Knitting and Crocheting Lolita ATC ACEO, #15

https://www.etsy.com/listing/242141281/knitting-and-crocheting-lolita-atc-aceo

Knitting and crocheting lolita artwork!
ATC/ACEO, one of a kind, watercolor painted, and colored with markers to touch up details.

-MNR

Chii From Chobits, lolita art! ATC/ACEO for sale

https://www.etsy.com/listing/242139761/chii-from-chobits-atc-aceo-fanart-clamp

Hot off the press. <3 p="">An original hand drawn piece of fanart of Chii from Chobits,

-MNR

My Hen and Chicks tatted edging

No, its not a pattern.
The pattern can be found online by googling though.

Hi everyone, this is just an edging I have been tatting on my breaks from work. I hope to put it on some cute clothing that needs sprucing up.
A nice dress, ne? Cuuute.
This is not crochet or knitting, this is tatting. =3

-MNR

Irish Crochet Edging in french: Petite Dentelle Courante

Its an irish crochet edging, vintage french pattern.

https://archive.org/stream/albumdeguipuredi16hard#page/n95/mode/2up
Here's the original page in french.

I am trying to work this out, maybe do a translation? The ONE translation I saw on ravelry... I didn't understand.
Not to say that the crocheter didn't make a lovely edging, that is beside the point. =) In size 80 thread too! 0.6mm hook.
It doesn't appear to be in the ravelry database either! I think that's one thing I want to contribute to the future of thread lace crochet: translate and replicate antique patterns.
BTW, I still haven't forgotten about the thread holders! I just get distracted easily. I have one side done, I figured out how it was made from the picture, and it looks pretty!

Anyway. Anyone else want to take a crack at it? Within the next few days. I have been working a lot, and exhausted, but I will probably make a snippet in size 20 or smaller crochet thread, and post what I have here. I love irish crochet lace. I love fine handmade lace in general. <3 nbsp="" p="">This is the thing I would picture going on a lovely mori kei or lolita dress. Maybe even hime-gyaru.

Here's the pattern as Google Translate spat it out... its rough. :/

Lace small gourante 



This lace which is very handy to decorate small items, bibs, shirts 
and baby dresses, flaps, etc., has a great advantage, it is what is done by going and 
Coming without breaking the thread; you add only after the foot and tooth.

Base: 16 chains. 

the rank cv. - 7 chains, close spike in the last 5, 11 chains, shut in
pin the last 5, 2 chains, poke in the 6th chain after 1 pip 
1 double arch (see the horseshoe lace page 42-43), poke in the 6th chain, 




Chains 7, 1 pin (it is understood that the pin is always taken on membered 
Net) and 5 chains, chain stitch in the last turn. 

2nd row. - Chains 7, 1 pin, 11 chains, pin 1, 2 chains, prick in
first arch before the spike, chains 7, 1 pin, 5 chains, poke between 
2 pins of the middle arch; Chains 7, 1 pin, 5 chains, poke after the spike,
the last arch, turn. 

3 rank. - Chains 7, 1 pin, 11 chains, pin 1, 2 chains, prick before
pin, 7 chains, prick in next loop, turn, made flanges 10 in this hole 
and an eleventh on the grid attachment, turn, take a 6-day grid on the 



flanges (days consist of 1 chain, 1 flange) - 7 chains, pieol 1, 2 membered 
net, 1 dc in the last arch, turn. 

4 th. - Chains 7, 1 pin, 11 chains, pin 1, 2 chains, prick in
1st day of the pad, 1 double arch, poke in the 5th day, 7 chains, 1 pin, 5-membered 
net, poke in the last hoop after 1 pin turn. 

5 ° row. - Chains 7, 1 pin, 11 chains, pin 1, 2 chains, prick before
pin shackle, chains 7, 1 pin, 5 chains, poke between the 2 pins of the hoop 
middle, chains 7, 1 pin, 5 chains, poke in the last hoop. 

Repeat the 1st row to 5 and still repeat well. 



Once you have the desired length lace laites one side as a foot 
for other lace and the other side of the tooth as follows: 

the 1 'rank. - Rank 1 day 3 chains, 1 flange.

2 * rank. - 4 stitches in 1 day, 2 sts, 1 pin, 2 sts in the 2 nd day
2 stitches in the 3 rd day, turn 8 chains, prick with 1 st in the 4th after 
pin, turn and do in this hole: 4 pins, preceded, separated and followed by 3 stitches, 
2 sts, 1 pin, 2 stitches in the same day of the base. 

