Fashion fun and a Kittybomb outtake

The girls got changed, with some help from Aunt Maggie, and so of course had to be photographed! Tinkerbelle the Cat is always trying to help with everything. She investigates Phoebe's pose at top. Molly is sweet and pure all in white. Charlotte goes Boho in a handmade gift from Auntie Angela of a few years ago. (I think even before AA had ANY of her 75+ dolls).

Then there's Bunny the Cheerleader, Polly dressed by Maggie and looking cute, and then Lilly, Daisy, Cookie and Brigette in vintage, mostly Skipper. This is my Blythe family in total, after a little "reorganization."

More Tiny Knitting and Crocheting

Inspired by Alice's Megipupu sweater (top) and Daisy's green mohair sweater jacket by DollyDressUp, I have been trying to learn to knit. Had a second lesson yesterday, in fact. Although I had crocheted for many years, knitting is a totally different process.

During the past week when I was supposed to be doing my knitting homework, though, I squeezed in some crochet time, making the sweater for Alice (third from top) and another tiny Momoko hat.

Not only was I pretty pleased with my first tiny sweater effort, although it is a bit bulky, but I was practically shocked when it actually started resembling a sweater. It was crocheted in four squares: front, back and two sleeves and then attached by crocheting the yoke around all four. It was a mess for a minute but the, suddenly, it was a butterfly.

Batty for Hats and Hooks vs. Needles

I am just so crazy about the knitted hats and sweaters directly above by Megan a.k.a. Megipupu from Finland. She is just so talented, has a huge international following, and sells out of stock in her Etsy shop faster than you can click "commit to buy." Literally. Bunny models the green set I was able to get second-hand on Plastic Paradise. Yes, it has come to this. Blythe clothing is a hot commodity in tiny, virtual re-sale shops.

I like to crochet hats, like the fuzzy lavender one Alice is wearing. I added the store-bought felted wool flower for a jaunty look. But my hats are always sort of big and floppy as opposed to detailed and tight like Megan's. I knew I'd have to take up knitting if I wanted to achieve that look.

The mint green hat on Barbie is still crochet, but I started working with finer yarn and smaller hooks after seeing Theo's Momoko hats, boots and mittens at our recent Blythe meet. This pattern is from Crochet Today! magazine, January-February 2010, and was adapted from a 1964 pattern for Barbie.

But beyond the reduction in size, I have also started a knitting class and have my second session this weekend. I learned to knit once, the same time I learned to crochet, early in college, and haven't knitted since. At the first class it was clear I remembered nothing. And, learning to use two hands and two needles and moving the yarn with one's dominant hand is a lot different than one hook, one hand, and using one's other hand primarily. I felt like a duck out of water, but I'm enjoying our homework so far. We'll see what creations develop.

Weekend Mini Blythe Meet!

First off, you can click on this awesome mosaic for a larger view. These are some shots from a Dolly gathering this past weekend with Maggie Stimson, Theo Malloy and myself in Columbia, MD. Everyone had incredible dolls and fashions. We had some swapping, selling and gifting, and Maggie showed me how to change eye chips with the hot glue stick and hot cotton ball method.

Theo showed us all her Momokos, Azones and Fashion Royalty and their massive wardrobe. We talked about Blythecon, Fashion Royalty Convention and the International Fashion Doll Convention. And our theme was Alice in Wonderland. A great time was had by all (three).

What's It All About, Blythie?

What IS it all about, Blythie? I am sure that is what you are asking yourself! Well, ask no more, and hop on over to ZNE Dollz http://www.znedolls.com/ for a new public blog, co-coordinated by me, for doll lovers of ALL kinds from Blythe to Momoko, ball-jointed dolls (BJD), dal, Dolfie, Pullip, vintage, china, paper, fabric, antique, ATC, stuffies and more.

ZNE Dollz is a public blog, affiliated with the ZNE Network (VariaZioNE) art group and ZNE Blogz. There will be bountiful information for an endless variety of dolls, doll makers and collectors, as well as interviews, reviews and a bi-weekly DIY/BIY column by me! Yay! Thanks to creator, founder and co-coordinator Chelise Stroud Hery of California for creating this lovely sub-header as well as the lovely blog in general! Dolls are HOT and so is our blog. Check it out. Please leave comments, questions, suggestions and feedback!