3D doll hairdo

Posting again took longer than I expected, but since I did have one request I will show the progress pics of the hairdo for the Gail Wilson 3D doll.

First of all, please don't be afraid to start your kit! The best tip is to just start with the first step rather than overwhelming yourself trying to figure out the whole thing. And once it's done, go on to the next one. There are so many details in the instructions you will have lots of help.

Take your time, I did make mistakes myself and slowing down allowed me to fix them before it was too late. For example, I traced the body pattern pieces onto the fabric then realized when I got to the last pattern piece that I didn't have enough room. You really need to snug the pieces up to the edges of the piece of fabric (assuming you bought the kit with provided fabric) to fit them all in. The solution? I just turned over the folded piece of fabric and retraced them onto that side. No harm done.

So here's how I did the hair. I pinned the wool wig (wool has been machine sewn onto a bit of fabric at this stage) on her head to check the placement before gluing. Gail recommends a cool melt glue gun but I didn't have any trouble with my regular glue gun. If you're worried about burning your fingers my big tip is to just put a bandaid on the finger you use to press the hair into place.

Glue just a little bit at a time and make sure it's going where you want it to. The exact position of the hair kind of changes the shape of her face. If you glue it a bit high she will have a high forehead, etc.

To "comb" the hair I used a tiny knitting needle I had on hand - size 0000. I didn't want to buy a hair pick, and the needle worked just fine. You need to start combing low down or you will have big snags - if you've ever had long thick hair you know this!

Here's a view of the back. You want to make sure your wig is low enough at the back so she doesn't have a big bare area on her head. Another tip, I saved the fibre that was pulled out and combed it and made a wig for my tiny dollhouse doll.

Lastly to make the braided hairdo, I braided two braids. Then pulled them up to the top of her head and used the felting needle to tuck and felt the tips of the braids in place. I used the needle here and there to tidy up wisps and make the hairdo secure.

I think this is a pretty style, but you won't be able to rearrange it once you've used the felting needles. Alternatively, you can use dark brown thread and hold the braids in place with a few stitches. That way you could remove them later if you want a change.

Good luck!

Read more...

Gail Wilson doll

Well it was just a matter of time before I tried a pattern by Gail Wilson whose designs I've been admiring for some time. Bradley bought me my first kit as a birthday present. It's the 3D 12" historical doll.

As I expected I learned a lot from this kit, there were lots of good techniques that are covered in detail. These kits involve a fair amount of work but the results are something really special.

I made a few little changes, the sleeves of the dress are shorter and left flared rather than gathered in. And I mixed up my own skin tone as the one included with the kit wasn't what I wanted. And I painted the details of the face differently.

Also, I decided to do painted shoes and stockings rather than the removable boots and stockings.

The kit includes patterns for the dress, petticoat and pantalettes and a nightgown. I haven't made the nightgown but I added an apron and a cape. If anyone is interested, leave a comment and I will explain how to make a nice simple little apron with a handkerchief! Also, I did the hairstyle differently and I could show that too. The lined cape was an enlarged pattern from a book about dressing old-fashioned dollhouse dolls.

 And now, of course, I am onto a new project...

Read more...

Spring Trunk show

rcboisjoli bowl with Beside Herself doilies

As always, the Spring Trunk show was so good. I love going to the Workroom, but now that I'm living in the east end it's a bit more travelling and I don't visit as often as I'd like. The day of the show was awkward because the marathon caused streetcar delays and the construction at Bay subway rerouted the trains. But it was well worth the extra effort!

As usual I was tempted throughout the day by the contents of everyone else's trunks. I came home with a nice little collection of treats. Happily I was able to swap a little bit as well.

First up the beautiful bowl featured at the top of this post. I've been admiring the creations of rcboisjoli for some time now and was thrilled to come home with a bowl with a polka dot carousel horse decorating the side. I love the overall pleasing shape and colour of this bowl. Right now it graces my coffee table where I gaze at it from time to time in the day.

Also adorning said coffee table is a pretty set of coasters made from a sweet vintage blue floral print by
Knotted Nest.

Also from Kristen's trunk, some floral fabric, two sweet linen napkins with yellow roses and an embroidery hoop framed machine embroidered house picture. So sweet! This will be perfect for display on my craft room shelves.

