Raven cloth dolls

I was cleaning my computer desktop the other day and ran across a pdf from Interweave about making art dolls. It’s a compilation of past articles in Cloth Paper Scissors magazine. Here is a link to the download.

I have no idea how long I’ve had this pdf, but it’s been awhile. After printing out the file, I decided I wanted to make these fancy crow cloth dolls by Kelli Perkins. I call them ravens because my friend Amy likes ravens, and I wanted to make her something she liked! While I was at it, I made Barbara one too!

Kelli’s tutorial, which appeared in the Cloth Paper Scissors November/December 2007 issue, included a pattern for the dolls and suggestions on how to finish them.

The hardest part of making the doll was deciding which fabric and embellishments I wanted to use. Using the pattern, I cut out two black bird shapes using a piece of wool from a thrift shop sweater. I gathered my other stuff, and then auditioned them on the front of the bird black cutout. Once I was happy with the design, I glued down the pieces with just a dab of glue.

Next I sewed down these pieces, continuing to add embellishments.

Using my Posca pens I colored the eye.

Before adding the bird back, I added the button and stitched the beak. Then I added the hair using Sobo craft and fabric glue to keep the fibers in place until I sewed them down.

 

Then I sewed around the whole bird leaving an area open to stuff.

Then I stuffed and sewed up the opening. And here he is!

 

I sewed another one, using the sewing machine on the front to secure the fabric and also to add some extra stitches. Instead of machine sewing the front and back together, I hand sewed it.

These were so much fun to make. I can’t wait to see what Amy and Barbara thinks about their new buddies.

Now to decide what I’m going to sew next. Humm. Hope you’ve had a great week and are looking forward to the weekend.