| 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 |
![]() |
MY OWN FRAY PREVENTER For dollmaking (not for things like clothes that will be washed). Paint on raw edges of dolls before turning - allows cutting of very small seam allowances with no tear-out. Good at stress points. 1 oz. jar $2.00 Add to Cart |
![]() |
GINGHER SCISSORS If you are serious about your work, these are the only scissors to own. Very sharp and cut right to the points. 7" - general people-size sewing $30.00 Add to Cart 6" - doll-size general sewing $28.00 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 $25.00 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 EXTRA FINE HIGH QUALITY THREAD FOR HANDSEWING Doll Body Tan Add
to Cart White Add
to Cart Ecru Add
to Cart Brown Add
to Cart Black Add
to Cart |
|
|
THREAD FOR LACE MAKING (scroll
way 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. |
Click on image for picture |
SPECIAL
NEW OVERDYED 3-STRAND FLOSS SETS ~ The colors of the two sets are perfect
for any project (if you can bear to use them - I made the mistake of
dumping my own set into a small antique blue bowl and could not take
them out). These have that uneven quality of the color due to the overdye
process so desirable in a vintage look. Also work well in punch needle
designs. 12 balls in each set with 27 meters each ball. Both sets are
$38 each. Deep Tone Set (on left) Add
to Cart |
![]() |
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 |
|
NEW ADDITIONS 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. $4.25 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 |
|
![]() |
BUTTONS These are the ones I use. Bags of 20 Small white 2 hole, 3/16" diameter (can dye with Rit dyes). $3.75 Add to Cart *Small black 2 hole, 3/16" diameter. $3.75 Add to Cart *Old-fashioned 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. DYEING INSTRUCTIONS AND RECIPES $2.50 Add to Cart DYES - NEW - Coming by October 31, Gail's favorite palette of easy-to-use powdered dye packets. |
|
HITTY CORAL BEADS |
|
DOLL
HAIR ~ FIBERS ~WIGGING TOOLS |
|
![]() |
DYED WOOL FOR DOLL HAIR MOHAIR HANKS FOR MAKING DOLL WIGS - see the Fancy Doll Supplies Page. WIG CAP MAKING LINEN - see the Fancy Doll Supplies Page. |
![]() |
CURLY SHEEPS WOOL Use for Santa beards. Small bag will do several small Santas. $6.75 Add to Cart |
![]() |
CURLY WOOL DOLL HAIR Small spiral curls of wool that remain nicely curled as is or can be spread for a looser effect. Comes in two nice colors. Enough for one or two small dolls or one larger. $4.00 Caramel - SOLD OUT (not replaceable) Chocolate - SOLD OUT (not replaceable) |
![]() |
CURLY WOOL FROM BRAID This is the same wool that is tightly braided and is used in some of my kits. When unbraided, it is wavy. Can be "rooted" with a felting needle, sewn or glued. A rich chestnut color. 12" $4.75 Add to Cart |
![]() |
COTTON YARN FOR RAGGEDY HAIR This is the same soft brown as I use in my 14" Raggedy kits. Not for the smaller sizes. This is a full skein which will make about 4 dolls. $5.75 Add to Cart |
| FIBER COMB FOR DOLL HAIR In a lot of my kits, there is a need to use a "hair pick" to sort, smooth and thin the fibers. This is particularly true for all doll hair made from roving. Roving cannot be combed or brushed or it will fall apart, so this tool has been made here to solve the problem - real human hair picks with thin metal tines are hard to find. You could make one yourself with 5 needles and some sculpey (see my Hints page), but here is a nice one with a wood handle. $6.75 Add to Cart |
|
![]() |
DOLLMAKERS WIGGING CLAMP These came about because wherever I go to teach and use this, people want one. It is good for dolls from 2" on up to 18". Has a clamp to hold the doll steady on your work surface so both your hands are free and a little felt pincushion and place for your small scissors and thread. $28.00 Add to Cart |
