I saw an advert for AK Traditions’ Huggable Friends in a back issue of The Knitter and fell in love. Having only had two boys before, I’m not really “up” on girls’ toys, and at the tender age of almost-nine months, I don’t expect Rose cares one way or t’other about the toys she plays with other than they’re fun and keep her occupied for a few minutes. But seeing the advert made me realise that her mother she needs a dolly. 
A quick Google led me to The Knitting Parlour as a stockist of the booklet (and with free postage!). It arrived after a couple of days, wrapped in purple tissue paper which now makes me a customer for life.
I bought the book mainly for the doll I saw in the advert, Abbey:
who has fantastic auburn plaits which I greatly envy – I’ve been dyeing my hair red since I was about sixteen because I’d love to have it that colour naturally – but the other patterns are also gorgeous, including Finn who looks handsome in a traditional guernsey sweater and my namesake:
who even wears a purple hat. 
Now I just need the pattern to knit itself and I’m sorted..!
