Official doll class!

[mommomrebecca]

Ready? Okay!

Just kidding, I was never a cheerleader :bigups:

PEP TALK

Remember to have fun and go slowly. Don't be afraid, just act like you do this all the time. You can always cut thread and start again if you need to. It's also okay to have a funky looking doll. I can't wait to see your dolls take shape!

First thing to do is decide if you want a nose or not on your doll. Some people like them, some hate them. I like all dolls, they all develop their own personality as they are being made.

NOSE

The pic has red thread so you can see, but make sure to use flesh colored floss. Thread a small needle and tie a knot at the end. For a big doll, think nickel or quarter and a small doll, dime or so. The nose will be significantly smaller than circle you make. Make a running stitch about those sizes where you want the nose to be. Pick up a small amount of wool underneath with the needle with each stitch.


http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Mar24/MVC-002F.JPG

When you get all the way around, gently pull the thread taut. Your nose will appear. Run the needle under the nose and come out the other side, around a little more, through another part (behind the nose) and back out. This is just to make sure your nose doesn't come undone. Tie a knot and trim floss.


http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Mar24/MVC-003F.JPG

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Mar24/MVC-004F.JPG


COVER YOUR INNER HEAD WITH SKIN FABRIC

Get your head fabric, turn right side out (so the seams are on the inside and down the back of the head) and slip over your head. (Doll's head). It is extremely important to make sure the grain of the fabric is straight and vertical on the face. Fold the fabric up in the back if necessary so that the neck is smooth and wrinkle free.

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Mar24/MVC-005F.JPG

Stitch the fabric in the back with a small needle and flesh floss to keep it in place.

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Mar24/MVC-006F.JPG

Pull the thingy coming out of the forhead snugly back and stitch it down to the head. These things will be hidden so don't worry about doing it exactly right. As long as it is secure.

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Mar24/MVC-007F.JPG


TIE THE NECK

Using your biggest needle and some flesh floss, tie a knot in the end and poke the needle through the middle of the back of the neck, right through where the inner head is tied, and have it come through to the middle of the front of the neck. Wrap the floss all the way around the neck a couple of times and then knot it in the back. Your head is done! Sort of. If you are making a faceless doll, the head really is done.


http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Mar24/MVC-008F.JPG


FACE EMBROIDERY

This is the best part. Look at your doll's face and try to picture what she is going to look like. Don't rush it. It's important to have an idea before you start. Actually, I'll stop here for now. Ask questions if you need to :inlove:

[gorzong]

Yay! These are great!! I am going to start tonight.

Could you post a picture of what the doll looks like after you've wrapped the thread around it's neck? It helps me to see what my goal is... :nut

Holli

[pmcgary]

I appreciate all the technical lingo..."thingie".....Directions I understand! I need to go get some big needles though.....And pins....

[Susan_WW]

Wooohoo! Can't wait to get started, but the in-laws are coming over for dinner, so I may have to wait until tomorow. I'm so excited :superb

[cozystitches]

Crud..I don't suppose you could explain how to do the fabric, that's just a big square could you? Or how could I make my head fabric like yours?? Please...

As for the nose..omg that's so freaking cool....

Hugs,
tammy

[gorzong]

Okay, I was so excited to do this. I hope I did it okay!

http://www.holliam.org/Doll/head.html

Holli

[Sheena]

Ooo... where did you all get the supplies?

[radish]

oh am so excited! i will start after i attempt to match up swap ppl. (which i might add is harder than it seems, or maybe i am sorts dense :))'

btw, we got bananaman - LOVE HIM!

[botannie]

Radish! You got bananaman?!?! Ooh, I am so jealous!!!

I will do this tonight, after dinner. Great job Holli! I like your nose :)

[radish]

Amy - rebace sold kits with pre-made innerheads, floss, etc.

Annie - yes, Banana-man is now a member of our family.

[Susan_WW]

Holli, great job! I think it looks cute :pink

[mommomrebecca]

Holli, that is so excellent!!! And you say you aren't crafty :nono ! I'll try and get the face embroidery pics up today!

Tammy, you could just hand or machine stitch it up the back and top so it is snug. And then fold everything over so it's smooth. Haha, sorry, since you were making your own head I didn't want it to be too small!

Regina, I'm so glad you like him, I miss him :mwah

[YarnJunkie]

very cool. great job holli! i really wanna make a doll now.

[gorzong]

Thanks gals! I cannot even tell you how cool I feel making a doll for Mari. I am such a dork almost crying thinking about her playing with it one day knowing I (that's ME!) made it for her!

I am so loving this. I even didn't get frustrated when I didn't like my first nose and decided to take it apart. This is some crafty therapy for me!

Holli

[chloesmom]

Holli, that is going to be one cute little dolly! I can see that sweet face forming already. I love the little button nose. :wowza

[Susan_WW]

I got to do the head this morning :bigups: I had to redo the nose about 5 times before it came out right and I wound up making a hole in the head :goodgrief , but I think it turned out OK.

Here are some pics:

http://www.wonderfulwoolies.com/fpdb/images/dollhead1.jpg

http://www.wonderfulwoolies.com/fpdb/images/dollhead2.jpg

http://www.wonderfulwoolies.com/fpdb/images/dollhead3.jpg

[knittingmama]

So adorable how you can see little faces emerging already. :)

[gorzong]

Oh Susan yours looks so cute too! Glad to know I'm not the only one who re-did her nose! LOL

Holli

[cozystitches]

Here are my pics...

I cheated, I used the sewing machine and sewed up the head material, so I didn't have to do by hand to the head like I did my first doll..much easier.. :D :D

So, teacher, any critiques?

http://cozystitches.com/cozystitch/Head%20-%20Face.jpg Face
http://cozystitches.com/cozystitch/Head%20-%20Profile.jpg Profile
http://cozystitches.com/cozystitch/Head%20-%20Back.jpg Back

:D

Hugs,
tammy

[mommomrebecca]

Cute heads!!

Tammy, if you want to avoid the wrinkling of the fabric around the neck, pull the fabric that's bunching toward the back of the head and up and stitch it down in the back of the head before doing the wraparound neck stitch.

Super cute noses everyone! I have a minute here to post the embroidery, but some of the pics are sideways. snow


FACIAL EMBROIDERY

Place a push pin on the eyeline right in the middle. Visualize how big and far apart you want the eyes to be. With your biggest needle and unknotted eye floss, push the needle through the front of the face in the lower corner of the eye, pull the needle all the way through the head leaving a good amount of floss hanging in the front. take that needle off.

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Mar24/MVC-010F.JPG

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Mar24/MVC-012F.JPG

With the smallest or 3 inch needle, whichever you are more comfortable with, thread the hanging floss in the front. Stitch the eye making sure to grab wool underneath with each stitch. The eye should be about on the line. Make it as big as you want or as wide.

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Mar24/MVC-013F.JPG

When you getwhat you want to be the final stitch, put the biggest needle back on and put the final stitch all the way through the head.

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Mar24/MVC-014F.JPG

Then knot the floss in the back of the head. For the secondeye, count the grain of the fabric from the pin to the bottom corner of the first eye to make sure your eyes will be symmetrical. Do the second eye the same way.

The mouth is done the same way

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Mar24/MVC-015F.JPG

Do one line or two, straight or smiley, even just a tiny dot, they all look cute. Tie the two strands of the lips together in the back.


http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Mar24/MVC-016F.JPG

[pamelamama]

ouch!

[mommomrebecca]

ouch!

LOL! My nephew cannot be around dollmaking, he screams "don't poke arm, don't poke dolly neck!" It's so sweet, he really tries to rescue the dolls.

[Susan_WW]

Here's my dolly's face:

http://www.wonderfulwoolies.com/fpdb/images/dollface.jpg

Nicole loved it so much she grabbed it from me and ran off before I could get a picture of her with it LOL!

http://www.wonderfulwoolies.com/fpdb/images/nicolewithdoll.jpg

[mommomrebecca]

Awww! That's adorable!

