Return of the Fat Baby Challenge!

About two years ago my mom and I found two adorable baby dolls at a sale. We decided to challenge ourselves to make cute outfits for them without showing each other the outfits until they were done. And so the Fat Baby Challenge began! If you want to see the original blog posts, they start here.

After the original challenge was over, we found more "fat babies" at Toys R' Us and discovered that they are actually called Lil' Cutesies. We bought a couple more, and this week I finally had an idea for an outfit for mine.

I've recently had a few requests from friends and coworkers for mermaid-tail blankets. I even promised myself one awhile back! I decided to test my pattern idea on my fat baby and here is the result!

I made the whole thing out of Red Heart Boutique: Unforgettable yarn in the color Candied and I love the way the rainbow of colors came through! I like this even better than my previous fat baby outfit, what do you think?

This doll will be available for sale at the annual St. Agatha Holiday Bazaar in a couple weeks (details to follow) and some day I will get around to writing the pattern and posting it on Etsy. I hope you like it!

Happy swimming!

-Assunta

A Knit Top Fit For a Mermaid

 I'm gradually working through my Vogue Knitting Live purchases. If you remember from a few months ago, I fell in love with this yarn (Bubblegum Blues by Oink Pigments) for it's bubblegum yumminess...

And all of the beautiful White Lies Designs patterns, but especially the one on the bottom right (the Kate Bustier), because it looks like something Ariel might wear in the The Little Mermaid!

Mix them together, along with some fancy blue buttons from Joann's and some magical, floaty, cobweb-weight Kid Seta for the top part, and you have...

A bubblegum-colored top fit for a mermaid!

I love the way it turned out! What do you think?

Just keep swimming,

Assunta

Mermaid Shawl Pattern for sale!

I finally finished the pattern for my Lace Mermaid Shawl! This shawl is worked in Solomon’s Knot or Lover’s Knot, giving it an open, netlike feel while the long, shapely tail is reminiscent of a mermaid’s fins. Perfect for a walk on the beach or dreaming of life under the sea! It is available as a pdf download on Etsy and Ravelry. 

The Hook I used was US size K. The yarn is Red Heart Boutique Unforgettable, in the color Echo. This is a one-size-fits most pattern. The dress size of the form shown in the photograph is a size 6. Its height is adjusted for an approximately 5’4” tall person. If desired, you could easily increase or decrease the size by changing the number of repetitions that you begin with.

Back View

Side View

Front View

It's not quite swimming season right now, but this shawl could easily be made in time for spring!

Happy swimming,

Assunta

Rainbow Mermaid Shawl

A few weeks ago I was struck with the desire to make something rainbow-y. I found this yarn and it seemed perfect for making a light and whimsical shawl!

I used mostly the Solomon's Knot, or Lover's Knot stitch. It wound up with a diamond pattern that sort of looks like a net or rainbow fish scales. That with the long tail made it look very mermaid-like to me!

Here it is from several different views:

 

 

I love this yarn so much I might have to make another project with it. This one went too fast!

As a side note, I didn't make this dress (although I wish I had.) It's from Camp Hollyhock, my favorite dress designers ever!

Until next week, happy swimming!

-Assunta