Come in to my doll workshop. Here I'll show you how I make handmade cloth dolls. First I have a rummage through my collection of fabrics and haberdashery and choose materials for the doll and her clothing.
I design the doll on paper and cut out the patterns from the fabric according to the size and shape of the doll.
I use a sewing machine to sew the body pieces and for some of the clothing. Everything after this step is hand sewn.
I use a surgical tool and turners to reverse all the sewn pieces and stuff firmly with safety standard stuffing. I then hand sew all the seams closed.
I sew on a "skin" of stretch cotton fabric to the face, and soft needle sculpt the nose and any other features.
With this doll hand embroidery is used for the eyes and lips.
There are 8 to 12 separate body parts for each doll.
I assemble and sew all parts together using buttons on the joints, these joints allow for movement. Sew on the hands to the arms and the arms to the body. And of course the head.
She is starting to look like a doll now. Time to get dressed and make any other remaining clothing, embellishments and jewelry.
Now its her crowning glory and she needs hair, which is needle felted and sewn on, then cut and styled.
Voila! She is now finished and I now have to quality control the seams and joints ensuring they are strong and secure. Then it's time to admire and gift wrap her, waiting to be loved by you.