From Becky's trunk, a vintage scarf with a pretty colour scheme and elegant pattern, and last but not least a long necklace with delicate pink tassels made by the lovely Debbie Arruda.

I chatted with Bianca from Kid Icarus, the result of which is that I now have my things for sale in her shop! The shop is so nice, it's right across from Lettuce Knit in Kensington Market and I've always liked it. I gave her a few of my wool embroidered brooches, wristlets and coffee sleeves which are available there now.

Thanks so much to everyone who visited despite the rain throughout the day.

Read more...

Spring treats

Don't forget, the Spring Trunk show is on tomorrow!

City of Craft & the workroom present
Spring Trunk Show
Sunday May 15, 2011
Noon-5pm
the workroom
1340 Queen Street West
FREE Admission

I'm busy getting ready, including creating something especially for this show. I wanted to make something that would be right for Spring. They're tiny pincushions made with miniature baskets and special scraps from my fabric stash. Each one has a little set of coordinated pins.

Of course I had to save one for myself... Anyway, hope to see you tomorrow!

Read more...

Millie - Mimi's Purl Soho doll pattern

So this is another doll pattern that's been in my to-do archives for ages. It's a free pattern that the amazingly talented Mimi Kirchner created for Purl Soho. As you probably know, Mimi works with wool felt and embellishes her dolls with applique and embroidery to make them extra special.

This pattern is perfect the way it is, but I ended up making a few changes for mine. Bradley had bought me a beautiful felted wool fabric pack for my birthday which I was dying to use. But this felt wasn't the dense commercial kind that won't unravel. So I added a seam allowance when cutting out the pattern pieces.

I also decided to make the doll a wee bit smaller to fit in with the size of dolls I've been making lately. So I printed out the pattern at 80%. And as usual I did the face and hair a little bit in my own way. This was my first time stitching a raised nose, it's so simple and effective.

Then lastly I didn't have a big enough piece to do the dress as is, so I used the light blue felt for the body and arms so it looks like a sweater, then made a dark blue skirt in the style of the pattern. Mimi does this with some of her girl dolls and it's so charming.

Lastly I added extra pieces, a little coat and bag, also inspired by Mimi's creations. I love the sweet little feet for this pattern, I embellished the boots with embroidered laces. A big thank you to Mimi for sharing this lovely pattern.

You can make this doll yourself, just nip over to The Purl bee for the pattern. And while you're at it, be sure to visit Mimi's blog for an endless array of beautiful and inspiring work.

If you get the chance, you're invited to the Spring Trunk Sale at the Workroom. One day only, 12-5pm on Sunday, May 15th. I have a table there, and will be bringing everything in my shop plus a few extras I have tucked away and even some sewing themed rummage!

Read more...

Mary Poppins doll at last!

So Mary Poppins put on her white gloves and tucked her umbrella under her arm–not because it was raining but because it had such a beautiful handle that she couldn't possibly leave it at home. How could you leave your umbrella behind if it had a parrot's head for a handle? Besides, Mary Poppins was very vain and like to look her best. Indeed, she was quite sure that she never looked anything else.   --Mary Poppins by P. L. Travers

I've finally finished the Mary Poppins doll. Well except for the umbrella... I'm still thinking about that. Don't worry, I do know it's important.

Of course I made a few changes, so I will show you the details. From the top, I absolutely love how her hat turned out. The pattern has a hat sewn from felt but I had the notion that I would like to make a straw hat for her.

Then one afternoon I just happened to be in a dollhouse shop in Cambridge (as part of a birthday treat day trip that included my favourite flea markets). And I found a tiny packet that had very dark navy blue miniature hat straw braid. There was only one colour, only one size and it was absolutely perfect.

So I looked it up online and sewing up a straw hat is pretty simple in the end. You can look it up yourself and find a tutorial that suits you, but the main tip, the thing I didn't know before, is that straw hat braid has a thread inside it that you can pull so that it curves.

The hat band is a tiny brown scalloped trim that was described in the dollhouse shop as "fairy lace". Now how on earth could I resist that?? Then I added some tiny white flowers I had already which I trimmed to look more like daisies.

