m shopping the sale for a whimsical pillow design to add to my guest bedroom décor.

Loving this Toile Basket pillow from Home Creations to cross stitch! (That it’s made with shades of green, of course, gets my attention!)

Like the whole black and white thing going on with this embroidered Four-Square Pillow from The Art of Embroidery!

I’ve never done needle felting before, but I’m kind of tempted to try learning how to do it with these pillows from Artistic Needle Felting…

Or I could bribe a sewing buddy to make this pretty Appliqued Sheet Set for me from Sew, So Cute! (I can just picture The Cat…The Black Cat…lounging right where that dog is in the photo!)

What do you think? Which would you pick?

And while you’re here, be sure to check out all of the pattern books in the Mary Engelbreit Sale!

Star Quality Knit & Crochet Fashion & Décor

Are you gearing up to watch the Academy Awards tonight? Who’s going to be the big winner? With stars in my eyes, I, myself, am leafing through some knit and crochet fashion and home décor pattern books from Leisure Arts that are just filled with star quality designs. (This is as close as I’ll ever get to being a celebrity...so you might want to grab your shades…)

I know you’ve seen the stars in their slouchy beanies! They’re everywhere. Wanna be a star, too? You need Knit Celebrity Slouchy Beanies, Crochet Celebrity Slouchy Beanies, or both to achieve star power! Each little pattern book features 7 “hip designs for all the celebrities in your life” by Lisa Gentry. Take a peek:

Knit—

Easy-Going

Naturally Comfortable

Truly Purple

Cabled Classic

Casual Comfort

Fun Stripes

Forward And Reverse

Crochet—

Lacy

Textured Stripes

Urban Appeal

Granny Square

Eco Green

Kid Stuff – Stripes

Kid Stuff – Reversed

For Toddlers

And now that you’ve got your head covered…(all the better for avoiding those pesky papparazzi…)

Contemplate feeling movie-star fabulous every day while wearing one of Shannon Mullett-Bowlsby’s wrap-style fashions from And That’s a Wrap! Want a refresher peek at all 5 patterns? Check out the pics in my And That’s A Wrap Blog Post! (I still can’t decide which design I like best—the Red Rock Vest or the Edinburgh Ruana!)

And then it all comes down to—The Envelope, Please!

In this case, 10 envelope-style pillows to knit by Carolyn Pfeifer! Take a look at them in my The Envelope, Please Blog Post.

And there you have it—star-quality fashions and home décor to knit and crochet. Who could ask for anything more? So while the Oscars are being handed out tonight, I’ll be crocheting a slouchy beanie. Think my kid will loan me her sunglasses?

My Expanding Pottery Collection

Hi All! Hope Saturday’s going well for you. I’m having coffee with The Cat and examining the most recent additions to my various collections…I seem to be running on a green-glazed pottery tangent lately.

I discovered this Red Wing Pottery vase at a flea market the other day. The numbers on the bottom date it to 1949, it’s green, and I love it.

Bought these Frankoma Pottery political mugs at an auction. Didn’t buy them for the political significance. I brought them home simply because I like elephants! (Especially the green one!) These GOP mugs were first produced in 1968, but mine date from 1979, 1980, and 1993!

Picked up this little horse planter at an antique mall just cause he made me happy. He’s green, and he’s a mystery for me to solve. I don’t know which pottery made him! I do have any pottery authorities out there?

Anyway…How are your collections progressing? What’s your greatest acquisition to date?

Talk to you later...The Cat says he’s bored with my babbling and wants me to cook breakfast...

The Cutest Little Baby Faces in Knit, Crochet & Knook!

Question—When you sit down to look at a knit, crochet, or knook baby pattern book, what gets your attention first—the projects or the cute baby faces? If you’re anything like me, gooing and cooing at those baby faces gets you sidetracked every time!

So get ready to make those noises that cause others in the room around you to look at you funny—cause I’m going to show you some of my favorite baby faces and projects from the pages of our Leisure Arts knit, crochet, & knook publications!

Baby Bobbles Blanket from Donna Kooler’s Encyclopedia of Crochet – Updated

Purple Textures Cocoon & Cap from Kim Kotary’s Dreamy Cocoons

Little Sophia’s Hat from I Can’t Believe I’m Fair Isle Knitting by Sheila G. Joynes

Ruffled Pillbox from Cute & Cozy Caps by Lori Adams

Forward & Reverse Hat from Knit Celebrity Slouchy Beanies by Lisa Gentry

Pink Fan Set from Lovely Layettes by Carole Prior

For Toddlers Hat from Crochet Celebrity Slouchy Beanies by Lisa Gentry

Basic Buttoned Sweater from Surprise Crochet by Darla Sims

Sheep Blankie from Jean Adel’s Precious Knit Blankies for Baby

Sonny Boy Afghan by Annis Clapp from The Big Book of Baby Afghans

Welcome, Little Onesie by Joan Beebe from The Best of Knit Along With Debbie Macomber

Ridged Patchwork Blanket from Baby Blankets Made With The Knook by Melissa Leapman

Double Diamonds Hat from Baby Beanies Made With The Knook by Dorothy E. Uhlir

Hug Cap by Cathy Hardy from Knit Along With Debbie Macomber A Charity Guide For Knitters

Now that you’ve got all that baby stuff out of your system…What are you knitting, crocheting, or knooking for the favorite baby faces in your life? In fact, go on over to the Leisure Arts Facebook page and share a photo of your cutest little baby face wearing one of your creations!