Showing posts with label dlin24. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dlin24. Show all posts

Monday, July 17, 2023

Needlepoint Pillows for Your American Girl's Doll House

       Needlepoint is a type of canvas work, a form of counted thread embroidery in which yarn is stitched through a stiff open weave canvas. Traditionally needlepoint designs completely cover the canvas. Although needlepoint may be worked in a variety of stitches, many needlepoint designs use only a simple tent stitch and rely upon color changes in the yarn to construct the pattern. Needlepoint is the oldest form of canvas work.
       The degree of detail in needlepoint depends on the thread count of the underlying mesh fabric. Due to the inherent lack of suppleness of needlepoint, common uses include eyeglass cases, holiday ornaments, pillows, purses, upholstery, and wall hangings.


Worked in red, brown and blue threads, insect,
 bug, butterfly, pattern, template, may be used
 needlepoint, cross stitch, embroidery


A galloping horse, grassy pasture, watercolor,
a bay with black points, 
this design was
graphed in 1800!

More Needlepoint Designs:

Saturday, June 3, 2023

Craft a Shoebox Bed for Barbie

A classic shoe box just the perfect size for our Fashionista. It has a faux, carved wooden headboard.

        Simple supplies may be manipulated to look more elaborate than they actually are. This shoebox bed craft for a doll is a very old-fashioned craft. It has been made by children for over 100 years! Although the dolls have changed over time, I can still recall making a bed like this one and tucking in a Raggedy Ann between it's gingham sheets as a young child! 

An eleven inch doll stands beside the shoe box bed.
Go here to see a shoebox bathtub...

Supply List:

  • one shoebox for 10", 11" or 12" doll
  • scrapbook paper and or wrapping paper
  • white school glue
  • scrap lace for bed duster
  • hot glue gun and hot glue
  • masking tape
  • scrap cardboard
  • Sculpey oven-bake clay (optional)
  • acrylic paints, two browns (for headboard)
  • kerchief or scrap fabrics for bedding
  • cotton batting to stuff a pillow
  • cotton sheet batting (optional) for doll quilt
  • lace and other notions (optional)
  • one chenille stem (to wire the headboard onto bed)
  • wooden dowels and beads (optional)
  • Mod Podge
How to Craft The Shoebox Bed:

Left, is my wrapped shoebox. The paper on the lid looks like a blue-checkered gingham sheet. 
The blue plaid wrapping below won't show through much, once I have glued on the dust ruffle.
Right, is the beginning of my doll bed's headboard. The cardboard cut-outs have been glued
together and then pressed down with heavy books to keep the construction from warping. See
also that I have already hammered the two holes on each end of the headboard and have wrapped
a chenille stem through these holes to show you how this will look. You could use a different 
wire or ribbon to hold the headboard in place if you want.

        To make this old-fashioned craft for your 10-12 inch dolls, you will need one clean, sturdy shoebox. Next, wrap the lid and the bottom of the box separately, using the white school glue to adhere the decorative papers down permanently. The inside of the box may be used to store the bedding for your doll when it is not being played with. 
       Measure one of the narrow ends of the shoebox to cut a headboard pattern to fit, from the scrap cardboard. You can see in the photos that I gave my doll's headboard an arch. This headboard example measures nearly nine inches tall. I traced around my paper template for the headboard six times on scrap cardboard and then glued all six pieces together. Apply pressure onto the cardboard using a stack of books white the white glue dries. This will keep your headboard from warping.
       Once the cardboard has dried, wrap it with masking tape. Don't forget to wrap the edges as well. Prop the headboard against your shoebox end and mark where you will make the two holes near to the center of the shoebox, side by side. This is where you will thread a chenille stem wire through the inside of the box to hold the headboard in place.
       Make these two holes with a hammer and nail. See the photo just below, right.

Left, See the headboard height compared to the shoebox length visually. It is very tall so that when
the bed is made the faux carving that I add to it will still be seen above the doll's pillow and bedding.
Right, see the chenille stem sticking through the two holes of the headboard inside of the shoebox.
These ends are twisted together to hold it in place snuggly against the doll mattresses. 

        My version of this shoebox doll bed is made with the box part facing up and the lid fits on top neatly. Not all shoebox beds are made in this way; but I prefer it so that the bedding maybe stored inside of the plaything when not in use.

