Shelly Down - My first felt doll

www.stitchcraftcreate.co.uk

When I began making dolls a few years ago, I really didn't have much sewing experience at all. My Nan had taught me a few basic embroidery stitches when I was younger, but, to be honest, I thought that needlecrafts were best suited to little old ladies who spent their days drinking pots of tea and sorting embroidery threads! Oh, how very wrong I was...

Although my sewing skills were extremely limited when I started making dolls, I quickly noticed that my work improved dramatically with continued practise. Now, not only is it fun to create something by hand, it is also a very rewarding experience. I often find myself wondering just how many little stitches I've used to sew a doll when it's finished each little stitch I've sewn is a tiny bit of love. It's such a wonderful feeling, knowing that I've created the entire doll from start to finish!

Vintage children's books, fairy tales and the cute, lovable style of Japanese Kawaii inspire many of my designs. Once I've come up with an idea for a doll or toy, I make a basic sketch of the design into my notebook. Then I break down every aspect of the sketch to create the pattern pieces, which I draw onto graph paper. Usually, I need to make and re-make pattern pieces many times before I'm satisfied with the results, but the process is certainly worth the effort once everything comes together!

I feel it's very important for me to write the instructions for my patterns in a very simple, easy-to-follow manner, so even a beginner sewer can feel confident in his or her abilities to make something wonderful. It is very rewarding to make something by hand, especially if it is fun and easy to make. And it's my hope to inspire more people to dust off their scissors and pincushions to give sewing a try!

First, I've created a sweet, lovable little basic doll (see ), which is designed to be sewn by hand in felt. This basic doll pattern is the same for all the projects throughout the book, with the exception of a few changes to facial features and hairstyles. Then you'll find a collection of 11 projects to make an outfit, each based on a specific theme such as a schoolgirl, a little princess, a beach babe and so on. I have designed these projects with simple, easy-to-follow instructions, patterns and illustrations, so even a beginner sewer will enjoy making them.

I've used a variety of different felt types to make the dolls and outfits, which include handwoven wool felt, pure wool felt, wool blend felt and synthetic felts (see ) at the end of the book. There is no need for you to add a seam allowance or to turn the pieces inside out after sewing, as each piece is sewn with the right side of the felt on the outside. The finished dolls measure about 25cm (10in) tall, perfect for a little one to tuck into his or her pocket and take along on all their adventures!

FELT IS AN AMAZING TEXTILE! IT'S EASY TO WORK WITH, AND, UNLIKE MOST FABRICS, THE EDGES WILL NOT UNRAVEL OR FRAY ONCE THEY ARE CUT. TRADITIONALLY, FELT IS MADE BY MATTING AND CONDENSING WOOL (YARN) FIBRES TOGETHER, A PROCEDURE THAT CREATES A WONDERFULLY VERSATILE FABRIC, PERFECT FOR DOLL MAKING. IT CAN ALSO BE MADE BY BLENDING OTHER FIBRES WITH WOOL, OR BY USING JUST SYNTHETIC OR ACRYLIC FIBRES.

WHILE THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF FELTS, I RECOMMEND THAT YOU CHOOSE A GOOD QUALITY WOOL OR WOOL BLEND FELT TO MAKE THE MAIN BODIES OF THE DOLLS IN THIS BOOK. THE HIGHER QUALITY FELTS, WHICH ARE MADE WITH WOOL, ARE MORE DURABLE AND HOLD UP BETTER TO USE AND HANDLING THAN SYNTHETIC OR ACRYLIC FELTS. TO HELP YOU FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THIS WONDERFUL MATERIAL, I HAVE LISTED BELOW SOME EXAMPLES OF THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FELT THAT ARE AVAILABLE ON THE MARKET.

Usually made from the wool that lies closest to the sheep's skin, pure wool felt is buttery soft, cuts cleanly and sews up beautifully. It is much stronger and denser than other types of felt and is less likely to pill, rip at the seams or to stretch, and as wool is naturally flame and water resistant and doesn't fray, this type of felt has these qualities, too. Pure wool felt can be purchased in a wide variety of vibrant colours.

Most often, wool blend felts are made from a blend of wool and rayon, the latter of which is made from purified cellulose, primarily sourced from wood pulp. Its properties are very similar to linen or cotton, which makes it perfect for blending with other fabrics. Wool blend felts are very similar to pure wool felt, as they are soft and durable, less likely to pill and are easy to cut out and sew. And like pure wool felts, wool blend felts retain their shape well, do not fray and can be used in a variety of crafts.

This is quite possibly my most favourite of all felts! It is made from 100 per cent wool that has been woven into a cloth then felted using steam and pressure to interlock the fibres. This type of felt has a finely woven, knitted quality that looks and feels extremely soft, and it is available in a range of solid or patterned colours.