Knitted Babes
Claire Garland (Mitchell Beazley)
128 pages, Paperback, AUD$35
ISBN 1-84533-159-1
Even before the publication of Knitted Babes, I had fallen in love with these hand-knit dolls. The 'babes' were previously available via the Internet as kits from British designer and author Claire Garland, who continues to offer kits for new and different dolls at her website.
This book, with instructions for creating one doll body and five different sets of clothes and accessories to create contemporary 'personalities', should bring the babes a wider audience. Each babe is based on the same simple stocking stitch body with stocking stitch limbs that are knitted flat and left to curl naturally—although alternatively you could use I-cords.
Both dolls and gear require only basic knitting and sewing skills and all their garments can be created by hand. The attention to detail in the creation and styling of the babes, their personalities and their clothes is outstanding, with patterns for a Fair Isle jumper, zippered felt travel bag, lacy knickers and ballet slippers, to name just a few. Yarn and fabric requirements are minimal so most crafters with a stash should find they have appropriate materials.
Instructions for sewing and knitting are clear, with charts, patterns and templates at the back of the book. Rather than specify a particular brand of yarn, the author helpfully indicates the type, ply and weight of yarn required for each project.
Even so, there may be some grey areas with regard to requirements and tension, and knitters are advised to read the doll body schematics very carefully. Obtaining tension and correct finished measurements is just as important for dolls as it is for people—after all, any stylish girl likes her clothes to fit nicely!
Knitted Babes is a charming book that should appeal to young girls and those still young at heart. A relatively inexperienced knitter/sewer should have no trouble tackling the projects—although issues with tension will need to be considered. So, start hunting for those scraps of yarn and fabric--all you have to do then is decide which fabulous babe you are going to create. —Sophie Dwyer