|
BASIC
DOLLMAKING FABRICS
|
Basic Fabrics for
Dollmaking are the foundation fabrics such as the solids used for
doll bodies and include all of the other types of fabrics used including
silks to dye, batistes, etc. |
DOLL BODY FABRIC HINTS - It is important, actually critical, that you observe a few rules about sewing doll bodies when working with old-fashioned style dolls where flat weave fabric and a good hard-stuffed body are needed. The first rule is to use a good fabric that is strong, a good color, and has a good hand. Then, make sure of the grain. In a recent class of 50, about 15% (these were experienced dollmakers) made their dolls on the wrong grain ans so ended up with bodies and heads that were much longer and thinner than intended. This is a high percentage of errors amongst experienced dollmakers. So pay attention to the grain markings on the patterns and if there are none, assume that the grain is up and down, or parallel to the selvage. If you do not have a selvage to identify the grain, then pull crosswise and then lengthwise to see which way has the least stretch - this will be the grain. Mark leftover fabric with tape if selvages will be cut off. Some of us remember being taught that there is not any significant difference between crossways and lengthways on plain fabric. But there is, and the bigger the doll, the more this difference can show up. Here is why. The lengthwise (parallel to selvage) is the direction the looms are threaded (warped) These threads are taut. Then the crossways threads (weft or woof threads) are woven up and under the warp threads and to do this windy trail across the tight warp threads, they have a bit of slack. So when you pull across the grain, there is some give. The larger the doll, the more stretch that can happen, so you may see a huge difference in shape on a larger doll than on a small one. One hint, not often considered is to stick to one fabric over time for all your dolls of this type so that you will know the particular stretch of that fabric. It does not make good sense to conserve money using up odd bits that may backfire after all your intense effort. If you are designing your own doll bodies, it will be important to use the same brand of fabric on later models as on your prototypes so that your results will be the same. USEFUL GENERAL HINTS FOR DIFFERENT SIZED DOLLS - After 35 years of creating doll bodies (I am talking about old-fashioned dolls, not needle sculpted dolls or other contemporary styles), my own personal advice is this: • Whether or not you are painting or antiquing your cloth doll in some way later, I recommend that all doll body fabric be initially paint overdyed. (See my paint overdye below - it is easy and fast). The paint overdye gives stability and smoothness to the fabric, plus makes it fray less if at all. It is easier to draw and sew on, very easy for accurate cutting as well. Plus, it can add a bit of color/patina to the fabric taking away that brand-new look. Do this to the fabric when it is flat. |
|
SOLIDS FOR DOLL BODIES AND PLAIN COTTON NEEDS PAINT OVERDYE - This is my own product that took years to evolve to. Complete instructions included for using this - fast and easy. Makes new print or solid
fabrics look old, makes whites and laces look vintage. Mixes
with water, reusable, dries quickly and can be ironed. Overdyed samples included. Also recommended highly for pre-treating fabric for making all doll bodies. FABRICS THAT HAVE SOME CHARACTER (TEXTURE) FINE COTTON NETTING
SILKS SILKS BELOW SOLD BY THE HALF
YARD - If you want a yard and a half (for example), then in your shopping
cart, change the number 1 to 3 which will be a yard and a half. Taffeta - This is my best recommendation for doll gowns or best dresses. Taffeta is a crisp silk and has a dominant vertical (warp) thread that is slightly different than the horizontal (weft) thread allowing for a slight sheen (desirable) and in colored taffetas, sometimes a different color is used creating a shadow or irridescent effect. Taffetas are expensive, but worth it. (Or use Medium Weight above as a substitute). Note: If you are interested in dressing your dolls in solid color fabrics but do not necessarily want the fabric to look dressy, but more everyday, then use the Medium Weight silk above. $17.50/half yd Add to Cart OTHER DYEING POSSIBILITIES Check below for more dyeing and antiquing options.
