Mother and Daughter sewing

When I was a girl, I was very lucky to have parents who Made Things. I guess I took it somewhat for granted that I was growing up in a very creative family environment, it just seemed so "normal" for us to make things all the time. My Mum has been a huge influence in my life in this respect and even though we have very different personalities, I've certainly inherited her passion for all things Handmade.

My Mum used to do a lot of sewing throughout my childhood and I vividly remember her owning a supremely cranky and disobedient sewing machine called Jones. Oh my, that machine (now deceased) really did bring out the worst in her and one of the only times I can remember her using a seriously Bad Word was when Jones chewed up her sewing.

Sewing is something I absolutely love to do too, although crochet has rather taken over in recent years. But sewing was my first love (although colouring-in and paper crafts in general have always featured heavily in my life), and it's one of the things I was/am really really really excited about doing with my own children.

So have you heard of Clothkits???

If you have, you will know what a fabulous little company this is, and if it's new to you, well you are in for a treat. Clothkits have been around since the 70's, and I did indeed make my very own cloth kit doll with my Mum many moons ago, although sadly I've no idea what became of her. The original version of the rag doll is still available to buy, but rather brilliantly the talented Jane Foster has redesigned the dolls and clothes and the results are rather super.

The other wonderful thing about the Clothkit folk is that they do seem to have extremely good taste when it comes to styling and selecting products. The catalogue (some pages shown above) is beautiful to look at, and oh-my-goodness, the Haberdashery section is the stuff of my dreams. Brightly coloured buttons, ribbons and trims get me all in a fizz, there is rather a lot of yumminess to be had here. And did I mention the fabric?? Oh, and the gifts?? Lots of yearning I'm afraid.

So let me introduce you to Kiki doll. There she is look, sitting cosily with the Granny Stripe blanket, isn't she lovely? I bought her in Kit Form for Little Lady last Christmas, and we sat and stitched her together on New Years Day, almost a year ago now. I remember it as if it were yesterday, it was a wonderful, wonderful day!

I'm sure I took some pictures at the time Kiki was made but they seem to have mysteriously disappeared...anyhow, the doll comes printed out on a large piece of cloth, and one basically cuts out head/body x2, legs x4 and arms x4 then proceeds to sew the pieces together, stuff them and assemble them into doll form. I would say it was reasonably easy to do....Little Lady was 5 at the time and I allowed her to very carefully guide the fabric through the sewing machine while I operated the foot peddle at very slow speed. Some things were a bit tricky (stitching the stuffed arms into the body was a bit faffy) but all in all, it went swimingly.

Sorry about exposing you in your underwear Kiki, but I need to show the lovely people of Blogland how you look without your dress!! You can see how the arms and legs are stitched into the body, like I say it was a reasonably simple sewing project.

When Kiki was made, Little Lady was absolutely on cloud nine with the joy of it all. The whole process of creating something special for herself to own and treasure did seem to genuinely thrill her. She kept jumping about and saying she couldn't beliiiiiiiiiiiieeeve that she had actually used a sewing machine and made herself a toy! Precious, it really was.

For a while, Kiki went everywhere with Little Lady, they played, ate and slept together. But gradually other toys took over and Kiki was left to sit on the Shelf of Precious Things in her bedroom. She sat there for rather a long time, until recently that is. Yes, in recent weeks, Kiki has been Rediscovered, and Little Lady has taken her on as her long lost daughter. She has been pushed around in a little pushchair, fed biscuits, danced around the room, tucked up in bed at night.

We reminisced about the day Kiki was "born", and Little Lady said that as Kiki was almost going to be one years old, could we perhaps make her a Birthday Present?

She asked for some pyjamas  and also for Kiki to have her very own blanket to snuggle under. Pyjamas, yes of course I'll order the kit and we'll make them together, and a blanket you say?? Oh yes, blanket-making is a Speciality of the House don't you know!!!

So last week I began making Kiki her very own baby ripple blankie. I'm using Stylecraft acrylic  yarn (current blanket-making yarn of choice) :: Little Lady actually chose the colours and worked out the entire colour sequence for me too, she is quite a clever little cookie with these things it seems.

I finished it last night, adding a red border to Little Lady's exact specifications....want to see?

Ta-dah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Such a sweet little blankie, I worked the colour stripes in single rows, as well as making the ripples smaller than usual (ie using the Neat Ripple pattern, instead of multiples of 14 I did multiples of 10, which means only 2 tr's in between the increase and decrease stitches instead of 4, if that makes any sense to you whatsoever).

I am especially chuffed with the finishing off, I've never edged a ripple before and it's made the world of difference I think. On a whim I added these little chain tassels in the corners too, although I did have to run this idea by my Quality Control Department for approval.

Ahhhh, here is Kiki taking a little rest under her blankie look. I think she likes it.

Even though Kiki is nearly a year old now, the whole experience of making her has very firmly lodged in my memory as one of those things I will Never Forget.

And it seems that maybe just maybe Little Lady might feel the same.

Cos a few days ago she handed me a little note to read. She had written it one night in her notebook before she went to sleep.....

My heart nearly imploded with love and gratitude.

