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SEWING
TOOLS |
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GINGHER
SCISSORS
If you are serious about your work, these are the only scissors
to own. Very sharp and cut right to the points. (Note: 6" size
no longer available).
7" - doll-size general sewing $32 Add
to Cart
4" - embroidery, small detail, clipping, handsewing (one
of my own most important tools in dollmaking) New bigger finger
holes - easy on/off. I strongly recommend you own two pair
- one for fabric, threads, one for snipping patterns.
$29 Add
to Cart
5" - craft size - extra heavy duty for hard cutting and
cardboard. Love these. $32 Add
to Cart |
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MY OWN FRAY PREVENTER
For dollmaking (not for things like clothes that will be
washed). Paint on raw edges of dolls before turning - allows
cutting of very small seam allowances with no tear-out.
Good at stress points.
SEWING WITH SILKS -
Draw your cutting pattern pieces on flat silk and then paint
this on the drawn line, the silk will not fray once cut and
viola suddenly sewing with silk is no longer a hassle.
1 oz. jar $3.00 Add
to Cart
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TINY
TAPE MEASURE JUST FOR DOLLMAKING
Frustrated by needing people to measure curved areas, such
as the circumference of a doll head or where to place a nose,
and that rulers are flat and tape measures are too wide and
thick, I printed up tiny paper ones that once laminated are
fairly permanent. These started out just for classes, but all
the students kept wanting to take them home, so now they are
available and come two to a package in case you lose one. They
are thin, brightly colored with easy to read numbers, and only
1/8" wide.
$1.00 for 4 Add
to Cart |
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THREAD
CUTTER (good for airlines)
If you like to sew while traveling, you must have one of these
as you will not be allowed to have scissors on air planes any
longer. This is a small cutter whose blade is concealed and
inaccessible, except at tiny slots just for thread. It works
well and can be worn on a string around your neck for convenience
- in fact, it looks like a pendant.We
are no longer stocking these since they seem to be readily
available in sewing supply catalogs and notions areas of Jo-Ann
Fabrics. |
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STILETTO
For years I passed this one by. But one day I tried one and
now I wouldn't be without it for dollmaking at the sewing
machine. What it does is guide gathers or easing through
and under the presser foot with ease - also great to
get lace and other things just started. I used to use
the tips of my 4" Ginghers, but this is so much
better. We make these ourselves (as the commercial ones
are so expensive), using a very strong needle point fixed
into a turned and stained wooden handle with a linen
string loop to hang.
$8.50 Add
to Cart |
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CLOVER IRONS
SMALL CLOVER IRON
(20 watts)
These tiny irons are good for three things in dollmaking.
One is to take along to classes or locations where
using a large wattage iron is impractical, two is for
getting into small places like gathers and for opening
seam allowances, and the third is a new way to transfer
doll faces and embroidery lines using photocopy, ink
jet or laser printout. Comes with instructions for
doing this. Can even be done on most painted cloth
surfaces as well. $25.00 SOLD OUT AND NO LONGER CARRYING
- THIS ITEM COMMONLY AVAILABLE AT CRAFT SUPPLIERS
NEW LARGER HOTTER CLOVER IRON
(45 watts)
This does everything of the smaller
iron, but is hotter (can do more stuff not done well by
lower temps of smaller iron) and has detachable heads for
different purposes. What I have discovered is that this
one will iron on the iron-on faces better if you acquire
the special ball head. The reason is the flat head skims
over the stuffed surface on the doll leaving blanks and
sometimes not transferring at all if doll is understuffed.
Using the ball head means it presses in and does a wonderful
job of transferring all the time. Comes with regular head.
Sorry to add one more thing to the list of necessaries,
but this one is worth it. $38.00 Add
to Cart
Ball Head Attachment $6.50 Add
to Cart
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TO SEE
IS EVERYTHING
I always spend time in all my classes emphasizing that good
work is easy if you can see well enough. Most people can’t.
These magnifiers can be worn with or without glasses and allow
you to see over the tops as you work. They fit comfortably
on your forehead and can be adjusted up or down or out of the
way. They come with two lenses 1.5x
and 2x magnification.
