Lottie

Hi Doll makers, it's time to get ready for the next doll class - Gail Wilson's Lottie. Lottie was featured in the Austrailian magazine Homespun, and the pattern or kit is available on Gail's website. Just click on the title of the post and it will take you to Gail's website. Look in the new items for Lottie.  The class starts on Oct 7th at Attic Window Quilt Shop on Alpine at 6 Mile if you are interested.  See the last post for more details.

OK - I looked high and low for the camera cord, so that I could take pictures of Lottie, but the husband put it away....and who knows where. He's in an airplane right now, so I'll have to update the Lottie pictures later and for now, I will use pictures from another class. So sorry about this, I know you like to see the real doll in process so you know what it will look like in class.  Most of these pictures are from the Kate Greenaway class we had earlier in the year.

  First up  in making the class sample doll is to laminate the patterns and sew the body. Remember to use the tiny 18-22 stitches per inch. The reason this is important is so that the stitches won't pop when you stuff the doll.  Lots and lots of wool roving will go into the head. The first time I made a Gail doll, I remember thinking "no way is this much wool going into this little head". But yes, it is doable. You're going for a really hard head (like raw potato hard).  The body is not quite as hard (think baked potato hard). Tiny stitches will help keep the seams intact.

After sewing the body and limbs, use a stuffing fork to stuff the doll. Be careful not to push the fork thru the fabric, but if that happens, all is not lost. There are ways to mend boo-boos. And in the doll world, we just call those boo-boo's "instant antiquing".  Sometimes it's the things like mistakes that make a hand made doll so charming.

Roving is by far the best stuffing as it is resiliant and wants to expand outward.  Also, any doll fashioned after the dolls of years ago wants to be hefty. Wool roving adds that heavy feeling, and won't squish around like the synthetic stuffings.

Fingers are lightly stuffed and needle sculpted with YLI hand quilting thread. Elbows are added with seams centered.  Knees can also be added if you want your doll to sit.  If your dolls says she wants to stand, leave off the knee stitching.

This is a picture of the completed body from another doll similar to Lottie, except that Lottie doesn't have ears and neck darts.

 

Most dolls get a coat of gesso and skin paint. The parts pictured are from the Kate Greenaway series, hanging to dry after gesso. After the parts are all sewn and stuffed, Lottie's limbs will get an overdye wash  but not painted like these are. 

Overdye is a technique to make a new doll look like she has been hanging around for a hundred years.

Most of Lottie is stuffed, and hopefully on Friday morning, she will get her coat of overdye and will be hanging to dry.  She'll look weird until she gets her face, sort of like a faceless corpse.....

Next Class - Gail Wilson's Lottie

Hi all,  Here's the skinny on the next doll class at Attic Window Quilt Shop:
The featured doll is Gail Wilson's Lottie (click on this post's title and it will take you to Gail's website - new items. Page down a bit to see Lottie).  The pattern is $18 and the class fee is $50.00. Lottie was featured in the Austrailian magazine HOMESPUN and is a cloth doll with a needle stitched face and a mohair wig. She is about 10" tall. 

Class starts Oct 7, and continues on Oct 21, 28, and Nov 4.  Class time is from 10am to 3pm - ish.  We usually break for lunch and run over to Subway to pick up a sandwich or pizza. Please bring your basic sewing items and sewing machine to the first class.   If you decide last minute you would like to take this class, it's ok to just show up, pay for class, and we can order your doll pattern then and there.  You won't have your pattern for the first class but can use the laminated class patterns.  All you need for the first class is your sewing machine and basic sewing supplies. I'll get you a tool kit made up  in time for the second class - you won't need it until the second class.

We are discussing what to do for the rest of the year on Thursdays - if we want to meet every Thursday or not, so if you have a preference - come and let us know so we can get your desires counted.  Also, if you would like to come and work on another doll, you may come to a doll class without signing up ahead of time and treat it as a bee ($5.00 daily bee fee applies).  If you need me to help you thru a process, please email me ahead of time and let me know what you need.

The first class in the new year will be Gail's cloth fashion doll - yup - the one folks ask me about all the time. She is a larger doll, more lady like in her shape, 12" tall and has a bonnet and fabric covered hatbox.

A word to the wise:  Christmas is coming!  Just about 100 days and it will be here!!!!

Guess who's back?

Well, the old kitty in the new house scenario didn't go over real well so Meeko my sewing groupie is back. It seems she didn't get along real well with the two doggies living there.  One was BIG and the other Tiny.  She spent the majority of her life under the bed. 

 So - her owner decided she should come back here to live. She has been enjoying her old digs and especially getting to go in and out as she pleases.  She was right in there watching me paint Charlotte's tinted gesso, but thankfully wasn't interested in brushing up into the wet paint as Charlotte's parts dried on the pasta rack on the cutting table.  This week I'm hoping to finish her up - especially since the class kicks off on Thursday!  YIKES. Good thing her clothing is finished...all that is left is her face details and then I can put her together.  She should make it just in time for class. Have some doll fun today - Julie

Needlework Doll face

Hi every one, today is a snowy day - a great reason to stay in and make dolls. I'll continue with making the sample doll for the next class I'll be teaching at Attic Window Quilt Shop; Gail Wilson's Needlework doll. For more information about the pattern and kit for this doll, please vistit Gail's website and scroll down to the needlework doll - she is right under the pincushion doll.  
http://www.gailwilsondesigns.com/catalog/new_items.html

So far, I have sewn the body parts, stuffed them, painted on the skin color, stockings and shoes and have applied the face details with colored pencils. There are special instructions in the pattern/kit for how to make the pencils look like paint. Colored pencils are so easy to create a doll face with, so if face painting is holding you back from trying your hand at doll making, try either this doll or Gail's feedsack dolls. Pencil faces are super quick too.  I must remark on how this doll was very easy to sew and stuff.

Here she is waiting for the fixative to dry before the sealer gets applied.

The pencil faces look just as nice as the painted ones do - here is a comparison. The doll on the left has painted (also antiqued, so a bit darker) and the doll on the right is in pencil before antiquing. That poor small Columbian doll on the left is still waiting for clothing.....it's been several years.

While things dry, I work on the clothing. Here is her apron, pocket and emery strawberry  finished and hanging out on the pincushion doll until the doll us finished.

Now, on to the wig.  Have some doll fun today - Julie

Needlework Doll

Today I started making the sample doll for the next class: Gail Wilson's Needlework doll. She is a 10" cloth doll with a mohair wig and netting or crochet snood. Her face is easily accomplished with colored pencils. The pattern for this doll is $18.00 and you can get your clothing materials at Attic Window the day of the class. You can view more information about this doll on Gail's Website in the New Items section. Click on the title above and it will take you to Gail's site and then page down to the needlework doll.

If you are interested in the class, please sign up by Jan 10th and let me know on the sign up sheet if you need me to get you a pattern and mohair or the full kit that is available for $42.

The dates of the classes are Jan 21 & 28 and Feb 4 & 18.

Emma and Charlotte will be offered Feb 25th, March 4, 18 & 25. Emma is an oil painted doll and Charlotte is her black companion, also painted with oils. We use Alkyd oils, which dry overnight. Please visit the link below for more information about Emma and Charlotte.


http://www.gailwilsondesigns.com/all_page_content/historic_primitive2_ins.html