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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 $3.75 Add
to Cart
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GINGHER
SCISSORS
If you are serious about your work, these are the best scissors
to own (see my new "also best" scissors below). Very sharp and cut right to the points (as long as you don't cheat and cut paper, polyester or plastic). And, they have a good firm chomp.
4" Ginghers - embroidery, small detail, clipping, trimming, handsewing (one of
my own most important tools in dollmaking). I sell the ones with bigger finger holes
- easy on/off. I strongly recommend you own two pair - one for
fabric, threads, one for snipping patterns. $29.00 OUT OF STOCK
5" Craft Ginghers - don't let the "craft" fool you, although they excell in craft projects as well. I use them for general cutting and heavier materials (for instance the linen mesh). These have hefty blades that cut so well you will find yourself reaching for them all the time - they just feel right in your hand. I still recommend having a separate pair dedicated to paper, cardboard if you will be doing a lot of cutting of those materials. $32.00 SOLD OUT
7" Ginghers - more of what my mother's generation called "dressmaking scissors" . Good for general outline cutting and bulk cutting (but notclipping or trimming while sewing - use the 4" for this)
$32 Add
to Cart |
Click scissors for picture |
NEW FAVORITE SCISSORS FOR DOLL WORK
Thanks to Kellie who works for me long distance from New Mexico, I am now selling my choices of Karen Kay Buckley scissors. The tiny green ones I first prized for the close-in accuracey of the tiny points which are sharp right up to the tiny tips, I no longer am selling. Loved them at the start, but over time they just are too wimpy to really cut well except on very delicate stuff. Instead I found myself reaching for the Small All-Purpose and so I have changed what I offer. The blue ones are still wonderful for small doll cutting of clothing or body parts and the purple ones for more normal size cutting. Scissors are light, blades minutely serrated which grip fabric against slipping and the handles are soft and large enough for easy handling. These are great tools to add to your toolbox.
Small 4" green scissors. No longer offering these - instead get the Small All-Purpose Scissors below.
Small All-Purpose Scissors 5" orange handles - I first got these for non-fabric cutting, but find myself using all the time for fine cutting too. I am sorry to admit to being a scissors addict. I also like the good big handles for fast grabbing. $24.75 Add to Cart
Medium 6" blue scissors $27.75 Add to Cart
Large 8"(but not as big seeming as other 8" scissors) purple scissors $29.75 Add to Cart
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TEENY
CLIPPING SCISSORS
Discovered that a pair of these purchased for traveling (due to
extreme small size) made clipping off excess knit when using the
knit-over (a molded head form) technique where knit butts up to
another piece of knit completely changed the difficulty of this
task. The teeny tips are less than 1/2" long but very sharp
so they can cut inside curves which is near impossible with any
other scissors. This enables you to get perfect edges where knit
butts together. These are not cheap tools, but fine sewing scissors
by a French company known for high quality scissors. Even though
they have tiny tips, the finger loops are large and easy on and
off. Total length of these is 2.25". Tiny indeed. $18 Sorry, no longer available .Alternately for snipping knit over very close, try small curve tipped scissors.
See special knit in the Basic Fabrics section for doing this technique
for dolls. |
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FAVORITE PINS IN A TIN
Again these pins were discontinued, but through diligent searching I found a new source. The new source did not provide the nice little tin box, but I got my own tin boxes and put on my own label.
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, but unlike
so many others, just melt into the fabric. With delicate
small glass heads that can take a hot iron. 100 pins .4mm x 1.36 mm.
$12.50 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.
$7.95 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.
$5.75 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. $4.50 Add
to Cart |
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TINY
CLAMPS FOR DOLLMAKING - Important new tools. Perfect
for tightly holding small pieces together during sewing and
gluing constructions, as hair clips while styling doll wigs,
plus many more uses. Smooth jaws on these tiniest of clamps
(about 1" long) will not leave marks. Recommended for
working with mesh below. Package of 5. $5.00 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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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 |
BUTTONING TOOL |
STYLUS - USE AS A DOLL BUTTON HOOK
Stylus tools have many uses and sizes. Basically a pencil like tool with metal balls on each end of different diameters. They are used in ceramic and sculpting work, for burnishing surfaces, in printing for embossing and for dotting with paint. I have always had them around my workshop since they have so many uses, but the one that is very helpful in dollmaking and which is little known, is using the ball tip to pull thread loops or tiny buttonholes over tiny buttons. Like a button hook, but since it is hard to get a hook that small and hooks can only pull, the ball at the end serves better to both pull and push. Once you have one, you will find other uses as well.
