The first step was to get the yarn together. Deena Thomson-Menard is the artist, the knitter-in-chief, the person who started the group. She is the person who gives out clues. Her Ravelry name is IMakeboys and she is, by any standard, a wonderful doll designer, and it is a pleasure to await her "orders" which are, of course, suggestions. I like the assortment of yarns she put together for "Patty Cake" and tried to get as close to her choices as possible. This is what I came up with. Maybe not the final decision - I tend to stray - but certainly a good combination.
For the first week we were told to knit the head and torso and skull cap. These come from a previous, free pattern Deena had created, available in her Ravelry store as "Lottie Doll Basic Body."
A week is a long time for me to wait, though others might consider it too short to finish the assignment. Most people work outside the home, have kids, husbands, all sorts of responsibilities that keep them from knitting. I am free as a bird - a night owl actually - and as long as my right hand doesn't get overworked and begins to hurt, I am good for six hours or more at a stretch. I always have several projects going; Bears for the Mother Bear Project, socks, a scarf here and there, an occasional amigurumi mouse, a gift, or just something I have to try.
Yesterday I became a bit restless. Another "Patty Cake" torso and head flew off my needles. Will she be different? Identical in clothing? She is smaller, due to a somewhat softer yarn and close adherence to the original pattern. But I simply couldn't let the first one wait alone. Now I have the pleasure of making outfits for two when the next clue comes out.
The two of them are going to be part of my Deena Thomson-Menard inspired orphanage and I have given them names. The larger, older one is Ann-Katrin.
Her little sister is Natalie S. And here they are, testing family ties.