Left, see that I have hot glued a double layer of eyelet lace around three sides of my shoebox. 
Right, now you can see what the faux "duster" looks like with the box-top mattress in place.

        When hot gluing the lacy duster around the bottom of the box, make sure that it touches the floor and that you don't wrap it around the end where the headboard is wired to the shoebox. Real bed dusters do not wrap around the end where headboards or footboards are used on beds either! This omission insures that the dust ruffles will hang neatly and not bunch up where they are not seen. Lace can also be expensive, as well, and you don't want to glue it where it is not necessary.

Left, the oven-bake clay, is glued onto the face of the headboard above the pillow placement. Get
your design up near the top so that it will show once the bed is made. I used a molded set of bumble
bees and a bee hive for my version of this "carved maple headboard." Right, you can see that I 
added wooden dowels to each side of the headboard and beads on top to mimic the antique
headboards that were once popular in the Victorian era. 
      
 
Left, pillow case with embroidered kerchief. Right, a fashionista propped up in the bed.

        To decorate my doll's headboard, I pressed Sculpey clay into a mold of both a bee hive and three different sizes of honey bees. You may skip this step if you haven't a mold for it. Or you may choose a different mold with any theme you like for your own version of this doll bed. 
       Bake the clay ornaments according to the directions given on the clay wrapping. Let the finished clay cool completely and then glue your carved looking pieces onto the front of the headboard. After these have dried on, you will be ready to add more decorative elements like: posters and bead finials to either side of the bed headboard. This is optional decoration however. 
       Now paint the headboard with a dark brown acrylic and let everything dry. Finally, use a lighter brown to highlight the clay design just a bit, with dry bristles. This will make the clay ornaments look as though they have been carved into the wood! Apply clear Mod Podge to seal.

The bedding for our shoebox bed is made using antique kerchiefs and ticking. Blue roses, pink
violets and white flowers are featured in the printed fabric; embroidery includes lavender ribbon
and violets twisted into wreaths.

The bed duster and spread both trimmed with old-fashioned white lace.
 
       To sew the pillow, cut two rectangles of fabric measuring 7"x 41/2", place right sides together and  straight stitch around three sides. Turn the pillow right sides out and stuff it with a bit of cotton batting. Then whip stitch the open ends together. If your are making a wider bed than our standard 6" x 11 1/2" version, you may wish to make two pillows. 
       To sew a bedspread similar to ours, you will need to acquire an old kerchief. Sew it together with a backing of fabric using the same methods for the pillows. After turning the little bedspread right sides out, stuff the pocket with a cotton batting sheet and whip stitch the opening together. Trim the bedding with lace if you like. I also covered our doll's bed pillow with a old-fashioned pillow case made from another embroidered kerchief. This bed looks like something like the antique furnishings inside of my grandmother's bedrooms from my childhood long ago...
 
Above you can see that the bedding and doll fit inside of the shoebox with the lid on top for 
easy storage. 

 
Left, our doll stands next to the bed, handcrafted just for her. Right, the doll lying down.

Thursday, April 14, 2022

Sew a doll's electric blanket for cold winter nights!

        This handmade electric blanket will keep your American Girl doll warm and cozy on a cold winter night or a chilly spring morning. Our DIY even features a pretend control panel and electrical plug! This sewing project is for those of our visitors who really love to quilt. The raised cording intended to mimic the heating cord inside of an electric blanket is made using piping sandwiched between two layers of fabric. I blanket stitched my version in place. I also sewed a fur blanket to coordinate with this electric blanket in the same lovely blue-green shade of color.

Supply List:

  • Sculpey oven bake clay
  • tack or white button
  • two toothpicks for the prongs of the electric "plug"
  • solid colored cotton fabric
  • faux matching or coordinating fur fabric for the backing (optional)
  • needle and thread
  • cotton piping or cording for the faux "electrical cord" 
  • tiny button prints for the electric blanket control panel
  • hot glue gun and hot glue

