Book Review: "Babes in the Wool" by Fiona MacDonald - Amazing Dolls to Knit

All the clothes are up-to-the minute trendy, and very quick and easy to construct.

 
And isn’t the hair fabulous? Well - it’s easily done!   There’s a rooted method which involves the simple use of a crochet hook with spectacular results, or the use of fake hair by stitching.  And the clothes are stylish but again, simple to knit.  

There are two sections in the book - the first is for smaller dolls (19 ¾”, 50cm high) with a simple nose structure, whilst the second gives more complex instructions for sculpting a more life-like nose and these dolls stand at 23 ¼”, 59cms high. 

The front is different to the back in these larger dolls, giving a more sculptured appearance to the body and they also have a thumb!  (Handy for when they have to apply their nailpolish!)

The beauty of these dolls is that you can use the basic elements to create your own dolls.   I was devastated when The Killing  (the Danish TV series) ended, but I comforted myself by knitting my own Danish version Sarah Lund doll using the basic small doll version from the book and adapting the clothing. 

 I wanted this doll to look like a specific, recognisable person so I cheated.  I took a picture of Sarah Lund (Danish version)from a magazine and cut out the eyes, mouth and eyebrows and carefully glued them onto the face, then varnished them. Obviously this is a doll for an adult! 

For my Bradley Wiggins doll I used the larger version of the doll.  

Bradley is a cycling hero, winner of the Tour de France and Olympic gold - so  this was a present for my son's birthday as he is a keen amateur cyclist. 

 I've still got to make the gold medal and ribbon and the trainers!

The dolls are quick to knit up - I suppose it took me about two days to produce the finished object in my limited spare time.  A quick knitter could make one in a day.  

I used inexpensive double knitting wool (also known as 8-ply or light worsted) and ordered the polyester fibrefill from the internet.

This is a brilliant book which I would highly recommend to all knitters who want to knit unusual, quirky items.

And unlike many knitting projects - there’s never a dull moment with these Babes in the Wool!