Sunday 25 September 2016

Knitting Project for Calina

If you follow me on Instagram you have probably seen some of my struggles with knitting. My mom is teaching me, and I selected a not-so-easy project to start with *facepalms*. Anyways, since it is taking me more than I thought to finish it and get nice photos, I though "why not to write about the project and show some WIPs here?". So this is what this post is about!

I'm attempting to do a knitted Totoro-inspired sweater for Calina, my mom's doll. I also wanted to do a full outfit for her, including: a panty, a tank top, a skirt, and some socks. I haven't finished (or even started!) the socks yet.


That is Calina with what I made of clothing for her so far. I also posted a photo on Instagram (see here) where the panty can be seen. Okay, let's talk more about the knitting under the cut!

My idea was to make a cute cowl neck sweater, with the same shape she did for Pullip years ago, but for Calina. I also wanted to make a Totoro pattern, with the face/ears on the front. I found some inspiration for that on Google and now I can't find a link to the photo, dang it!! Anyways, I did not wanted to knit a hood, so I decided for the cowl.

Another thing is that to make it easier to wear, we decided to make the back open, and close it with tiny beads and button loops. I'm still dreading how will I do that... so far, knitting is harder that the work I do for a living xD (I work on a research center! hahaha!).

Jokes aside, here is a photo of how the sweater was looking when I was close to finish the first sleeve:


I also posted a photo of the front part in Instagram, where the ears are more visible than in the above. You can see it here. My original idea was to make Fantasywoods' earguards tutorial and make some for Calina, but since Spring is arriving and she is going to be overclothed with a sweater, I decided that the best option was to make Totoro's leaf as a head adornment! Knitted of course!

...WHAT THE F* WAS I THINKING??? My goodness, the leaf so far has been a hell of a thing, and so far I can only show half of it, because I need my mom to explain me with apples how do I need to make the other -pointy- half. But yeah, the leaf even has a petiole (is that the right word?).


The leaf is looking ugly AF, so I think I will take it down, and ask my mom to teach me to make one in crochet. Oh my, I suck so hard at this thing of knitting!

And finally, I had another idea, because why not? I realized I still have some cold porcelain left, so I decided to make Totoro's friend, so that Calina can be Totoro and have the other two beside her! In case you didn't watch the movie (you really should, Studio Ghibli's movies heal the soul), here is a screencap of the tiny fellas I want to sculpt:


I do hope they turn out decent, because my sculpting skills are almost null. And this is it for this project!

Oh, another thing! Do you remember my bday packages? They are still stuck at customs, in another city. I tried to call the postal office customer service and they didn't pick up the phone. I had to cut the call because they put me on hold and that was charging me ridiculous amounts to my phone account. The website is also almost down during work hours, so I don't know WTF is going on. I do hope I get my packages soon, but there is nothing I can do. I will try to ask on my local customs office when I go to ship a commission my mom is working on.

Anyways, thanks for bearing with me, and have a great weekend!

16 comments :

  1. Haven't I thought that many times - WTF am I doing or trying to do. But from here it looks as a pretty and very nice knitted sweater and she can have it during those chilly late evenings and colder mornings. Do not give up! :) My dad learned me to knit and crochet, and today I am trying to upgrade myself - reading, watching short films, trying, getting frustrated and so on. So, keep it up! And have an amazing weekend!

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    1. Thank you so much!! Well, the sweater already has tons of mistakes, but my mom says "at least I'm going to learn all at once, including how to fix those things" xDD
      But the leaf is ugly AF, there is no way of salvaging that, haha!
      Have a great weekend, you too!

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  2. Que hermoso te está quedando el sueter. Tejes muy parejo. Es un hermoso proyecto, pienso que Calina se vá a lucir con el sueter de totoro. No veo la hora de que lo muestres terminado

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    1. ¡¡Muchas gracias!! Espero que quede bonito :D

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  3. You are very brave, Musume. Every time I pick up yarn and knitting needles or crochet hook, I get frustrated and abandon it before my project begins to look like anything. At least your leaf has a leaf shape (although it also resembles a Jewish menorah) and your sweater is recognizable as a sweater in-the-making. All of my projects so far have gone back to being a ball of yarn.

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    1. Hahaha, thanks!! Well, my mom has me *so much* patience when teaching me! And I restarted the front part like... nine times? It was looking awful. Thank you for the encouragement! I ended up taking the leaf apart and starting a new one!

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  4. I think it looks good so far, and I can't wait to see the finished product of the sweater!

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    1. Thank you!! I hope it ends up looking decent!

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  5. You go girl! Keep at it Musume and you'll master it in no time at all. I am so positive that if you can sew, you can knit and crochet too, given a little help from your mum.
    I'm looking forward to seeing your sculpting projects too.
    Hugs,
    X

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    1. Thank you so much for the encouragement!! :D
      I hope it turns out decent, at least!

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  6. Wow, what a cute sweater idea! I can't wait to see your ideas all finished since totoro is one of the cutest figures of animation! (I also like the theory behind the movie) ~

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    1. Thank you! I honestly didn't knew there was a theory behind the movie! Now I must research about it a little :D

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  7. Cómo aprendes tan rápido, que envidia jajaja! Te está quedando hermoso!!! una lástima que al final no vaya con orejeras </3

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    1. ¡Gracias!Sí, una lástima lo de las orejeras, pero tampoco podía conseguir ese alambre =S Será para otro intento!

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  8. Wow... You sure are ambitious haha! I suck at knitting and crocheting, so I can't really give you an opinion on this, except that I really like your idea and how the stuff looks right now. :P So yes, I think it's looking cute! Keep up the good job!

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    1. Thank you! I'm sure that with practice you could be great! So far I'm having a lot of fun on this :D

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