|
SEWING
TOOLS |
|
 |
GINGHER SCISSORS If you are serious about your work, these are the only scissors to own. Very sharp and cut right to the points. 6" - doll-size general sewing $32.00 Add to Cart 4" - embroidery, small detail, clipping, handsewing (one of my own most important tools in dollmaking) New bigger finger holes - easy on/off. I strongly recommend you own two pair - one for fabric, threads, one for snipping patterns. $29.00 Add to Cart |
 |
MY OWN FRAY PREVENTER 1 oz. jar $2.00 Add to Cart |
 |
TINY TAPE MEASURE JUST
FOR DOLLMAKING Frustrated by needing people to measure curved areas, such as the circumference of a doll head or where to place a nose, and that rulers are flat and tape measures are too wide and thick, I printed up tiny paper ones that once laminated are fairly permanent. These started out just for classes, but all the students kept wanting to take them home, so now they are available and come two to a package in case you lose one. They are thin, brightly colored with easy to read numbers, and only 1/8" wide. $1.00 for 4 Add to Cart |
 |
THREAD CUTTER (good
for airlines) If you like to sew while traveling, you must have one of these as you will not be allowed to have scissors on air planes any longer. This is a small cutter whose blade is concealed and inaccessible, except at tiny slots just for thread. It works well and can be worn on a string around your neck for convenience - in fact, it looks like a pendant. We are no longer stocking these since they seem to be readily available in sewing supply catalogs and notions areas of Jo-Ann Fabrics. |
 |
STILETTO For years I passed this one by. But one day I tried one and now I wouldn't be without it for dollmaking at the sewing machine. What it does is guide gathers or easing through and under the presser foot with ease - also great to get lace and other things just started. I used to use the tips of my 4" Ginghers, but this is so much better. We make these ourselves (as the commercial ones are so expensive), using a very strong needle point fixed into a turned and stained wooden handle with a linen string loop to hang. $8.50 Add to Cart |
 |
CLOVER IRONS NEW LARGER HOTTER CLOVER IRON (45 watts) |
 |
TO SEE IS EVERYTHING MagEyes $29.00 Add to Cart |
 |
PORTABLE NATURAL LIGHT BY
DAYLIGHT Being able to see is as important as your sewing machine. I found these lights that are just like Ott lights but not as costly. They are wonderful for taking with you to classes or to take from room to room or just to have for regular work. You can get it up close and the light quality is perfect. These are the same 13 watt types that fold down for portability and provide light that is as close to natural as possible. $48.00 Add to Cart Replacement Bulb $19.00 Add to Cart |
 |
IRONS NOTE- I have discontinued this iron because I cannot compete with the prices at discount places. In the meantime, iron companies have now all upgraded irons to Rowenta standards so you can find much cheaper and still excellent irons by common companies such as Black and Decker for under $50. |
 |
IRON CLEANER Since I promote the use of spray starch dyes and my own wax antiquing, I feel that you should know about cleaners for the bottom of your iron. Most of the above things will not do anything harmful to your iron, but there can be build up. Apply to an old wash cloth, run your hot iron over it and it does a wonderful job of cleaning. $5.00 Add to Cart |
|
STEAM-A-SEAM ~ A new
double stick fusible web. Has a temporary stick on both sides without
ironing and is re-positionable, then bonds permanently when ironed.
Not as likely to bleed through cloth and great for covered boxes
or doll bonnets. 5 sheets 9" x 12". $5.00 Add
to Cart |
 |
PROPORTIONAL
SCALE ~
I began using one of these when I had real jobs (in another much
younger life) as a graphic artist. But since I still use them all
the time, you might like to have one too. They useful for re-sizing
pictures and patterns (both doll and quilt). Example ~ Say you have
a doll pattern that makes a doll 17"
tall, but you want it to be 11" - this will tell you the percent
to reduce to. Or, let's say you have a picture that is 2" x 3-1/2"
and you want to know if you make it 4-1/4" wide, how long the length
will be. Or, I have a doll chair that is all in the right proportion
but too big, and the only thing I really know is how tall the back of
the chair should be. I can then use this to find out the measurements
of all the other pieces in the new smaller size. $6.00 SOLD OUT AND BEING DISCONTINUED |
 |
BODKIN FOR TURNING MOST ANYTHING RS OUT ~ Long before turning tubes, there were bodkins. This is a long smooth metal bar with a large eye at one end. Slip the eye up inside the narrowest of tubes and then with a regular needle and thread, sew through the cloth that you want to turn RS out, going through the eye of the bodkin. Pull the bodkin out and it will pull with it the far end that you temporarily tacked to it. Easy and efficient. GW illustrated instructions come with it. $3.50 SOLD OUT AND BEING DISCONTINUED (usually found at places like JoAnn Fabrics). |
