Basic 3 inch doll tutorial, the way I have done them

This is how I personally have made small fabric dolls. I iron a light weight fusible interfacing onto the fabric that will be the head/face. That way, any embroidered items will not have thread ends that show through the back side of the fabric to the front. I sew two rectangles together, right sides facing each other. 

 Iron the seam so that it faces down towards the colored fabric

 Fold the fabric in half, right sides together. Make sure the seam is lined up. Place the template so that the neck is right at the seam.

Draw the outline. I use ball point pen. Embroider facial features. Fold right sides back together and stitch on the outline leaving an opening at the bottom. Leave a long thread end to use for sewing the seam shut after stuffing.

 Cut about 1/4 inch outside the stitching line. Leave a larger seam allowance at the bottom to be turned to the inside to help prevent raveled edges from stuffing.

 Carefully make little snips around the curves so that there will be no puckering when turned right side out.

 Turn right side out

Get the seams all shaped correctly and iron. I turn under the lower edge and iron that also. I find that gives me a nice little line to stitch it closed. I sometimes put "fray check" along the lower raw edge before stuffing if it is a small seam, it will want to fray. 

Then lightly stuff, hand stitch the raw edge closed. Embellish with trims, beads, lace, sequins, felt, yarn, charms, etc...

thinking about spring

Here is my entry into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Get Krafty. The challenge was to use kraft cardstock. 

The kraft cardstock is glued onto a green cardstock. I used my scanner to get this picture and it looks like there is a white card underneath but there isn't. I used a little Fiskers flower punch for the flowers. The edges of the cardstock are cut with Fiskars paper edger scissors. The butterfly is a Hero Arts wood mount stamp called "Artists Butterfly". I used my Copic markers BG78, B04, B01, B28, B24 and B06 to color him in then "fussy cut" him out. The think spring words are from a Studio 112 dollar stamp set.

just for fun

I colored this little guy in with Copic Sketch markers a while ago just for fun. It's a Hero Arts clear stamp.

fluffy gift

My other entry in the Simon Says Stamp Monday love notes challenge is a  small "note card" size valentine. This was made with an older Inkadinkado clear stamp called "Gift from Kitty", that I was fortunate enough to find on Etsy. It was packaged as a birthday set but I turned it into a valentine with a valentine sentiment on the inside and ribbon down the inside edge. 

Hey pumpkin

Card for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Anything goes. www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/challenge-anyt... Its my first time entering a card challenge. It's January so of course I'm thinking about halloween. I just got the Simon Says Stamp "Hey Pumpkin" stamp set a few days ago. I used Tim Holtz frayed burlap distress ink on the edges and pearlescent watercolors to color the kitty and pumpkin. Stars are punched from a fishers punch.

dusting off the blog

I haven't blogged in a while (years) but just got the urge again...

Some recent projects of mine....

I made this cute little Pup from this pattern:
Craft Project Little Pup at Woman's Day

I made this purse from Little Betty Bag tutorial

I used a chain for the strap (not shown in the photo)

I made this bracelet as a gift

And...my major project last fall was the Modern Craft Table from ana-white.com Modern Craft Table

These are photos of it just after completion before it was loaded with tons of crafty goodness. This table took me a big long time to make (think months). I really had no experience building something like this. I'd built an aquarium stand but this was quite different. I'd never used a circular saw or bought real quality lumber before for example so each step took me a long time. I really like the finished item but if I were to do it again I would somehow make it shorter. It's pretty tall. I bought a wooden swivel barstool from Khol's for it. Again, very tall.

I also busied myself last year making fabric wallets, faux cloissone pendants, purses, beaded bracelets, coasters, hair bows, and polymer clay items some of which are for sale at my etsy store nightowltoo.etsy.com

And...I also did two craft shows (neither of which were too successful)

My first craft show set up

My second craft show set up

Good stuff huh?

sewing more animals

I made this elephant Dec-Jan '10. I used felt for the body with cotton fabric for the insides of the ears. The pattern is from Simplicity 2921. 

I also made this lion from a pattern from funky friends factory There are a lot of really cute animal sewing patterns available for sale at that site.

more sewing

I made this cute little kitty

from a pattern from this site http://mylittlemochi.typepad.com. I think it turned out pretty cute.

I also made Simplicity pattern 2701 as a Christmas present for my mom.

It fits me perfectly (it fits mom too). I may make another one for myself someday. I like the details on it like the pleated pockets, collar and pleat in the back.

sewing projects

I've been sewing quite a bit since last fall. I'm finally getting around to catching the blog up on all of my recent projects. Last winter I made this red fleece jacket. Pattern: Simplicity 4032 view C size 8. I was pleased with how well it turned out but it is snug. I should have made a larger size.

                         

I also made two pairs of pajamas. First the blue plaid ones from McCall's 4833 view D. 

Then the bright reindeer ones. The top is also McCall's 4833 view D and the bottoms are Simplicity 5877 view D.

Somewhere around that time I also made this robe. Pattern Simplicity 3696 view F.

Then came a vest. McCall's 2270 view C.

A bear. Simplicity 5461 view A.

A lined jacket. Kwik Sew 3085.

