I’ve been making dolls for several years now and I want to share that process with others. My latest products in my Etsy store are two doll making kits.
Most of what I have learned about making felt dolls has been self-taught. A process of trial and quite a few errors. I start every new doll I make by designing my own hand drawn pattern pieces. I have a library of past patterns which I borrow from and adapt to make new designs.
After I have the pattern in place I will begin the process of making the doll. I do a few textile and cotton dolls but on the whole I make felt dolls. Felt is beautifully easy to work with. It doesn’t fray and you don’t need to leave seam allowances. In my opinion, felt is a perfect fabric to work with.
It was a year ago that I started the idea of developing doll making kits so other people could have a go at making dolls like mine. I finally released the first two kits in November. I have two more in the planning which I hope to have ready this spring.
So here they are – the Candy Cane Girls and the Parisienne Belles:
Candy Cane Girls
The Candy Cane girls are two cute and colourful little felt dolls. In this doll making kit you get full colour step-by-step instructions, full size pattern pieces and all the felt, threads and stuffing you need to make both these dolls. These dolls are really easy to sew and make a great kit for someone new to doll making. Everything in this pattern is made using felt. You can do the whole thing with just one simple ‘running’ stitch. Unless you feel brave enough to tackle a bit of blanket stitch around the dress.
Parisienne Belles
The Parisienne Belles are glamorous, long-haired beauties dressed in lace and soft, draping fabrics. Like the Candy Cane girls the doll making kit comes with everything you need to make two dolls, including all the instructions and patterns. These dolls are really unique. Each kit is put together by hand (my hand!) and no two are identical. In each you will find the flesh coloured felt to make the basic dolls. The wool for the hair, the dress fabric and lace for the collars are all individually selected. So even though the kits look the same on the outside, each doll will be unique – you will be able to make something that no one else has. These dolls are a tiny bit more complex to make as you are working with different types of fabric and there is more sewing involved here than with the Candy Cane girls.
So there they are – my first two doll making kits! They have been doing really well since they were launched. As well as being available in my Etsy store they are on sale at the Manor House and Ashbury hotels in Devon.
My next step is to make downloadable patterns available for people who don’t want a full kit. After that it is on to the next two designs: a superhero themed pair and a cute but creepy gothic style doll couple.