Russian Doll Guide

As promised here is a little guide as to how I made my little Russian keyring / bag charm, be warned it is very photo heavy, but the photos are necessary to help support my ramblings.

It started with a drawing I made of what I wanted (promise not to laugh, I can’t draw but sometimes do when I get an idea in my head):

Following this I gathered different coloured felts, I used red, skin tone, brown and pink, but you can use whatever colours you have to hand:

I made a template from paper for the outline of my doll, this was done using a button for the head shape (40mm diameter) and freehand for the rest of the body. In order to make it symmetrical I drew a full head and half of the body and found the middle point in the head and folded the paper in half.

From here I cut the template out:

Using this template I cut out three copies of this shape from the red felt to make the back of the doll, the front of the doll and the headscarf.

For the headscarf section I folded the felt in half and cut a curve from the middle to make a symmetrical drape effect (keep the spare bit you cut off the headscarf for later).

Now for the face; I used a fabric marker to draw a circle shape straight onto the felt, again I used a button, smaller than the one previously used and cut this out:

For the hair I did the same again, cut a circle from brown felt using the same size button, and cut this circle in half:

Then as with the headscarf fold this in half and cut a curve from the middle to make a symmetrical drape effect:

Next you need to cut the last bits of felt you will need which consist of a little flower for your doll’s dress, the tie part of her headscarf (from the scrap bit you had earlier) and some cheeks:

These were just cut freehand from the felt, they don’t have to be perfect as they are quite small.
At this stage I cut out some fabric for her dress using the template I made earlier (I sound like someone from Blue Peter now!), I used a fabric with a small pattern for the best effect. I also cut a small strip of fabric to attach the doll to the clip. I ironed this fabric into a narrow strip and stitched up one side using blanket stitch:

Now to make the face (my favourite bit):

I roughly positioned the hair to see how much space I had left to work with and drew on some eyes and a mouth using a fabric marker pen.

Using black seed beads and a beading needle I attached her eyes, after tying off at the back I went back through the felt and gave her some eyelashes using the same thread.
Changing to red embroidery silk I embroidered a mouth onto her filling it in with little stitches.
The little felt cheeks were attached with four small stitches in pink cotton.
The hair was attached with brown thread, I gave her a parting and sewed the hair as below:

After the face I attached the little felty flower to the fabric of her dress with a few little stitches and attached the headscarf tie in the same way.
Now we have all the bits we need to make our little doll.

At this stage I attached bondaweb to the back of the face and headscarf to be extra sure that they don’t come off, but this is not essential:

Then to assemble it all:
The face is attached to the headscarf, dress attached to the body, headscarf attached on top of the dress. The face and headscarf were then sewn to the body with little stitches.

At this stage I secured the narrow fabric strip with the clip to the front inside of the doll with lots of little stitches (in the middle). Then it was time to stitch her up. She was stitched up with a little blanket stitch around ¾ of her circumference leaving a small space for stuffing:

Then stitch her up!
That’s it – she’s done:

I thought she looked a little lonely so...

… I made some more!

If you make any be sure to let me know.

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Russian Doll ~ Matryoshkas

Following my Russian Doll find last week at the Bank Holiday car boot sale it got me thinking. Recently I have seen some lovely Russian Doll type fabric and accessories about and thought I would have a go myself.

This was the result:

I drew her shape out freehand with a fabric marker (which will disappear, so please ignore the purple pen marks), with a little help from a couple of buttons for her head and face shapes, and kind of made the rest up as I went along.

A little felt and fabric matryoshka key ring (or bag charm).

I really enjoyed making this little lady and I have already started making more of these. They are very easy to do and it is all hand sewn so (as no sewing machine is required) if you have a stinking headache (like I did at the time) this quiet sewing project is the thing to do (if anyone is interested I will do a little tutorial).

~ ♥ ~
Don’t forget it’s not too late to join my giveaway (see button at top right), the winner’s name will be plucked from the Rington’s teapot on Thursday night by my son.

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More Shopping than Making

Well, this is neither sewing or jewellery related but just wanted to post about some bits I bought this weekend that made me happy!

I am not one for spending money on myself, almost everything I wear is from the high street (cheap end :) ) or charity shops, there are very few things I spend much money on but one of them is makeup! I fell in love with Estee Lauder many moons ago when I was young with a disposable income; fast forward two marriages and four kids and a few wrinkles and I still have to have it.
My complexion is a bit of a mess at the minute, not sure why, I am eating well and drink loads of water, take vitamins and still my skin is spotty - like a teenage skin. I am putting it down to hormones and hoping it will pass. So on Saturday I indulged myself and bought some new foundation to hopefully cover the worst of my blemishes:

Tried it out straight away and it’s worth every penny! Whilst in Boots buying makeup, I spotted these rings! I never usually buy jewellery as I tend to see something I like and make it myself, but I couldn't make these so I bought them, they were all 1/2 price and ranged from £2.50 - £3.
Following Boots I headed to the Yorkshire Trading Co and had a good look through their fabric section and came away with handfuls of ribbson and lace and these Gutermanns cottons in little tins that I just needed to have (only £4 each) ~ aren't they lovely?:

So fast forward to today and I have been to the local car boot sale, I love a good rummage. This time we went without kids which was so much easier and my stash included:

Bed sheet to cut up and make stuff with - think this may be a nice lining fabric or some shabby makeup bags and tote bags - £1.00.

Russian Dolls, I just love these - £1.00.

Fab battered old letter rack, the wood is sound so it will shabby up nice - £1.50.

Lovely old mirror - looks like someone else has attempted a bit of shabbying - £2.50.

Good day's bargains all in all. Now it is time to reign in the spending and get making again.

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