Too sweet for words ♥

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Comments

[اعتیاد به تریاک]

توسعه تجارت مواد اعتیاد آور که هرساله زندگی تعداد زیادی از مصرف کنندگان را به ورطه نابودی میکشاند، میتواند بزرگترین و ترسناک ترین تهدید برای تمام جوامع بشری باشد، تریاک قدیمی ترین و مشهورترین مخدری است که بسیار اعتیاد آور بوده و اکثریت از عوارض کشیدن تریاک با سیخ و یا تزریق آن بی اطلاع هستند

[Ankita Vj (India)]

Awww...soo very cute....throughout the post i felt that i with my mom dping all kinds of crafty things...we dont get kits in india but my mom also taught me to create rag doll n we dressed her as indian bride...also we used to do all sorts of crafty things togather...she is still very awsome at creating things at home...i am recently blessed with a very very sweet baby girl...n really dream to re live my childhood and help her do all sorts of crafty things as me n my mom did or like u n little lady do...god bless u all...

[Becky]

I've started making a ripple and was wondering how you do the boarder? Can you pretty please post a ripple boarder pattern/instructions?

[Rachel]

Awww I had a cloth kitty doll too, with a kimono and all other manner of clothes. She was lovely.

I wore their clothes too. I remember my teacher sighing after gym when she had to do up the buttons on the clothkits dress I wore at times; they were REALLY fiddly!

[Tana Steward]

My daughter-in-law would call that a paycheck when all the love and sweetness you sent comes dancing back to you. Good job Mum. Bless you, Tana

[Gayatri]

oooh lovely! what stitch did you use for the edge??

[Karen]

How fun! Your children are lucky to have you as they will learn all these neat things, just like you did from your parents!

Love the doll blanket!

Karen

[Wilhelmina]

Sweet post and it inspired me to make not a dolly blanket but a little blanket for our new dwarf bunny. I've got most of it done but am having a bit of trouble with the edging, never having edged anything before. Did you just do single, double crochets based on the ripple or is there more to it? Thanks so much for all your wonderful posts and cheery crochet! You are so inspiring!

[Cups of Me]

I've ordered the catalogue too! Mainly to cut out the pretty pictures and make collages and birthday cards. I hope I'll have a daughter one day too. And when I do, I hope I'll remember to buy her a Kiki doll kit...

[Willma]

Es tan bonito lo que ha escrito tu hija sobre ti, que lo recordarás toda la vida.

Felicidades!

[Bean]

Hi Lucy! I have been reading your blog for awhile, and recently noticed that a place local to me stole one of your pictures for their own advertising... not sure if you really mind or not, but I thought you should know! I just love your green coat, and couldn't help but recognize your colorful work :)

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=484302635212&set=a.383140290212.168323.195443865212&ref=nf

[Tic Tac To]

I had never heard of Clothkits before, but when I was a small child I received a Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy for Christmas one year, and those too were fabulous.

What a adorable doll for such a lovely daughter!

[Pati from London]

What a wonderful post! I hadn't read you for a few days so I'm catching up. Lovely! Happy New Year to you and your family, Pati x

[Wendy]

oh how wonderful; the doll, the blanket but especially the note. I owe all my early sewing and knitting skills to my mum. She made all our clothes when we were small.

Long may you and you little ones enjoy making things together

[Alice C]

MissM and I think that this is the cutest post of 2010. Thank you for all the smiles this year and wishing you lots of sunshine in your Attic next year.
Alicex

[MeredithJean]

Heart melter Lucy. xxx

[Ann]

What a wonderful post. To have such sweet memories of sewing together and for your daughter to remember it too, it's wonderful. The new blanket is perfect and your daughter certainly chose her colours well. She's obviously 'a chip off the old block'!

[Fiona]

Just had to post another comment to say thanks for telling us about clothkits. I've just been to look at their website. Wow!!! Such loveliness I am drooling. I have some Christmas pennies to spend and I may just be tempted to send some of it clothkits way.

[Fiona]

Oh so sweet. That must make you feel so wonderful to read that cute note. I know clothkits from years ago but haven't looked at their things for a long time. Must check them out. I think if you're a creative person you do so want to pass that creativity on. Like you I have a Mum who has always sewn and that has been passed on to both myself and my Sister. Mum made us toys and clothes when we were little and I want to be able to do that for little F. I also hope that I can encourage creativity in him in the coming years.

[Lou]

That is so lovely!! My mum was the same and I do love all things crafty and hope the joy passes to my daughter who had felt and books for christmas and plans to make a cat when she is back from a visit to her dads. Wonderful warm new year wishes to you :) x

[NW Nature Nut]

Lucy, that is precious!

[Gabriela]

Oh cuuuute!! she's too cute for words, that's right!!!

[angie]

Oh, I want to get one for my daughter. The shipping to the US may be a bit much, though. Thanks for the info.

[Carol]

What a wonderful note---she is so lucky to have you for a mom!!!!!! As are all of your kids.(Come to think of it, you're all very lucky!) I hope that you and your family have a wonderful happy and healthy New Year!

[Pom Pom]

Oh, how adorable! Well done! What a high compliment your sweet girl paid you.