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Hemostats are wonderful to turn and stuff small parts.
Please visit the “Sources” page for info to purchase these.



Cut out the pattern. Punch a dot along the outline of the features
just big enough for a mechanical pencil point to go through.



Back of the pattern after dots have been punched.





Pin the pattern piece to muslin and cut out.
Put the pencil point through punched hole on the pattern
and make a dot on the fabric.




Connect the dots. The face is transferred.




Stitch together using a small stitch setting. 1/4 inch seam allowance is included in pattern piece unless noted otherwise. Trim seam allowance.



Turn and stuff.



Blush cheeks by dipping the tips of brush in paint, pounce brush on scrap of muslin to remove excess paint. Lightly apply "blush" to cheeks.
Use a button as a template to draw circles for the eyes.
The eyes can be painted or stitched with a satin stitch.
Tip: Paint the eyes with a stiff brush. Do not have a lot of paint on the brush.
Use a slightly dry brush. Dip just the tip of the brush in the
paint and remove the excess before painting the eyes.



To stitch face: Thread a long needle, knot the end of thread. Enter through back of head. Pull knot gently through fabric on back of head so nothing shows on back of head. Stitch face with a simple back stitch going just under the stuffing a little. Exit out the top of the head, make a stitch at the top to secure thread. Bury the thread (photo BELOW) and cut the thread so the end goes back into the stuffing and disappears. Nothing should show on back of head.


^ (This is the BACK of the head) ^
Photo above shows the back of head after face is stitched.
(before cutting thread after the end of thread is buried)

Stitch the nose with a satin stitch. Enter and exit the same way as the face.

Hair is sewn on at the seam with strong matching thread.
All hair is sewn on the same way, no matter what style.
Using strong thread, make a loop at the seam by going through the head,
back around and through again.
Leave ends of thread about 6 inches long for tying.
Put yarn bundles or pigtails through the loops.
Arrange yarn bundle or strands of yarn and pull the thread very tight and tie.

Mark the outline for the shoes using the same
connect the dots method used for the face.
Pencil socks OR stripes on lightly free hand as desired.
Paint and sand lightly when dry.
Tip: Use a stiff paint brush to paint the socks or leg stripes.
Keep the brush slightly dry and go back and forth with the
stiff brush like you are coloring with a crayon.
Do not worry about the stripes being
perfect, they never are. (for me anyway)

 

Sew arms and legs on securely with a strong thread.
Take several big stitches when you sew on the arms, go deep into the stuffing.



Two piece dress style:
Gather dress bottom skirt and pin to dress top at waist.
Stitch together.
Some patterns have a one piece dress.
This does not apply to the one piece dress style.


The front and back of dress with gathered skirt bottom attached.

***** All styles



Pin front and back together and stitch at shoulders, (leave open for neck) under arms and down sides. Trim seams and clip corners. Turn in at neck and hand stitch a drawstring around neck, leave ends of thread long for tying later.






Pin bloomers together and stitch. Turn down at waist and up on the ends of legs. Hand stitch drawstrings.