Another vest.

 This one more fitted. Simplicity 2633 in denim.

 A summer top made in June. Simplicity 4176, view B, size

10 in linen. I embroidered the design with my embroidery machine

And then at the end of June I made this bag for the fourth of July. It's Simplicity 3822 view A. I used a peanuts character print fabric. Instead of using a fleece interfacing I used a stiff fusable interfacing so it holds it's shape pretty well. The bottom layers got to thick to sew though and I had to improvise.

Finished Titania

Pattern: Titania by Elizabeth Klett from A Mingled Yarn
Yarn: 4 skeins Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Candy Apple
Needles: US 4
Started: September 2, 2008
Finished: March 2009
Very pretty sweater and a very well written pattern. Didn't really take 6 months to knit, as I set it aside for several months. I made this one for my mom. I had given her several patterns to pick from and she chose this one. We are both pleased with the way it turned out.

Heartland Lace Shawl

I did manage to finish my Heartland Lace Shawl back in August.
Pattern is by Evelyn A. Clark
Yarn: 3 skeins of Knit Picks Gloss in Cocoa
Needles: US 6, / 4mm
Started May 26, 2008
Finished August 24, 2008

sewing

I've taken a break from knitting for the past few months. I've been sewing instead. I made this bag back towards the end of summer.
It's from Butterick See and Sew pattern B5172. I used stiff fusable interfacing so the bag holds it's shape well. It has two outer pockets on each side and one pocket on the inside. One of the outer pockets has a snap flap. The upper inside edge is done in the butterfly fabric and the lower inside lining is the black fabric used for the outer upper cuff. I'm really happy with how it turned out. It inspired me to do more sewing projects.

I also made this little outfit for a lawn goose. I embroidered the apple design with my embroidery machine.

Gypsy Mesh Pullover finished

It's done. I like the finished sweater. It fits well and looks good. I worked on it in bursts with long periods of setting it aside. I love how pretty the yarn is but I didn’t like knitting with it. I don’t know how many times my needle just slid right out from the stitches because the yarn has no stretch or grab at all. And I had to pay close attention to avoid splitting the yarn. I didn’t knit a gauge swatch. I just guessed on needle size and lengths and got really lucky.





Pattern: Gypsy Mesh Pullover by Norah Gaughan
from Interweave Knits , Sping 2004
Yarn: Reynolds Gypsy, colorway willow gold
needles: US size 6
blocked (5/12/08)
final ends woven in on 5/23/08

first sock done

One done...

One to go.

Sock knitting

I've never knitted socks before and thought I never would. I always thought why spend so much time knitting something at such a small gauge that's going to be worn on your feet where most people wouldn't see them and that will wear out pretty quickly (if you actually wear them). Well....the pretty Knit Picks felici yarn got to me and so here I am, knitting my first sock. And yes, it is slow going. But it's pretty simple knitting. It's a nice and easy, portable knit project. And I like knitting them for that reason. I can work on them on car rides, which is something I personally can't really do with straight needles. I'm using the Provence colorway and size 1 (2.25 mm) toothpicks, I mean double pointed needles. The needles are ones I bought with the yarn. It's the 6" nickel plated double pointed sock needle set from Knit Picks. I really like them.

I also started a cable pullover. I worked on it pretty steadily then set it aside to knit the socks. It's a pattern from an old 2002 issue of Knit It! magazine knitted in Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick. I'm knitting it in the round instead of flat. It's so stiff an bulky that I'm not too enthused about it. I couldn't bring my self to take a photo. I'm to the point where I've divided the front and backs for the armholes.

And...I knitted this little bird using the free pattern from Berroco. The beak doesn't seem quite right. I think he would look better in blue with a yellow beak as a blue bird like in the pattern. The red yarn is Paton's Classic Merino.

Seaman's Scarf

I finished this scarf last week
It's the Seaman's Scarf pattern free from KnitPicks. I used two skeins of Paton's Shetland Chunky yarn and size 10 needles. I added several repeats of the cable due to my gauge being smaller than what the pattern called for (and I like the look of the cable). The two halves are knit separately and then joined at the center with a kitchener stitch. Overall it was a pretty quick and easy knit.

My vogue cable cardigan is slowly progressing. It's basically finished except for sewing the side seams, the button loops and buttons. I also have a little more done on the gypsy mesh pullover. Here is a progress shot

Christmas knits revealed

I have a couple of Christmas gift knits I can now reveal.This is the third felted bag I've made based on the booga bag pattern. I used size 11 needles. I did the bottom 34 rows with Patons SWS in natural berry double stranded, then knitted 56 rounds of the body single stranded with Patons SWS in natural plum. I added a flap then did 3 rounds of edging in natural berry. The cord was done on my icord maker with the SWS in berry. (knitted 12/2/07 - 12/4/07) The button is only decorative. There is a snap underneath
This one is a scarf version of the clapotis.
Yarn: 1.5 skeins Patons Decor in secret garden
Needles: size 7, 10" straight
Started 12/11/07, finished 12/18/07
I did 2 repeats section 2 (plus 6 rows), 15 repeats of section 3, and 3 repeats of section 4.