Friday, January 4, 2013

An attempt at dollmaking

A few weeks ago I got the itch to make something.  This happens to me a lot.  Sometimes I get the urge to make something specific, sometimes I want to use a certain material, sometimes I just want to make something for a certain person, and sometimes it's all of the above.
 
I wanted to make handmade Christmas gifts for my best friend's children, so I had to come up with what I could make for two boys (ages 8 and 6) and two girls (ages 4 and almost 2).  The idea for the boys ended up being easier than I thought- marshmallow shooters!  Seriously, if you have kids (boys or girls) aged 5 and up, they'll love 'em!  Check out Pinterest.  There are tutorials everywhere!
 
As for the girls, I knew I wanted to make something girly that both would like, and something I could do some hand sewing on.  That was the itch I needed to scratch.  I wanted to stitch by hand.
 
The thought of making a couple of dolls for them made me so happy!  I browsed the Internet until I decided on the look I liked, then made up some paper patterns.  This took a little trial and error, then I had fun choosing fabrics. 
 
This little gal was my first attempt.  And yes, I made her with red hair and blue eyes on purpose.  :)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Since this was my first doll, I hadn't gotten the assembly really figured out.  I stuffed the head and limbs, stuffed the dress, then pinned everything in place and hand stitched them closed.  I didn't mind that, but I didn't like how floppy this made her head. 
 
A friend of mine asked if I'd be willing to make her two little girls a pair of dollies, so when I started on those I changed my approach.  This time the assembly took more thought and there was far less hand stitching.  I struggled quite a bit on a few parts and realized that my pattern pieces weren't quite working this time (i.e. adding pig tails made it almost impossible to turn the head right side out through that skinny neck!)  Ugh.
 
They did turn out pretty cute, though. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
These two gals are the ones I ended up sending to my best buddy's girlies (as a surprise).  Again, LOTS of struggles on these.  I think I made the redheaded doll twice and she still didn't turn out quite right.  Oh well.
 
 
 
Clearly I'm new to this.  The dolls are all a bit wonky, and I still haven't worked out the kinks in my pattern pieces, but the particular itch I had has been sufficiently scratched.  And now both of my sweet friends' sweet girls have little look-alike dollies made by me.  That sure makes me happy!




8 comments:

Unknown said...

These are awesome Sarah!

Jake & Lisa Danes said...

I love the dolls! You are always so thoughtful!!! Thanks again!

Camile said...

How cute are those?! LOVE THEM!!! I wish I knew how to sew (or had an ounce of your creativity)!

Unknown said...

Take it from a veteran dollmaker- your little gals are adorable! Well done!

Andrew and Lindsay Timko said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Andrew and Lindsay Timko said...

The dolls are so cute! Can you tell me what the pattern is or where you got it? I'd really appreciate it!

Unknown said...

The dolls are all a chunk wonky, and that i nevertheless have not worked out the kinks in my pattern pieces, but the precise itch I had has been sufficiently scratched. And now both of my candy friends' sweet women have little look-alike dollies. those gals are the ones i ended up sending to my high-quality pal's girlies (as a surprise). I'm working at Out of Home advertising in Pune once more, masses of struggles on those. I assume I made the redheaded doll two times and she nonetheless failed to turn out quite proper.

Dreams Explanation said...

nice post thanks for update