So, here is a really really rough tutorial showing how I made the initial Jackson doll, and now a Connor doll as well. You will need to download the pattern pieces and then come back and follow the instructions. Imagine making the whole band - and then having a little photo shoot ? I sooooooooooooo need some more hours in my day .
I use Matilda's Own Ink jet Printable fabric to print the face and any other accessories you might want. This will only work with an ink jet printer but it just runs through like a piece of paper - super easy. I have to apologise for that scary head but when you ask Mr 16 to let you take a photo of his good self for the blog...well you know its never going to end well. Arrange all the pictures you want and print on regular paper first to check out sizes etc. The printed area of Connor's head is approx 2 3/4 x 3 1/2 inches here.
You will need a piece of fabric about 10 inches square for the shirt and sleeves. Cut from the square a strip measuring 4 inches and put it aside for the arms, cut another 2 inch strip and put it aside for the collar. You should now have a piece left measuring 10 x 4 inches. Cut this into two 5x4 inch squares. These will be the shirt. Create a tiny fold in the centre of one of these squares, this will created the front false overlap for the shirt. Sew in place, close to the edge
Cut out two shirt pieces (right sides together). With the right sides together, place the trouser fabric in place and sew in place according to the line on the sewing pattern. Open out and press seam. Repeat for the shirt back.
Place the shirt(and pant) sections right sides together and sew around leaving the bottom open. Stuff firmly (no really, I do mean firmly) and pin closed.
OK time for the head. On the back of your head picture, trace lightly the outline of the head. This will be your sewing line...You can fudge around the hair a bit. Place your head piece right sides together onto a piece of fabric that will become the back of the head. (Unless you are very clever and took a photo of the back of their head as well). Sew around, but make sure you leave a suitable opening at the neck. if you make this too narrow, turning will be a nightmare! Clip your seams carefully and turn the head out the right way.
Stuff the head firmly and pin it in place on the body. Poke the neck of the body up into the head. Sew this in place but don't get too stressed about neatness as the collar will cover this join.
Take your paper collar pattern piece and place in on a folded piece of fabric. Trace the collar onto the fabric and sew directly on the traced line. Cut out the collar outside your sewing lines and clip the little collar notch. Turn collar right sides out through on of the ends and press.
You can top stitch the collar on the outer edge if you like. If the collar looks to large , just fold under a little bit from the top before hand sewing it in place over the head and neck join.
To make the arms, we need to sew the arm strip of shirt fabric to a strip of white fabric, along the long edge. After pressing the seam open you might like to top stitch on the shirt fabric. Now place the arm pattern piece on the fabric with the cuff line aligned to the seam. Cut four arms.
Place two of the cut out arms right sides together and sew around leaving a turning gap. Clip around the arm and turn right side out. Stuff and repeat for the other arm. Ladder stitch the turning gaps closed.
Check this out . Does it make sense? This is basically how you do a button joint. Secure your thread (under the arm is good so it wont be seen)then you just go in and out through all the pieces shown a few times.Pull your thread firmly. You will know you have it tight enough when the arms will hold a position if you move them (This is why I said to stuff firmly- we don't want to squish it all into oblivion).
The legs are two simply tubes. Sew them, turn them, and the hand sew them into place, closing the base of the body as you go. After they are in place you can stuff them.
To make the feet you simply sew two pieces of felt together using the pattern piece supplied. Clip , turn and stuff. Hand sew them to the bottom of the legs. Super easy !
In the photo you will see Connor also has some buttons - simply sew them in place. The belt is a strip of vinyl and a small buckle (I think the buckle might be a scrap booking embellishment)
I use Matilda's Own Ink jet Printable fabric to print the face and any other accessories you might want. This will only work with an ink jet printer but it just runs through like a piece of paper - super easy. I have to apologise for that scary head but when you ask Mr 16 to let you take a photo of his good self for the blog...well you know its never going to end well. Arrange all the pictures you want and print on regular paper first to check out sizes etc. The printed area of Connor's head is approx 2 3/4 x 3 1/2 inches here.
You will need a piece of fabric about 10 inches square for the shirt and sleeves. Cut from the square a strip measuring 4 inches and put it aside for the arms, cut another 2 inch strip and put it aside for the collar. You should now have a piece left measuring 10 x 4 inches. Cut this into two 5x4 inch squares. These will be the shirt. Create a tiny fold in the centre of one of these squares, this will created the front false overlap for the shirt. Sew in place, close to the edge
Cut out two shirt pieces (right sides together). With the right sides together, place the trouser fabric in place and sew in place according to the line on the sewing pattern. Open out and press seam. Repeat for the shirt back.
Place the shirt(and pant) sections right sides together and sew around leaving the bottom open. Stuff firmly (no really, I do mean firmly) and pin closed.
OK time for the head. On the back of your head picture, trace lightly the outline of the head. This will be your sewing line...You can fudge around the hair a bit. Place your head piece right sides together onto a piece of fabric that will become the back of the head. (Unless you are very clever and took a photo of the back of their head as well). Sew around, but make sure you leave a suitable opening at the neck. if you make this too narrow, turning will be a nightmare! Clip your seams carefully and turn the head out the right way.
Stuff the head firmly and pin it in place on the body. Poke the neck of the body up into the head. Sew this in place but don't get too stressed about neatness as the collar will cover this join.
Take your paper collar pattern piece and place in on a folded piece of fabric. Trace the collar onto the fabric and sew directly on the traced line. Cut out the collar outside your sewing lines and clip the little collar notch. Turn collar right sides out through on of the ends and press. You can top stitch the collar on the outer edge if you like. If the collar looks to large , just fold under a little bit from the top before hand sewing it in place over the head and neck join.
To make the arms, we need to sew the arm strip of shirt fabric to a strip of white fabric, along the long edge. After pressing the seam open you might like to top stitch on the shirt fabric. Now place the arm pattern piece on the fabric with the cuff line aligned to the seam. Cut four arms.
Place two of the cut out arms right sides together and sew around leaving a turning gap. Clip around the arm and turn right side out. Stuff and repeat for the other arm. Ladder stitch the turning gaps closed.
Check this out . Does it make sense? This is basically how you do a button joint. Secure your thread (under the arm is good so it wont be seen)then you just go in and out through all the pieces shown a few times.Pull your thread firmly. You will know you have it tight enough when the arms will hold a position if you move them (This is why I said to stuff firmly- we don't want to squish it all into oblivion).
The legs are two simply tubes. Sew them, turn them, and the hand sew them into place, closing the base of the body as you go. After they are in place you can stuff them.
To make the feet you simply sew two pieces of felt together using the pattern piece supplied. Clip , turn and stuff. Hand sew them to the bottom of the legs. Super easy !In the photo you will see Connor also has some buttons - simply sew them in place. The belt is a strip of vinyl and a small buckle (I think the buckle might be a scrap booking embellishment)
I took one look at the narrow neck of that guitar and realised I would never be able to turn it through, so for the guitar I simply interfaced the guitar to be reasonably stiff and then used Steam-a- seam to adhere it to some felt.
I know this tutorial is really rough , but I figured if I showed every single step we would be here for a month. The scarf is just a bit of knit fabric chopped to length - no sewing at all. You know you could just go on and on with these guys - hats, jackets, bags, friends, pushbikes.......
I know this tutorial is really rough , but I figured if I showed every single step we would be here for a month. The scarf is just a bit of knit fabric chopped to length - no sewing at all. You know you could just go on and on with these guys - hats, jackets, bags, friends, pushbikes.......
ooh a plush pushbike.......
