Doll Making: Arms, Legs, and Undercloths

I'm finished with Claire!  She's turned out so lovely I'm amazed.  I know there are many little flaws - seams I didn't sew quite straight, embroidered features that aren't quite symmetrical...but I guess they add to her charm.

I couldn't bring myself to post her naked, so I had to make her some underthings.  I may have made doll clothes as a girl, but it's been long enough that it's like I'd never done it before.

I checked out a book from the library The Doll's Dressmaker by Venus Page. 


This book has a plethora of patterns for dolls of all sizes and it shows ways to modify the basic pattern pieces to create many different styles of clothing.  The problem is, it's not very logically organized and the sewing instructions are pretty much non-existent.  I purchased a Butterick pattern that looked to have similar basic clothing styles so I could use the instructions from that pattern to help me with the construction of the patterns from the book.

The Butterick pattern I used is 6001 - it's sized for 18 inch dolls.


 I used the bodice pattern from it and changed it to a front closure instead of a back closure.  I had to take it in at the sides and sew a little pleat in the back to help it fit my doll (she only stands about 16 inches).

 Here's a shot of her next to my quilting ruler so you can get an idea of her size.  Just about 16" high.

Her pants are made from a pattern from the Doll's Dressmaker book.  Pants are really easy, so instructions weren't necessary.

I have some beautiful dresses in the works - I can't wait to show them to you!

Make something beautiful!
Jen

Doll Making Continued - Doll Hair

I've finished the embroidery and hair on Claire.  The work is slow and particular, but I really enjoy it.  It's rewarding to see her take shape.

I chose a more elaborate hair style than maybe I should have for my first doll-hair application experience.  I wanted this style because I love little ringlets - it reminds me of the Betsy-Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace that I read as a little girl.  I was enchanted by the description of Tacy's bright red ringlets.  How I wished I had those instead of my plain brown ordinary hair!
 These two photos are the "in process" shots:

• The yarn I used is Berroco Lustra - a blend of 50% Peruvian wool and 50% Tencel.  It's very soft and has a lovely sheen.  The color is Rodin Bronze.  
• There is a dowel rod secured around her torso with a rubber band - this is so the hair loops all end up roughly the same length.  
• I put pins down the edge of her part line spaced about 1/4" apart and loop the the thread around the pin and then around the dowel and back up again.  
• Then I sewed each loop securely to her head with matching heavy duty thread.

Jill Hamor, author of Storybook Toys and my resource for this doll, has an excellent tutorial on her website as well as in her book.

Once I had the loops attached I took sections and sewed them to her head and then twisted the ends, folding them up to double them and then sewed it to her head again.  It took a really, really long time.

Here is her hair completed from all angles.  If I do this hair style again, I will make it longer - it's a bit shorted than I wanted.

Next up arms and legs.  I think I said that last post.  The hair took longer than I thought.

Make something beautiful!
Jen

Doll Making - Claire

I set a goal at the beginning of this year to sew everyday.  So far I haven't missed a day.   I'm amazed at how that simple goal has improved my productivity.  So why, then, haven't I had any completed projects to post in several weeks?

Well, my latest project is a doll.  A doll that involves a large process of learning, practicing and perfecting techniques before assembling my "real" doll.

I have been collecting dolls since I was a little girl.  I have a beautiful collection that, alas, has been stored away in boxes since my son was born since he took over the room I used to have for them.  They are also all porcelain - not a very child friendly material.

When I saw this book,
 
I felt my romance with dolls rekindle and I've been planning and practicing so I could make my own beautiful vintage inspired cloth doll.

I'm sharing an "in process" photo.  This is Claire.  She's a passionate Scottish girl with auburn hair and hazel eyes. 

I have loved every part of constructing her so far, from slowly stitching the tricky curves of her head and face, to patiently stuffing and stuffing and shaping and stuffing her head and body - it feels like sculpting.  I used real wool to stuff her.  It has a very sweet lanolin smell and packs very tightly for nice shaping.

The techniques for embroidering her face are excellent.  I highly recommend this book for it's excellent and detailed instructions.

I hope to have more progress photos in a few days (like arms and legs :))

Make something beautiful!
Jen