[cozystitches]

Here's my face w/embroidery...Question..I have a fairly large hole where I used the big needle..how can I fix that? It's on the right side of the mouth...

http://cozystitches.com/cozystitch/Face.jpg

[gorzong]

Oh! Those dollies have personalities already! So cuuuuute that Nicole stole her dollie! I'm working on mine tonight. Hope she's a cutie!

Holli

[indiegirl]

http://pic14.picturetrail.com/VOL524/626785/5518009/90650446.jpg

This is addicting. I love her and don't want to give her away. Is that normal?

[pamelamama]

Oh Jesse, she IS cute.

[pmcgary]

Okay why am I scared to start?
And Where the heck am I going to find the long needles? I may have to call the LYS - I have never looked at their neelework stuff, but I am having no luck anywhere else in town.

[radish]

pam, i am scared too - i cant even pull out my supplies. i am deathly afraid of botching what i know is supposed to be a beautiful doll.

[mommomrebecca]

Did you guys not read my pep talk? It said do not be afraid!! You will love it and start hoarding dolls like Jesse. Very cute face Jesse by the way! Which daughter is that?

Pam, you should be able to get them at any craft or fabric store. Let me know, I can drop some in the mail on Monday if you like :bigups:

Tammy, if you have a hole in the fabric, it can't be fixed. I'm not sure why you would have a large hole. You can make the mouth cover the hole if it's really bad. :butterfly

[indiegirl]

This will be Violet's doll. I'll give it to her on her fifth birthday in July. I plan on making some cute outfits and a bed before then.

As for the other two, I don't know when to give them to the girls. I was kind of thinking that they would be the special fifth birthday gift, but I don't want to wait so long. But I want them to appreciate them....oh I don't know!

Advice?

Jesse

[botannie]

Jesse, I'm making one for my Violet also :) She's only 2 1/2 months - so I'm planning on putting on her shelf, and she can play with it when she's older. I've made a couple of magic cabin "baabaa" dolls to sidetrack her in the meantime. But they aren't nearly as cute.

I'll try and post picks tomorrow or so. I'm truckin along. Cuteness all around, I must say!

[Susan_WW]

Jesse, I love her big blue eyes! She looks just darling :love

[pmcgary]

Did you guys not read my pep talk? It said do not be afraid!! You will love it and start hoarding dolls like Jesse. Very cute face Jesse by the way! Which daughter is that?

Pam, you should be able to get them at any craft or fabric store. Let me know, I can drop some in the mail on Monday if you like :bigups:

Tammy, if you have a hole in the fabric, it can't be fixed. I'm not sure why you would have a large hole. You can make the mouth cover the hole if it's really bad. :butterfly

At Michaels the only ones they had were for "cording" and there were the two big needles and a third funky needle thing....Don't ask me - I am now not even sure they were sharp tipped needles......I cringed b/c it was $10 for the needles....At which point I was thinking I should have gotten all the supplies from you....

I was going to check Hobby Lobby - but by the time I got done at Michaels...my second trip this weekend....WEll it was nearly 8. I figure HL has more doll making stuff.

I know for me it is likely just that first "stab" that will be scary....After that it will be fine.

[radish]

I did it! Pix tonight! Screwed up the 2nd eye but fixed it (sorta). I re-read the pep talk and it helped :D

[gorzong]

Okay, this embroidery step was really really hard for me. I messed up so many times and then after I did both eyes in black I remembered I wanted to do brown. So, Liam took them out for me (patience was long gone) and I gave up last night.

But, I finally did both brown eyes today and the mouth. My eyes are too close together and too big I think. But, it's kind of hard to change that once you do one eye wrong!

Ah well, she'll look better with hair. LOL Will post pics tomorrow.

Holli

[botannie]

Two heads are better than one, right?

BFF :inlove:

http://www.livejournal.com/users/botannie/

[botannie]

How do I make a pic smaller? I tried to upload one but it was huge!

[indiegirl]

Can I just say that I hate embroidery floss? It's too fragile and unravels! My hands are hamburger, but I had to do all three dolls last night.

From Left to right: Eleanor's, Violet's, and Zoe's dolls.
http://pic14.picturetrail.com/VOL524/626785/5518009/90837601.jpg

Excuse the crap lighting.

I just *had* to pin the hair on to see what it would look like. I may redo some eyes, but I am giving it time.

~Jesse

[indiegirl]

Two heads are better than one, right?

BFF :inlove:

http://www.livejournal.com/users/botannie/

Cute!

I resize my pics with photoeditor and then upload to my image hosting service. HTH.

[mommomrebecca]

:cheer

[pamelamama]

Jesse, you going to make hearing aids for Violet's doll? WOuldnt' that be so freaking cool?

[indiegirl]

I don't know, Pam. She has another doll and I got her some hearing aids for it-- she thought they were cool but doesn't keep them on her. When I tried to encourage her to have the doll wear them she said, "No, that's okay. She can hear me." I'll ask her if this dolly needs hearing aids and will make her some out of natural materials if she wants. LOL, any ideas anyone?

Jesse

[pamelamama]

hmm... too late to have them stick on with that magnet...eek, like a cochlear implant?? :yikes:

[mommomrebecca]

Felt hearing aids and velcro?? That's cute, I should make some for Eleanor's fave doll. :inlove: She is fascinated by hearing aids and pretends to turn her imaginary ones off when she doesn't want to listen to me!

[cozystitches]

Ummm...does everyone have a wig to go w/their premade heads?? Or am I the only one going all the way from scratch? :ohno :faint

Rebecca...can you give any tips for the hair? I'm only wanting "baby" hair (so was thinking a crocheted cap). Also..I have ONE skein of 110yards of Mohair..is this enough for 2 16" "babys"? :faint

Hugs,
tammy

[mommomrebecca]

If you want to make a cap, mohair won't look very good. You might want to get a boucle of some sort. I can definitely tell you an easier way if you want to make longer hair than you did before!! I sort of go by ounces instead of yards, so I'm not sure if that would be enough. :decision Next time everyone is going to make their own heads and wigs, right??

[pmcgary]

I haven't even started this one and you are expecting there to be a NEXT time???

[mommomrebecca]

Pam, Now aren't you glad you listened to your mother and only got supplies for one doll?

[cozystitches]

It's 50g...weighing it on the postal scale it's an oz. So...if I need boucle' where can I get it?? I have a $10 GC to use online (must be exactly $10 total or under). And how much do i need for a cap for 2 dolls?

I'd make a doll with more hair..but it's a Boy doll..and she wanted short hair...

Hugs,
tammy

[pmcgary]

I wondered if you remembered that!!!

Actually, I think it is a matter of "just do it"....too bad I don't have a pair of Nike's to put on......

I am off to look for needles today - Funny I am not nervous about the embroidery part but the nose is what I am reluctant about --- BUt I am determined to do it....

Watch I will probably get started and be ordering stuff for more dolls!

I think after this one I will do a very "primative" doll for my Dh's niece who is expecting in August.....

[mommomrebecca]

Boy dolls look very cute with mohair cut short! The caps look more babyish though. Either way, one ounce for two 16 inch wigs doesn't sound like enough. Is your GC for anywhere specific? You can get boucle anywhere, tons on ebay. I will try and weigh a cap if I can find one to see how much it uses. :)

[Susan_WW]

Annie, your dolls are so cute :)

[gorzong]

Well, here is my bug-eyed dolly LOL:

http://www.holliam.org/Doll/face.html

She really needs hair soon...is that step next (hoping)!