This 2 nd forming the tooth, repeat it as many times as you need 
to finish your lace. 



For different reasons lace of Ireland, we advise our 120, 150, 180, 200 
Irish son of MFA 

Spiral Thread Holder, project

Hello there. I have been busy with work mainly, unable to post things.
I have still been crocheting.

I love going to antiquepatternlibrary.org. There's so many interesting vintage and antique patterns of all sorts. I mainly go there for knitting, crochet and tatting.
Here's the link, if you didn't know of it already. http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/
This is one of the few places on the web where you can find free antique patterns.

I am using this PDF at the moment. http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/pub/PDF/6-JA010Nacke2.pdf

I like thread crochet, because its very victorian, and an easy(er) way to make delicate lace. Especially for pretty dress things! Or just for miscellaneous decoration.

Some of these patterns aren't really patterns, they often contain just a picture and a few lines that go on to say: "follow the picture". How people from the 1800s were able to replicate these patterns is beyond me, the patterns can be so vague, confusing, and full of errors. Not always, but its a thing to consider.
Anyway, I am making page 12's Crochet Thread Holder (#2), I'd call it the Spiral thread holder, as it isn't even given a name! Here's a screen capture of the 'pattern'.

Its very cute! If lined, it would be a great mori kei, lolita, or other type of accessory bag. I just love  the cute ribbons. I'm not sure if I would add them.

I'm currently working out the pattern. If anything, I will post notes as to what I did (on ravelry), as well as posting a link to my ravelry.
If I have time, I'll post a writeup of my version of the pattern.

The pattern asks you to use a size 7 crochet hook (1.65mm) and size 5 crochet cotton.
I'm using size 10 crochet cotton and sizes 5 and 7 hooks. More to come.


-MNR

ATC #11: Bubbly Red Hearts Girl

New ATC, #11 out of my series of hand drawn originals!
Will be in the shop by the end of the day, and I shall update this journal page by the evening.
Here's the preview image.

As a reminder, ATC #10 is still for sale here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/214470179/cat-girl-atc-aceo-10-original-art-cute


-MNR

Lolita artwork, EGL Bible art.

Here is a sorta old picture that I like.
I've posted it on other sites, but now I am posting it here.

It is also here on my deviantart page. http://murasaki-no-ryuu.deviantart.com/art/Lolita-posing-439567495

-MNR

Black Lolita WIP image2

HAH! I thought this image looked weird!

Her arms are entirely too short! I was wondering forever why it looked weird. Maybe when I was drawing it I was trying to do foreshortening and failed.

Ah well.

I will try and fix it. But, I"m trying to hurry up and color or finish my old drawings and paintings so I can start a new chapter in my art style.


Also, I was thinking of moving to tumblr....

-MNR

Two Lolis WIP

Hello again. Am here to present another WIP.

Some old artwork that needs to be colored proper.

Nothin' much going on, except just schooling and trying to finish my thesis comic.

-MNR

Art Practice: Muslim lolita test coloring

I have had a great deal of trouble coloring ANYTHING  these past couple of years. I think I have forgotten color theory or something.

So, I started inking this picture in OC 1.1. I'm not even really sure I want to ink my drawing in this program. I played with using complementary colors and analogous colors.

-MNR

Black Lolita Lineart

Finished the lineart. Not sure what do to for the colors. Perhaps pink and blue for the dress?

The eye is bothering me a bit. I might fix it. The dress too. I dunno. This pic is getting old. May be time to color it and then leave it.


-MNR

Sleeping Dollies

Geneva and Ursula as chibis, being cute. In lolita like wear.

This is an old picture but I still like it and so I've begun to ink it.

Looking at sales on patterns

Vogue knitting sent me an email stating that they are having sales on their patterns.

Meh. Their stuff is too expensive to buy directly from them. I heartily say check out ebay or amazon for their patterns. Heck, I was SO lucky, I got the Vogue knitting book, normally 38 dollars, for 5 dollars at the thrift store. The thrift store is mecca for off brand mori kei, dolly kei, and lolita accessories and clothes, btw. Though, don't expect much in the way of finding cutesy girly stuff if you're larger than a size L.

I've been into mori kei lately. It is one of those styles that can use a lot of lolita stuff. Mori kei is about looking like you're a forest wanderer, a free spirit. Dolly kei is similar, but its purpose is to make you look as if you came from a european fairy tale. I love both of those styles, but lately I've been making dresses for Lolita. I have one pale blue dress that I am making out of a Mc Calls pattern. Will post pics when I can, am exhausted, just came off of a shift working at Walmart.

