Category Archives: little darlings

“Ready, Set, Autumn”

Are you ready for autumn? Maybe I’m not, but Lucy sure is! She is wearing a new design made for her and her sisters.

I’ve been in love with this vintage knit pinafore jumper ever since I saw it quite awhile ago. Isn’t it adorable, as is the little model! *sigh* The photo looks like it’s from the 1970s, but I cannot find any definite information about it. I haven’t forgotten about it though, and really wanted to see one of my Little Darlings dressed in this style.

Here’s my miniaturized take on the knitted pinafore jumper.

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Lucy likes this new look so much that she has picked it for her back-to-school outfit. In addition to wearing a special outfit, the children always bring a little friend for show-and-tell. Lucy’s friend is “Miss Friendly”, named for her tiny, but sweet smile. Lucy says Miss Friendly’s cuteness will help her make new friends. I think she’s right, don’t you?

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Miss Friendly is needle felted out of wool roving by me, in my studio. She has black Delica bead eyes and embroidered features. She wears a bow out of matching yarn and a heart dangle that matches the heart on Lucy’s bracelet.

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Lucy’s pinafore jumper is hand knit out of Peruvian Highland wool in a heathered warm rosy pink. The suspender straps really button with buttonholes, but do not need to be undone for dressing. The back has tiny pearl beads all the way to the hemline. Only the first three open with buttonholes for dressing; the others are sewn in place. The jumper is embroidered with coordinating blossoms underneath the ribbed band and at the hemline.

The 3/4 length sleeve blouse is made with a pastel cotton floral print. The bodice is completely lined; no raw or serged edges are visible on the inside. The facing is hand sewn, and the sleeve seams are double turned and hemmed by hand. To prevent added bulk, the blouse closes with snaps above the jumper only.

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Lucy’s seamless beret is knit from my beret pattern, and is made from wool/angora yarn. A little embroidered motif decorates the front and a two-color tassel decorates the top.

Lucy’s accessories include a necklace and bracelet, which are made out of 14k gold-filled findings. Underneath her jumper is a pair of ivory cotton tights.

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“Ready, Set, Autumn” will be available tonight (August 14, 2017) at 7:00 pm CST, cindyricedesigns.com.

“As Seasons Change”

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Is it starting to feel a bit like fall (or spring) where you live, maybe a day here and there? We had a morning last week that was quite cool. If I hadn’t been aware of the exact day on the calendar I could have believed autumn was right around the corner simply by a “feeling in the air”. But alas, we still have August which is still summer. And, I am happy about that; I’m not ready to say goodbye to summer just yet.

Lucy is my last little model in the July fashion show. She is wearing a transitional ensemble in navy blue, my favorite back-to-school color. Her dress is made with a popular print designed by Rifle Paper Co. and manufactured by Cotton + Steel. If you go to Instagram and search with the tag #riflepapercofabric you can find lots of other thing made with this print. It was also produced with a light blue ground and a warm peach/salmon colorway.

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I customized Lucy’s rose with cobalt seed beads to mimic the stylized roses on her dress.

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Lucy’s hand knit lace cardigan sweater is made with a heathered rose colored merino lace yarn. There are vertical lace panels on the fronts, sleeves, and a wider one on the back. The cardigan can be worn unbuttoned or buttoned with natural stone navy bead buttons.

It took me a few tries to get the shade for the rose embroidery just right. I kept trying shades that perfectly matched those on the dress, but they did not look right at all. Finally, I squinted my eyes and picked the color that the pink and red blended together to make, which was the color that you see here. There is some reddish orange in the yarn, so this shade of embroidery also ties in with the sweater.

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Lucy’s beret is knit in the round from my beret pattern. It uses a heavier yarn, but in the same colorway. A hand made two-color pompom decorates the top, and a tiny hand made navy silk (same color as the waistline ribbon) bow decorates the front.

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Lucy’s other accessories include pastel hand dyed pink cotton tights and a bracelet.

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“As Seasons Change” made for Dianna Effner’s Little Darlings will be available tonight (July 29, 2017) at 7:00 pm CST, cindyricedesigns.com.

Thank you so much for attending my July fashion show.

Have a great weekend, my friends.

“Princess in Peach”

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Today Alice would like to model her new July ensemble for you. Alice’s best colors are peaches and pinks, so whenever I pull a fabric with those warm and rosy colors, Alice gets to try the fabric first.

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When Alice put on her new ensemble, I thought she looked like a princess.

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This peach rose cotton fabric has very faint ivory dots, so I chose to highlight those with trims, pearls, and accessories. The lace on the skirt is brand new to me. It is a very delicate English cotton Cluny lace, and wider than what I usually use. The nylon English Cluny lace I’ve used for the sash is more durable for tying in a bow.

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Alice’s cardigan is hand knit with salmon colored bamboo thread. Pastel shaded bullion stitch rose are embroidered along the neckline. I added pops of bright rosebuds and light colonial knots to help the roses stand out. A panel of lace knitting decorates the center of each sleeve. The cardigan can be worn unbuttoned or buttoned.

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I think Alice’s crocheted pearl headband adds to her princess-ness. After I tied on the headband, I took her front chunks of hair, brought them to the back, twisted them, then brought them underneath the rest of her wig, then added a clear elastic to hold in place. I find mohair easy to work with; it’s not slipper at all. BTW, this wig is a Kemper Raven Blonde wig.

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