Holli

[Susan_WW]

Holli, I think her big eyes are cute :)

[cozystitches]

The GC is not specific, but I have to use it w/someplace that takes credit cards, but not through PayPal...so on the boy hair..are you going to do a tutorial to do that? or? I'll ask her if the boy hair would be ok for this one.. :)

Hugs,
tammy

[pamelamama]

holli, she's adorable... eyes look great to me.

[gorzong]

Sooo, who has clothing (sewn or knitted) or soaker patterns for our 13" dolls? I am panicking realizing she will be naked. LOL

I came close to ordering her some clothes but was overwhelmed with guilt thinking if I make the doll, then we should make her clothes too. I think Daddy can make them though...perhaps? LOL

Holli

[mommomrebecca]

She's cute Holli! The hair is the very last step, but you can pin it on for now to see how cute she will look like Jesse did :bigups:

[botannie]

Thanks Susan! I'm loving everyone's too!

I don't really like my doll's faces. I think they look mean. Should I put the mouths lower? I really wanted them to have that sweet innocent look.

[gorzong]

Thanks for the nice comments on my doll, but I'm still not sure about her. :chin

I have been sticking her wig on her too already lol, but I really want to style her hair. It's taking all my willpower not to snip out the loops (and do it wrong) and style her hair...heck, I don't even style my own hair! What is this power this doll has over me?

I do think future dolls will be a lot easier, of course! Not sure I'll ever be one to make all the parts though...

Holli

[gorzong]

Annie, I don't think your dolls look mean at all! I think they have the sweet look goin' on!!

Holli

[Susan_WW]

Annie I don't think they look mean either! I think they look really innocent :love

[mommomrebecca]

They look sweet Annie! The smaller the mouth, the more innocent looking IMO. Maybe not innocent, but simple? They are so sweet how they are though!

[hunnybumm]

I got my supplies today and I can't wait to get started!!! My DH left for his deployment today so I really needed a pick-me-up, and this helped. However, DS really liked the box that all the parts came in, LOL. It had the big bubble wrap on the inside. I had to hide all the doll parts in my yarn containers so he couldn't get to them.

I ordered 3 doll kits, so hopefully I can find the time to do all three at once. I will definitly be doing mouths, eyes and noses. Dolls with out them just kinda freak me out. ;)

Oh, and I hope we keep doing more of these in the future because we plan to have more children and I wouldn't want anyone to be left out of our 'doll family'.

Thanks so much for all your hard work in putting all these wigs, doll parts, etc together! You rock!

[pmcgary]

I found doll needles......WHoooo hooooo....guess what I am going to be doing????

I got a really nice pack of needles...Dritz starter set for under $3.....

And all the needles are labeled with what they are for......

I probably should look through my embroidery thread- I will need to pick out eye and lip color since I didn't buy those from REbecca.....

[indiegirl]

Where do we get a pattern for the clothes for this dolls? I found one on the *other* Waldorf doll-makers website, but I would rather use our own mamas, kwim? Rebecca? Point the way?

Jesse

[hunnybumm]

Yes yes yes, has anyone started any kinda of pattern for cloths? So far I have made a pair of pants for a (off brand) Cabage Patch kid doll, but I can't even imagine making a shirt or shoes or any of that itty bitty stuff. ;)

Off to start my dolls!

[mommomrebecca]

What kind of clothes do you guys want? We have our own patterns available for pants, simple dresses, simple shirts, and we sell tights, which are quite popular with the little girls. Why don't you knit stuff after the dolls are done? I make crocheted/knitted outfits for Eleanor's dolls and occasionally people order custom clothes too, like Wool overalls, sweaters and skirts. I don't use patterns, just measure, and they are very cute! If you are making a 16 inch doll, newborn/preemie clothes work with minimal adjustments. I can take some pictures sometime this week, maybe Wednesday, to give you some ideas. :photo

[mommomrebecca]

Another super easy thing to do is cut wool felt into clothes, it is inexpensive, doesn't unravel, and looks very nice. Just hand stitch it together, and add a little simple embroidery. Works especially well for shoes/sandals.

[botannie]

I'm making little hula outfits for my dolls. Its really easy to make the skirts, takes about 5 minutes. I think I'll make some dresses and stuff too - I used to make doll clothes all the time when I was a kid, its really easy :)

[radish]

Sooo, who has clothing (sewn or knitted) or soaker patterns for our 13" dolls? I am panicking realizing she will be naked. LOL

Holli - I am anxious to make clothing too - well, excited to make long knit pants or an apron top :)
By did I screw up the eyes too - too close, one higher than the other, mixed up the yarn, pulled some threads too tight, and so on---but I am happy with them now. Mouth was easy :)

http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL779/2872416/5938292/90985374.jpg

Small nose:
http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL779/2872416/5938292/90985401.jpg

[mommomrebecca]

Regina, Stinkin cute dolly!

Annie, wanna share your patterns?? Yours are probably way cuter than ours, we despise sewing doll clothes!!

[botannie]

Regina - so cute!!!!

Sure Rebecca, I suppose I couold draw them up and scan them in? Then people could just print them and cut them out?

Here are what the dresses look like via my most recent doll creations - (the dolls are sad, don't laugh at them. I didn't have a pattern)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/botannie/00442.jpg

If anyone wants to make a hula outfit, let me know and I'll send you out the stuff :)

My grams used to crochet tons of little vintage dresses. I bet she still has the old patterns somewhere. I'll ask her.

[gorzong]

I told Liam I wanted little shorts or longies for her but he's still a novice knitter soooo... where is Pam's Wondershorts or Perfection Pants for dolls? ROFL

I really love the simple velour outfits that Joy has for her 10-inch dolls. If only they were 13", I would have bought that pattern already. LOL I sense a casual flair to this doll...

Liam can follow any knitting pattern or even a sewing pattern, but not quite ready for improv.

I am hopeless and unless she is going to be wearing a paper outfit, I am counting on Liam for the clothing.

Holli

[Susan_WW]

Regina, I love :love your dolly's head!! She looks so cute :)

[mommomrebecca]

The toddler doll ranges in size between 11 and 13 inches, so a 10 inch doll pattern might work, if you enlarged it in a copy machine a tiny bit. If you are looking for a casual pants and shirt, I can definitely share our pattern with you, made specifically for this doll.

Annie, I am totally intertested in your hula outfit! Anything that takes only 5 minutes sounds good to me. Also in vintage crochet patterns if your Grams still has some. :) I love those dresses you made too.

[radish]

Annie,
Sad!?? theyre beautiful!

[RufusBeans]

I haven't een started on my dolly yet :teary I had a really busy week and was out of town for the weekend

so go ahead, whip me with a wet noodle :getu :teary

[pmcgary]

I haven't een started on my dolly yet :crying I had a really busy week and was out of town for the weekend

so go ahead, whip me with a wet noodle :getu

Well you will have to stand behind me for that whipping. I haven't started mine yet. My big effort for the day was finding the needles!

[gorzong]

The toddler doll ranges in size between 11 and 13 inches, so a 10 inch doll pattern might work, if you enlarged it in a copy machine a tiny bit. Not that I would suggest to anyone to give Joy business, after the **** she has been putting over on me, lol! If you are looking for a casual pants and shirt, I can definitely share our pattern with you, made specifically for this doll.


Uh oh.. I think I walked into something blindly. LOL I didn't know there were ill feelings. I thought all was warm and fuzzy in waldorf doll land. LOL I just assume since soaker mamas all play well together.

Well, now that I have removed my foot, I'd love your patterns if you're willing to sell them, Rebecca! LOL

Holli

[mommomrebecca]

Haha! No problem, Holli! I'm pm' ing you.

[pmcgary]

Okay who the heck is this Joy chick (I know what the "conflict" is but don't know Joy and probably don't want to at this point.)

I am going to ask my mother if she has any "baby doll" patterns from when I was little....

I have a Cabbage patch kids book of knitting patterns...I wonder if I could adapt those too..

