Justine with her companion Fifi

This half doll is called Justine.

Dressed by Dawn Larcombe of  Deloraine,

Dawn has used a lovely bead colour no.674 and teamed it with a D.M.C. no 3325,which has made the bead look deeper than what it really is.

Called Fifi with Lizzie this pattern comes from Anlaby Designs,

and uses 5 hanks with 2 balls of Perle 8 cotton.

Links

Fifi with Lizzie Pattern

Please use Marie's contact page to purchase patterns.

Tip

This pattern when finished has around 80 stitches on the needle.

If you left this many in the waist band and placed it onto the doll,the waist would be very puckered with the excess amount of stitches.

40 stitches were decreased from the needle,for a fitted waist band for this doll.

 To finish the skirt with a fitted waist please follow the tutorials for making a fitted waist band on the tutorials page.

For a different take on this skirt,as it has a lovely beaded pattern knitted into the skirt,think about using  a different colour cotton than the bead colour,which would really show up the pattern.

Gracious Givanna

 Givanna looks graciously stunning in this beautiful dress .

This skirt was knitted by Margaret Grubb of Devonport (Tas) in a pattern from Anlaby  called Marie Louise.

Falling from the waistline this skirt has a large train that cascades down the back of the skirt.

Margaret has used beads no.3791 and a matching cotton D.M.C.no.605.

This pattern is very versatile and suits quite a few large dolls.

Click Here To See

This pattern uses 8 x hanks of beads.

2 x Balls of Perle cotton.

Links

Marie Louise Pattern

Please use Marie's contact page to purchase patterns.

Tip

Because this skirt uses 8 hanks of beads,it can become very heavy when knitting.

To help take the weight of the beads,use a stable table or knit over a table so the table can take the weight of the skirt as you knit.

Always hang the skirt when finished over a container ie a large spray can with a egg cup on top,so that the skirt can drop.This happens because of the weight of the beads.

This can take a couple of days,once it has dropped,go ahead and have your stand made.

This stops that skirt from dropping and dangling on the ground once placed on your stand.

Sewing the Seam on a Beaded Dress

I have been asked how I sew the seam on my beaded dresses.

I sew my skirt's with a overcast stitch.

It gives the skirt a nice neat seam,for when you turn your skirt and place it on your doll.

Run a small amount of the cotton down the skirt's edge,coming out at the bottom.Making a small stitch to secure the end.

Fold the skirt in half and with right sides facing each other.

 Sew the seam from the bottom to the top of your skirt.

I always sew the cotton ends from the skirt in,as I work my way up the seam.

Lay the ends parallel with the seam and sew them in with the overcast stitch as you move up the seam.

Leave a small gap at the top of the seam,so you are able to place the skirt on your doll.End this cotton off by running a little way down the seam.

Turn your skirt in the right way and place your doll into the skirt.

I then use the cotton which I have left over from,but still attached to the cast off row,on the top of the skirt,to sew the little gap left.

This little seam has to be done,on the front side of the skirt,after the skirt has been placed on the doll.

Sew with small neat overcast stitches until you have sewn the gap.End this cotton off by running it through the back of the skirt,cutting it neatly.

Tip

Keep your tension firm,with even neat stitches.Take your time,as a badly stitched seam detracts from the finished skirt.

Always keep an eye on the pattern that has to match with the other side,nothing worse than finding when you turn your dress,to the right side that your rows of pattern,do not match up.

To make it a little simpler,pin the rows of pattern across ways on the seam,every now and then,to keep the rows from moving out of place as you sew the seam up.

Hope this helps.

Half Doll Sylvia

 This beautiful and elegant doll is called Sylvia,standing at 12.5cm (5 inches) tall.

She is dressed by Margaret Grubb of Devonport(Tas)

The skirt pattern is called Stella and comes from Belle Bambole.

This skirt has a stunning train,which cascades down the back of the skirt.

Margaret chose beads no.498-RY 

and D.M.C. cotton no.310.

This pattern uses 3 x  hanks of Main coloured beads and 1 x Hank of contrast beads.

2 x balls of cotton.

Links

Belle Bambole Skirt Patterns

Tips

This skirt needs around 20 stitches decreased from the waist to fit this doll.

The amount of stitches needed to be decrease will depend on the tension at which you knit.

So use the gauge method described in the tutorials,to find the amount of stitches that you will need to decrease your waist band by,to fit  your doll.

Then follow the tutorial on making a fitted waist band,which can be found on the tutorial's page.

Because  of the weight in the beads,I also added a running stitch around the waist band close to the cast off edge,as in time the skirt will sag under the weight of the beads,and the running stitch will help to keep the skirt in place.

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Lady Caroline's Beaded Skirt

Half Doll Lady Coraline is dressed by Dot Wells of Devonport.

Dot has done a wonderful job,as this skirt is a very heavy skirt to knit up due to the amount of beads needed.

The pattern is call Monica from Anlaby Designs.

Dot has used bead no.588-RB and teamed it with  D.M.C. cotton no.783.

This pattern uses 5 x hanks of beads.

2 x balls of Perle 8 Cotton.

Tip

 When knitting a skirt with a large amount of hanks,use a stable table,or even a tray or a large book on your knee to support the weight of the skirt,while you knit.
I like the stable table as the padding beneath the stable table brings the knitting up closer to me.
Or sit at a table and rest the

skirt on table as you knit.
This will take the weight of the skirt off your wrist's and hands.
Also helping to keep your needles from bending due to the weight of the skirt.

Links

Monica Pattern 
Please use Marie's contact page to purchase patterns.

Half Doll's Dorothea and Wendy

Dorothea and Wendy were dressed
 by Margaret Grubb of Devonport (Tas)
 Dorothea's lovely dress gives the air of romantic bygone days.
Margaret has used bead no 737-AB with D.M.C.cotton no.356.

Pattern used is called Fifi and Lizzi
by Anlaby Designs.
This pattern uses 5 x hanks of Beads and 2 x balls of Perle 8 cotton.

Dorothea

Margaret has used beads no.492-DY with D.M.C.no. B5200,to dress this sweet doll Wendy.
Pattern is called Madeline 2006
 by Anlaby Designs.
This pattern uses 1 x hank of beads
1 x Perle 8 cotton.

Wendy

Links

Fifi and Lizzie Pattern

Madeline Pattern
Please use Marie's contact page to purchase the patterns.Beads

Tip

Fif and Lizzi Pattern has a very large waist and needed 20 stitches removed.

The decrease over 4 rows method was used.

Dorothea's skirt was then finished with a ribbon waist band.

Instructions for this waist band and the decrease over 4 rows method can be found in the tutorials.

Wendy's knitted waist band can also be 

found on the tutorials page.