process- part 2

Posted on by

Once the doll is stuffed, most of the rest is hand stitching. Breasts sewed on with a ladder stitch.

The face is sketched on with water-soluble marker.

Figure out what kind of hair-do she needs and then draw up a pattern. I always draw a pattern because if I love how it comes out, I want to remember how I did it!

Pin the hair in place and stuff.

Sew.

Stitch the face.

Hah- That makes it sound so easy! I often cut the embroidered faces off several times before I am satisfied.

Stuff the arms and stitch the fingers.

Arm to shoulder.

Hmm. She needs a belt. Pull out a variety of trims and hope I have the exact right color.

A strip of vintage cotton bias tape-

A length of vintage cotton rick rack.

And a button.

Spritz all the blue lines, let her dry and she is done!

Thanks for all the comments so far- I’m glad everyone is enjoying seeing how I put these together. Tomorrow I hope to take her “beauty” shots. It was too wet outside today for a photo shoot.

process

Posted on by

I have a plan to put together a process book or slideshow so that when someone asks me- Why are these dolls so expensive? – I can show them. I’ve been trying to remember to take photos as I am working on some new projects. Here is what I’ve got so far.

Making a tattooed doll.

The project starts in two places. The fabric-

I am always on the lookout for appropriate fabric. It needs to be the right scale, the right color design,and  images that I like. I buy mostly on Ebay and Etsy. Besides the toile, I need plain fabric for the head and hands and fabric for the clothing.

Next, I over-dye all the fabrics. Every pot comes out slightly different! One challenge is to get some of the plain fabric to match some of the toile.

And the design is the other starting place. I have an idea in my head and I need to get it out on paper.

From the paper, I make muslin models. Tweaking is almost always needed.

When I get a design that I am satisfied with, I trace out various parts of the original to make the pattern pieces. The pieces for this one are- head, upper torso, shirt, breasts, pants, boots, arms, hands. Later I will figure out the hair.

I trace the pattern pieces onto the fabrics.

Sew everything up and when I turn the doll right-side-out, it is so exciting to see how she looks!

Next, stuffing. And then all the details. First, the breasts.

That is what I’ve got so far. Now back to work!

Night Friend Owl Pattern!

Posted on by

Hurray! It is now available in the shop!

I am busy listing all the owls and will hopefully be done by the end of the afternoon today.

Thanks for all your help with the names. I had so much fun reading all the suggestions. I don’t want something too specific or gendered since I think that can ruin the fun for whoever makes or gets the owl in the end. I think this is a nice compromise.

and the last one for now.

Posted on by

It was fun to spend yesterday actually sewing. I have been spending too much time at the computer, working on the pattern, editing photos, all the rest of that biz stuff. I am hoping all the editing will be done by tomorrow. I want to get on to some new things!

And even more!

Posted on by

Owls that is.

Blue-gray owl-

And an Orange and brown owl-

And this is the other star of the pattern- the snowy owl-

I have one more that I am finishing up right now. When I was cleaning up my table in anticipation of having company, I found another owl body, already sewn up. I figured I might as well finish it!

I am hoping to have to edits done and the pattern ready for sale by mid-week. I will list all of these birdies on Etsy on the same day.

things are moving forward!

Posted on by

On the cleaning up of the workspace-

Hello Floor! I haven’t seen you in a LONG time! I needed to get the clean-up done to make room for other people in the studio.

Kerry came over to help me with the pattern and she took some amazing photos.

The pattern is now basically done. I printed out the second draft before dinner tonight and then spent an hour or so after dinner trying to figure out how to make a small enough pdf to email to my proofreader/testers. I DID IT! Honestly, I was so amazed at my success, I felt like running outside and yelling!  I will spend the next few days posting all the owls, starting now. Here is the star of my pattern-

Tomorrow I am starting with a new intern. It was suppose to be today, but another Nor’easter came through and gifted us with another 12+ inches of snow, so we declared a snowday. Ah well, I needed to finish the pattern anyway.

stitches

Posted on by

does anyone know what the official names are of these stitches?

This one is sort of a back stitch but looks like a running stitch. Unlike a running stitch, it doesn’t pull out. I think of it as a locking back stitch.

And what about this one? I think of it as an overcast stitch but not sure if that is right. I couldn’t find anything in all the embroidery books I have. And I have a lot.

It is for my pattern. I want to use the correct terms if I can figure out what they are!

today’s desk

Posted on by

the owls are piling up as I work on the pattern.

And, we got another 8 inches of snow this morning. I’m glad I don’t need to commute anywhere.

btw- I am trying to figure out a good name for my owl pattern- all suggestions will be considered! And, if I use your idea in any way, I will send you a free pattern when it is done.

bird baby 2011

Posted on by

I told you I’d be back to these!

I have several that I’d started back in November and I had to put them aside. Slowly I am hoping to finish them.

Mostly though, I am working on the owl pattern. Have I mentioned how hard it is for me? Whine, whine, whine!! When the pattern is finished I will have a big pile (family?) of finished owls. That’s a good thing anyway.

Now I need to go back to my book about how to use Photoshop and my other book about how to use InDesign. Maybe I’d remember how to do this stuff if I did it more often, ya think?