Update: Bob Cratchit and pattern goals for 2025
First draft of affable family man and long suffering clerk, Bob Cratchit! It’s OK for a first draft, but it all needs adjusting, especially his cutaway coat, which was a design failure in a few ways. I’m also leaning toward a receding hairline for Bob on the next draft to help him seem more careworn and less youthful. This current floppy hairdo looks more like a Fred. I’ll tackle adding embroidery designs on the next attempt.
This pattern will be the sixth in my ongoing Ebenezer Ornament Series, and will be my first pattern release this year, Lord willing. For those of you who have long been anticipating the next Ebenezer pattern, thanks so much for your patience! After that release it will be a time battle between Cap & Gown (tentative title of my future graduate ornament pattern) and the next ornament for my ‘Twas The Night series.
It would be great to release all three patterns for 2025, but I will just have to do my best. As you know, since last February I’m spending a good bit of my time helping my sisters care for our elderly mother and working around my chronic back problems, so my pattern designing time is pretty limited.
Sorry about your Mom , she’s lucky to have you. Your patterns and designs give so much pleasure, thanks for all you do
Thanks so much for the encouragement!
The top hat looks amazing. Makes me want to devise a snowman to wear it.
aw thanks, and yes, it would look really cute on a snowman! If you have the Lord a-Leaping pattern, you can use that one.
Talking about ‘hair’. I found a neat trick to make the pipe cleaner hair look more real. I snagged a skein of lion brand wool ease from the clearance bin and used it to wrap around the pipe cleaner when making hair . My family can’t wait for your next pattern .
That is an intriguing idea! Thanks for sharing!
So exciting! What is the next ornament in the night before Christmas series?
I like to keep folks in suspense. It’s more fun. 🙂
Larissa how do you get the toe area of the feet so perfect? I struggle with that part every time.
Hey Brenda, cut them as accurately as you can, use small stitches, and make sure the two sides are aligned when you sew them together. After sewing be sure to stuff the foot a little to give it some shape.
I love these characters and they could be incorporated in fancier coats for the villagers and some of Bob’s acquaintances. I would like to see their lady friends too, in fancy gowns! Anyway, the different hair styles would suit just any of the characters in this story (maybe even a knot or a pony tail)! The jackets are just great ….maybe a little more width on the chest area so the jacket has slightly more room, to close if desired.
What fun!
Thank you for sharing your design process, it is fascinating to see the steps towards the final beautiful design. I always look forward to the next pattern becoming available, they are a delight to make.
thanks very much, Christine!