Whoooo. This is the book I have. I am getting quite the store of knitting/crocheting/sewing books.


As for tips for accessories to make for any of these styles... I suggest joining ravelry.
The following patterns are from my queue on ravelry.
A pattern that would be great for...

Mori Kei: A Maiden's Glory, http://www.theanticraft.com/archive/beltane06/maidensglory.htm , a circlet made of crocheted flowers and leaves. Very beautiful. I tried to make this before I properly knew about gauge. Didn't go well. Am going to try again though.

Dolly Kei: Two measures of joy, https://www.elann.com/Commerce.Web/Product_freePatternsDetail.aspx?id=118832, A felted purse knit in the round. It has the first couple of notes of Ode to Joy knit and embroidered onto it, so its kinda nerdy, but goes along with the very romantic look of dolly kei.

Lolita: The Grown Up bonnet, http://www.lhoffman.com/grown-up-bonnet, a bonnet knitted on size 5 straight needles. I am in the process of making it but I put it aside so that I can knit christmas gifts.


Anyway, all of these patterns can also be found on Ravelry, if you wanted.

Am going to continue drawing and posting some things up here, when I'm not tired. Farewell for now.


-MNR

Card Shark Dress

Another design for a lolita dress. Maybe when I have enough money to buy fabric I can make it.

I feel like this dress should involve white ruffled trim on the 3/4 sleeves. The rest of the lace should be eyelet and or cutwork lace.

Triumphant urusla

WIP drawing.... photoshop.

Character from my manga.

Crochet bow patterns

These are currently a work in progress. Check back.

They are for crochet.

Net Bow

Base:
With a g hook and worsted weight yarn, chain 21.
Sc into 2nd chain from hook and across the chains. (20 sc)
Ch 4, turn.*Skip one sc, dc in next stitch, ch 1*
Ch 4, turn.Skip 1 ch, dc in next dc, continue from *.
Continue previous row for 30 rows.
Row 31: Ch 1, sc in each dc and space. Fasten off.

Tie:
Ch 8.
Sc into 2nd chain from hook and across the chains. (7sc)
Ch 1, sc in each sc across.
Continue previous row for 2 more rows.
Do not fasten off.

Fold the bow in such a way that it fluffs up. Wrap the tie around the bow and secure both ends of the tie with slip stitches along the ends.



Bobble Bow

Bobble stitch: insert hook into stitch, yo, draw up loop, pull through two loops. Do this 3x more, then yo and draw through all loops. Do not chain one.

Base:
With a g hook and worsted weight yarn, ch 25.
Sc into 2nd chain from hook and across the chains. (25 sc)
Sc in first two stitches, bobble,

Spring break, the casino, and sewing machine

Well, spring break is over tonight. It kinda sucks that it is over.
I had fun, though most of the days I was just lounging about and sleeping and knitting.
I did get a chance to drive home and stay there for 3 days, 90 miles is the farthest I've driven.

My friends and I went to Mohegan Sun casino and resort yesterday for St. Patrick's day. It was intense. Lots of partying people, we saw the parade, I lost $40 (my friend provided the money) and at the roulette table he won back all of our losses. So it wasn't awful. I actually like the roulette and black jack tables much better than the slots. More strategy involved than pushing a button and getting random wins.
In general, I learned I don't like gambling. I lost a lot, and the wins I did get weren't worth much. If I were to go again, I would go to see the shows and watch people at the tables. I feel.... I need some tangible return for putting money into the endeavor. A lot of celebrities come and do shows at the casino. I didn't realize.

I totally wish they had Pokemon slots like in the gameboy games. That would be awesome, I would totally play! For that matter, the Pokemon games need things like blackjack and roulette or Pokemon poker.

By the end of all that, my feet hurt so much. The place is fairly huge and there are massive amounts of crowds and the only place to sit is at the slots. =P Very strategic there.
There was a scandalously dancing man that handed out necklaces with "lightly dressed" females handing out beer reward cards. I got both, but  I didn't use the beer card. I don't like beer. I am more of a wine or cocktail person. Also I don't drink often.

The mainly awful part was driving there. There were so many terrifying moments of getting lost, and the gps was trying to screw us over constantly. Oh, mother gave me her tom tom 2 recently, and I am borrowing her sewing machine.