Two options:
Single stylus in smallest size (Good for Hittys)
$3.95 Add
to Cart
Set of 5 assorted sizes $15.95 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 (read that as you need the ball
head attachment). Comes with regular head. Sorry to add one more
thing to the list of necessaries, but this one is worth it. $38.00 Ball Head Attachment $8.75
SOLD OUT AND NO LONGER CARRYING - THIS ITEM COMMONLY AVAILABLE
AT CRAFT SUPPLIERS
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MAGNIFICATION
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 (MagEyes) 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 $36.50 SOLD OUT BUT AVAILABLE ONLINE - LOOK FOR MAGEYES
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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 SOLD OUT BUT AVAILABLE ONLINE
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click image for picture |
THE TINY IRON WITH A BIG HEART
I got these tiny irons based on a friend's recommendation and have been hooked ever since. They fit nicely in the palm of your hand at just 5" tall and they have steam. What I like is the obvious smallness for doll sewing (or quilting) and the fact that they are as hot as a "real" iron (which many previous travel irons were not), BUT, and this is big, they only use about 400 watts as opposed to a big iron at 1200-1800. If you like to leave your iron on for long stretches, this won't break the electric bank and it holds steam for an amazing amount of time considering its small tank. This has been my go-to iron even when I should be using my people sized iron. $29.95 SOLD OUT BUT AVAILABLE ONLINE - LOOK FOR STEAMFAST
NOTE - I have discontinued selling regular size irons professional model Rowenta irons, which I sold because they were the only game in town if you wanted a high quality (and hot) iron back in the day, but then the market caught on and many manufacturers have upgraded irons to Rowenta
standards so you can find much cheaper and still excellent irons
by most other companies for under $50. Because
of this, I cannot compete with the prices at discount places where similar irons now abound. |
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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.
$7.00 SOLD OUT
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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 No longer selling this but you can find it online. |
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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.
DISCONTINUED BUT AVAILABLE AT
ONLINE ART SUPPLIES or even at Amazon (search "proportional scale wheels" with prices between $5 adn $10). |
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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
DISCONTINUED (usually
found at places like JoAnn Fabrics). |
TRACING
VELLUM FOR TRANSFERRING FACES
10 sheets of the special transparent vellum that can be used in
laser printers or most copiers that use heat in the printing process.
Line art faces (not color) printed onto this paper can then be
ironed onto painted cloth for a perfect transfer to then paint
or colored pencil in. Using a Clover iron (sold below) is recommended.
$5.25 Add
to Cart
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FREEZER
PAPER SHEETS
20 sheets of flat freezer paper (heavy duty to keep flat) which
are good for running through your printer. Freezer paper is great
for printing out paper pieces for certain quilt designs or for
doll patterns - just iron on, no pins, pull off and even re-use.
$7.75 Add
to Cart
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GLUE
Best all-purpose glue and recommended in many of my kits. 4 oz.
Aleene's Tacky Glue in squeeze bottle.
$2.75 Add
to Cart |
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THE
LITTLE EXTRAS |
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HITTY
CORAL BEADS
Hitty Kits come with a set of beads but you may want extras or
need another set if you are making another Hitty from extra molded
parts. Package comes with stretchy bead cord and instructions.
These are real coral beads hard to find in this small size (2mm).
Coral color $7.50 Add
to Cart Deep red coral color $7.50 Add
to Cart
Finished Beads in coral color $12.95 Add
to Cart
Finished Beads in deep red coral $12.95 Add
to Cart
REAL TURQUOISE BEADS FOR HITTY
Just like Hitty's coral beads, turquoise beads were also common in Hitty's time. I have found some rare 2 mm real turquoise beads after a hard search. These can be ordered, like the coral beads I sell for Hitty, in kit form $7.50 Add to Cart or finished $12.95 Add to Cart |
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PEARLS -
2 mm (very small - 14 per inch) glass faux pearl beads. A good
size for dolls from 6" to 12" tall. Packages come with
instructions for stringing on fine beading wire included. Enough
for 2.5" with extras.
$6.75 Add
to Cart
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EARRING
POSTS - Tiny brass looped posts for dolls with pierced
earrings. Build your own earrings on these posts using wire and
beads or even Sculpey made forms. Package of 6. $1.75 Add
to Cart |
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PRINTED
DOLL APRONS - There is something so dear about doll
aprons, bonnets and shoes. These are aprons popular in the
late 1800's which show up on many antique dolls, notably, Izannah
Walkers, Springfield Woodens and many others. This is a common
design - there were many - that I adapted and now print out
in brown on extra fine overdyed batiste (for drape). These
are mini-kits to make your own with sewing template, instructions,
pre-printed and pre-overdyed (antique white) apron fronts plus
lining and button for waistband. Even Hitty has one her size.
