This project makes a lovely
addition to your holiday decorations, and is a good project to practice
your fabric draping skills. The doll head used is Mary Catherine,
legs are Ayanna Mold 103, and arms are by Paulette Stinson, Mold
#A-1. All of these molds can be purchased from House
of Caron. |
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Assemble doll using the above
mentioned parts. Use chenille stems and hot glue to form wire
armature. If you need more information on assembling a miniature
doll, please refer to my tutorial, Assembling a
Miniature Doll..
Bent legs are used, to provide kneeling
position. |
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Body wrapped with cotton and ready
to costume. No, your eyes are not tricking you, this is a
different head and parts. Forgot to take a picture of the doll we
are making at this point, so had to make up another sample!!! |
To Garment Pattern
This is a VERY basic gown. Use the link above to print out the
pattern, then cut out of fabric on folds as indicated. |
I used cotton batiste,
and dyed a medium shade of blue. I then diulted my dye mixture by
1/2 and dyed additional fabric for headpiece and drape. By using
different strengths of the same dye color, your colors are always sure
to blend nicely.Fold gown right sides together at shoulders, and glue
side/underarm edges. Turn to right side, and glue under narrow hem
along bottom edge, and at edges of sleeves.
I used gold metallic thread to sew a chain
stitch edging along the sleeves.
Then sew two rows of gathering stitches around
neckline edge as indicated on pattern piece. Leave ends of threads
2" in length to use in gathering neckline.
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Turn under neckline edge along top
row of gathering stitches and finger press.
Place garment on doll, with top edge of
neckline folded under. Pull up both rows of gathering stitches,
drawing up the garment around neckline to desired size and shape.
Distribute fullness evenly. Tie off gathering threads. Run a
small bead of tacky glue under edge of fabric, and press into place.
I applied a length of gold thread over the
second row of gathering stitches for an accent, and to cover gathering
stitches. |
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Using contrasting fabric, glue a
tight tube of fabric around arm from wrist to just above
elbow. |
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Cut a piece of contrast fabric 1
1/2" wide by 8" wide. Glue under narrow hems on all
edges. Find center of the fabric, and place on dolls shoulder,
pinching in folds in fabric and pin.
Bring fabric across chest and to waist at
opposite side. Again, adjust folds, and pin into place. Mist
this piece of fabric with hairspray.
Use a piece of cording, or braided gold thread
and tie around waist, adjusting fullness in gown evenly around waist. |
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Apply long flowing hair to your
doll. |
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Cut a rectangle of contrast fabric
3" x 6" in length. Fray check all edges. Along one
long edge, turn under 1/2". This will be your front
edge. Place over dolls head, placing center of folded edge at top
front of head. and saturate with hair spray. Grasp with your
hand, and shape into folds around dolls head. Be brave, crush and
scrunch, until the fabric falls in realistic folds. |

 
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Saturate the lower portion of the
gown with hair spray. Arrange folds around the dolls knees with
fabric flowing naturally onto the ground. You can pin the fabric
into place to hold till spray dries, although I found that by spraying,
scrunching and respraying until I had the desired effect, that no
pinning was necessary. Allow fabric to dry completely. |
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Larrell built me a simple manger
using 1/4" square wood pieces. The form is basically two X's
on the ends, with slats in between to form the sides of the manger.
I filled the manger with straw from
the florist department of our craft store, adding a layer at a time and
attaching with spray adhesive between layers.
Baby Jesus is represented by Baby J,
from a Doreen Sinnett mold. |
I hope
you have enjoyed this project. May you and yours have a blessed
Christmas and best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year.
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you for visiting my site,
and taking an interest in my online tutorials.
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these lessons have been designed
to help you learn the basics of miniature doll making.
Please visit this site and refer to these tutorials
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