EZ Sasha Doll Pattern Series -- The Bonnet

Well as promised I am working my way through Elizabeth Zimmerman's Sasha Doll patterns :D

First up... The Bonnet.

I used a sweet little icy blue sequined yarn for this one. The bonnet is a nice little knit and the shaping at the back is brilliant. It occurs of course that the hat could be worn the other way 'round (in fact it says so in the instructions) so I gave it a try.

I actually think I like it better this way :) If you are interested in trying the Elizabeth Zimmermann Sasha patterns yourself, they can be found HERE

Next up: the tights! :D

My AG Girl

I decided that two Madam Alexander dolls weren't necessary and I decided to let one of them go in favor of getting and American Girl doll. I know, I said they weren't really my thing, but in the course of making clothing for 18" dolls and researching the various types out there, I'm afraid I got rather attached. I started looking for a AG girl, and while up late one night I found her...

The seller said in the listing that she'd been washed in a washing machine and suggested that the buyer could have the head replaced. The price was good and I was hopeful that the doll was as good as she looked in the pictures. My biggest concern was that there might be damage to the eyes. I'd read that AG eyes that had gotten wet could turn black or go crystal looking if the iris color separated from the lens. I looked up lots of videos on how to repair the eyes if that was the case, but when she arrived I found that her pretty brown eyes were perfect (thank goodness, I'd seen so many vids of dolls getting their eyes popped out, I wasn't looking forward to having to do the same).

So after a new wig and a modest bit of painting, meet Natalie...

I can't wait to come up for some new clothes for her :D

Anna and Elsa

Just a quick little check in, couldn't resist. I found this cute little remnant of Frozen fabric and it was just big enough to make two little summer dresses :D Here's Cami in one...

...and Tiffany in the other. It doesn't show here but I added even more freckles. I love freckles, especially on redheads.

And I used the twist method to give her hair a bit of wave...

I really like the results. :D

A Little Tank for Summer

Maybe I should have titled this 'tank you very much'? Nah, too cheesy.

Well with the glorious summer weather finally reaching us here in Austin (tho it's still a bit chilly at night) I felt the need to increase the 18" girls summer wardrobe. :D

It's a little textured tank top I've come up with, I figured the decorative ribbing would hug the doll nicely. I love the turquoise I used here... so vibrant! I figure I can do several of these in different colors and start a nice summer wardrobe for the girls. Here's Cami again...

And Chloe... I think the tank actually looks the cutest on her, it matches her little button berets...

And Tiffany....

I designed the straps so they would nicely hide the join where the doll's arm meets the torso, I think it gives them a less artificial look. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out. If anyone wants to make one (or two, or three) the pattern is available on my Etsy and at Craftsy.

Meet Sasha...

Okay so I'm still relatively new to sewing and knitting for larger dolls (tho my practice with several types of smaller dolls is certainly serving me well right now) and I've only recently begun to make outfits for larger (18") dolls like Madam Alexanders, but all this working with larger dolls got me to thinking, what about that doll I remember seeing way back when... that doll.

In case anyone's unfamiliar, this is a Sasha doll. and I was 14 years old (hey, the same age I started knitting) when I first saw one. This doll was on Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitting Workshop back in 1984, often sitting in the background wearing fabulous knitted garments made by the master herself.

I was quite taken with her placid, almost Buddah-like grace, so different from most American dolls, years later with he advent of the internet I found out what she was called and thought, someday I'd like to have one... then things ran away with themselves, life went on and Sasha was slowly becoming a distant memory.

Then I discovered Blythe and my childhood love of dolls returned. Since I started this blog and my knitting blog Picking Knits over 10 years ago I've been knitting (and sewing) clothes for dolls of all sorts: Blythe, Leggy, Makie, Barbie and Ken of course... but then I started trying to make clothes for 18" dolls and it hit me *that doll* Sasha! Was she still out there? Was anyone still making her? I looked her up and apparently the last Sashas were produced in the 90s and then they went cold. But they were of course still out there to be had... and last week, after much watching and waiting and looking for the best quality girl I could afford I found her, the very girl you see in the pic above, and here...

She's the 20th anniversary doll that came out in '85, what with her being over 31 years old now I was concerned about how she'd be. The seller said she was in excellent condition and she certainly looked it. He'd reduced her price for a quick sale and I thought, what the heck, she was exactly what I wanted, a blond, blue eyed Sasha and the price was fantastic, so I bought her and now she's here :D

...and in a new little outfit I made her to boot. I'm so pleased with her, her hair is excellent, she poses beautifully, she's everything I could have hoped for...

I'm very pleased with the dress I came up with for her, and as a special treat for myself, I bought Elizabeth Zimmerman's knitting patterns for Sasha dolls :)

I'm hoping to work my way through every single one of them (yes even the bell bottoms) So along with my other crafty postings stay tuned for some vintage Sasha apparel *hope* It may take time but I will get them done. Happy crafting.

Blue Bonnets...

Apparently it's a Texas tradition to take your family members out and take pictures of them in the lovely Blue Bonnets that come out every spring, Well I missed my chance last year but this time I quickly toted Wren off to the car and stopped at every good place we could find with patches of the pretty things...

And wren insisted on sporting one of the Day of the Dead dresses... I think we've finally acclimated to Texas. :D

New Pattern... Short Sleeved Lace Bottom Jacket for 18" Dolls

Alright-y then, after thoroughly going over it, I've gone ahead and written up my new pattern for 18" dolls. A lovely little short sleeved jacket with a lace bottom. It knits up quickly and the lace was actually quite fun to do.

Match this up with a bright and springy color of your choice. The pattern is available in my Etsy shop here, and on Craftsy here.

Happy knitting, and please contact me with any questions.