Left, a close-up photo of the detailed quilting and blanket stitching in our 18" electric doll blanket.
Right, the finished electric blanket with a quilted, 3 dimensional surface.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Cut your doll's blanket to the size you would like to quilt. Although my version shown here is full sized, made to fit a particular doll bed, you could make a smaller lap version of this electric blanket and there would be less work involved.
  2. Hand-baste the piping in place in a curved pattern on the back side of the cotton fabric. Use a bright red thread for this so that you can see it easily when the time comes to remove it. 
  3. Pin the backside of the fabric blanket in place and quilt closely to the abstract piping placement on both sides to create a casing for it. After doing this you may remove the basting.
  4. Now quilt the all "open" spaces left over, using a simple straight stitch. Follow the abstract piping patterns for a professional look.
  5. I went back over the piping with an additional blanket stitch.
  6. On opposite corners of the doll electric blanket sandwich end pieces of piping. One ending will be for the pretend electric cord, the other for the cord with the control panel attached.
  7. Sculpt a small plug using oven-bake clay. 
  8. Push two tiny clipped tips cut from toothpicks into one end of the plug and glue in place.
  9. Shape a control panel for the electric blanket using oven bake clay as well. 
  10. Remember to include a hole at the top of the plug and the bottom of the control panel, using the end of a pencil so that the piping may be glued inside of these clay pieces after they have been baked at 275 degrees in the oven. (check instructions on package of clay)
  11. Hot glue a button or tack as a dial and cut tiny printed numbers from a magazine for the decoupaged switches on the control panel. (see pictures below)

Left, tiny plug made for a pretend electric outlet. Right, the fake control panel for our blanket
features printed buttons and tack

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Four Doll Sized Christmas Pillow Ideas

5"x3" finished "Noel" ribbon pillow makes a cozy seat for dolls on their rocker.

       I used ivory colored felt for this "Noel" pillow and layered some sheer decorative fabric on the face of it. It looks as though the glitter was applied with glue but the gold, out-lined holly leaves are part of the sheer fabric. I also tufted the pillow in three places prior to embroidering the "Noel" with ribbon and yellow-gold floss. Then I trimmed the entire outer edge of the cushion with gold metallic lace. Alternatively, a ten or eleven year old child could use either a tacky glue or hot glue to attach a ribbon word, if she had yet to learn how to sew. But I still think an adult should be near by when their children are working with tools like glue guns. 

4"x4" Wooley red pillow with a stitched snowflake design using beads and buttons.

       This snowflake pillow makes good use of tiny beads and pearly white buttons of all shapes. Arrange these in a pattern with a threaded needle. I used white thread to make my stitching stand out on top of the red wool, but you could use any solid color of wool or fleece that you have on hand for this Christmas snowflake design. 

Left, Factory made Christmas tree decal on 4 1/2"x 3 1/2" pillow is same size as Santa's coat pillow.

       The last two pillow ideas featured in the above photo include a Christmas tree embroidered decal from a dollar store and a classic red wool pillow stuffed as Santa's coat! I attached the fir tree decal with a hot iron onto a gold satin fabric before stuffing the pillow with fluff and attaching four burgundy colored tassels to each corner. Santa's coat pillow has hand embroidered features cut from wooly felt that I hand stitched to it's surface. I used a faux fur to trim the collar area and a pearl button at the top for more detail. There are also belt loops sewn from red wool on the back of the pillow not shown in the photograph above.

Sunday, November 15, 2020

A Classic Country Printable Patchwork

       This printable patchwork quilt is large enough to print on fabric and quilt for any 10" -12" dolls like: Barbie, Brats or Fashionistas.  The blocks used for this design include both a basket and a primrose pattern. Block patterns like these were very popular with pioneer quilters during the mid 1800s. Quilt using a straight stitch between each square to give the blanket a bit of dimension.

Printables at our blog are not to be redistributed from any other online collection or sold
 for profit. They are the property of kathy grimm and are for personal home use only.

Starry Night Printable Doll Quilt

        This printable patchwork quilt is large enough to print on fabric and quilt for any 10" -12" dolls like: Barbie, Brats or Fashionistas.  It is made with a star pattern found in quilts over 100 years ago! Our version below comes in a variety of blue colors. Quilt using a straight stitch between each square to give the blanket a bit of dimension.

Printables at our blog are not to be redistributed from any other online collection or sold
 for profit. They are the property of kathy grimm and are for personal home use only.

Monday, November 2, 2020

Star of Many Points Playscale Quilt

      This printable patchwork quilt is large enough to print on fabric and quilt for Barbie and her friends! It is made with all the traditional color of Christmas: red, green, white and ivory. Quilt using a straight stitch between each square to give the blanket a bit of dimension. 