MagEyes $29.00 Add
to Cart |
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PORTABLE
NATURAL LIGHT BY DAYLIGHT
Being able to see is as important as your sewing machine. I
found these lights that are just like Ott lights but not as
costly. They are wonderful for taking with you to classes or
to take from room to room or just to have for regular work.
You can get it up close and the light quality is perfect. These
are the same 13 watt types that fold down for portability and
provide light that is as close to natural as possible.
$48.00 Add
to Cart
Replacement Bulb $19.00 Add
to Cart
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IRONS
If you have never used a top-of-the-line professional Rowenta
iron, you are missing one of the very most important sewing
tools. It took me years to try one and then only by accident
while teaching a class (in 1985). I bought one the next day
and make sure all my sewers have them. Professional Press
model with a laser non-stick bottom & lots of steam.
NOTE- I have discontinued this iron because I cannot compete
with the prices at discount places. In the meantime, iron
companies have now all upgraded irons to Rowenta standards
so you can find much cheaper and still excellent irons by
common companies such as Black and Decker for under $50. |
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IRON CLEANER
Since I promote the use of spray starch dyes and my own wax
antiquing, I feel that you should know about cleaners for
the bottom of your iron. Most of the above things will not
do anything harmful to your iron, but there can be build
up. Apply to an old wash cloth, run your hot iron over it
and it does a wonderful job of cleaning.
$5.00 Add
to Cart
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STEAM-A-SEAM ~
A new double stick fusible web. Has a temporary stick on
both sides without ironing and is re-positionable, then
bonds permanently when ironed. Not as likely to bleed through
cloth and great for covered boxes or doll bonnets. 5 sheets
9" x 12". $5.00 Add
to Cart |
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PROPORTIONAL
SCALE ~ I began using
one of these when I had real jobs (in another much younger
life) as a graphic artist. But since I still use them all
the time, you might like to have one too. They useful for
re-sizing pictures and patterns (both doll and quilt).
Example ~ Say you have a doll pattern that makes a doll
17"
tall, but you want it to be 11" - this will tell you
the percent to reduce to. Or, let's say you have a picture
that is 2" x 3-1/2"
and you want to know if you make it 4-1/4" wide, how
long the length will be. Or, I have a doll chair that is
all in the right proportion but too big, and the only thing
I really know is how tall the back of the chair should be.
I can then use this to find out the measurements of all the
other pieces in the new smaller size. $6.00 SOLD
OUT AND BEING DISCONTINUED |
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BODKIN FOR TURNING MOST
ANYTHING RS OUT ~ Long before turning
tubes, there were bodkins. This is a long smooth metal bar
with a large eye at one end. Slip the eye up inside the narrowest
of tubes and then with a regular needle and thread, sew through
the cloth that you want to turn RS out, going through the
eye of the bodkin. Pull the bodkin out and it will pull with
it the far end that you temporarily tacked to it. Easy and
efficient. GW illustrated instructions come with it. $3.50
SOLD
OUT AND BEING DISCONTINUED (usually found at places like
JoAnn Fabrics). |
| NEEDLES ~ PINS
~ THREADS ~ SCISSORS ~ BEESWAX |
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BEESWAX
A must for handsewing to keep thread from getting tangled and
knotted. You've probably heard this, but you should believe
it. Run your thread through it for all handwork and it will
be almost trouble-free. $2.50 Add
to Cart
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HANDSEWING
THREAD FOR DOLLS
This thread is refreshing to use on such things as attaching
doll limbs or quilting small doll fingers or any other handsewing
where you need some strength. I sell it in five colors with
one color (Doll Body Tan) being a good match for my doll
body fabric. The other colors can be used for brown and black
doll sewing or use the set of basic colors for other handsewing
needs (like sewing on buttons). It comes on wooden spools with
400 yards and is 100% cotton. It will not twist and knot like
all other threads and it is almost as strong as button and
carpet thread - just a pleasure to use. $4.00 each. Note that as of 4/17 I will be selling out (and not restocking) of all colors except the Doll Body Tan. If you want this thread, look for YLI Quilting Thread.
Doll Body Tan Add
to Cart
White Add
to Cart
Off-White Add
to Cart
Brown Add
to Cart
Black SOLD OUT
Doll Body Tan also comes in large size $8.00 Add
to Cart |
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THREAD
FOR LACE MAKING (scroll down for lacemaking kit/instructions)
~ This is the thread we use for my hand crocheted or needle
made lace. All cotton, Mettler thread, color 781 which
is a perfect aged-looking white.