[hunnybumm]

I finished my heads except for the mouths, I need to get some red thread for those. Our web page isn't working so I uploaded them to Yahoo:

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/hunnybumm/album?.dir=/1fee

Of course I had to try the hair on them and I just had to laugh to myself. DH looks like he has a mini fro, a big change from his short military hair cut. DS looks like a girl with his long curly locks. And I look like.... well like I really need a hair cut. LOL

I can't believe the work that went into the wigs not to mention all the little parts, and putting them together with the needles and the thread. And after doing three heads I really admire you for doing this on a regular basis, and I am only assembling the dolls, I didn't even make any of the parts! You are truely amazing.

I am absolutly happy with the way my dolls look so far. The eyes all came out pretty good, the noses had a few little 'flaws' but no one but me would ever notice.

DS already loves them as well. He kissed each one as I finished it. He was also fascinated with the hair, he kept trying to steal it while I was taking pictures! I can't wait for these to be finished, I think he will love them!

[mommomrebecca]

Gena,
You do know that you will be cutting the hair, right?! The dolls will look much better after the loops are cut and the hair is styled!

Didn't I send you mouth floss?

[mommomrebecca]

I have a Cabbage patch kids book of knitting patterns...I wonder if I could adapt those too..


Yes, you can use cabbage patch patterns for the 16 " doll, you just might have to take them in a tiny bit, as the CP dolls are a little chunkier.

[botannie]

Yes, do tell, who is this Joy and why is she after you.

That doesn't sound very Joyful to me.

[indiegirl]

so, ah...when's the next lesson gonna be posted?

Jesse

[hunnybumm]

No I didn't get any mouth floss, but I did get two flesh colored flosses. It isn't a big deal at all I can stop by the craft store and pick up some red. :)

Yeah, I know the wigs will be cut, but I am just laughing at the unfinished product. All that foofy hair. LOL Especially since I am not a big hair type of person! And well, DH is military so he is like a hair nazi "You need to cut DSs hair! It's took long! No hair for you!" The wigs are lovely, I can't even imagine trying to crochet one myself, I knit a hat with some foofy yarn and it was a PITA. ;)

[hunnybumm]

Quick question! I haven't ordered my wool batting yet :getu I have the ladys number to order it so I just called and didn't get an answer. Then I started thinking, maybe she is on the west coast and is still in bed, oophs! What time zone is she in? Does she happen to have a web site to make ordering easier?

I want to do the gnome KAL too but need the batting for him too. ;)

[mommomrebecca]

Jesse, sorry, my camera is at my sister's house (with all the stuff) and I'm not going over there until Wednesday, so I'll post it then :butterfly I had no idea you guys were going to be so fast!! I'll try and post the rest of everything on Wednesday for you speedy doll makers.

[gorzong]

It's Wednesday. ;)

:lurk

[pmcgary]

Don't hurry on my account....
I still haven't started.....

[mommomrebecca]

STUFF YOUR DOLLY!!

Flip all your body pieces except for the feet. Take an arm and fold it halfway down like so:

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Mar30/MVC-010F.JPG

It will be the same way for the legs, makes it easier. Roll a ball of wool.

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Mar30/MVC-011F.JPG

Stuff the hand so it is pretty full, and then take a smaller piece of wool and stuff it in the thumb.

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Mar30/MVC-012F.JPG

Cut a strip of wool a little wider than the length left in the arm and roll it tightly, until it is a bit fatter than the arm looks. If there are lumpy spots, you'll want to wrap a smooth piece around, and when you get to the end sort of rip and stretch the wool so it doesn't end abruptly.

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Mar30/MVC-013F.JPG

Put the rolled wool into the arm and stretch the fabric up.

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Mar30/MVC-014F.JPG

For the body, roll more loosely a little bigger than you think it should be.

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Mar30/MVC-015F.JPG

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Mar30/MVC-017F.JPG

For the feet (brown foot in pic) separate the fabric.

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Mar30/MVC-018F.JPG

Cut a little X and flip it right side out.

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Mar30/MVC-019F.JPG

Roll up a tight ball like for the hand and put it in the foot

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Mar30/MVC-021F.JPG

That's about it. I have a teething baby so I can't post the stitching pics now, maybe tomorrow :bigups:

[RufusBeans]

Don't hurry on my account....
I still haven't started.....

yeah mine neither :LOL

[hunnybumm]

I still need to order wool batting! Does anyone know if your run of the mill craft store would have it? We only have a Michaels. Guess I can check tonight when I go to get some floss for the mouth.

Oh, does it need to be wool batting? Would cotton work? Or is wool a better feel? I don't want to down grade because I can get something local, I would rather order for the good stuff if need be. ;)

[pmcgary]

I think JOAnn's may have wool but it may depend on the store..I remember seeing it there once a few years ago...when I didn't need it.

[hunnybumm]

Well Michael's didn't have it and we don't have any other craft store in town. I just need to remember to call and order some! I keep forgetting to do it. And the one time I did call there was no answer, but it was 10am my time (Eastern) so it could have been early her time. I am going to try and call at noon or 1 my time tomorrow.

[mommomrebecca]

You probably won't find wool batting locally. Don't use cotton, it has a cheaper feel and wool dolls warm to the touch, much nicer. :thumb

[gorzong]

I'm sorry if I'm rushing you along, Rebecca! I just am so excited to do this. I've also run out of other things to keep my mind off the adoption.

I had a question..should the body parts be as hard as the head? I am trying to keep my rolling tight but it's difficult! I was so proud and finally had all my parts stuffed and not too lumpy looking but then I compared them to the head and not nearly as tight!

Holli

[mommomrebecca]

No, the body parts won't be nearly as firm as the head! They should be fairly firm though. :inlove:

[mommomrebecca]

Quick question! I haven't ordered my wool batting yet :getu I have the ladys number to order it so I just called and didn't get an answer. Then I started thinking, maybe she is on the west coast and is still in bed, oophs! What time zone is she in? Does she happen to have a web site to make ordering easier?

I want to do the gnome KAL too but need the batting for him too. ;)


Gena,
She's somewhere on the East coast, no website. Stop playing online and call her right now!!! :getu

[pmcgary]

Wouldn't it have been faster for her to get it from you REbecca?

[mommomrebecca]

Yes, just more expensive because she would have to pay for shipping to me and then to her for 2 pounds of wool snow

I'm probably not going to post the stitching until the weekend. I'm not feeling well and don't want to travel into town. The good news is that I'll post everything to have a finished dolly :balloon I'm also going to figure out how to scan a pattern in for clothes.


ETA: PamM, have you started yet?

[RufusBeans]

I'm probably not going to post the stitching until the weekend. I'm not feeling well and don't want to travel into town. The good news is that I'll post everything to have a finished dolly :balloon I'm also going to figure out how to scan a pattern in for clothes.


ETA: PamM, have you started yet?


good I'll try to catch up, er start, before then

hope you feel better rebecca!

[hunnybumm]

OK OK I called! There was no answer so I left a message. Hopefully she will call me back soon. :)

[martha]

um, just a quick question.
Does anyone else have a LOT of wool left over after stuffing? Should I stuff more? Are we supposed to use all of the wool?

[mommomrebecca]

um, just a quick question.
Does anyone else have a LOT of wool left over after stuffing? Should I stuff more? Are we supposed to use all of the wool?


The limbs should all be fairly firm, because they will soften up and settle a bit. I included more than enough wool so you wouldn't run short, and so you could choose smooth parts so your doll isn't lumpy. :bigups: Now, you are making yours with Marnie, right? Because I sent the wool for two dolls to her, are both the dolls stuffed with tons left??


Just in case anyone is wondering, I will be posting the stitching today :superb

[pmcgary]

ETA: PamM, have you started yet?


!

Um <sheepish grin> no....