Printables at our blog are not to be redistributed from any other online collection or sold
 for profit. They are the property of kathy grimm and are for personal home use only.

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

A Printable Miniature Tulip Quilt

        A spring tulip quilt for you to print for 1" scale dolls on fabric. It comes in multiple, cheerful colors: pale green, orange, hot pink, aqua blue, cornflower blue, white, red, and yellow. Add your own straight stitches to give the blocks a bit of dimension. finish it with white bias tape or crisp eyelet lace.

Printables at our blog are not to be redistributed from any other online collection or sold
 for profit. They are the property of kathy grimm and are for personal home use only.

Monday, October 26, 2020

Printable Wooly Checked Blankets for 1 Inch (1:12) Dolls

        Click directly on the images to download the correct size, the size you see on your page browser is smaller than the original seen in the slide show viewer. These faux blanket printables are made for 1" doll scale, however, you may shrink them to fit smaller doll blanket versions if you like. There are two wooly cover versions here: one in a red, black and white checks and the other in blue, black and white checked print. I made these coverlets (printables) specifically  for printing on fabric.


      Printables at our blog are not to be redistributed from any other online collection or sold
 for profit. They are the property of kathy grimm and are for personal home use only.

Printable Wool Blankets for 1 Inch (1:12) Dolls

       Although, this original black and white design reminded me of Native American designs, it was actually drawn by an artist in Japan hundreds of years ago. I've updated it for doll crafters working in 1 inch scale. The faux "wool" blankets may be printed on fabric for your doll houses.

Printable faux blanket for a 1 inch scale dollhouse comes in red, 
green and gold.

Printable faux blanket for a 1 inch scale dollhouse comes in: red
ivory and black.

Printable faux blanket for a 1 inch scale dollhouse comes in: red,
navy and white.

Printables at our blog are not to be redistributed from any other online collection or sold
 for profit. They are the property of kathy grimm and are for personal home use only.

Friday, October 23, 2020

A Printable Amish Sampler Quilt

Identification of sample quilt blocks or patches.

       This Amish Sampler is made up of eight different designs. It is an Amish "interpretation" because the patches are pieced and quilted using a bold, simple color palette most frequently associated with the overall designs of Amish quilters. The printable faux quilt pattern below is Playscale or 1:6.

  1. Ladies' Beautiful Star Patch
  2. Basic Mosaic Square Patch
  3. This blue patch is a simplistic interpretation of the Primrose Patch
  4. Mosaic Patch in the shape of a blossom
  5. Star of Many Points Patch
  6. Tulip Patch
  7. Mosaic Patch in Orange
  8. The Basket Patch

Go to the following links to see how to use heat transfer papers:

        After you transfer the sampler quilt below to dark fabric, finish the edges with a colorful or black bias tape. Add "quilting" details with a bold yellow thread.
       You could also make a comforter using the same design by layering your printed fabric on top of a black fleece. Then quilt the two sides together between each block to give the doll comforter a bit of dimension. 

Printables at our blog are not to be redistributed from any other online collection or sold
 for profit. They are the property of kathy grimm and are for personal home use only.


Amish Diamond star block sewing with Lorena's Quilting.

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

How to sew a doll's pillow with two sides...

I made this little doll sized patchwork pillow for our patchwork doll bedding.
       Below are the basic instructions for making doll pillows by hand. I've linked to a variety of helpful teachers in order to include a diverse selection of examples for this simple beginner sewing project.

