Designing Dressy Dishcloths I: Pinafores

Pinafores are a type of apron, the kind with bibs, chest, covering tops above the
waist.

I think they're a fun way to wash dishes.

Somewhere in My World: IFF Guild Show

At last, I can talk about it and now i've forgotten what i wanted to say.
I'll try to find some of the notes I kept and add them here.
My latest fiberwork:
http://www.freeformcrochet.com/2010/Pages/Akua.html

The 2010 International Freeform Fiberarts Guild Show
Somewhere in My World.
http://www.freeformcrochet.com/

Still More Kokeshi dolls

The pattern testing is nearly done-- well the allotted time for it. I've made 14.5 dolls so far and have resisted the call to explain more (eg. wild hair, flowers) as I have 10 pages of explanation so far and believe that folks have plenty of options therein.

The catalyst for this-- a swap has been delayed for two months, which opens the door to temptation and more work-- I don't want to give away any of the dolls I've made as each one is a learning or improvisation and I feel very connected to each one.





and my darling with sari silk

Kokeshi Dolls and Pattern Testing

The Kokeshi Doll swap on Ravelry opened a door.

I found the form(http://www.etsy.com/shop/temple7e http://www.amazon.com/Kimmidoll-Japanese-Kokeshi-Doll-Tomomi/dp/B002M0AIXA) and history very interesting



and loved some of the nontraditional interpretations,
like these sold on Etsy:
http://ny-image3.etsy.com//il_fullxfull.113008635.jpg


I spent my time in rehab/hell/exile making dolls and trying to make dolls sculptural
and after seeing some "lady" Kokeshi dolls, I knew I wanted to interpret her as well
as inscribe my approach to this form.

The other patterns I saw were more girl-forms and girlie, a bit too sweet for me:
Crochet:

http://www.suncatchereyes.net/Kokeshi%20Dolls.html
http://www.felt.co.nz/browse/listing/12714/Crochetbury-Kokeshi-Dolls

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/yuuii---amigurumi-kokeshi-doll
Stuffie:
http://www.fionamarie.com/freepatterns/kokeshistuffie.pdf
Knitted
http://flutterbypatch.typepad.co.uk/flutterby_patch/2009/02/japanese-garden.html
(but non traditional as doll is not supposed to have limbs)
Embroidered
http://www.sublimestitching.com/node/3199

then I saw Krokeshi Art Toys
http://janmstore.com/250102.html

and was affirmed. And so Crocheted Lady Kokeshi doll pattern is now being tested by five intrepid volunteers!

And like teaching, pattern writing is a learning experience... it is so hard to say what one did, and for me even to commit to an approach. But I have, for this and it seems the good resulats are replicable. Ahhh replicants.







Hopefully we'll have a sunny day so I can get a decent picture with my aging digital--
the shots here were all taken with my cell phone.

Motifs for Free Form Doll

Bonnie P's motif is the rufffle spiral flower on the doll front and the block stitch medallion ( a new favorite) on the doll's back

Her arms are the front post double crochet cord done square.

She's 95% done--- I want to add some tiny leaves around her bottom and
I made up a tiny leaf just for her. Felted it turned out jsut right

Thanks Bonnie!