FELTING NEEDLES These needles which have been used in industry for a long time have recently hit the dollmaking world too and once you use them, you will see why. 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 |
|
|
PENS ~ PENCILS ~ PAINTBRUSHES
~ PAINTS ~ DYE ~ GLUE ~ FRAY PREVENTER
|
|
|
MICRON PENS THE ULTIMATE MARKING PENCIL |
|
|
SIMPLE DOLL FACE MAKING SET
|
![]() |
|
TRACING VELLUM FOR TRANSFERRING FACES |
![]() |
| FREEZER PAPER SHEETS 20 sheets of flat freezer paper (heavy duty to keep flat) which are good for running through your printer. Freezer paper is great for printing out paper pieces for certain quilt designs or for doll patterns - just iron on, no pins, pull off and even re-use. $3.50 Add to Cart |
|
| GLUE Best all-purpose glue and recommended in many of my kits. 4 oz. Aleene's Tacky Glue in squeeze bottle. $2.75 Add to Cart |
|
|
NEW
PAINTING SERVICE ~ I will now prepaint any molded
doll (and hair if applicable). If the doll also has molded
hands and feet, these will be painted as well. Style of painting
must be consistent with my presentation of the doll (no custom
requests). Prices
vary depending on the doll involved and its complexity, but run
from $45 - 65 and does not include cost of parts which are purchased
separately or are already in a kit you are purchasing. If you add
this item to your cart, we will email you with a confirmation
of actual price depending on the doll parts or kit that this
applies to. Add
to Cart Or, you may call us with inquiries. PAINT BRUSHES Liners - These are fine brushes designed for dragging along to make
fine lines. Use the fine liners listed first for all fine painting.
Use the script for painting longer lines or stripes and making starting
lines for tops of painted doll shoes.
PAINTS $2.75
ea. PAINTS FOR BLACK
DOLLS $2.75
ea. ANTIQUING
GLAZE FOR PAINTED SURFACES DARK ANTIQUING FOR BLACK DOLLS AND HAIR
ACCENTS ON LIGHT HAIR VARNISH This
is a high quality varnish with a nice finish in a soft sheen.
2 oz. $3.75 Add
to Cart NEW
- AND RECOMMENDED: |
SMALL SQUEEZE BOTTLES ~ A painting must-have. Some of my most important tools are the small squeeze bottles that I keep handy for (1) retarder, (2) water, (3) turpenoid and (4) my dryer for my oils. They allow me to dispense just what I need drop by drop. Note that I also store all my basic acrylic colors in these as well, though this might be over-the-top for the average casual dollmaker. These allow me to squirt out just enough for the current painting session so that I do not have open paint containers that are drying up future paint. Package of (4) 1 ounce bottles (also a good travel size) - $6.50 Add to Cart |
|
PAINT YOUR DOLLS WITH OILS ~ A new instruction booklet with photos showing you my pretty foolproof ways of oil painting your dolls. Covers painting black dolls and antiquing made easy. $15 Add to Cart FACE PAINTING SET ~ To help people using just patterns, or making lots of dolls. A strip of larger sized paint pots with all the water based colors you need to do the detail work on any doll face. Combine this with a skin color paint, varnish and antiquing (all sold above) and you have all you need. Comes with tips, cheek pouncer, toothpicks for shading and retarder medium. Note: Some dolls require gesso which is commonly available at arts and crafts stores. $5.50 set Add to Cart OIL PAINTING TRIAL SET ~ Buying oils to just try a doll is very costly, but here is enough to paint many dolls (at least the detail colors and enough to paint one doll's skin color and more if you add some white). These are best grade oils. The set comes with how to mix the right colors and some basic getting started info. All you need is good brushes and turpentine or turp substitute. Oils dry out in small quantities, so do not order these until you are ready to use (I cannot guarantee how long they are usable - possibly a few months if not opened). We put them up fresh for each order. Once you