! ! ! Paper Dolls ! ! !
I don't have any paper dolls on my site right now,
but if you want to stitch some out from someone
else's design, this should be helpful.
but if you want to stitch some out from someone
else's design, this should be helpful.
Stitching the Doll:
You start by hooping a good quality cutawayaway stabilizer. It MUST be cutaway. Since you want you dolls to be nice and stiff, float (lay on top)either Timtex or Peltex on top of the hooped stabilizer. You float this layer because it is much too thick and stiff to hoop.
Next is the fun part...it's time to sew the design! The last two colors are usually the finishing stitches. Typically this is an outline stitch followed by a satin stitch. When it is time to stitch the outline stitch, you will put your backing under the hoop. I like to use felt for this step. Float the felt under the hoop, making sure that it completely covers the design area. If you want to, you can remove the hoop before the satin stitch and trim the felt close to the stitching. I don't usually do this, but it's a personal choice.
After the design is finished stitching, using a sharp pair of scissors, cut around the doll as close as you can to the stitches, without actually cutting them. If you do happen to cut them, don't worry, that's what Fray Check is for! If you trimmed the felt before stitching the final satin stitches, you only need to tear away the stabilizer.
How about that...the doll is finished!
Stitching the Doll Clothes:
Again, hoop a good quality cutaway stabilizer (same as for the doll.)I like to float a piece of felt on the stabilizer since it gives a nice finish to the clothes. Remember that children like bright colors, interesting textures, and sparkle, so it's fun to use those specialty threads that you have stashed away...variegated, metallic, etc. Have fun and play!
Using good sharp scissors, cut out the clothes the same as you did on the doll.
Finish the Clothes:
I don't remember where I heard this tip, but it's so good that I want to pass it along to you:
Take a large piece of freezer paper (or wax paper, but it doesn't work nearly as well) and arrange the clothes front side down on the freezer paper leaving some room between each of them. Cover everything with a pressing cloth and then iron them to the paper using a medium-hot dry iron. This holds them in place so it's much easier to finish.
You can skip the following step, but I find that it really helps, so it's worth taking the time. Spread a thin layer of Elmer's white glue over the back of each outfit. It is very important to let it dry completely before continuing, and this can take up to two hours depending on humidity. After you're sure they're dry, put dots of Tack It Over & Over on several places on the back of the clothes, but NOT the doll. You want to concentrate on the edges and ends of sleeves and pants so the clothes will stay on and not flop around.
That's it!!! Wasn't that fun? Now get stitching and have fun!
You start by hooping a good quality cutawayaway stabilizer. It MUST be cutaway. Since you want you dolls to be nice and stiff, float (lay on top)either Timtex or Peltex on top of the hooped stabilizer. You float this layer because it is much too thick and stiff to hoop.
Next is the fun part...it's time to sew the design! The last two colors are usually the finishing stitches. Typically this is an outline stitch followed by a satin stitch. When it is time to stitch the outline stitch, you will put your backing under the hoop. I like to use felt for this step. Float the felt under the hoop, making sure that it completely covers the design area. If you want to, you can remove the hoop before the satin stitch and trim the felt close to the stitching. I don't usually do this, but it's a personal choice.
After the design is finished stitching, using a sharp pair of scissors, cut around the doll as close as you can to the stitches, without actually cutting them. If you do happen to cut them, don't worry, that's what Fray Check is for! If you trimmed the felt before stitching the final satin stitches, you only need to tear away the stabilizer.
How about that...the doll is finished!
Stitching the Doll Clothes:
Again, hoop a good quality cutaway stabilizer (same as for the doll.)I like to float a piece of felt on the stabilizer since it gives a nice finish to the clothes. Remember that children like bright colors, interesting textures, and sparkle, so it's fun to use those specialty threads that you have stashed away...variegated, metallic, etc. Have fun and play!
Using good sharp scissors, cut out the clothes the same as you did on the doll.
Finish the Clothes:
I don't remember where I heard this tip, but it's so good that I want to pass it along to you:
Take a large piece of freezer paper (or wax paper, but it doesn't work nearly as well) and arrange the clothes front side down on the freezer paper leaving some room between each of them. Cover everything with a pressing cloth and then iron them to the paper using a medium-hot dry iron. This holds them in place so it's much easier to finish.
You can skip the following step, but I find that it really helps, so it's worth taking the time. Spread a thin layer of Elmer's white glue over the back of each outfit. It is very important to let it dry completely before continuing, and this can take up to two hours depending on humidity. After you're sure they're dry, put dots of Tack It Over & Over on several places on the back of the clothes, but NOT the doll. You want to concentrate on the edges and ends of sleeves and pants so the clothes will stay on and not flop around.
That's it!!! Wasn't that fun? Now get stitching and have fun!