Basic Supplies for any two sided Doll Pillow:
  • fabric
  • needle and thread
  • ruler or tape measure
  • scissors
  • cotton batting to stuff the pillow(s)
  • trim: ribbons, bows, rick-rack and lace (optional)
Step-by-Step Instructions For Sewing a Two-Sided Doll Pillow: Hand Sewing
    1. Cut two identical shapes with the same length and width.
    2. If there is a difference between the front and the back side of the fabric, make sure that the two right sides of the fabric are facing each other when cutting the pieces out. Identify right and wrong sides of fabrics by Colleen G. Lea
    3. Be careful to cut the fabric along the bias so that the fabric stretches properly while stuffing the pillow(s). How to cut fabric on the bias by Tammy Neisinger.
    4. Sometimes is may be necessary to match striped or plaid patterns when sewing fabric sides together. 7 tips for matching plaids and stripes when sewing by Beth.
    5. Thread a needle using matching or near to matching thread color. Whitney talks about thread colors.
    6. Knot the end of the thread. How to tie a knot in a thread by Sewing for Beginners.
    7. With the two right sides of the fabric faced together, match both the length and widths of both pieces, pinning these in place if necessary.
    8. Sew three edges of the two-sided pillow together using a straight stitch or running stitch, leaving an even narrow seam as you go. How to Sew a straight stitch by hand by CyberSeams
    9. Backstitch over the end of the thread before trimming it off of the needle so that the thread does not work it's way out of the fabric where your sewing has ended. How to backstitch from Red Ted Art.
    10. Turn the pillow inside-out, right sides facing out. There should be one continuous neat seam  allowance around three sides of the two sided pillow prior to stuffing it. What is a seam allowance by Professor Pincushion
    11. You may wish to clip the corners of your work as you sew around these, this is optional if the hem of your sewn edges is narrow. If your hem is wide this is necessary in order to get the corners to lay neat and flat as you sew. How to sew the perfect corners by Daily Sew.
    12. Remove any pins and proceed to stuff the pillow with filler. Use a dowel or unsharpened pencil to help fill out the corners of the pillow as you stuff it. Be careful not to poke an instrument through the fabric while stuffing it.
    13. Pin the open side of the pillow neatly shut, turning a narrow edge under while you whip stitch this side closed. How to finish an opening using a whip stitch by Wendi Gratz
    14. You may choose to use a ladder stitch or invisible stitch to finish your work alternatively instead of the whip stitch. How to hand sew a pillow closed using a ladder stitch by Jann Newton.

Easy, No-Sew Doll Pillow Directions:

Friday, September 4, 2020

Piece A Simple Patchwork Quilt for Your Doll's Bed

Top left, each fabric patchwork square measures 4"x4". Bottom left, the back of my quilt is lavender.
Right, a heart and flower motif ribbon dresses up a simple decorative pillow.
A doll sized teddy bear also looks sweet with the old-fashioned country, patchwork quilt.
       Doll patchwork blankets do not need to actually keep your dolls warm so if you can not afford the batting or haven't the skills as of yet to quilt a finished pieced blanket, do not worry, your doll's country blanket will still look quite lovely. Our sample pictured here has no batting and is only finished along it's edges. I will gradually post more complicated versions of miniature doll quilts in the future. In the beginning, it is best to learn one technique at a time, practicing your hand stitching with simple sewing projects.

The arrangement of pillows for our patchwork doll quilt.
Supply List:
  • 20 4"x4" inch squares with 1/4 " to 1/2" seam allowance - prints and solids in cotton, For every square across have a print or solid to match it's number. If you have a quilt four blocks wide, then you will need four different fabric prints/solids for that quilt.
  • needle and thread
  • 1/2 yard of solid colored fabric for backing
  • quilt batting (optional for doll quilts)
  • scissors (used for cutting fabric)
  • yarn, embroidery floss for tying your quilt (optional)
  • light weight cardboard (cereal box recycled)
  • pencil or quilter's ink pen (ink washes out)
Step-by-Step Instructions:
  1. To make a template cut a 4"x4" square from cardboard.
  2. Trace around this template on the backside of your fabrics using a pencil or quilter's pen. Leave a 1/4" to 1/2" seam allowance.
  3. Cut out squares and sew them together using a straight stitch in a simple grid pattern. (shown below)
  4. You may prefer to lay out your squares in a pattern prior to sewing the block together so that you will know which patterns look best sewn side by side.
  5. Iron your raw seams flat as you go. 
  6. The quilt example made for our doll's bed measures 17"x21"; that is four squares wide by five squares in length. Lay this finished piece on top of the fabric chosen for backing and cut that backing out leaving the same seam allowance. 
  7. You can choose to bind the front and back sides of the doll quilt with a layer of cotton batting (sheet) between but I elected to leave this out for this particular project.
  8. I turned the right sides of my pieced blocks and the backing together, sewed around the edges with a 1/4" seam allowance while leaving an opening of approx. 4".
  9. Turn the quilt inside out with right sides facing out and whip stitch the opening shut. 
  10. Now you may tie the corners of the patchwork to the back of the quilt or quilt the top in the ditches of the block patchwork by traditional means. Both of these finishes are optional for a doll's quilt. 
More Doll Patchwork Quilts:

Sample block patterned quilt (life size) for a real bedroom,
 plus cute pillows to match. I've since made a similar pillow.
 