Regular size 150 meters. $2.35 Add
to Cart Large size 500 meters. $5.90 Add
to Cart |
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FAVORITE PINS
These pins are so nice, I give dire threats to anyone caught
using them. Made by the Japanese who are the masters of fine
sewing needles and pins along with fabric. These are particularly
nice glass headed pins (a bit longer than1 inch), but unlike
so many others, just melt into the fabric. With delicate
small glass heads. They are expensive, but just a treat to
have and make a nice gift.
THEY ARE BACK (these had
been discontinued) - but now we get them only in little tins
in the longer length instead of the cute little bottle, but
the tin is nice. $9.75 Add
to Cart |
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LEATHER NEEDLES
The smallest hand sewing size - like fine handsewing needles,
but with a three-sided point in the ends so they "cut" right
through the leather making hand sewing of doll shoes easy.
4 needles on a card.
$2.25 Add
to Cart |
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NEEDLE
LIFTERS
These are large needles that have sharp wedgelike points and
are strong enough to use as small "pry bars" to resolve
hollow places and minor lumps in stuffing. They are inserted
through the outer fabric, angled down into the stuffing below
and used to lift stuffing up into the undesired cavity. Also
can be used to slide stuffing along just under the surface.
This is most helpful for areas discovered after the doll is
stuffed, particularly in the head area or even for moving stuffing
down to tips of toes or fingers. 3 on a card strung with ribbon
loops so you will be less likely to lose them in your pincushion.
$1.50 Add
to Cart |
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FAVORITE
NEEDLES
This is a package of my favorite needles for all purposes due
to requests from people in my classes. They are ones that are
largely hard to find, especially in a good quality. Other than
that, there is nothing special except they are the ones I use
for everything and I put them all together in a package with
notes about their uses. Now with two more needles added including
a leather needle. A package of 14 in 8 specific sizes.
$5.75 Add
to Cart |
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FELTING
NEEDLES
These needles which have been used in industry for a long time
can also be used in dollmaking. They are three-sided needles
that have tiny barbs in them that pull fibers with them and
leave them behind when the needle is removed, so that an in
and out movement with the needle, felts or wefts fibers together.
They can be used to attach fiber hair to cloth dolls' heads
without sewing or gluing, and although this is not totally
secure for playworthiness, it is fine for most "just to
be looked at dolls". I also use them a lot for just securing
the hairdoes themselves, not to the scalp but just to pull
the hair into line or tidy up places that have become messy,
especially with roving hair. Four needles come with a small
instruction sheet.
$2.75 Add
to Cart
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CLOVER
PUNCH NEEDLE
This is the punch needle I arrived at to supply for the punch
needle kits I am doing (right now there is only one in the
Hitty Series) which use 3 strands of floss. If you already
have a needle that will punch 3 strands, you do not need this
and in general there are many punch needles out there and most
craft supplies have them - many are better than this one, but
I chose this one for being easy, available and very inexpensive
and I actually do like it, especially for the easy gauge positioning.
$11.75 Add
to Cart
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LOCKING,
NON-SLIP 5" EMBROIDERY HOOP
This hoop has the lip made so once you have your fabric locked
in and pulled tight, it will stay nice and taut for working
on your small punch needle kits. $2.75 Add
to Cart
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OLD SMALL BUTTONS - only a few left of this style.
Small 2 hole, a fat 3/16" diameter (white can dye with
Rit dyes). Bags of 20.
• White $7.75 Add
to Cart
• Black (black-brown, reads as black) $7.75 Add
to Cart
*Note that these can vary within any given batch, some slightly
thicker than others or a tiny bit off in color from one to
another. Usually you can match up necessary sets or it may
not be an issue at all. Just a warning to extreme fussbudgets
in case you want to order extras.