The scarf was crocheted from pearl cotton with a tiny crochet hook. I matched the colours to the movie scarf rather than the pattern suggestions. That was a very finicky job that took a long time but as I often do I just worked on it while watching movies in the evening.

The boots are meant to be made from felt but they just turned out too bulky. So I copied the foot pattern and sewed it from black cotton fabric, hemmed the top, then embroidered the scallop edge and added the tiny black beads for buttons. The foot for this pattern has a funny shape but it's kind of charming in a way so I kept it that way.

Another little change was stitching lines to make fingers on her hands. And I decided not to bother with the mittens or stockings.

Lastly the carpet bag is meant to be made from blue fabric and embroidered. But I found the perfect little floral print at The Workroom that looks more like the carpet bag from the movie, and sewed it up from that instead.

There's a bit of wire sewn in at the top which you bend down to give it that doctor's bag shape. So charming!

So there she is.

Read more...

Sneak peek WIP

I added MOP buttons to the blouse after finding some truly tiny ones

While I'm also working on larger things - right now it's a wool jacket adapted from a coat pattern - I also keep getting drawn back to the small. In this case, a lovely doll pattern that I've had for years. It was tucked away and I just never seemed to find the right moment to start it.

You know who she is, right?

This pattern fascinates me because there are so many details. There is the doll, of course, with an elaborate hairdo and embroidered face. There are darts in the back of her head that make her head nice and full when stuffed. Then there are the clothes, which include a lace trimmed pettiblouse, lined skirt with tucks and piping detail, stockings, boots, a bowtie, coat, hat, mittens, scarf and last but not least, a carpet bag (that last one surely gives her identity away).

pettiblouse still needs more snaps at the back and lace at the bottom

I managed to complicate things by deciding to make the coat from fabric (with seams and a lining) rather than plain felt (with no seam allowance). And the yarn hair turned out a bit longer than the instructions required so I added the braids to her bun. Also, I wanted a smaller doll so I reduced the pattern to 70%.

But even without that this pattern is a lot of work. I love to think of some parent slaving away at this in the evenings in order to create what I would consider the best present EVER.

Read more...

Belinda and Lucinda

As I mentioned in my last post, I've been looking forward to making this sweet pair of Edith Flack Ackley dolls ever since I saw the picture advertising the pattern. This vintage pattern makes a surprisingly small pair of dolls. Well, I was surprised, but also delighted by how nice they are. Also the clothes are removable which I always prefer.

This picture with a teacup gives you an idea of their size.

Like my previous EFA doll, these have a dress, petticoat and pantalettes. The pattern also suggests a necklace and I thought it would nice for them to have matching glass bead necklaces.

If you're thinking of making this pattern yourself I did make some small changes. First of all the pantalettes seem very wide so you would probably want to reduce those - just shave off from the side of the pattern (thanks to Margaret for that tip!). Also the petticoat is not as wide as the skirt so you could make it wider if you want it to be fuller. On the other hand as the doll is so small this can make it bulkier around the waist. For the dress I found the front bodice to be a little wide so I tweaked that too.

Don't be discouraged part way through once you've turned the doll right side out and it seems pathetic and too narrow. Once you firmly stuff and stitch at the joints the doll has a very nice shape. Also I recommend FrayBlock at the areas where you need to trim the seams very closely such as under the arms.

I made a few little changes just to suit me. For example the pattern suggests drawing the shoes on with ink, but I ended up sewing fabric directly on the foot to make the shoes. I thought the wool felt I had on hand would have been too thick. I also stitched a little seam on the arms, just once, so that they bend at the elbow. Just little changes like that.

I love how they turned out and must thank Margaret once again for kindly sharing her pattern.

Read more...