A Simple Block Patterned Quilt

      This square, block quilt pattern from Kentucky was published in a tiny column of the Daily public ledger., May 30, 1907. It reads, "Here is a pieced sample of a quilt which some of your readers have been asking for. I have not seen it in any paper as yet. Thought the ladies would think it strange that I did not send it in after I had written about it. I have seen several inquiries about it lately - Alberta."
      Patterns as simple as this 4'x4' square sewn together to create an entire quilt make excellent projects for beginners. You can cut the squares in advance using scrap fabrics and carry these in a small tote or basket along with: quilters thread, sharp needles and a pair of scissors. Work at piecing the squares during the free moments of a car ride or during a long journey/vacation. Before you know it, you will have a lovely quilt top to tie or quilt into your fist handmade blanket!

Quick Tips for Planning Patchwork Quilts:
    1. If you have the luxury of purchasing fabrics for a patchwork quilt, it is important to select both solid colors and prints. This will help an inexperienced sewer to experiment with sophisticated fabric combinations. How to pick fabrics for your quilt with Nancy.
    2. It is also very important that some of your fabrics are dark in intensity (value) and some of the fabrics are much lighter in comparison. Quilters refer to this as contrast. 5 Tips for Using Color and Prints in your quilting by Melanie Ham.
    3. Fabrics sewn together should also be made from the same materials when you are a beginner. If you are going to quilt with cotton fabrics... all of the fabrics used in your quilt should be made of cotton. If you are sewing with wool, all of the fabrics in that patchwork quilt should be made from wool. 
  • Fabrics made from alternative materials stretch in odd ways when sewn together. You will have greater trouble keeping seams intact, your project may stretch unevenly as you sew, and the strength of your threads will break down quicker.
  • Wool, cotton, silk etc. all fade at different rates. So if your quilt has cotton in it, this will fade differently than say a hand-dyed wool. The overall visual appearance of the patchwork will look strange once the patchwork begins to age and is washed.
  • Quilts made from a variety of materials also break down in the wash. Threads do tear apart quicker due to tension (shrinking and pulling).
    4. Prior to cutting and sewing, your fabrics need to be laundered. This removes chemical treatments given to fabrics in stores in order to keep them looking pressed and clean longer.
  • Some folks are very sensitive to these chemicals and have allergic reactions to them.
  • Fabrics depending on where they are from could bleed into the wash the first few times they are soaked. If you do not wash them in advance to quilting, these could bleed into the parts of your quilt that have contrasting colors. This is a disaster simple to avoid with prewashing. More reasons - 6 tips for prewashing fabric by SewingDIY.

Saturday, August 29, 2020

Depression Era Calico Prints

     I decided to record some of the calico prints used in the quilts tucked away inside my closets. These particular prints date from approximately 1925 to 1940. Many of these prints were used in 1930s feed sacks. Several of my great grandmothers worked these colorful calicoes into their own quilts during the Great Depression after using up the majority of the "free" fabric to sew play cloths for their little girls. 
      Farmer's wives would purchase flour that came in these reusable cloth bags. The print was on the inside of the bag, so that it would not be damaged during shipping. My great grandmothers would empty out the flour into a large tin container and then turn the bag inside out. Then they would cut carefully along the seams and press the sack out with coal heated irons. My mother told me that farmer's wives would get together on Sundays and trade flour sack fabrics with each other in order to obtain enough of one print for a complete dress. The majority of the prints were juvenile because there would only be enough of the calico for an infant's clothing to be made from an individual flour sack.


Left, a small girl in bonnet playing with a sand shovel. Center, hickory-dickory-dock. Right, black swirls.
Left blue, red and yellow calico printed flowers. Center, white and lavender print. Right, red, orange,
and white flower field print.
 
Left, Delft blue rose and orange stripes. Center, blue checkered duck. Right lavender and white daisy. 
Left, green sky and white moons. Center pink bunny with Easter eggs. Right pink and white ribbon pattern.