Lengths are given so you can better gauge the
size your doll might need.
Apron for 3" dolls (Tiny Hitty) $12.00 Add
to Cart
Apron for 3.5" dolls $12.00 Add
to Cart
Apron for 6" dolls (Hitty) (3-1/2" top to bottom) $18.00 Add
to Cart
Apron for 7-8" dolls
OTHER SIZES:
Apron for 7-8", 8-9", 9-10", 12", 14" and for 16-18" dolls are now half price until sold out and shown on the Garage Sale Page |
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Tacky Putty for Dolls (Uhu Brand)
Keep hats on slippery doll's heads, help pose and stand dolls and arrange small accessories. Won't harm firm paint or sturdy fabrics and can be re-used. Use small pieces balled up to stick things down. White.
Small package goes a long way. $1.75 Add to Cart
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PRIMITIVE
ANIMAL SUPPLIES
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EYES
Glass eyes have wire loops to sew on. Use for my Primitive Animals.
Sets of two pair.
Small (4mm) Brown with Black Centers $6.00 Add
to Cart
Large (6mm) Brown with Black Centers $8.00 Add
to Cart
Small (4mm) All Black $4.50 Add
to Cart
Large (6mm) All Black $4.50 Add
to Cart (these come 4 pairs)
NOTIONS
•Rusty bells for Lamb $1.75 (pkg of 4) Add
to Cart
•Wooden wheels and axles $5.00 (one set) Add
to Cart
•Platform for Lamb Pulltoy with wheels, axles, paint $9.50
set Add
to Cart
•Cat Bases for the Upright
Cat $3.00 Add
to Cart |
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WIGGING ~ DOLL HAIR FIBERS ~ WIGGING
TOOLS
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BUTTONING TOOL
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MOHAIR FOR DOLL HAIR - This is a smooth but not the silky more realistic kind known as "English" mohair and therefore best for cloth dolls.It is slightly woolier than the English, but much easier to work with.
One yard roving. Will do approximately 3 dolls up to 12" or lots of angels. $5.75
Brown Add
to Cart
Blonde SOLD OUT
Auburn Add
to Cart
SPECIAL OFFER - I have a huge supply of the Auburn and Brown roving from the old days of many kits having it included in the kit supplies, and need to clear out some. 5 yard bags $10.95
Auburn Add
to Cart Brown Add
to Cart
MOHAIR
(Fine English) FOR WIGGING - This is the realistic type of very silky mohair fiber used for molded head
dolls. One yard lengths for wefting or other types of
wig making. You can apply the wefting to a wig cap made from
molded cotton knit, or use the sturdy moldable linen (18 mesh)
with instructions for a wig cap. Note: The "flaxen" mohair listed
below looks like flax which is often used on Queen Annes. Real flax
can be stiff, so this is a perfect substitute. If you do want
real flax fiber, see below.
NOTICE: I am no longer able to source English mohair in quantities, so have had to discontinue as I run out of current stock. If you are wigging a cloth doll, I recommend the mohair above which has the benefit of being easier to work with and can work well with cloth dolls. If you want the English type, look on Etsy - search for "mohair for dolls". There are several dealers selling small quantities.
CURLY
MOHAIR FROM BRAID
This is wool or mohair that comes tightly braided. When unbraided
it is nicely wavy. 12" of braid pulls out to much longer, about 3 times and much fuller.
Can be sewn into wefting, "rooted" with a felting needle,
sewn or glued. $4.5 No longer available from this website. Look on Etsy - search for "curley crepe mohair for dolls". Most will be from wool, which is good for many dolls, mohair is silkier and harder to find.
WIG CAP MAKINGS - Instructions
for molding wig caps from either linen or cotton knit to make
a foundation on which to build a wig. You provide your own materials.
Uses either a heavy linen, the old way, (sold for needle arts)
or follow the GW easy way using any cotton knit (old t-shirt,
etc.). $3.50 Add
to Cart
TINY CLAMPS
FOR DOLLMAKING - You have
to have these great little tools! Perfect
for tightly holding small pieces together during sewing and
gluing constructions, as hair clips while styling doll wigs,
plus many more uses. Smooth jaws on these tiniest of clamps
(about 1" long) will not leave marks. Recommended for
working with mesh below. Package of 5. $4.95 Add
to Cart
LINEN
MESH FOR MAKING STRAW HATS & BONNETS - Make
many styles of molded crown straw bonnets for smaller dolls
(up to 16") using linen even-weave mesh. New size
given will make the necessary double thick for more than
one hat or bonnet. New full width cut (39" x 6")
also allows for peeling off threads for twisted edgings
as needed. Once you understand how well this product molds
on a form, you can use household objects to mold many shapes,
even small baskets for dolls. Adaptable basic instructions
included. $10.95 Add
to Cart
USING A STYLUS AS A BUTTONING TOOL
Stylus tools have many uses, from ceramics and sculpting to burnishing surfaces and in printing for embossing. I have always had them around my workshop since they have so many uses, but the one that is very helpful in dollmaking and which is little known, is using the ball tip to pull thread loops or tiny buttonholes over tiny buttons. Once you have one, you will find other uses as well.
