Back to the sewing machine for Doll #2
Came home from Florida with lots of energy for more sewing and lots of ideas. First on the agenda is to tackle Doll #2. Addie (Doll #1) was such an amazing experience that I decided to make another -- this time following a standard pattern* from noted dollmaker elinor peace bailey. My goal is to notch up the complexity while learning the right methods. I printed out the pattern pieces, coffee-dyed some muslin, and started cutting before Thanksgiving.
This morning I finished cutting the pieces (decisions, decisions... which fabric to use????). I lacked a few things, but instead of dashing up to the big Joann's, I decided we'd prowl the locally owned craft stores in East Rochester.
At Patricia's Fabric House, we were treated to a trunk show and quilt-piecing demo by Mary Knapp, author of Star Quilts. When I told her I was afraid of getting bored doing one block over and over, she grabbed her book and showed me where she had said the exact same thing herself. Ah, kindred spirits. Naturally, I got her book. Jim was intrigued with the gorgeous finished quilts.
We made short work of the needlework shop (mostly embroidery and crewel patterns) and the "fabric arts" store (mostly looms), but got totally charmed by the Village Yarn & Fiber Shop. I just needed a little bit of yarn for the doll hair but could have looked at the different yarns all afternoon. I can see why people get swept up into knitting and crocheting. I did once enjoy a season of crocheting, circa 1972, but it was too slow compared to whipping something up on the sewing machine (plus my results were always a little dorky looking). And I briefly tried knitting but made a hash of it and tossed out my miscalculated effort.
Anyway, Doll #2 will have hair made of beautiful burgundy kettle-dyed worsted.
(She doesn't have a name yet because, well, only the doll herself can tell you her name, once she's completed.)
After shopping, I sat at the kitchen table, sewing on the appliqué clothing. #2 feels very complicated at the moment, but she is still a beginner project -- a "pancake" doll, consisting of a body (head, arms, trunk, with appliqués for clothes) and two legs. (See the sample doll in the upper right of the photo above.) I'm excited to see how she turns out.
12.07.2013
