Second Childhood

Don't get me wrong - I absolutely love being the mother of two boys. I wouldn't trade them for the world. But every now and again, I do wish I had an opportunity to do some "girl" things, especially the things I enjoyed as a child, sigh.

Fortunately, I found that some of these things have a boy equivalent. For example, reading the Henry Huggins series by Beverly Clearly was almost as satisfying as reading the Ramona series by Beverly Clearly. Stuffed animals are stuffed animals. All good.

One thing I haven't gotten to do the second time around? Dolls. Mind you, I was never into Barbies. (I sure was crazy about that baby from The Sunshine Family, though.*) But I did love me a historical doll and have always felt a little cheated to have missed out on the American Girl phenomenon. Luckily, I have a niece and can experience this vicariously ;)

A search of the great and wonderous Ravelry produced a bounty of seriously cute patterns. I like this one, and this one too, and a few others that I've queued. Like this one that I knit last night:


(Pardon the partial nudity, heheh - this is a generic 18" doll I picked up for cheap to use for sizing.) Pattern is here, and details are rav'ed here.


It was supposed to have sleeves, but wouldn't you know I ran out of yarn. I finished the arm openings with single crochet and did the same on the hood. I would probably make a few mods to cut down on the ridiculous # of ends that needed to be woven in, but will definitely make another with sleeves.

Also whipped up a little headband and a fun fur boa. He.


I scored a great doll trunk at the Black Friday sales so there's no stopping me now. There are hangers and drawers to fill, people. In fact, I think there is a tiny hooded cape in my immediate future...

*Consider yourself officially Middle Aged if you know what I'm talking about.
OH! and PS, lest you think I have gone all Steve Carell with his action figures in "The 40-Year Old Virgin," these items are actually for my niece, not me!! (I think...)