decide you like using oils, then investing in your own full tubes will feel better. $12.75 Add to Cart EASY DOLL FACE MAKING SET ~ A simple alternative for painted cloth doll faces is to use colored pencils (paint must have some "tooth" (matte finish, not be too smooth). You have the most control as opposed to brushes, they can be erased until right, and if sealed properly, will last, especially for display dolls (not played with). NEW SET includes set of 8 special colors that will make blue or brown eyes, 2 paints for easy places, a brown Micron for all outlining and matte varnish to seal, round toothpicks for dots and complete instructions. Can also be used on bare cloth but a spray fixitive required. $11.50 Add to Cart CHEEK PAINT TO THE RESCUE ~ If you will be using these paints within a couple of weeks of receipt, the best way to paint cheeks fairly effortlessly is with alkyd oils (fast drying oils). Oils allow you to easily feather out the edges using a dry brush and virtually no paint on your brush. Clean up with turpentine or turp substitute. You can then seal with varnish (recommended is Mod Podge Matte) and antique as usual. Three small paint pots of three colors (Titanium White, Cadmium Red Deep, and Burnt Sienna) plus basic instructions. $4.50 (postage included if ordered alone). Add to Cart
CHEEK APPLICATOR KIT ~ A small amount of fine silk, some wool and how to make a pouncer for ease in painted doll cheeks - a very troublesome area, plus all the tips I can think of because often that is what it takes. $2.25 Add to Cart NEW - MORE CHEEK PAINTING HELP HINTS FOR GOOD BRUSH MAINTAINANCE (Water based paints hints) - Do not overlook the importance of this step in good painting. If your brushes are hindering your painting quality, it is likely they have not been properly maintained or replaced. Get some Brush Cleaner (a powerfu solvent to clean hardened paint), and some alcohol, an eye dropper or tiny squeeze bottle of water, some liquid soap (good is Dr Bronner's available in health foods) and if you admit you are the type to put your brush in the clean up water and leave it there, have some clothespins handy so you can suspend your brush in the water and not let it sit there with bristles resting on the bottom. While painting, clean your brush frequently and wipe and squeeze bristles flat in your rag. Do this nearly every dip into the paint for best results. Otherwise, the paint starts to glob and dry on the bristles. This seems tedious, but necessary. Also keep adding a drop or two of water to your paint and stirring with toothpick to keep it flowing - as you are painting, the surface is drying in the air, so adding a couple drops of water at a time replaces evaporated water. When you are done with a certain brush, rinse well in the water. Pour some alcohol in a small container (I keep one handy) or even just the alcohol cap and really work in the alcohol (even bending the bristles so it gets way inside where the damage begins as dried up paint starts to spread the bristles). You will be amazed at how discolored the alcohol gets. Once it is really clean, put a drop or two of the soap on the bristles, clean in running water and thensquish another drop of the soap into the bristles squeezing them flat and "pointing" the bristles like the brush was new. Let dry with soap in it and it is ready to use again. In cases where you forgot your brush and now the paint is dry and bristles stiff, decant a little of the Brush Cleaner mentioned above and soak the bristles till the dried paint is soft. Wipe off as much as possible with a rag, then repeat until it seems clean. Now finish up with the alcohol and soap. Do not overestimate how long a brush is good for. Even well-cared for brushes do not last very long. Owning new condition good quality brushes at all times will make your painting much easier, in fact, it may not be possible to paint well without them.