NEW SMALL BUTTONS
As with so many many items, doll buttons I used to buy by
the bagful (Small Buttons above) at wholesale rates and dye
them for my colors, putting them in kits and selling as dollmaking
supplies, have now become hard to get and can only be purchased
in tiny quantities making reselling them (or putting them
in kits) prohibitive. Fortunately, I have a good amount left,
but not indefinitely. After exhaustive web searches, I finally
found a company in China who makes them for me. These are
actually nicer than the old ones and a tiny bit smaller making
them between my old "Small" doll buttons and my "Extra
Small" doll buttons, which are very tiny. These are
a true 3/16" in diameter, 2-hole button. Sold in bags
of 20, $7.50 each.
White Add
to Cart 
Black Add
to Cart
Cream Add
to Cart
Lt
Brown Add
to Cart
Dark Brown Add
to Cart
OLD-FASHIONED RIMMED 4-HOLE,
3/8" diameter (20 per pkg)
Tan $4.50 Add
to Cart
Dark Brown $4.50 Add
to Cart (Used for 14" Raggedy Eyes)
SMALL
REAL PEARL BUTTONS
Just under 1/4" diameter with 2 hole and a tiny edge.
Card of 12 $9.50 No longer available - the world is getting
too plastic and gone are the good old things.
SMALL
SHOE BUTTONS
I use these small black beads for shoe buttons. These are
real glass vintage round beads. 4 MM Bag of 20 $4.00 Add
to Cart 3 MM Bag of 20 $3.00 Add
to Cart |
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EXTRA-SMALL
BUTTONS
What a find. Two-hole buttons that are really doll-scale. These
measure about 1/8" across, really tiny. Four colors available
- white and cream are dyeable with Rit dyes. My favorites are
the brown and the cream. A needle is supplied that will sew
on these small buttons.
1 Gross (144 buttons) White $8.50 Add
to Cart
1 Gross (144 buttons) Cream $8.50 Add
to Cart
1 Gross (144 buttons) Brown $8.50 Add
to Cart
1 Gross (144 buttons) Black $8.50 Add
to Cart
Mixed Package Deal - A gross of each of the 4 colors (total
of 4 gross) $30 Add
to Cart
Small Mixed Package -12 each of 4 assorted colors (white, cream,
brown and black) Same buttons sold for Hitty dolls. Special needle included.
$6.75 Add
to Cart
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RAYON
RIBBON FOR DOLLMAKING
The need for this item keeps coming up with my dolls 12" and
larger. I began by using vintage ribbon and overdyeing it to
suit each doll, but vintage ribbon is very costly, if it can
be found. Here is a good 3/8 inch wide ribbon that because
it is rayon, it dyes easily. It comes off-white and is $6.50
for 3 yards. Add
to Cart
DYEABLE
SILK RIBBON ~ These three widths of ribbon are barely
off-white and intended to be easily dyed to the color of
your choice. See below to order easy dye recipes and instructions.
NARROW (about 1/12 inch wide) $3.75 per 5 yards Add
to Cart
MED (about 1/8 inch wide) $3.95 per 5 yards Add
to Cart
WIDE (about 1/4 inch wide) $4.75 per 5 yards Add
to Cart
ALL PURPOSE BROWN SILK
RIBBON ~ This ribbon is used for many jobs such as
doll shoe laces, drawstrings for snoods, etc. 1/8" wide.
5 yards $3.75 Add
to Cart
NARROW
COTTON TAPE - Use this tape for all manner of ties
for dollmaking. Waistband ties and hidden ties for swooped
up gowns, pluse embroider on it for doll trim. 5 yards
$3.50. Slightly less than 1/4" wide.
Off white (and also dyeable) Add
to Cart
Brown Add
to Cart
NEW - Tea Dye Add
to Cart
BATTENBURG TAPE -
Not really a lace or a tape. Makes a nice trim for my Pincushion
Doll or Izannah Walker's dress. Off-white and dyeable. 1/4" wide.
NOT AVAILABLE ANY MORE - LOOKING FOR MORE. You can make-do
by embroidering on cotton tape sold above. |
| DYES & OVERDYES |
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DYE
- Rit Tan
This was my go-to dye to get the tea or coffee dyed look.
I learned early on that this worked as well as tea or coffee
which required vast amounts of tea bags (or coffee) for
the amount I needed, plus irregular results. But no longer
selling it though it can still be found in stores. My paint
overdye is far more preferable to Rit although I still
use the Tan color in Rit in various of my dye recipes.