First Edith Flack Ackley doll

To Greet a Little Girl - my 1st EFA doll

Another long time to-do item for me was to make a doll from Edith Flack Ackley's wonderful 1938 book, Dolls to Make for Fun and Profit. This book has a lovely collection of cloth dolls to sew charmingly illustrated throughout by Edith's sister Telka Ackley. I've had this book for a long time but didn't get around to making any of the dolls until now.

detail of her embroidered features

One thing that's refreshing about the book is that Edith encourages her readers to make the dolls to sell themselves. It's something I'm considering but I've found after making this first one that they're quite time consuming to make if you're fussy like me, and want the clothes to be removable and the hems finished by hand etc. This particular one has six garments, an undervest, pantalettes, petticoat, dress, pinafore and shoes.

back view

I joined the Yahoo group (edithflackackleydolls), which I recommend if you're interested in these dolls as you can see all the great photos of other dolls made by people in the group. That's also where I found the pattern for this doll, called "To Greet a Little Girl". The book has patterns as well but this one was nice and complete with more specific instructions. I always appreciate it so much when people take the time to share things like this!

the dress without the pinafore

I was inspired by Margaret McInnes' beautiful "Belinda and Lucinda" dolls made from a EFA pattern from 1934. Margaret was kind enough to share her copy of this pattern which you can find on her blog: A Doll Shop of my Own.

Undergarments: undervest, pantelettes and petticoat

So Belinda and Lucinda are the next Edith Flack Ackely dolls I'll be working on. It's hard to explain why a particular thing will captivate you, but this sweet pattern has, and I can't wait to make them.

Read more...

Magnolia branches

This kind of thing doesn't usually happen to me, but the other day Bradley brought home a branch he found on the sidewalk. It was Valentine's day and he was bringing me some flowers, but noticed the branch and thought I might like it too.

We thought it was a pussywillow branch. I didn't know what would happen but I put it in a vase with some water and clipped the bottoms of the branches. Then I gave up and took the branches out a few days later to wash the vase, but then Bradley noticed one of the buds seem to be opening a bit so I put them back in the water.

The buds kept getting fatter and the furry shells popped off. And inside there was some pink! Then today, the biggest one opened up all the way and revealed itself to be a magnolia flower! I love magnolia trees so much. Someday I would like to have one. But in the meantime I can't believe how pretty this branch is now. It doesn't quite seem real.

I took lots of pictures because it's so lovely, so here's a side view:

In other flower news, the orchid has bloomed at last!

There are two flowers so far. I didn't take a great picture but this one will give you the general idea.

Speaking of not-great pictures, my photos keep having shadows in the corners. Is my camera dying or am I doing something wrong?? If anyone knows I'd love to hear from you. I can fix a bit of vignetting easily in Photoshop, and sometimes I like the effect, but maybe something's not right here.

Read more...

Seaside yarn

I haven't posted any spinning for a while but I haven't abandoned it. It felt so good to get that bowl finished so I thought I would tackle some of my unfinished spinning. Plus I have a good adjustable niddy noddy tip!

This yarn started with a blue Cheviot from Pleasurecraft. I spun it up without really knowing what I would do with it, then left it on a bobbin for a while. These wooden bobbins are so nice, they're vintage, I found them on ebay. I bought a few and they're perfect for storing your singles before you decide what to do with them.

So then I finally finished spinning those sailboat batts I made a long time ago. Unlike a lot of my other handspun yarn that's variegated, these spun up with an overall tweedy kind of look.

I didn't have that much, so I decided to ply the sailboat single together with the blue cheviot. It worked out really well, the solid blue evened out the colour a bit and I ended up with a bigger skein of thicker yarn.

So on to the adjustable niddy noddy tip I had. Here's a picture of my niddy noddy with the yarn wound around it:

To make skeins you wind the yarn around the niddy noddy. If you need help, there are Youtube videos that will show you how.  You end up with a long loop:

There are niddy noddies for sample size skeins, medium sized and larger skeins. But when you take it apart it's just two curved end pieces with a dowel in the middle.

So once I had bought a sample sized niddy noddy (which is what I had found at Romni Wool) I realized I could make it adjustable by adding different lengths of dowel. I bought one large length of dowel at Home Depot, then Bradley cut it into a few standard lengths. The skeins can be any length you want but there are standard lengths that some prefer so you could look up those to match them if you want.

This is the finished skein.  Another thing that can be demonstrated better than described. But basically you put a finger in each end and twist the loop. Then bend it in the middle and the two sides will twist around each other. Then tuck the end of one side into the loop on the other side.

When I'm ready to knit or crochet I wind the skein into a centre pull ball with a nostepinne but that's another post.

Read more...