Bring Your Stuffie to Camp Day

On the second day of Sewing Camp, the kids brought their favorite stuffed animals and dolls with them.  The idea was to sew them things like clothing, sleeping bags, little bags, and blankets.   Very few patterns were used, it was more of a D-I-Y day at camp.  

The cute trio above was worked on all day and then a wedding ceremony occurred at the end of camp!  Yes, that adorable monkey suit was handmade by its owner!

Even the newest of sewers had fun designing clothing for their stuffies.  Love this penguin coat!  Simply made, this sewer also learned how to sew on a button!

Being the designer was very cool!  This piggy shirt went through a few drafts before it fit, but that's part of the process:  learning about seam allowance, new stitches, and making something yourself.

Of course many girls made the "My Doll's Very Own Skirt" from Sewing School.  This simple pattern introduces kids to clothing making and is open ended so that the sewer may put its own mark on it.  Many kids made several outfits for their dolls.

The last step - give your doll a hug!

And of course those who chose not bring something from home, had fun creating their own stuffies.  Some used Sewing School patterns, but others created their own.

I'm sure many kids will continue to sew for their favorite lovies long after camp is done!

Sewing School Camp: Day 4

 Meet June, a little doll stitched by a rising 4th grader.  I love it when a young sewer has a vision. 

 First, a pattern was drawn.  See the pencil lines?  This was her original drawing.  Then, I had her go around it again to add a seam allowance.

 After tracing the pattern onto pink felt two times, she decorated the face and added a little button heart like another favorite doll, Raggedy Ann.

 She's all sewn and stuffed.  Yarn hair was whipstitched to the top and bows added.

Time for a dress - one that can you can really put on.  We decided on a simple A-line dress with a back button closure.  To get the fit right, I helped to make a dress pattern using the stuffed doll as a guide and adding about 1 inch seam allowance.  The dress was machine sewn.  Of course the pattern was kept so that more dresses could be sewn.

Isn't she just precious?!  Such a labor of love.

Sewing School Camp: Day 3

Andria and I were fascinated by this doll.  It has a wonderful folk art look.  The head is made from a large tassel and the body is a stuffie.  A little bed was even stitched for it.  

tassel-head doll stitched by Analise, 2nd grader

Birthdays

Today, I am 41. And Phoebe turned 5!

The mailman brought me a wonderful package from my mama. I wish I'd photographed it before I opened my presents, because everything was wrapped in sewing patterns and tied with little ribbons. She knew just what to surprise me with -- an elephant measuring tape, a mini Tide stain remover, a funny sewing kit, and this little plastic Italian doll, which, she says, is a vintage Mardi Gras throw!

Doll!

I finally finished making this doll! I am embarrassed to see that I originally posted about it in March. How did that happen? The doll is surprisingly easy to make and fun as well. Perfect for sitting in front of the TV with. I'm not sure why it took me so long to complete...

I made my doll with a combination of felted wool, felted sweater, and an old wool skirt that I had around the house. Yes, I know there's not a face. I tried several versions, but it just didn't look right. So, I left it as is. Also, the hair in the pattern is not like that, but I love it sticking up and couldn't bear to pin it down.

Have you seen the Mimi Kirchner video yet? It's so nice. You really should watch it. I need to show it at Sewing Club to give some inspiration.

Inspiration: Misako Minoko

I can't stop looking at these dolls by Misako Minoko. They are filled with whimsy and imagination - like a child's drawing come to life. You really must take a look. Also, she has a wonderful download for a tea kettle embroidery pattern that I can't wait to make!

A Happy Accident

Do the dolls above look familiar to you? I am a little embarrassed to admit that in my excitement to download the felt doll by Mimi Kirchner I hit print twice. I put one set into the "oops paper" for drawing. You must imagine my relief and joy when I saw several girls turning my mistake into adorable paper dolls! I think even Mimi herself would approve.

Must-Try Doll

I'm not really a doll person, never have been, but after seeing the Hand Sewn Felt Doll at the Pearl Bee, I may become one. While I'm a little nervous that mine won't turn out so cute, the pattern and tutorial are super detailed. I'll let you know how it goes. Maybe you're going to try one too?

Oh, Matyroshka!

I have had the longest love affair with Russian nesting dolls, or Matyroshkas. I have found several different types of Matyroshka-printed fabric (look at this fabulous Heather Ross design). I like to cut out the dolls and individually sew and stuff them (last Christmas, I made Matyroshka ornaments for my favorite girls), or use the patterned material as an accent for different sewing projects.

I just discovered this super-sweet Matyroshka tooth fairy pillow. It's a project from the sewing blog goody-goody. Won't you make one for me?

And, if Matyroshkas aren't your thing, goody-goody has a free pattern for a Robot tooth fairy pillow too.

Quilts and pillowcases, oh my!

Brr, it's still cold outside - at least here in Memphis!

Good thing I have lots of quilts on my bed to cover up at night.

My favorite is a replica of a Gee's Bend quilt. It looks a lot like the quilts on display at the Brooks Museum's current exhibit, Pieced and Patterned: Southern Quilts, 1840-1940, which just opened last weekend.

I missed the opening because I went to visit my mama for Mardi Gras. She sent me home with a knitted blanket that someone had made for my doll's bed when I was a little girl. I remember the red and white stripes vividly, and when my mama gave it to me, all these memories of playtime came flooding into my mind...

I bet your doll could use a new pillowcase and quilt to keep her warm.

The recycling craft blog Fun in the Making has great patterns for making both projects here and here.

The best part about making a quilt is that you can recycle all those little scraps of fabric that are too small for anything else.

I Heart Little Red Riding Hood

First, I fell in love with this Japanese fairytale fabric imported by Portland, OR mail order haven Superbuzzy. It's such an adorable pattern that Amie used a yard or so to whip up some of the Crayons A Go Go kits she sold last year at the Cooper-Young Festival. This cotton print comes with red, pink, or ivory backgrounds; Superbuzzy also has a Riding Hood canvas print that's a little more cartoonish, which you can view here.

Then I discovered this super-cute drinking glass, now on sale at Urban Outfitters for $2.99. What little girl (okay, 39-year old woman) can resist?

All this blogging about Little Red Riding Hood also reminds me of the doll my mama bought me when I was about 8, when we lived in South Louisiana. She found a mass-produced 3-in-1 doll that has Riding Hood on one end; flip the doll over, and discover Grandmother and the Big Bad Wolf, who are hiding underneath. I wasn't as intrigued with dolls as I was with my stuffed animal collection, but this particular toy kept me busy for hours and hours. If you're curious about what the doll looks like (I still have it!), here's a link to a very similar toy, called a Topsy-Turvy doll. My circa-1970s version is the Dippity Flip.