Been busy as the city yard police cited me for trash/junk in my yard.....(We live in a communist state where you can't have a scrap of paper on your lawn.) And I thought we would be in better shape b/c there is no homeowners assoc. rules......(Well, at least we can leave lawn clippings in the yard)....

Of course the citation isn't specific enough for me to just pick up whatever was bugging them...so I have been walking the yard over and over and over...

[martha]

you are making yours with Marnie, right? Because I sent the wool for two dolls to her, are both the dolls stuffed with tons left??


Yeah, Marnie and I are making our dolls together right now. We've stuffed both dolls quite firmly and have about half the wool left. :bigups:

[Susan_WW]

Rebecca, I hope you're feeling better! :hug

I still haven't stuffed my dolly yet :bag

[mommomrebecca]

Ugh, actually I'm really sick. I thought I probably had pneumonia, but it turned out I have a nasty case of mastitis. It sucks and I'm in so much pain I just feel like running away whenever my little leach gets that look in his eye. :snow Poor me. I do have the stitching pics ready, but I'm just too tired right now so I'll put them up when Levi wakes me up at the crack of dawn. About 6:30. :photo

[botannie]

So sorry R. THats the worst. I had a case of it this week too. Take your time with the photos. Now, off to bed with you with a big glass of water!

[botannie]

umm...I just clicked the pictures in your siggie, and a really scary site came up! what was that?!

[hunnybumm]

Yeah, the links of Elenor and Levi are pretty scary. No not the kids! It looks like someone hacked your site.

[mommomrebecca]

Ugh, that would be Uncle Mark's sick sense of humor. He's been messing with our family website and disturbing all my links and sending me bandwidth warnings. I think bandwidth is driving him insane.

[mommomrebecca]

STITCHING YOUR DOLL TOGETHER...

Cut out some wool from the middle of body and trim the wool around the edges.

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Apr3/MVC-001F.JPG

Center the head into the body. Using skin colored floss, tie a knot on one end and stick your largest needle through the neck back to front. Pull needle through right in the middle.

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Apr3/MVC-002F.JPG

Make a stitch like this, picking up a tiny amount of wool underneath.

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Apr3/MVC-003F.JPG

And stick the needle through the neck to the back center. Do an identical stitch in the back

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Apr3/MVC-004F.JPG

And stick needle through to the front and a little to the side, and continue with these stitches front and back and front, etc...making sure you pull gently tight and tuck the fabric in leaving the neck nice and smooth.

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Apr3/MVC-006F.JPG

When you get to the end of the neck, continue the stitches along the shoulder seam with a smaller needle.

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Apr3/MVC-008F.JPG

When you pull it tight, it should look like this. If it doesn't, stop, because it needs to.

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Apr3/MVC-009F.JPG

Go to the end of that shoulder and knot off. Rethread your biggest needle and start again from the near center and go the other way, down the other shoulder and knot off.

Trim the wool from an arm and position it however you want. (Straight out with thumb up, pointing down a little with thumb forward) and stitch it on with same hidden stitch as the shoulder seam.

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Apr3/MVC-012F.JPG

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Apr3/MVC-013F.JPG

Attatch the legs the same way, and then the feet.

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Apr3/MVC-014F.JPG

http://www.whereswaldorf.com/new/Apr3/MVC-015F.JPG

And you're almost done!!

[mommomrebecca]

double post :getu

[hunnybumm]

I wish my wool would hurry up and get here! The mailman already stopped by today, so maybe tomorrow. She said it should be here on Tuesday, but I can hope it might actually be on time, right? ;)

[mommomrebecca]

Tammy, did you get some boucle for a cap? Do you want me to take some pics of a regular (with loops) wig-in-progress? It won't be a problem, I have 23 more to finish by the 27th. :ohno Hey, that just so happens to be my baby's first b-day :inlove:

Come on people, cheer me up with some works-in-progress pics!!

[marnie]

ok, here are some photos of the dolls Martha and I are making. sadly, the close up of Martha's doll (affectionately called Pogo) didn't turn out well at all.

Here are the bits as we patiently (kind of) waited for info on how to stitch them together:

http://marnie.makeko.com/images/dolls/bits.jpg

and here's my doll's head with her wig not really attached but popped on for fun. We call her Chaka Kahn. Though the little 80s 'do she has in this photo prompted us to call her LaToya for a while.

http://marnie.makeko.com/images/dolls/chakawig.jpg

Finally, here's a baldy Chaka all sewed up. Man, this was HARD for a non-sewer, but i'm so stinking proud of myself and my club-footed little Chaka.

http://marnie.makeko.com/images/dolls/chakabody.jpg

ok, now that I've cheered you up with our beautiful babies.... must. have. wig. instructions.

[marnie]

oh, and yeah, i added a belly button. maya's all about "a botteen" so i went for it, instructions be damned!

[gorzong]

Oh yours are looking so cute!!

My doll has a body so far. Let's just say that Liam is going to be looking for a pattern for a little knitted turtleneck for her. LOL Poor thing needs her Frankensteinian (is that a word?!) neck covered up...

I'll attempt appendages tomorrow...

(Rebecca, hope you're feeling better!!)

Holli

[marnie]

i'm thinking Chaka needs a poncho. i think as far off to the left as her head is, a turtleneck will look pretty goofy!

[mommomrebecca]

:lmdo O.K., that's hilarious!

I'll try and take pics for the wigs tomorrow, but who the heck knows, no promises. You can stitch it on however you want if you *need* to. Pin it on all around the edges and use the floss to stitch it down. THEN cut the loops and trim and style. :superb

[indiegirl]

http://pic14.picturetrail.com/VOL524/626785/5518009/92054732.jpghttp://pic14.picturetrail.com/VOL524/626785/5518009/92054722.jpg

This was hard at first--I had to redo it a couple of times. When I finally got it I was so excited! I showed my husband, "Hey honey, look at this cool stitch I learned how to do. Isn't that neat?!" He is a great guy and tried to get all excited but I could tell it was lost on him.

I added a belly button and a butt crack.

~J

[cozystitches]

Tammy, did you get some boucle for a cap? Do you want me to take some pics of a regular (with loops) wig-in-progress? It won't be a problem, I have 23 more to finish by the 27th. :ohno Hey, that just so happens to be my baby's first b-day :inlove:

Come on people, cheer me up with some works-in-progress pics!!

No I haven't gotten any boucle..so a pic w/reg hair w/loops would be great. I'm sick right now (and swammped on other projects) so the doll is still sitting..bodyless...

Hugs,
tammy

[indiegirl]

:ohno

no one likes my butt?

:snow

[radish]

oh rebecca hope you're feeling better!

sorry i am so behind, i need to stuff and sew my doll.

great pix mamas!!!

[radish]

i LOVE your butt!!!

[marnie]

hey, i posted an "i love love LOVE your butt crack, Jesse, please please PLEASE tell me how you did it so I can copy you" post but i don't see it. grr.
in fact i was checking this thread now in hopes that you'd posted instructions.

[marnie]

oh, and jesse, another thing i asked in my post that isn't was how did you do your mouth? i love the mona lisa kinda smile but still only one line. mine isn't as shy smiley as yours and i LOVE the way yours came out.

[martha]

I ADORE your butt crack and really want to know how to do it.

I'll post pictures of Pogo as soon as a figure out where I packed the camera.

[gorzong]

Okay, she has arms now, but I think I did them wrong. :ohno

I have them so the seams are going in the same direction as the body. The pictures looked like you were showing both ways, Rebecca so I couldn't tell. So, after I did it, I went and looked at one of my nice Waldorf dolls and I realized that the seams were perpendicular to each other. *sigh*

But, she looks like she is ready to give someone a big huge hug so she'll have to do. One leg has a foot, but not the other one, and I haven't attached the legs yet. I can't decide where to place them...

My doll definitely has some cellulite on her legs, the poor thing. She is also not nearly as packed with stuffing (as I discovered comparing her to my nice Waldorf doll).