| NEEDLES ~ PINS ~ THREADS ~ SCISSORS ~ BEESWAX | |
 |
BEESWAX A must for handsewing to keep thread from getting tangled and knotted. You've probably heard this, but you should believe it. Run your thread through it for all handwork and it will be almost trouble-free. $2.50 Add to Cart |
 |
HANDSEWING THREAD FOR DOLLS Doll Body Tan Add
to Cart White Add
to Cart Off-White Add
to Cart Brown Add
to Cart Black Add
to Cart |
|
THREAD
FOR LACE MAKING (scroll
down for lacemaking kit/instructions) ~ This is the thread we use
for my hand crocheted or needle made lace. All cotton, Mettler thread,
color 781 which is a perfect aged-looking white. |
 |
FAVORITE PINS These pins are so nice, I give dire threats to anyone caught using them. Made by the Japanese who are the masters of fine sewing needles and pins along with fabric. These are particularly nice glass headed pins (a bit longer than1 inch), but unlike so many others, just melt into the fabric. With delicate small glass heads. They are expensive, but just a treat to have and make a nice gift. THEY ARE BACK (these had been discontinued) - but now we get them only in little tins in the longer length instead of the cute little bottle, but the tin is nice. $9.75 Add to Cart |
 |
LEATHER NEEDLES The smallest hand sewing size - like fine handsewing needles, but with a three-sided point in the ends so they "cut" right through the leather making hand sewing of doll shoes easy. 4 needles on a card. $2.25 Add to Cart |
|
NEEDLE LIFTERS These are large needles that have sharp wedgelike points and are strong enough to use as small "pry bars" to resolve hollow places and minor lumps in stuffing. They are inserted through the outer fabric, angled down into the stuffing below and used to lift stuffing up into the undesired cavity. Also can be used to slide stuffing along just under the surface. This is most helpful for areas discovered after the doll is stuffed, particularly in the head area or even for moving stuffing down to tips of toes or fingers. 3 on a card strung with ribbon loops so you will be less likely to lose them in your pincushion. $1.50 Add to Cart |
|
FAVORITE
NEEDLES This is a package of my favorite needles for all purposes due to requests from people in my classes. They are ones that are largely hard to find, especially in a good quality. Other than that, there is nothing special except they are the ones I use for everything and I put them all together in a package with notes about their uses. Now with two more needles added including a leather needle. A package of 14 in 8 specific sizes. $4.75 Add to Cart |
 |
FELTING NEEDLES
These needles which have been used in industry for a long time can also be used in dollmaking. They are three-sided needles that have tiny barbs in them that pull fibers with them and leave them behind when the needle is removed, so that an in and out movement with the needle, felts or wefts fibers together. They can be used to attach fiber hair to cloth dolls' heads without sewing or gluing, and although this is not totally secure for playworthiness, it is fine for most "just to be looked at dolls". I also use them a lot for just securing the hairdoes themselves, not to the scalp but just to pull the hair into line or tidy up places that have become messy, especially with roving hair. Four needles come with a small instruction sheet. $2.75 Add to Cart |
|
BUTTONS, BEADS & RIBBONS |
|
 |
SMALL BUTTONS*
Small 2 hole, 3/16" diameter (white can dye with Rit dyes). Bags of 20. • White $3.75 Add to Cart • Black (black-brown, reads as black) $3.75 Add to Cart *Note that these can vary within any given batch, some slightly thicker than others or a tiny bit off in color from one to another. Usually you can match up necessary sets or it may not be an issue at all. Just a warning to extreme fussbudgets in case you want to order extras. OLD-FASHIONED RIMMED 4-HOLE, 3/8" diameter Tan $4.50 Add to Cart Dark Brown $4.50 Add to Cart (Used for 14" Raggedy Eyes) SMALL REAL PEARL BUTTONS SMALL SHOE BUTTONS
|
|
EXTRA-SMALL BUTTONS
What a find. Two-hole buttons that are really doll-scale. These measure about 1/8" across, really tiny. Four colors available - white and cream are dyeable with Rit dyes. My favorites are the brown and the cream. A needle is supplied that will sew on these small buttons. 1 Gross (144 buttons) White $7.50 Add
to Cart |
 |
RAYON RIBBON FOR DOLLMAKING DYEABLE SILK RIBBON ~ These three widths of ribbon are barely off-white
and intended to be easily dyed to the color of your choice. See below
to order easy dye recipes and instructions. NARROW COTTON TAPE - Use this tape for all manner of
ties for dollmaking. Waistband ties and hidden ties for swooped up
gowns, pluse embroider on it for doll trim. 65 cents/yard. Slightly
less than 1/4" wide. BATTENBURG TAPE - Not really a lace or a tape. Makes a nice trim for my Pincushion Doll or Izannah Walker's dress. Off-white and dyeable. 1/4" wide. $2.00/yard NOT AVAILABLE ANY MORE - LOOKING FOR MORE |
| DYES & OVERDYES | |
 |
