Tag Archives: purse

“A Plummy Fall”

I love this fabric so much! I’ve been hoarding my one half yard bit of it . . . saving it for someone special, wondering and wondering . . . who would that be? That special someone turned out to be Gracie.

This fabric is probably the most colorful and detailed rose print I’ve seen in this small of a scale. That being said, I should have saved it for one of my many smaller dolls, but I couldn’t help using it for Gracie. The ground color is a light plum color and looks gorgeous next to Gracie, as does this color of yarn.

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I recently told you about getting on a Craftsy kick again. My latest “aha moment” happened while watching Wee Ones Seamless Knit Toys by Susan B. Anderson. Susan knits her toy animal bodies from the top down just like how I knit my sweaters. She knits the arms to her animal bodies with double pointed needles to knit them in the round. I don’t do that with my sleeves, but how cool would that be! I needed to move around some increases and decreases and get comfortable picking up stitches, but the end result was that this technique did work for my sweaters! Oh happy day!

I love learning new processes or techniques; it keeps me excited to continue designing and making. Do you thrive on learning new things?

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You can see the smooth underarm area without the added bulk of a seam. The longer sleeved sweaters and those knit with heavier yarn will benefit the most from this technique.

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Gracie and I thank you for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed seeing her new fall ensemble.

Gracie’s new ensemble, “A Plummy Fall”, will be available tonight (September 15, 2016) at 7:00 pm CST at cindyricedesigns.com.

“Autumnal Sweetie”

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Of all the seasons the beginning of autumn brings the most excitement for me. It is a cozy season with comforting flavors and scents. Just thinking about autumn brings to mind pumpkin, cinnamon, and apples! It seems like autumn is all about the food! Well, not all, but a big part. Do you have a favorite autumnal flavor or scent?

Poor Bethany has been squirming around in her case lately. She’s getting restless and wants to do a little modeling for you. She told me her vacation has gone on far too long, and she is right. Who goes on vacation for 3+ years! I could not say no to this cutie, and so, I made her an ensemble to help welcome the fall season.

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When I was picking sweater yarn for this ensemble, I wanted the sweater to look like an effortless addition, not a “matchy match”. I decided on an almond color that brings out the beautiful colors in the dress. I then focused on the peachy pink background in the fabric and added the crocheted beret and purse. The tights are a very pastel version of this shade also.

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Bethany’s “Autumnal Sweetie” ensemble will be available tonight (September 8, 2016) at 7:00 pm CST, cindyricedesigns.com.

I’d love to hear what comes to mind when you think of fall!

Thanks for visiting today with me today! ❤

“Softly Spring” Ensemble for Dianna Effner’s Little Darlings

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Gina is back to modeling for me and is as happy as can be. I’ve been working for a while now on this very involved 8-piece ensemble for the beautifully sweet Little Darlings.

I am so happy with how this mohair/silk lace hand knit sweater turned out. It is knit from the top down, then I added lace edgings with a 3 needle bind off. I wanted the scalloped edge of the lace edging, but still wanted to make the sweater from the top down so this was my solution. Lots of math involved as the lace had a specific number for the pattern and then the sleeves and body had to be the exact same number of stitches as the edging that would go with it. Yikes, I could feel the burn as my brain worked on this one!

I encircled the eyelet neckline with lots of delicate hand embroidery; roses in pinks, some blue and yellow golden flower clusters, and pretty green for the meandering stems and leaves.

After I completed the sweater I was able to see the kind of dress that I thought would be pretty with it. I found this very soft washed blue cotton chambray in my fabric collection. I added some tucks to the skirt along with a rose bouquet motif and white tulle that barely peeks out from underneath the skirt. I repeated a smaller rose bouquet motif on the bodice just under the strap on the opposite side to balance the embroidered motifs. The entire dress is lined in white cotton lawn with all of the seams enclosed to make the dress beautiful inside.

A low back and angled straps show off these dolls graceful arms, pretty back, and slightly sloping shoulders so well. I love how Dianna sculpted the body of these dolls, so graceful and elegant.

I added a crocheted drawstring purse with a cotton voile hankie (embroidered with the L.D.’s initials), some crocheted ballet slippers, a bracelet, bow headband, and panties and the ensemble was complete.