|
![]() |
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 NEW PAINT
OVERDYE FOR THE YELLOWED LOOK |
|
STUFFINGS ~ TURNING AND
STUFFING TOOLS |
|
![]() |
HEMOSTATS |
| |
BARBARA WILLIS STUFFING FORKS: Large Fork (all general stuffing) $11.50 Add
to Cart GW STUFFING FORKS FOR CLASS MEMBERS - We make some stuffing forks to take to classes for student use. They are not as professionally made as Barbara's, but will do the job and keep class costs down. These have wooden handles. I still recommend Barbara's for serious dollmakers. However, my large fork is less apt to bend than hers, but her small fork has a better tip. Large Fork (all general stuffing) $8.75 Add
to Cart |
|
TURNING TUBES ~ Inexpensive but good turning tubes very helpful for things like doll fingers. I was going to make fancy ones from brass and searched out ones from clear or white poly, but these brightly colored ones will do the job (3 appropriate sizes for my sizes of dolls) and are very reasonable. $8.00 Add to Cart |
|
![]() |
NEW SET OF STUFFING TUBES - My invention for better stuffing. Faster, easier and little or no stress on your hand/wrist. This is a set of two cut Aqua Cones (large and small) and two tubes (large and small). You should use them best with wool roving, though they also work with good poly by feeding the poly in like roving and you will need a regular sized stuffing fork. Set $5.50 Add to Cart |
|
NEW LOWER PRICES ~ Now you
can use wool to stuff everything!! (One pound old price was $19.50)
8 oz. - enough for 4 - 6 smaller
dolls $6.50 Add
to Cart Shipping Note on lightweight stuffings below: Due to new shipping rates imposed on us that involve dimensional weight (the size of the box is factored in even if lightweight and low cost, such as a bag of stuffing), we must figure orders with bags of stuffing on a box by box basis so that regular shipping rates may not apply. This means it is best to order stuffing with other items to keep your shipping reasonable. Of course, if you need stuffing, you need stuffing and we are happy to ship and we do squash it down as much as possible. MY
FAVORITE WHITE POLY STUFFING BLACK (really
dark brown) STUFFING FOR DOLL BODIES: COTTON FOR STUFFING: |
|
|
PRIMITIVE ANIMAL SUPPLIES
|
|
|
EYES NOTIONS |
![]() |
OTHER SEWING TOOLS |
|
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. $6.75 Add to Cart |
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. $7.00 Add to Cart |
|
CLOVER IRONS These tiny irons are good for three things in dollmaking. One is to take along to classes or locations where using a large wattage iron is impractical, two is for getting into small places like gathers and for opening seam allowances, and the third is a new way to transfer doll faces and embroidery lines using photocopy, ink jet or laser printout. Comes with instructions for doing this. Can even be done on most painted cloth surfaces as well.$25.00 Add to Cart |
|
![]() |
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. If you want one of these irons, be sure you get the Professional Press model DM 886. In the meantime, iron companies have now all upgraded irons to Rowenta standards so you can find much cheaper and still excellent irons such as the Black and Decker Digital Advantage model D2000 (about $39). |
|
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. $6.00 Add
to Cart |
|
![]()
|
SHOES ~ LEATHER ~ LACE |
|||
|
|
LEATHER FOR SHOE MAKING BAG OF LEATHER SCRAPS SMALL SHOE BUTTONS LEATHER NEEDLES |
|
LACE LACE BY THE YARD - The above lace by the yard. $2.25 Add to Cart ANTIQUED LACES (click here to see a picture of laces) 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. |
|
GIFTS AND OTHER SPECIAL THINGS |
|
| A SPECIAL BOOK
| ![]() |
|
A TREASURED SEWING BOX Kit $75.00 Add
to Cart |
![]() |
|
VINTAGE STYLE SEWING BOX SET |
Click
on image to see a picture of this new pattern. |
|
These are my own design old-fashioned wooden clothespins for dolls from the Eary American Series.Only 1/2" long and very sweet. Click here to see one way I used them as wearable advertising for my fabrics at a show. Click for Photo The stained finished ones are set to go and the ones that are unfinished only need tiny tabs cut off and staining. Package of 6 finished and stained $6.50 Add
to Cart |
CANVAS TOTE BAGS |
BLANK Really
Cool JOURNALS ~ These are a great small gift size and are in brown
paper bag color covers that you can glue onto or cover with fabric
using my Journal Pattern with pages also antiqued. $3.75 Add to Cart |