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WAX ANTIQUING MEDIUM
This is a product that I worked on for years. Its use is
limited to unpainted dolls or fabrics that can be ironed.
Comes with detailed instructions to "antique" dolls
to really look vintage - not just tea-dyed. Package comes
with a small tin of the wax medium and, sandpaper and powdered
dye to overdye, all that's needed, except spray starch,
to do a realistic job. $6.50 Add
to Cart
NEW ~ Large size tins now available. This is just
the antiquing wax in a 2.5 " tin, no instructions,
sandpaper or powdered overdye included. $12.00 Add
to Cart |
Original
Adds age by "tanning" up
the color. |
ORIGINAL PAINT OVERDYE
The very best and easiest
way to get the old look for fabrics (silks too) and laces,
especially whites and too-brights. Easier than stovetop methods
but must be used only on flat fabrics and laces. Complete
instructions included for using this. Makes new print fabrics
look old, makes whites and laces look vintage. Mixes with
water, reusable and dries quickly. Overdyed samples included.
PLEASE READ NOTES BELOW FOR IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
2oz. jar $7.50 Add
to Cart
8 oz. jar $10.25 Add
to Cart |
Yellowing
|
PAINT OVERDYE FOR
THE YELLOWED LOOK
I have been finding the need for
an overdye that gives a more yellowed look - just the kind
that old whites and old laces get. Presenting this new formula.
NOTES ~ To distinguish between the Original and Yellowing
(I recommend you have some of each since it is not always
a given which one you will like the best in any situation),
the original formula (above) should be thought of as giving
the aged and dirty look and for toning down that too bright
look of many prints and fabrics, and the new formula for
when a more aged, but yellowed look is desired. I found
the yellowing formula best on laces and some whites. An
example of how fickle dyeing is, I use my Original recipe
on most fabrics and my regular fine batiste, but for the
extra fine batiste I find the Yellowing works best. Most
times we need Yellowing on laces used but Original on the
batiste even if they are going together. This is why I
recommend having both recipes on hand. Experiment on small
pieces.
2oz. jar $7.50 Add
to Cart
8 oz. jar $10.25 Add
to Cart |
New Overdye
for Doll Bodies |
PAINT OVERDYE FOR
DOLL BODY FABRIC
When my 30+ years of always using one tried and true
cotton body fabric which came in just the right tan
was discontinued I first needed to stop wailing and
tearing out my hair and figure out what next. Not wanting
to switch fabrics, it remained to order the same fabric
in an unacceptable light color and then work out a
paint overdye color to make my own good color for that
vintage and much handled look everyone loves on old
cloth dolls. This new color can be used on any light
cotton and unlike factory dyed fabric, does help to
add to the true age as any hand dyed fiber does, which
are the good things out of the bad. We also have used
this as a darker overdye on some fabrics needed a darker
cast.
2oz. jar $7.50 Add
to Cart
8 oz. jar $10.25 Add
to Cart
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See Above
under Dollmaking Fabrics for Dyeable Silks and Other Suggestions
GAIL
WILSON FAVORITE DYE RECIPES AND
INSTRUCTIONS
Recipes for a complete palette of the GW dye colors using
commonly available Rit Dyes. Each color in the color palette
has three recipes. If used full strength, the darker version
of the color is produced, used in lesser strength produces
a pastel of the same color and with the addition of specified
amounts of gray, you get a muted, dustier color. I swears
by all of these colors (taken from Colonial palettes) and
finds that you can get just about any combination that
is needed to suit anyone's fancy or that of a demanding
doll. These dye colors are easy to use Rit dyes and just
take a few minutes on the stovetop. Primarily they work
best for dyeing silks (sold above) and wools but also cottons
(cotton is harder to achieve optimum results).
DYE
RECIPES - Includes all recipes for dyes above
plus deep colors for wools used in Penny Rug designs
or other Santa accessories. $4.50 Add
to Cart |
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LACES
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NARROW
LACE BY THE YARD ~ Narrow lace is hardest of all
to find in good quality. This is the the best in narrow
imported cotton lace with the smallest repeat - besides
narrow width, the repeat must be as small as possible
too. All laces I sell will age well with my paint overdyes,
a simple process that takes minutes.