I didn't dress the way I wanted to. I really wanted to sew the coffee date dress from burdastyle and wear it to the casino so I could look like some arm candy and find James Bond at one of the poker tables and be his good luck charm. But... mohegan sun is... more of a family oriented casino. And the vast majority of the people that went there weren't dressed up. After I was done gambling, For the last couple hours I people watched. That was the most disappointing part about people watching. There were very few people in suits and cocktail dresses.
However, when you do go to the place where the sit-down restaurants are, more people are dressed up, in pumps and short dresses. A  younger, more hip crowd, mostly to go to the nightclub there.

I just wore casual outerwear. I was somewhat upset about that, that I didn't really dress up. I tried, but soo many clothes, and nothing matching! Argle!

About the sewing machine though: I was there at 11 pm, in the dorm, cutting up the printed pattern, taping pieces together. Then my sewing machine started to make loud squeaking noises.
and then the squeaking noises started to intensify slowly, and would appear and disappear.
I'm very upset, because I oiled every part of the machine. I searched online, it may be that the engine needs oil. I had better look at the manual, or call mummah.... but she got it tuned up last year, so the motor's brushes shouldn't be eroded.

I have a Kenmore model 385.something, I can't quite remember the whole model number off the top of my head. I downloaded a free copy of the manual a few months ago, so I shall try to troubleshoot myself. I just got access to a sewing machine. I don't want to have to take it home because if I take it home it will stay there for months, not getting tuned up as it needs.

Before it crapped out I did manage to finish my green dress. So its not that awful...
I need to learn how to insert zippers and make button holes tho. I can hand sew anything else I guess.

Well, back to class tomorrow. When I have time, I guess.

-MNR

Sewing and Hair

Sewing

I can never find information on hand sewing. There's plenty of information on machine sewing.
I wasn't able to get my mother's sewing machine from home. So frustrating. I know I have schoolwork to do but I want to relax by sewing. I desperately need to grow my lolita wardrobe. I do have a garment from winter break, where I sewed the bodice to the skirt. I drafted the pattern myself, and it fits pretty well.

It is extremely hard to find information on hand sewing garments. What I've found so far is basting stitches in preparation for machine sewing. Blech.

So, I will soon go on a quest for antique sewing magazines. They oftentimes show you how to handsew in the back, as machines weren't as prevalent.

I will take a pic of my dress for later on, as a WIP. I might have mentioned this previously, but I want to hand embroider the top, and make lace for the edging by hand. I've found several pretty lace patterns, and I have already begun one in a minty green.

Its great, the fitted sheet  for my bed here at college has lost its elasticity. I don't really want to repair it. I want to turn it into another lolita dress!
I'm silly, silly. I have two other pairs of sheets, I don't need  three! Its ok.
I needs lots and lots of green dresses I do! hah.
well, spring IS coming. I haven't gotten a chance to wear lolita s much as I wanted to this winter. I don't have the proper attire to do so is the problem. I really want knit tights and lolita boots. But of course, the fashion is expensive...
Once I get a paying job in the games industry, I'll dress it all the time squee!

Anyway, I will post the pattern as I drafted it, and a tutorial will follow.
----------



These are some of the tutorials I am using. Sorry, this time these are all videos.


http://youtu.be/CJUuxOTkbRE - this woman has pretty decent tutorials in general.
http://youtu.be/gtCVpi99o8A - A lolita shirt reconstruction
http://youtu.be/ZmSbiHakoyg - bloomers

Hair
I have the hair of an african american. It is frizzy, fluffy, dense, and strong willed. It is not a good idea to break the will of hair, because you will break your hair.
It is, however, shoulder length. I choose not to straighten it with chemicals, use a flat iron, or wear extensions to make it look straight. For the most part I tolerate and like my hair, but I want wigs so that I can change up my hairstyle more often. I want a green wig!

The only thing is to work around your hair. I don't think it is unfortunate that I don't have straight long hair. I find it unfortunate that there's a lack of diversity in the magazines such as the G&LB. The point is to look victorian and cutesy. But I'm pretty sure there are alternatives to the one look that is presented in these books and others like it.

I do believe that lolita generally requires shoulder length or longer hair in order to attempt certain styles. One could have closely cropped boyish hair or tiny curls though, it will just require accessories for it to look lolita-ish. Cute hats, beanies, berets, hair ornaments and clips, and definitely bows.
It just matters that you take care of your hair.

Knit Lolita Cardigan, 1 Peggy Sue

I love the lolita cardigan, its a great accessory. I just don't want to pay 100USD+ for the stuff in the stores, for various reasons. I have been brainstorming cardigan ideas using cardis in stores and in the lolita bibles.

 I am still not done knitting up the lolita cutsew I had been brainstorming earlier. It is coming along nicely, unfortunately it is at home so I can't show examples.

