Saturday, January 23, 2010

Joseph Felt doll Lesson 4

Due to the detail and small stitches, This Doll may be the most time consuming . Being that it is our last lesson in the nativity collection, you will no problem using the stitches we have already used. This doll consists of 8 pieces:

The face, Beard, hands, Halo, back piece and front piece (in 3 portions).



First, start of by fitting the beard in its place. On this doll you will have to be sure to embroider the face so that it shows through the holes in the beard. This is why I suggest sewing the beard on first. Using small slit stitches, sew the beard around the the hair line and upper mustache portion.





Once in place, sew the eyes and mouth through the openings in the beard piece.


Next, take the 3 pieces that make up the front body. You will have to line these pieces up carefully, so that it fits together like a puzzle. The 2 side pieces and middle piece make up the under clothes and overcoat. Sew one side at a time. Being sure to match up the two side that fit together,lay the two pieces evenly atop each other. Use the overcast stitch top stitch together like a hinge. Work your way from bottom to top, pulling the felt even as you are sewing. One at the top, finish off the stitch and lay the pieces flat. Follow these instructions for the other side.





You have finished sewing the front portions together, so you are ready to sew on the head and the hands. Using small slit stitches sew the hands in the center of the body.








To sew on the head, use the same slit stitches on the lower portion of the face. simply lift the beard, in order to be sure that the stitches do not show through.

Next, take the back piece and affix the Halo to the top. Using the small back stitch, sew the lower portion of the halo to upper part of the felt.





You are now ready to sew the pieces together. Place the front and back pieces on top of each other. Be sure to line the pieces up as well as you can. If you find that you have a bit of excess, do not be afraid to trim it back, once you have sewn it together.


Using small and even back stitch start working your way around the perimeter of the doll. Be sure and leave a good margin between the edge of the doll and your stitch, so that none of the stitches slip. Start at the bottom of the doll, and work your way around, remembering to leave a two finger gap for the poly fill.







Stuff the doll, and sew closed.




Joseph is complete

And so is your Nativity!!

Friday, January 22, 2010

Baby Jesus felt Doll Lesson 3

Baby Jesus is the easiest of all our felt pieces.
He is smaller, and less detailed, but cute just the same.
The baby Jesus kit consists of 4 pieces.
The front, back, face and halo.
As with the other felt dolls, start off with embroidering the eyes, nose and mouth on your face.

Use small tight stitches. the back stitch and the french knots work the best. Please see the link provided in lesson 1 if you need a refresher on these stitches.
After embroidering the face, place it atop the front piece and use small slit stitches to sew it in place... some of the girls may refer to it as the "overcast stitch"... as it is of a similar technique.



Next, take the back piece and affix the Halo to the upper portion. You may use the back stitch, and go around the lower portion of the circle.





Once finished with the above steps, you are ready to assemble the doll. Place the top piece evenly on top of the back portion, and begin sewing with a small tight back stitch around the outer edge of the doll. Be sure to see that the needle is penetrating both pieces of felt with a safe amount of perimeter, so that you don't loose a stitch.



As with the other dolls, work your way around; leaving a two finger gap for the poly fill. Stuff the doll to your liking, and then close up the opening, using the same back stitch...






Voila... Baby Jesus is complete.