DYE - Rit Tan Since it is sometimes hard to find, here is an economy size of the powdered tan dye I use to overdye just about everything to give things that just-right old look or sometimes just to take the newness or brightness off of some fabrics you might not otherwise use. My instructions included. $8.50 Add to Cart |
 |
WAX ANTIQUING MEDIUM This is a product that I worked on for years. Its use is limited to unpainted dolls or fabrics that can be ironed. Comes with detailed instructions to "antique" dolls to really look vintage - not just tea-dyed. Package comes with a small tin of the wax medium and, sandpaper and powdered dye to overdye, all that's needed, except spray starch, to do a realistic job. $6.50 Add to Cart NEW ~ Large size tins now available. This is just the antiquing wax in a 2.5 " tin, no instructions, sandpaper or powdered overdye included. $12.00 Add to Cart |
 Original Dirty-Old |
PAINT OVERDYE The very best and easiest way to get the old look for fabrics (silks too) and laces, especially whites and too-brights. Easier than stovetop methods but must be used only on flat fabrics and laces. Complete instructions included for using this. Makes new print fabrics look old, makes whites and laces look vintage. Mixes with water, reusable and dries quickly. Overdyed samples included. 2oz. jar $7.50 Add to Cart 8 oz. jar $10.25 Add to Cart |
New Yellowing -Old |
NEW PAINT OVERDYE
FOR THE YELLOWED LOOK |
See Above under Dollmaking Fabrics for Dyeable Silks and Other Suggestions GAIL
WILSON FAVORITE DYE RECIPES STARTER
SET (FULL SET) OF ALL COLORS (INCLUDING BASICS) AND SWATCHES
- This set comes in a small box, has all 14 dyes below, instructions
and a set of swatches. Start here and then replace the colors you
will be using the most. $60 Add
to Cart BASICS: SWATCHES (SOLD SEPARATELY) - Silk swatches in all the colors above $10 Add to Cart DYE RECIPES AND INSTRUCTIONS - Includes all recipes for dyes above plus deep colors for wools used in Penny Rug designs or other Santa accessories. $4.50 Add to Cart |
|
|
|
LACES |
|
|
|
NARROW
LACE ~ Narrow lace is hardest
of all to find in good quality. This is the the best in narrow
imported cotton lace with the smallest repeat - besides narrow
width, the repeat must be as small as possible too. The packet
has 3 yards of 1/4" lace,
and because it comes in white, a packet of instructions and overdye
to make it off-white is included (easy and just
takes few minutes). LACE BY THE YARD ~ The above lace by the yard. $2.25 Add to Cart ANTIQUED LACES ~ These
laces have been specially overdyed by us to make new fine imported
from France cotton laces look old right from the start. Available
in two widths, each come on a card of 2 yards. BATTENBURG TAPE ~ Not really a lace or a tape. Makes a nice trim for my Pincushion Doll or Izannah Walker's dress. Off-white and dyeable. 1/4" wide. $2.00/yard Add to Cart LACE-MAKING KIT ~ A tiny kit to do a big and easy job. Lace that is appropriate for small dolls (and big dolls) is hard to find. I long ago used up all the vintage lace I had collected and then I was faced with "now what?" Sometimes commercial lace just does not have the look and as small as it comes, it is still too big for some small dolls. This is an easy way to make lace with just a needle and cotton thread with one easy stitch. Directions, needle, thread (in just the right color for antique look) plus a practice fabric piece so you can start right in. $3.75 Add to Cart THREAD FOR LACE
MAKING ~ This is the thread we use for my hand crocheted
or needle made lace. All cotton, Mettler thread, color 781 which
is a perfect aged-looking white. |
| FANCY IMPORTED LACES | ||
 OVERDYED SAMPLES
|
  |
All of the laces are imported cotton and are the finest available. They come white, but as you can see from the left hand insert, a quick and easy paint overdye from my own recipe and technique renders them quite antique looking. If you want more than one yard, change quantity in shopping cart. 1/2 yard quantities are available on the more expensive laces - please accompany order with a separate email. Starting from top: (1) 2" lace with dots in fine netting $5.70/yd Add to Cart (2) 2" lace with delicate pattern $18.00/yd Add to Cart (3) 2" lace with dense pattern $6.75/yd SOLD OUT (4) 1" bordered lace $4.40/yd. SOLD OUT (5) 3/4" lace with dots in fine netting $3.10/yd. Add to Cart (6) 1/2" lace with double circle border $3.20/yd. SOLD OUT (7) 1/2" entredeux (insert) lace $2.50/yd. Add to Cart (8) 1/2" dense lace edging $3.30/yd SOLD OUT (9) 3/8" narrow delicate lace $3.00/yd Add to Cart (10) 3/8" narrow basic lace $2.60/yd Add to Cart (11) 1/2" tiny edging lace $2.90/yd Add to Cart (12) 2" very fine lace $19.30/yd Add to Cart (13) 1" fine netting lace (can be worked on top of or used as is) $9.70/yd Add to Cart (14) 1/2" entredeux (insert) lace $5.60/yd. Add to Cart (15) 2" English Lace (more economical but still fine quality cotton) $5.50/yd Add to Cart
|
| SHOES ~ LEATHER | |
|
LEATHER
FOR SHOE MAKING BAG
OF LEATHER SCRAPS SMALL
SHOE BUTTONS LEATHER
NEEDLES |
