Hush-a-bye doll, with variations

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I finished the Jean Greenhowe 'Hush-a-bye' knitted doll a few months ago, intended for my granddaughter's first birthday.  One of my young friends kept looking at it, and when I offered to knit something for her birthday, she asked if I could make a few adjustments.  She wanted a doll in white underwear which she could dress, and which she could make more garments for, rather than one with a fixed outfit.

 I said I was willing to try, so she helpfully wrote me a list of what she wanted:

  • Detachable skirt
  • No collar or belt
  • Sleeves in the same colour as the skin
  • Chest in white
  • Skirt in beige
  • Bonnet in blue
  • Shoes in brown

I sewed a bit of machine style elastic into the skirt so that it doesn't fall off, and when I made the arms, I simply kept knitting, missing out the sleeve cuffs, so that the hands were part of the same piece of knitting as the arms, rather than separate.

I was a bit concerned that it wasn't going to look particularly attractive, but once I'd made the face, and put the bonnet on, I think it's rather sweet. It's a little odd having the vest showing, but I'm sure my young friend will make a variety of tops.


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