I don't have a lot of fine yarn, like dk, sport, or fingering, to create a lolita cardigan. I also don't have the patience. Therefore, I like taking patterns from ravelry and adapting them to be lolita.

This cardigan is perfect for lolita, especially casual. I draw inspiration from this blogger here. http://lindas-hemligheter.blogspot.com/2012/01/back-to-50s.html . She made an amazing pink cardi that looks very vintage with her 1950's dress. The 1950's aesthetic is very close to lolita, and in fact is cited often as one of the founding styles of lolita.

Nevermind all the theory. It is a very cute cardigan, and I happen to have dk weight yarn from a failed crochet pullover. I forget if it is Caron Spa or Caron Country. I've lost the labels for the yarn. The problem is, Caron Spa is 158 yards, and Country is 231 yards. That's a big difference as I usually purchase cheaper yarn. I don't have that much money.

The cardigan is called Peggy Sue. If you have a Ravelry, check it out here. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/peggy-sue. I just wish I could get my hair in the 1950's style. Maybe there are antique photos of african american ladies of that period, might give me clues.

I have these great vintage buttons from the thrift store that I really want to use for something like this. Other people have used pearl shank buttons. So cute! There aren't pearl buttons in the button tin I purchased though.


I am almost done with the March Cardigan by Berrocco. Great, because winter is getting close to over. Booooo... I just need to seam, wash and block it. Not even sure how to do that, but... eh.

New Dress Commentary

New BBTSSB dresses in online-store!
Stands for Baby, the Stars Shine Bright, a japanese lolita brand. They have a store in San Francisco that I really want to go to and browse in.

Its very cute and classic, even though I'm not a Shiro lolita, or a sweet lolita. I might have said before that I'm a classic lolita. It looks like a toned down sweet lolita dress. They also have off white, pink, navy, black and white, and pure black.

http://www.babyssb.co.jp/shopping/baby/jumper/136206.html


Yes, its a nice dress, but the reason I posted about this is that the sizing is reasonable! This dress could be a lower sized plus size dress, as the size is:

Length：90cm(35.43inch)
Bust：85～104cm(33.46～40.94inch)
Waist：81～100cm(31.88～39.37inch）

The dress looks a little short. Its wider around than it is long. I have a problem with that. I wish lolita brands in general would have more "long" or "tall" sizes. Over 40" in length, because not everyone is 5' even. So 36 inches is 1 yard, which is 3 feet. So 2 feet (24 inches) of you isn't being covered if you're 5'. That might be ok, might come up to your knees or slightly above. If you're 5'8", for example, you're 68". 68 - 35 = 32". Almost 3 feet of you isn't being covered. That means mid thigh is uncovered.

Love Ring Present Box
http://www.babyssb.co.jp/shopping/baby/jumper/135263.html
Ugh, the name is a little rough. =.= I dislike how lolita clothes and other items have Japanese-english names that don't quite make sense in translation. It feels tacky, it sounds tacky and broken english-japanese-ish. Kinda like they're trying to be  'kawaii-otaku'. ITAIII! T_T

The sizing here isn't exactly plus size.
Length：92cm(36.22inch)
Bust：88～99cm(34.64～38.97inch)
Waist：68～80cm(26.77～31.49inch)

People wonder why others make replicas of dresses. Much of the world isn't one size fits all. The dresses and clothing that comes in stores is. Incidently, you cannot copyright an idea in US copyright law. http://www.bitlaw.com/copyright/unprotected.html . The US government holds that a piece of clothing cannot be copyrighted. If a design is copyrighted, because it has a specific use, the article of clothing can be modified significantly to create a different article of clothing. The popular myth amongst lolitas that one can copyright a dress is preposterous.
If dresses were copyrighted, there wouldn't be derivatives of the wrap dress. Or, designers would be paying royalties to the original wrap dress creator.

I don't know Japanese copyright law. I might look into it.

Another question is does a dress from a brand have a specific utility? Utility as in the difference between a generic shoe and those shoes where each of your toes is hugged, and supposedly you're able to run better.

I have lots of ideas about lolita fashion. I need to organize my thoughts about it into a researched discourse.
For one, I would expand the sizing.
I believe also that there are many different patterns and styles that can be experimented with.
I want to see more patterns being created and given out, and in multiple sizes. I think that companies won't do that, because they know that they are in a cultural niche, and they want to control the style and flow of money in the community.
There is a great deal of lolita dependence on brand clothing.

I feel like I want to write a book about this, nonfiction. That would require research, however.