for soon-to-be one year old Parker ...
and would appreciate suggestions on what to use for stuffing (no pellets please).
In getting started I kinda liked the look of this doll on Pinterest ...
except for the hair, the clothing, and the face. Which I changed, along with the length of the arms and the size of the feet. In any case, I couldn't follow the directions since the tutorial was in Italian ... so, suffice it to say your input would be appreciated.
Meantime, Don was cruising around Pinterest, too ...
For inspiration that led to this ...
A few close-ups ...
And now I'm thinking he's got that junk store cigar mold in his sights ...
We do have fun ...
Fun...priceless!
ReplyDeleteI used cotton fabric scraps in a crochet doll. because I didn't want fiber bits leaking out. Otherwise I would try a cotton fill, if they make one. Washable, for sure.
But I would try scraps first, just because it's something we already have. Thin strips, small bits, will make it easier to stuff into small parts.
Wow! Cool stuff going on here! Don's work is amazing!!! I have a piece of beach wood (not really drift) and two steamer basket pieces put aside to make a ??? Angel?
ReplyDeleteAS for the doll...more ???'s Sorry no suggestions here. But I look forward to seeing it when it is done.
love Don's kachina, have never made a rag doll but that looks like a good start, the Pale Rook put up a tutorial about making hands last year here's the link-
ReplyDeletehttps://thepalerook.com/2017/08/03/how-i-make-hands/
LA - amazing where the motivations and inspirations come from. I do love those cigar moulds. B
ReplyDeleteHi Liz sadly I have nothing to offer except for cheering from the sidelines! I love where the wee doll is going and think Don't piece is beautiful - what fun you do have!
ReplyDeletedryer lint, thread nest leftovers. I keep them in a basket.
ReplyDeleteVicky - The sound you just heard was me doing a head slap ... what was I thinking when I discarded all those too-small-to-stitch cloth shreds a month or so ago? Sigh ... lesson learned: save everything.
ReplyDeleteNancy - I'm Don's biggest fan ... lucky me to be surrounded by his creations!
Mo - Wow ... thanks yet again for the lead. I will look forward to exploring the Pale Rook (and have added it to the Kindred Spirits).
Barry - We found the cigar mold a few years back when we were at the Outer Banks (part of a large haul that required buying a new suitcase to get everything back home ... and resulted in a letter left by the TSA saying they searched the bag ... ha!) The pieces have been sitting on the hearth ever since, waiting for the right inspiration. The time is near.
Fiona - Cheers are always welcome ... I strongly suspect this is the first of a series. I will learn as I go and hopefully the dolls will grow along with their intended mistress.
And Jude ... dryer lint? Hmmmm, I'll have to ask my daughters to save me some as I air dry all my laundry. But as young moms, they have tons!!
ReplyDeleteAnn Wood has some cute patterns: http://www.annwoodhandmade.com/product-category/make-something/ I haven't tried the doll yet but I made the little cat.
ReplyDeletelooking forward to watching you do this...i can follow
ReplyDeleteyour lead in time
and the kachina is just Fine..
Sweet, your doll for Parker and stunning, Don's Kachina Making a lovey for Parker has to be such a good feeling. Her photo with Don is such a heart melt, what a cutie. I've never made dolls but my Mom made two little dolls for our girls when they were little and she stuffed them with bits of cloth scraps and cotton balls. They were lumpy but so cuddly but I don't know how practical it would be to use cotton balls?
ReplyDeleteBeth - I was tempted ... and have actually purchased Ann Wood’s sailing ship patterns (not that I’ve gotten around to making any ... but oh, hey! Maybe that’s what I can do with all the tea bags I’ve been accumulating!!)
ReplyDeleteGrace - I’ve definitely learned a thing or two along the way, but I’m thinking you can teach me far more than the other way around
Marti - Thanks for the suggestion ... cotton is on my trial list. Your point is well-taken that perfection isn’t necessarily the goal ... they’re known as rag dolls for a reason!
I use poly-batting and fabric scraps. Do you have a super long doll maker's needle? They can be useful for stitching from, say, arm hole to other arm hole (rather than finishing the left side then the right side). Good for stitching facial features, too. It can be easier to create the face off-body, btw.
ReplyDeletePS you cracked me up saying 'you liked this doll, except for her face, her outfit, and he hair!
Dee - Thanks for the needle tip (ha) ... as you might imagine, the community has been a great help in this and future endeavors (all to be documented in a post now that this one is done).
ReplyDeleteIn the end I changed everything on the pattern except the head and hand shapes. Pretty much how I go with recipes ...