07/08/2023
Making a doll for a beloved Little that you adore should be fun AND simple! If you've read any of my blog posts on my website (and you should! wink wink) you know that I started Heartfelt Doll Patterns because I was SO frustrated with some of the patterns, I had purchased to make my beautiful granddaughter a unicorn doll. The patterns said they were for "beginners" but I found they were still difficult, so I set out to create something easier to work with. I did research for quite some time by literally reading and reading other doll makers websites and the comments that frustrated new doll makers were saying. The most common complaints I would write down and work solutions into my own designs. There were three main areas people were frustrated about:
1. Difficult faces
2. Hard to sew on limbs.
3. Fabric ripping out when they stuffed their dolls.
I will address my solutions here and encourage you to check out my patterns on my website.
Difficult Faces:
A common practice is to sew and stuff your entire doll and THEN attempt to sew/embroidery on your doll's face. This is not an easy task to do. I found it quite advanced in skills and to be honest. My dolls always looked a bit freakish with their uneven eyes and uncentered nosed. It is hard to work on 3-D items. My solution? I created beautiful and detailed faces.....on FLAT surfaces! My doll's faces are sewn on FIRST, then sewn into the doll process and stuffed at the end. WAY easier and so pretty!
Hard to sew on limbs:
Another problem doll makers were complaining about was how hard it is to sew on a stuffed doll limb, on the outside of a doll by hand! AND they are correct! It is not a beginner's task. Also, doing it this way decreases the durability of the doll. My dolls are all tripled sewn and sewn into the body of my dolls prior to the limb being stuffed. They work great and the limbs are super strong!
3.The Fabric ripping out when the doll maker was stuffing their dolls:
I have found that many doll makers love using very fancy fabrics like loose woven fabrics, laces of all kinds, and linens. At Heartfelt Doll Patterns we recommend using 100% cotton fabrics and or cotton blends. While I love lace and all the fancier fabrics, I must also admit that cottons are perfect for doll making! This is due to many factors some being price points, an array of colors and patterns and most importantly durability! Children can be rough on their toys without meaning to be. Our dolls need to stand the test of being hugged a ton, kissed a lot, and drug everywhere! Cotton fabrics can handle a child's world of loving their dolls. There is nothing more frustrating than making an entire doll and stuffing it only to see that they seams are not holding and they are frying out. Cotton fabrics don't seem to have this issue!
I adore doll making, but I know it can be daunting. I have done everything I can to make your doll creating experience really fun and successful! I hope you get a chance to take a look at our website and brave the idea of making a beautiful doll for one of your beloved Littles! This process isn't hard when using one of my patterns in fact it is almost addicting and so much fun....I promise!!!!!