See, this is why I do not do crafts that have a "right" way to do things. I am a nit-picking perfectionist! But, I hope Mari will love her anyway. :)

Paper is much more forgiving; there is no right way! lol

Holli

[gorzong]

Jesse, your butt made me giggle! That is too cute.

I think mine will be sans button or butt though... don't want to risk having her look like she had an appendectomy or worse!

Holli

[indiegirl]

I'm glad you all like my butt. It's a nice butt, isn't it?

Basically, the butt is a big-ass smile turned on it's side. Start at the base of the butt crack and go into the body just a tad (like 1/4 an inch), and come out. Then go up about an inch or so, more than you think you need to, and poke down into the body again, toward the first poke into the body. Pull taught and tie off. You should have a nice butt then.

nak

As for my smile, I'm not sure how mine is different. Maybe i pulled mine tighter? Maybe i went slightly up in one corner? beginner's luck, i tell you.

~j

[marnie]

is it a big-ass smile or a big ass-smile??

[mommomrebecca]

is it a big-ass smile or a big ass-smile??

:tsk

Oh, s***, I can't post what I want to right now because there is a spider by my computer and I am a big-ass wuss. Big ass-wuss?

[marnie]

i think that from now on when people bug me i'm gonna say "oh, you big ass-wuss."

[averymybaby]

:LOL why the hell didn't I read this thread earlier? :lol:

[botannie]

Big ass-wuss? wuss bigassumus?

:nut

[indiegirl]

must. clean. big. ass-wuss. off. computer.

[martha]

Marnie, did you give Chaka a big-ass ass-smile yet?

[mommomrebecca]

Okay, she has arms now, but I think I did them wrong. :ohno

I have them so the seams are going in the same direction as the body. The pictures looked like you were showing both ways, Rebecca so I couldn't tell. So, after I did it, I went and looked at one of my nice Waldorf dolls and I realized that the seams were perpendicular to each other. *sigh*

But, she looks like she is ready to give someone a big huge hug so she'll have to do. One leg has a foot, but not the other one, and I haven't attached the legs yet. I can't decide where to place them...

My doll definitely has some cellulite on her legs, the poor thing. She is also not nearly as packed with stuffing (as I discovered comparing her to my nice Waldorf doll).

See, this is why I do not do crafts that have a "right" way to do things. I am a nit-picking perfectionist! But, I hope Mari will love her anyway. :)

Paper is much more forgiving; there is no right way! lol

Holli


You can put the arms on however you like! We used to always do them like that, so they look like they're ready for a hug. Now, maybe half the time. And don't worry about the firmness, honestly, kids do not care and will love it just the same. Oh, and what are you talking about with paper being forgiving? Origami??

[gorzong]

Okay, I feel better!

Origami? LOL No, that has a right way to do things too so that's Liam. I make hand-made books, journals, and I'm really into photography, and I scrapbook, but not kids.. just our weird life.

Here's my body!

http://www.holliam.org/Doll/body.jpg

Holli

[marnie]

Chaka is still ass-smileless. soon.

[marnie]

not to be a big-ass pain in the big ass-pain, buy... hair?? Chaka's baldness is disturbing and maya's birthday is creeping up on me. what about *my* needs?

[mommomrebecca]

Just stitch it on, silly! Didn't you read my previous post? Just stitch around the crown in hair colored floss and all done! I will take some pics on Sunday, but really, you don't need them. :bigups:

[marnie]

promise? i'm afraid to ruin it now....

[mommomrebecca]

Promise!! It will be hidden in the hair, no one will ever see. Bigger dolls need stitches all over, but toddlers just around the crown.

[marnie]

oooh. ok.

[pmcgary]

Okay, I still have doll parts ...And just realized that for some reason I am not getting notice when people post....I am going to work on this I promise....My mom is coming to town so I might do it when she is her to provide a cheering section - to confirm I am doing it right...

[mommomrebecca]

Okay, I still have doll parts ...And just realized that for some reason I am not getting notice when people post....I am going to work on this I promise....My mom is coming to town so I might do it when she is her to provide a cheering section - to confirm I am doing it right...

Here's a cheering section for you
:cheer :cheer :cheer :cheer :cheer

[mommomrebecca]

Everyone needs to e-mail me a pic of your finished dolls when you finish because I'm making a doll class gallery on my website :superb

[RufusBeans]

:hide

[mommomrebecca]

:hide

I take it you haven't started yet, Hill?? :nono

Don't worry, when you do start you are going to be so surprised at how simple and fun it is. :hug

[indiegirl]

My dolls need clothes in a big way. I need a pattern or I'll have to buy one from you-know-who. Help!

Jesse

[marnie]

Jesse, in between finishing my last minute taxes (oops) and everything else i'm knitting a sundress for my doll based on a dress i made for maya's other doll. if it works out i can offer up the pattern for anyone who wants it.

[indiegirl]

Good on ya, girl. I'll wait.

Jesse

[mommomrebecca]

If you want to sew clothes, I'm happy to share the patterns we use. I was planning to mail out patterns to whoever wants them. Knitted clothes are WAY cooler though. And personal too.

[indiegirl]

*raising hand* me me me me

[indiegirl]

Rebecca, I don't know about anyone else, but I'd totally buy more kits for dolls if you offered them. I want to give them (finished dolls) as gifts. Do you sell doll kits like the ones you offered here? I don't remember seeing them. Anyway, I think you could do pretty well if you did--that and the doll clothes pattern!

I went to Joann's and looked for doll clothes and the patterns they offered didn't really fit the style and size.

Jesse

also: if I wanted to offer a doll-a-long IRL, how soon in advance should I contact you with numbers?

[mommomrebecca]

I'll make some photocopies over the weekend of patterns. I know Holli wanted a pants and shirt, and we have a super simple straight dress. Not incredibly cute or anything, just very simple.

And yes, we sell kits all the time now! We haven't updated our website in a long time, but hopefully will before the next mothering mag. comes out, since that is when we get a rush of traffic. If you make your own wig, I just need a couple days to put a kit together. (I have tons of yarn available I can wind some for you). But if you want me to make a wig, it *could* take a couple weeks or more, depending on what's going on in my life :)

[martha]

If you want to sew clothes, I'm happy to share the patterns we use. I was planning to mail out patterns to whoever wants them. Knitted clothes are WAY cooler though. And personal too.

I'm planning to knit Pogo some overalls, but I'd LOVE a pants and shirt pattern as well.
thank you thank you thank you.

[Susan_WW]

Please share your patterns :) Thank you! :mwah

[radish]

OK, I sewed my body parts but really screwed up the neck :(

And i cant figure outthe best way to secure lose ends of thread???

[gorzong]

I've been out of town in California on a business trip.. for the hair, what kind of stitch do we use? One like we did for the body parts or a straight stitch?

Holli

[marnie]

Chaka's eyes had to become green under all that black hair. the yellow eyes got lost. so i had to rip out the hair and redo the eyes, then the hair again. it was a PITA but i love her nonetheless.

i can't WAIT for the one on order from Rebecca comes so i can compare the work of a master to my own :)

ok, here we go:

http://marnie.makeko.com/images/dolls/chakasitting.jpg

the dress isn't quite what i was going for: it's a modified version of a swing top i was making for maya but the doll's proportions are not that of a real kid so the dress is reallllly wide and realllly short. oh well.

http://marnie.makeko.com/images/dolls/chakadress.jpg

and i made simple shorts to go underneath.

http://marnie.makeko.com/images/dolls/chakashorts.jpg

[radish]

I'm done!! Well, working on a dress right now.

Here is Lola:
(I saw Run Lola Run this week and remembered how much I loved her hair!!).

http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL779/2872416/5938292/93398352.jpg

[radish]

Marnie!! She is adorable! I am making a swing/apron top too but screwed up. :(
How did you do the shorts?

