This is another one of those projects I’ve been wanting to make for quite awhile – cloth dolls.
What a great way to use up some of my fabric stash!
I came upon a video from Barb Owen and it was time for me to play! Barb reminds me of Carole Duvall. Do you remember Carole? She could do anything craft related. I absolutely loved her, her books, and her TV show. I believe Barb has stepped into her shoes. Here is the link to that video where she shows how to make these dolls and includes a pattern. If you want to dig even deeper into making art dolls, Barb has a new online class here.
Here is the process:
After printing out her pattern, (I printed it out on heavier paper so I could use it multiple times) trace around it on a piece of your fabric with disappearing ink pen. This will be the front of your doll.
Set that cutout piece on top of the wrong side of the fabric that will be the back of your doll, and just loosely cut around it.
Now to the machine – or you could hand sew – and sew these two pieces of fabric together, about 1/8 inch from the edge of the top piece. Be sure and leave an opening to stuff the doll.
Below you can see where I left the hole to stuff.
Now cut the back fabric even with your front piece.
Now stuff. She recommends using a hemostat. This is a slow process – great while watching TV.
Now he’s all stuffed. Sew up the opening and you’re done.
And the whole crew again.
Barb also gives directions in her video for faces. I’m not sure whether my dolls will ever get faces. For now I will just imagine how they are feeling.
I do want to make more of these. However, I have some other projects I want to work on right now. Have a good week.
Thanks! I really like these… may have to sew some up to stuff when I’m sitting at the gallery or in front of the telly. I’m thinking I would like to come up with some fun embellishments, and I don’t know if faces are even needed. The dolls are cute without them!
What a great photo tutorial, Lynda! They look fantastic and like you had a lot of fun creative them. Thanks for letting me know about your post. I’m very honored to be compared with Carol Duvall. I loved her show!
Barb Owen recently posted..LIVE! Doodling on Rocks
Barb, Thanks! And thanks for dropping by.
Judy, Thanks. I’m so glad you are getting back into making some muse dolls.