Mini me

Once upon a time there was a girl named ...let's call her Karen  - who was happily married, had job of her dreams working with special needs children, lived in a beautiful country with lots of sun and no snow...had everything she wanted except a child. Despite doctors telling her that she couldn't conceive, she kept trying and when I met Karen during my visit to Costa Rica, she was starting to lose some faith although very hopeful still. Although we couldn't really converse (we both spoke very little of each other's respective language), the way she looked at children passing by pulled at my heartstrings, knowing that she may never have them (something I can relate to), no matter how much she wanted them.
On one of my last nights there Thumbellina happened to be on TV - none of us were watching it - it was just background noise. I had just started to get a hang of crochet and was working on JiJi the cat from Kiki's delivery service and others were playing cards or just talking. At one point though, we all ended up watching the movie and enjoying it's simple pleasures.

When I returned to Canada I happened to stumble on a baby crib crochet pattern and somehow that lead to Clare's Youtube channel for a little purse that flipped out to be a little crib!!My mind blew.   I had bought a pattern from a designer I just LOVE, of a baby even though I had NO IDEA what I would ever do with it. When I saw the crib, I thought " wouldn't it be nice to make Karen a little thumbellina?" So I set out to work.

This purse crib thing, is a super easy and flexible design and could be made to fit any size doll. You can get the written pattern here but i really do recommend watching the video tutorials where you can hear her logic behind the design and how you can create it to match any doll.
Her channel and website is a gold mine for some amazing projects - bright, happy and  easy projects you can whip out in no time - so be sure to check it out.

Anyway.
when I made this, I had NO idea how to put on hair or face so I left it blank...and now I don't think I will add a face it is just so cute without it~
I used Redheart supersaver and a 5mm hook for the crib and some random blue shimmery dk weight yarn and a3.5mm hook for the baby.  The baby pattern was a little challenging to follow and the designer wasn't all that responsive (I'm sure she's hardly checking since her Etsy is dominantly patterns generating income) but I made him finally and he is SO CUTE!

what is almost amazing is, shortly after I sent her this set she became pregnant and had a beautiful boy! although we aren't really in touch any more, I also heard she's expecting a 2nd child... so don't let those doctors kill your dreams..:)

I also made another baby in purple - just to make sure that I understand the pattern XD
I did change the hat to be more of elf hat than a bear hat and I made the moon and clouds....the blurry red thing there is a dangly heart that I can never seem to catch standing still. Initially, this idea was going to be my logo - but I changed my mind lol. Just in case you are wondering, the doll is made with 3 mm hook  and measures about 5'... it sits in the palm of your hand *sqeeee*

 I have yet to find a moon pattern  size - what I did was follow a pattern for a horn and then reverse it. you could probably make 2 horns and attach it. There are TONS of cloud patterns out there though , just pick one that"speaks to you ...:)

That's it today! I hope this inspires you to check out Clare's Youtube channel  - Bobwilson123 for some excellent reasons to buy more yarn :D and try this adorable crib !!!