[indiegirl]

OMG so cute you guys! I have to get my baby dressed and make the other two!

Jesse

[gorzong]

Can someone please tell me how you attached the wigs? Stitch like on the body parts or a straight stitch?

Help!

Holli

[marnie]

regina, i LOVE Lola!

The shorts couldn't be easier. measure around the "waist" of the doll, check your gauge and go. My doll is 9.5 inches around, i made shorts that are 9" around. i did 5 rows of 1x1 ribbing, when i got to the "crotch" i just separated the stitches in half, and did 2 legs. i only did one row of stockinette and then 3 or seed stitch at the cuffs.

i love the shoulder length hair. maybe i should cut chaka's?

[marnie]

Holli, i don't know what you call any stitches but i didn't use the stitch we used for the body. i poked the needle UP through the hair, through the head, up through the hair (from under) and repeated. i have NO idea if this is correct, though.

[mommomrebecca]

LOVE Lola's hair, and LOVE Chaka's new eyes!! Gorgeous!
Holli, sorry I didn't respond to your Q! Just stitch it on over, under, over, under each thing of the wig, around the crown. Does that make ANY sense?! Ha! It really doesn't matter, stitch it however you feel comfortable. It will be hidden.

[mommomrebecca]

OK, I sewed my body parts but really screwed up the neck :(

And i cant figure outthe best way to secure lose ends of thread???

Where are your loose ends of thread?? If your neck is really bad, I can send you some scrap fabric tot me know secure around it?? It's so hard to describe, and I'm sure your neck is fine, but le :bigups:

[radish]

Okay, here is our doll family. :butterfly
MUST MAKE MORE DOLLS!!!!!!!!!!
http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL779/2872416/5938292/93497133.jpg

[marnie]

regina- i have doll family envy. i SO want those banana and carrot dolls....

[radish]

I love em! Really...DH, Zoe and I play dolls together :D (shhhh, dont tell DH).

So, Rebecca, when we will be able to buy more premade doll supplies...???

[marnie]

:nod

[mommomrebecca]

You can get supplies anytime after May 1st, LOL! We have this May Faire at the end of the month consuming every awake minute. We have blisters and callouses and bandaids on all our fingers. snow But about 45 or so dolls almost finished :bigups:

[gorzong]

Okay, I know I stitched the hair on wrong, but she'll live. I gave her bangs to cover up my obvious error. She looks darn cute in them, but I'm trying to train them to stay down. I wet them and have a scrunchy hair thingy around her head to train the bangs down. Any other tips?

I gave her hair a slight trim. I had considered making braids, but her hair is much too thick.

Rebecca, what kind of yarn was on my wig? It seems to be starting to felt into itself... she has some thick hair! lol

Oh, I LOVE everyone's dolls by the way. I have a bad habit of admiring them without telling you all how much I love them!

I'll post a pic of her naked self later today if I get her bangs trained.. her name is tentatively "Esperanza".

Holli

[mommomrebecca]

Oops, Holli! Bangs are done differently. They are stitched onto the head before the wig is sewn on. I was going to ask if anyone wanted to make bangs, but my Mommy brain hadn't gotten around to it. If you just cut some of the hair in front, they might never stay down, I don't know. You might have to tack them down with a few stitches at the root. The straight hair is just the same old mohair everyone else uses. It really shouldn't be felting onto itself. I don't get it! It is brushable too. (Gently). And I know it is thick, I always make the wigs thick because mohair sheds and loses it's poof after a while, and if you have a thin wig to start, your doll hair will look scrappy after a year or so of play. Oh, and I put hair into braids all the time, maybe try thicker braids??

Regina, I love your doll family together, but it looks like you do need to make a few more :brow

[gorzong]

LOL Oh well! This was just a learning experience for me. The bangs are actually looking kind of cute even if not perfect.

Hmm.. I tried gently combing the hair and didn't have much luck. Any tips for getting a good part in the back if I make braids still?

Holli

[mommomrebecca]

LOL Oh well! This was just a learning experience for me. The bangs are actually looking kind of cute even if not perfect.

Hmm.. I tried gently combing the hair and didn't have much luck. Any tips for getting a good part in the back if I make braids still?

Holli

Holli, I really have no idea what you are talking about!! Can you take a picture of the hair? Have you cut the loops? You should be able to just separate into a part no problem. Did your wig get put in the dryer, lol!?

[gorzong]

Give me some credit! ;) Yes, I cut the loops. No, I didn't put the wig in the dryer. LOL.

I seriously cannot easily separate the individual strands on this wig. I didn't rough-house with it or anything, honestly! LOL It's just been sitting in the bag it arrived in.

Holli

[mommomrebecca]

HAHA!! Well, I have to make sure!
I have never seen that. Does it feel crunchy or anything? I can make you a new one after may 1st. It really should separate and be lovely soft. Do you have a lot of humidity or something?? I can't think of a single reason it would be that way. :hmm

About patterns, ugh, I haven't had a chance. I'm really stretched to my max the rest of the month, but I will do my best to get copies of patterns made. So whoever wants them, let me know, but you may not get it until May. Let me know if you want the simple dress or the pants and shirt.

[gorzong]

LOL, oh my poor Esperanza. Yes, we have high humidity here in NC spring. That could explain it. She has the frizzies just like I do. :af <-- that's what our hair looks like but brown! LOL

It's cracking me up! No need for a new wig.. now I know I'm not losing my mind!

Holli

[mommomrebecca]

LOL! :lol: Hopefully it will settle down in the fall?? That's too funny. We don't have humidity to speak of in Oregon so I've never seen how mohair reacts to it!!

[indiegirl]

http://pic14.picturetrail.com/VOL524/626785/5518009/94783374.jpg

Ok, so I finished one baby but I am giving her away as a gift today so I'm going to need to buy another one. I totally made up the dress and I"ve never made doll clothes before, so it looks kinda funky, IMO. I think it'll go over well, though!

I'm sad to see her go but it's worth it.

Jesse

[pamelamama]

awwwww

[chloesmom]

Awwww, pretty!!!! Chloe saw her and said "BABY!"

[pmcgary]

I LOVE the nose....how'd you get that cute little look?
(yes I confess my doll STILL isn't started!)

[hunnybumm]

ACK! I need to work on mine as well. I have all the heads done and one body is stuffed. I still need to stuff the other two bodies and sew them all together... ok not ALL together, but each doll together. ;)

I would love the pattern for the simple dress and for the pants / shirt. Can I get it in both the big doll and the small doll size? Oh, and these patterns are knit right? Or are these the sewn ones? Once I get the patterns I will probably change them a bit to get some variation. Oh I can't wait to finish!

Oh! And everyones dolls look so cute! I love Chaka's (sp?) hair, I personally wouldn't cut it. But I am a sucker for long hair. ;)

[indiegirl]

I LOVE the nose....how'd you get that cute little look?
(yes I confess my doll STILL isn't started!)

I have NO idea. :inlove:

[mommomrebecca]

She's so cute Jesse! I'm sure she'll be loved wherever she's going :inlove:

[mommomrebecca]

Annie,
Can you give me your expert Hawaiian opinion?? Does this doll A) look authentically Hawaiian and B) Can her skirt pass as a hula skirt? Yes, it is tassle trim from the fabric store. :ohno

whereswaldorf.com/new/Hula2f.jpg

Can you c and p please, it's not posting for some reason
snow

[botannie]

Hard question Rebecca...It's a beautiful doll. I LOVE her. I wouldn't say its authentic, per say, but its definitely got the island flava. A hula girl would generally have leis on her head, and wrists and ankles.

It reminds me of Tahiti with the shell necklace and the pink flower. Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. Who and/or what is it for?

If you ever want Hawaiian stuff - fabric or whatnot, lmk and I'll send you some.

I also need to order another head from you. A bigger one, for a toddler baby doll.

