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Need Help? Send any questions on our patterns or general doll making and
we will post the answers here as a helpful guide for all.
Pattern preparation:
Laminating the pattern pages before cutting them out is a great idea. Join pattern
pieces if needed with sticky tape. You will have nice firm pattern pieces to trace
around and will help keep them in shape.
Tracing:
I use an orange gel pen when tracing around pattern pieces as it makes following
the line a lot easier when sewing and visibility is poor. It also doesn't show after
sewing.... much better than a darker pen.
Turning:
When turning small pattern pieces such as arms & legs, always start from the hand
or foot end. Wet your thumb & index fingers, rub the two layers of fabric to separate
them & gently push the turning tool ( narrow brass tubing) into the loose fabric.
Allow the fabric to roll over the turning tool until right side out. Much easier than
starting at the open end.
Stuffing:
The stuffing I prefer to use is a coarser type available in large packs (sometimes
by weight) at fabric & craft shops and even mattress factory outlets. You can buy
doll stuffing that is very light & silky but it is too slippery to use with the turning tool.
Fray Stop:
It's always helpful to run some Fray Stop (or similar) around the outside of the
seams before cutting out. Seams are extra strong as a result and sealed well,
especially when using sand as a filling. Don't let the Fray Stop drip onto areas
yet to be tea-stained as it will prevent the stain from entering the fabric.
It is also great to use on the ends of ribbon, lace and cut edges of doileys.
eg. Spice Angel pattern.
Staining:
You can use tea, coffee or Parisian Essence ( found in supermarket near vanilla etc)
to give your dolls a lovely aged patina. I like to use a spray bottle to apply the tea-stain
as I can spray extra where needed and it is easier to apply to doll bodies after sewing. Experiment with your choice. Steep 3 tea-bags (cheapest) in a cup of boiling water, l
eave for 15 min then strain into spray bottle. Check the strength on a scrap of calico.
Add 2 tspns of coffee approx. to a cup of boiling water until dissolved or a few drops
of Parisian Essence to a cup of boiling water. I use Parisian Essence a lot as it gives
a rich colour. If you are dying fabric for clothes.. after spraying or soaking fabric in dye
of choice, a nice touch is to sprinkle tea-leaves directly onto the fabric, scrunch up and
allow to dry.
Lately I have been experimenting with rubbing cinnamon into the finished dolls....a little
more primitive, and what a lovely smell! They take a little longer to dry though.
Finishing:
A doll with 'rosey' blushed cheeks is the perfect finish. I use an artist's pastel chalk
and apply it with a dry brush in a circular manner. This gives a soft blush with no
hard lines.
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