Monday, September 23, 2019

No-Sew Frankenstein's Monster Pillow

Monster pillow wonders, 'What is that scary creature!'
       Even though this project is a no-sew project, you may still need an adult to help you with it, depending upon your age and experience.
       Read all of the instructions and look closely before beginning. Ask mom or dad to help you with your first attempt. Soon you will get the hang of it. 
       When working with an iron or hot glue, have adults present and helping.

Supply List:
  • green fabric scraps
  • double sided adhesive tape
  • fabric glue
  • stuffing of some kind: pellets, cotton etc...
  • small amounts of felt: blue, black and white
  • fingernail scissors or tiny Fiskars scissors
  • black thread and needle for scares (optional)
 Step-by-Step Directions:
  1. Cut a 3 1/2" x 10" rectangle from green scrap fabric that you have for this no-sew pillow project.
  2. Apply a double sided adhesive tape or fabric glue to the right sides of your green rectangle. (Remember the right sides are the front parts of a fabric.)
  3. Fold the rectangle in half with the adhesive strips facing together and iron the pillow case shut. You may use the glue adhesive and omit the ironing, but wait for the glue to dry overnight before turning the pillow inside out.
  4. Take a sharp small set of scissors and cut a small 1" opening on the front of your pillow's face. 
  5. Turn the pillow inside out. Now the right sides of the pillow are on the outside and the edges are turned neatly inside. 
  6. Push cotton balls or plastic pellets through this opening to stuff your small pillow.
  7. Cut a strip of your fabric to insert into this open hole and glue it shut with a glue gun. I used the back side of the fabric facing out through the hole to make the surface where my monster's face looks scared more obvious. (see photos below)
  8. Cut small stripes of the green fabric and roll these up with a bit of fabric glue or hot glue to make the bolts for the monsters neck/head. These are the electrodes that Dr. Frankenstein plugged in electricity to bring his monster to life.
  9. Glue these hardened fabric bolts to the side of your monster pillow's head.
  10. Cut blue felt fabric hair and eyebrow to glue to the monster's face. (for front and back, See photo below to copy if you'd like.)
  11. Cut out eyeballs, mouth and buck teeth from the black and white felt. Glue these down using fabric glue.
  12. Now you can add some black scare seams with a needle and thread if you want.
Left, Apply a double sided adhesive tape or fabric glue to the right sides of your green rectangle.
 I've ironed this down and now will peal it away before folding it in half and ironing it shut. Right,
 Take a sharp small set of scissors and cut a small 1" opening on the front of your pillow's face.
Left, Push cotton balls or plastic pellets through this opening to stuff your small pillow.
 Right, Cut a strip of your fabric to insert into this open hole and glue it shut with a glue gun.
Front and backside of my no-sew Frankenstien's monster pillow. Wow what a mouthful. 
I think he needs a few black scare stitches before he's done.
What is this Frankenpillow's story? It looks like these two are up to no good! 
Is the spider taking him for a ride or taking his seat?

Sunday, September 8, 2019

Stitch Peanuts Pillows for Halloween

Pictured above, a white doll rocker for American Girl dolls, ceramic pumpkins,
  a snuggly doll afghan and Peanuts themed pillows stitched from a pair of
Halloween novelty socks.

       These Halloween pillows are made from one sock. Snoopy in the pumpkin patch and text that reads "Happy Halloween" make adorable holiday decorations for any dollhouse.
       Use Fray Check to keep the edges from unraveling while you work. I cut out the parts of my sock that I wanted for each pillow, both the back and front, from a novelty, print sock. 
       Face the right sides of your fabric together, sew a straight stitch around the pillow, leaving a one inch gap for turning the pillow inside-out. Then stuff the pillow with cotton batting and stitch the hole closed.
       I used a blanket stitch around the pillows to add strength to my seams and added a decorative button to the center of the larger pillow on both sides.

High and Low

A fat golden pumpkin lay in the field,
A golden moon rode in the sky,
The pumpkin shouted, "Hallo there, brother!
Who put you up so high?"

The man in the moon smiled a jolly smile
At the pumpkin far below--
"I'll light the sky while you light the earth,
On Hallowe'en, you know."

So the fat golden pumpkin smiled at the moon,
And the moon smiled back at him
All through the night till the morning came
And the twinkling stars grew dim.

And each felt content with the task he had 
And called it a work of love.
Though one lay low on the cold black earth
And one rode high above.