[botannie]

Here's an ok pic of what a an authentic hula outfit would look like today. (Not the greatest pic, sorry) http://www.edithkanakaolefoundation.org/halau/gallery/pages/13.htm

Did I mention I really LOVE your doll. I think she needs to come and visit with her hawaii firends ;)[/url]

[mommomrebecca]

Thanks! That's what I was thinking, she needed a lei or 2 or 3. O.k., she'll be a Tahitian doll then!! We're going to start offering instock dolls, and we're trying to have a variety from around the world for the opening. I might take you up on that fabric offer soon. What size head do you need? We have bins filled with heads in all the standard sizes on our shelves, lol! They are a great conversation piece. :superb

[botannie]

Hmm, I'm not sure what size head I need. Probably the next size up from the 12".

Just lmk what you need. I can get all kinds of polynesian and asian fabrics and notions.

:)

[mommomrebecca]

Oh, gorgeous! Now I wanna make some leis!! I love those clothes too. So, I'm thinking the hawaiian skin should be a little darker, then? More of a caramel color?

[Susan_WW]

She is really pretty Rebecca :)

[radish]

She is really beautiful!

mmmmmmm, I need a doll too, maybe ill try a bigger doll too - is that 16"

[cozystitches]

We have bins filled with heads in all the standard sizes on our shelves, lol! They are a great conversation piece. :superb

You have heads...hrm..I think I may need a head..how much are said heads? :D

[botannie]

I was going to use raffia for the skirt for mine. And I've got some green and pink eyelash yarn to make the leis with. Would you like me to send you the extras?

What color skin did I order? That would work :)

[mommomrebecca]

Oooh, I'd love to play with your extras!

The Tahiti girl is a 14 inch, the next size up from the toddlers.

Can't finish post, baby getting into stuff...

[cozystitches]

Hey All,

Well, my doll is done, except for the hair...rebecca, can you help me with that? Please? :)
So..what do you guys think? Also, how in the WORLD am I supposed to put on the arms/legs? Are you supposed to see the stitching??? :hmm

http://cozystitches.com/cozystitch/FrontDiaper.jpg
http://cozystitches.com/cozystitch/BackDiaper.jpg
http://cozystitches.com/cozystitch/RDiaper.jpg
http://cozystitches.com/cozystitch/LDiaper.jpg

Also, any tips, etc would be great!

Hugs,
tammy

[pamelamama]

Tammy, isnt the arm/leg sewing info earlier in the thread?

[cozystitches]

Hey Pam,

I have a different doll that I'm using. It's one from a pattern that I got, not one of Rebecca's, even though Rebecca's sis did the sewing. ;)
I'll go back to the files and see if the answers are there...

Hugs,
tammy

[radish]

tammy
s/he is soo cute! no help here sorry :)

[cozystitches]

Ty :D it's a Boy dolly..or gonna be.. :D

[radish]

he totally looks like a little boy. where did you get the dolly dipe??

[cozystitches]

:moon I'm not telling neener, neener, neener


:yikes
























Just kidding... :D Got them here:

http://www.wonderfulwares.com/index_files/dollydiapers.html

She was having a sale (can't remember when) and I got 3 of them with free shipping. :D

Hugs,
tammy

[mommomrebecca]

The arms are attached. :hmm Maybe I don't understand, what stitching are you referring to?? Are you making a cap or short hair? I'll take a couple pics this weekend if you are doing short hair. :bigups: He's cute!! I also like his dipe :bigups:

[cozystitches]

The arms are attached. Â:hmm ÂMaybe I don't understand, what stitching are you referring to?? Are you making a cap or short hair? I'll take a couple pics this weekend if you are doing short hair. :bigups: He's cute!! I also like his dipe :bigups:

I was trying to do the doll jointed (as per my instruction sheet), and I *think* it states to sew from the outside of the arm all the way throught the body to the other arm, do 1/8" st, then go all the way back...

So I did that, and that's why he's got these funky "dimple" things on the upper arms and thighs.

So my question is...for a jointed doll....are you supposed to see that stitching? Or are you supposed to do it a different way? As you can tell I"m totally clueless..I think I'll stick with yarn, I know how that's supposed to act..

As for the hair..I only have mohair, so if you have instructions on how to make him the hair that'd be great! If I had boucle' I'd do a cap for him no prob...am still thinking of buying some..

You don't happen to have some boucle' laying around (in brownish color) that you'd like to sell/trade do you??

Hugs,
tammy

[marnie]

tammy, depending on how much you need, i have some alpaca boucle in brown - the dye lots don't match exactly and none of the remainders i have are big enough for me to make bears out of them.

[mommomrebecca]

Oh, I get it! Yes, button jointed arms just look like that, all dimpled. Some people put the buttons on the outside to give it , I don't know, a buttoned look or something. But we don't cuz it's a choking hazard. So they are dimpled. I do have lots of boucle if you would rather do a cap. The alpaca boucle from Marnie would be super cute though, very little boyish! :balloon

[cozystitches]

Hey Marnie,

I need enough for a boy cap...as long as it's a darker brown that sounds great to me!!! I think he's a 16" doll (roughly)... :D Do you want to trade or just PP? LMK! :D :D:D

Hey Rebecca,

Thank you! LOL! I thought I had done something wrong! I ended up not even using the buttons, as I kept trying to put the buttons and just sewing a little of the arms (not going all the way through). What is the purpouse of the buttons???

Thanks!!!

Hugs,
tammy

[marnie]

i bought a wig premade from rebecca. i have NO idea what "enough for a boy cap" means! can we talk ounces? yardage?

[cozystitches]

Um..sure...

Hey Rebecca...how many oz/yds do I need?? :lol:

Hugs,
tammy

[mommomrebecca]

I'm thinking 2 1/2 to 3 ounces, but that's with the boucle I normally use. I'm not sure about the Alpaca boucle, it's heavier, but also chunkier. So maybe about the same??

[cozystitches]

so, how thick is this yarn? Is it like a worsted? Or? Will it work ok? I'll be crocheting a cap...

Marnie...how much ya got? How much do you want for it? Or do you want to trade? LMK, I need to finish this doll, very soon (like this month).. :D

Hugs,
tammy

[marnie]

i'll go through what i have to find 3 matching ounces...

[KaliD]

Oh Wow !! :photo

Fantastic job everyone! :bigups:

I hadn't seen this, totally missed the doll-along *sniff, sniff* but everyones dolls look so great! They look so good, makes me want to jump on the bandwagon, LOL!

~Angela

[mommomrebecca]

Tammy--I do not recommend doing the arms without buttons!! That will put a lot of wear and tear on the fabric which will run and rip. The buttons provide a sturdy joint. The arms won't hold their shape at the shoulder as well either.

:two

[cozystitches]

:faint Please don't tell me that! I've already sewn them on w/o the buttons... :faint

So...this doll is for a 2yo BOY's b-day..should I rip out the arms/legs and redo?? :faint


<sob>

[marnie]

Tammy, i don't have that much!

[cozystitches]

Yikes! Ok, thank you for looking Marnie! :D I'll figure out something :)

Hugs,
tammy

[mommomrebecca]

I have lots of boucle in dark brown (I think) unless that's one I have on backorder. I'll check. I would rip them out, but that's just me, LOL!! You could just offer to repair it if need be at a later date. It really depends on how rough the child is with the doll, and how anal you want to be about details...

[cozystitches]

I have lots of boucle in dark brown (I think) unless that's one I have on backorder. I'll check. I would rip them out, but that's just me, LOL!! You could just offer to repair it if need be at a later date. It really depends on how rough the child is with the doll, and how anal you want to be about details...

:faint Well...the child that the doll is intended for lives 2hrs away..so I'm not really sure how rough he'd be..but tbh, I think I'll skip the ripping out...

As for hair..yes please...how much and are you willing to trade?? :D

hugs,
tammy