Dolls! Ella Cloth Doll With Felt Dress is Finished

Here are some photos of Ella, now that I have finished making her. Because of her dark good looks, she does not photograph very well, so I have lightened the photos slightly. This means that some of the intensity of the colours has been lost, but you should get the general idea.

Here is a detail of her dress:

I decided not to do the hat and put some beads in her hair instead. I might get her some shoes for her at the next doll show I go to. Lynne Hyland's design is lovely, and well worth making up if she still sells the pattern; I have had this one for some time.

On Saturday, after a nearly 2 year absence, I went back to my sewing club. I had a ball. There is so much skill within the group, and lots to learn from each other. People were making every thing from patch work to evening wear. I am really looking forward to the next meeting.

My next sewing project is something for myself as I think the dolls have had their turn for a while. I am thinking a summer top or a black jacket for work.

Dolls! Making Ella's Felt Dress

Here is Ella posing amongst the pansy flowers in her new dress. It is not finished though; I still have to attach the skirt and do the scallop edging along the hem.

Here is a close up of the button hole stitch. I think that is a really good way to finish the edges, even though they do not fray. I do not do any hand stitching, so this was interesting and kind of therapeutic to do. It is very different working with 100 per cent wool felt. It has such a woolly feel to it! No wonder the Italian Lenci dolls from the 1920's and 1930's who had clothing made from felt lasted so well; it is such thick durable fabric. I would imagine insects and moths were a problem though.

Ella's head got an attack of the wobbles after I sewed it on to the body, so I will need to insert a wooden craft stick to support the neck and keep her head upright. I don't like doing this in toys, even though she is only going to be displayed.

Dolls! Hair for Ella & Cloth Doll Sewing Techniques

Here is Ella with her new hair. It came from a huge ball of acrylic wool, which was made in Romania.

For this pattern, some of the pieces are cut with the seam allowances included. The rest are traced onto the fabric, and then sewn on the traced line. After the piece is sewn, you cut out along the seam allowance. I guess this second method makes it easier when sewing fiddly shapes.

Trace, sew then cut method

Not sure how I will do the felt outfit, perhaps I will start with the dress that was provided with the pattern.

Here are a couple more shots of the entries in the doll show that I went to two weekends ago.

Dolls! Face for my Ella Cloth Doll

This is the face that I painted for my Ella cloth doll (see a photo of Lynn Hyland's original design for Ella here). I have not managed to achieve a little girl look, so I might just leave out the peter pan collar on her felt dress and the bloomers. Perhaps when I sew the head on the body and do the hair, she might look like a little girl. Mmmm...

Here she is trying out the felt colours that I might use for her dress.

Dolls! All the Fun of the Doll Show

I went to a doll show with my Mum on the weekend, and came away this this little beauty. The doll is a more modern style, 5 1/2 inches tall with mohair hair and painted porcelain shoes and socks. The outfit (dress, underwear, coat and hat) is a copy of a what looks like a French style from the 1800's. I got the doll at one stall and the outfit at another. Historically she is probably not the right doll for this clothing style, but I think she wears the outfit with flair.

A beautiful face

Just look at the hat!

I took this photo of some of the Doll Artisan Group's entries that had received awards in their various categories in the competition:

There was a lot of talent at this show, and I am glad that I went. I also managed to get a wig, shoes and socks for my vintage 1950's Sweet Sue doll that needs a bit of work to make her look her best.

I have been grabbing ten minutes here and half an hour there over the last 3 weeks, so there is some progress on my Ella doll; I just have to sew the arms and legs on and then stuff the head and paint the face.