Now offering two styles due to significant price increase on our standard lace by the yard. Both are narrow but one is less expensive and the other more delicate in design, but both work on small dolls or wherever you need a narrow lace.
Style 1 (see #9 below) $3.50 Add
to Cart
Style 2 (see #10 below) $2.60 Add
to Cart
BATTENBURG
TAPE ~ Unavailable at this time. You can make-do
by embroidering on cotton tape - sold above. Or substitute
narrow
insertion lace No. 7 below which shrinks when paint overdyed
to age it to about 1/4" wide (plus makes pattern
denser and more desirable).
LACE-MAKING
KIT ~ A tiny kit to do a big and easy job. Lace
that is appropriate for small dolls (and big dolls) is
hard to find. I long ago used up all the vintage lace
I had collected and then I was faced with "now what?" Sometimes
commercial lace just does not have the look and as small
as it comes, it is still too big for some small dolls.
This is an easy way to make lace with just a needle and
cotton thread with one easy stitch. Directions, needle,
thread (in just the right color for antique look) plus
a practice fabric piece so you can start right in. $3.75 Add
to Cart
THREAD
FOR LACE MAKING ~ This is the thread we use for
my hand crocheted or needle made lace. All cotton, Mettler
thread, color 781 which is a perfect aged-looking white.
Regular size 150 meters. $2.35 Add
to CartLarge size 500 meters. $5.90 Add
to Cart |
| FANCY
IMPORTED LACES |
OVERDYED
SAMPLES
|
|
All
of the laces are imported cotton and are the finest available.
They come white, but as you can see from the left hand
insert, a quick and easy paint overdye from my own recipe
and technique renders them quite antique looking. If
you want more than one yard, change quantity in shopping
cart. 1/2 yard quantities are available on the
more expensive laces - please accompany order with a separate
email.
Starting from top:
(1) 2" lace with dots in
fine netting $5.70/yd Add
to Cart
(2) 2" lace with delicate
pattern $18.00/yd Add
to Cart
(3) 2" lace with dense pattern
$6.75/yd SOLD OUT
(4) 1" bordered lace $4.40/yd.
SOLD OUT
(5) 3/4" lace with dots in
fine netting $3.10/yd. Add
to Cart
(6) 1/2" lace with double
circle border $3.20/yd. SOLD OUT
(7) 3/8" insertion lace $2.50/yd. Add
to Cart
(8) 1/2" dense lace edging
$3.30/yd SOLD OUT
(9) 3/8" narrow delicate
lace $3.50/yd Add
to Cart
(10) 3/8" narrow basic lace
$2.60/yd Add
to Cart
(11) 1/2" tiny edging lace
$2.90/yd Add
to Cart
(12) 2" very fine lace $19.30/yd
SOLD OUT
(13) 1" fine netting lace
(can be worked on top of or used as is) $9.70/yd Add
to Cart
(14) 1/2" entredeux (insert)
lace $5.60/yd. Add
to Cart
(15) 2" English Lace (more
economical but still fine quality cotton) $5.50/yd Add
to Cart
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| SHOES ~ LEATHER |
|
LEATHER
FOR SHOE MAKING
A premium grade thin and very soft
glove leather almost impossible to find. Two pieces (4" x
7") included. Will make 2 pair of smaller shoes (my
Columbian) or one pair of larger shoes (my Izannah Walker
Boy). Make sure to have the fine hand sewing leather needles
above to sew with.
Brown $3.50 Add
to Cart
Red (with directions for antiquing) $3.50 Temporarily Out
BAG
OF LEATHER SCRAPS
Lots of big enough irregular-shaped pieces for all kinds
of doll shoemaking. Equivalent to more than twice of the
above square cut pieces. Brown.
$4.00 Temporarily Out
SMALL
SHOE BUTTONS
I use these small black beads for shoe buttons. These are
real glass vintage round beads. 4 MM Bag of 20 $4.00 Add
to Cart 3 MM Bag of 20 $3.00 Add
to Cart
LEATHER
NEEDLES
The smallest hand sewing size - like fine handsewing needles,
but with a three-sided point in the ends so they "cut" right
through the leather making hand sewing of doll shoes easy.
4 needles on a card.
$1.75 Add
to Cart |
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