Single stylus in smallest size
$3.95 Add
to Cart
Set of 5 assorted sizes $15.95 Add
to Cart |
Click
here to see how to measure for
snood fit. |
SNOODS -
adding a snood to your doll is not only charming and historical,
but it makes short work of hairstyling.
FINISHED
HAND CROCHETED SNOODS - These are crocheted
in dark brown rayon extra fine thread with brown silk ribbon
ties. Sizes of dolls are only approximate as amount of hair
and size of doll's head will make differences, however, the
snoods have some degree of stretch plus cinching in. Please
check the chart in the link at left to be sure for your doll. PLEASE NOTE: For some time, I have had to discontinue finished snoods in all 5 sizes having lost my longtime crochet person. But after a long search, I now have someone making them for me, but am limiting finished snoods to two sizes, A and B. A works on my 9" molded dolls. B works well with my Molded Fashion Doll and the Early American Needlework Cloth Doll.
Size A (8-9"
dolls). $48 Add
to Cart
Size B (10-12" dolls. B works well with my Molded Fashion Doll and the Early American Needlework Cloth Doll.) $58 Add
to Cart
Hint: Cloth dolls tend to have bigger heads than molded dolls.
So my 12" molded-head Fashion doll wears a B but my 12" Cloth
Fashion Doll wears a C. But there is a lot of fudge factor with
these and usually can be made to fit as long as you are in the
general size range.
SIMPLE SNOOD TO MAKE - A tiny kit to make a sewn snood
for dolls from imported English cotton netting, special lace edging and silk ribbon. Not as elegant as a hand crocheted one,
but most dolls will be happy to have one. $7.50 Add
to Cart
CROCHET YOUR
OWN DOLL SNOODS - Directions for four sizes of snoods
that cover dolls from about 9" to 14". You will need
Perle Cotton, Size 10 hook, and some 4mm silk ribbon. $3.50 Add
to Cart
PERLE COTTON FOR SNOODS -
in brown size 12 for crocheting your own snood from the kit or
pattern instructions with size 10 crochet hook. (will make at
least 3 snoods). $2.60 Add
to Cart
CROCHET HOOK -
size 10 for above work. $1.85 Add
to Cart
BROWN SILK
RIBBON FOR SNOODS - 1/8" wide. 5 yards $3.00 Add
to Cart |
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CURLY SHEEPS WOOL
This is hard to find with the right curl. I buy fleeces freshly shorn and hand wash.Will do several Santas, depending on size and amount of wool you
use. $15.95 Add
to Cart |
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COTTON YARN FOR RAGGEDY HAIR
This is the same soft brown as I use in my 14" Raggedy kits.
Not for the smaller sizes. This is a full skein which will make
about 4 dolls.
$5.75 SOLD OUT |
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FIBER
COMB FOR DOLL HAIR
In a lot of my kits, there is a need to use a "hair pick" to
sort, smooth and thin the fibers. This is particularly true for
all doll hair made from roving. Roving cannot be combed or brushed
or it will fall apart, so this tool has been made here to solve
the problem - real human hair picks with thin metal tines are hard
to find. You could make one yourself with 5 needles and some sculpey
(see my Hints page), but here is a nice one with a wood handle.
$7.50 Add
to Cart |
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DOLLMAKERS
WIGGING CLAMP
These came about because wherever I go to teach and use this, people
want one. It is good for dolls from 2" on up to 18".
Has a clamp to hold the doll steady on your work surface so both
your hands are free and a little felt pincushion and place for
your small scissors and thread. $32.00 Add
to Cart (this item has a $3 shipping surcharge) |
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FELTING
NEEDLES
These needles which have been used in industry for a long time
have recently hit the dollmaking world too and once you use them,
you will see why. 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.
$5.75 Add
to Cart |
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TACKY
PUTTY FOR DOLLS (Uhu Brand)
Keep hats on slippery doll's heads,
help pose and stand dolls and arrange small accessories. Won't
harm firm paint or sturdy fabrics and can be re-used. Use small
pieces balled up to stick things down. White.
Small package goes a long way. $1.75 Add
to Cart |
STUFFINGS ~ TURNING AND
STUFFING TOOLS
|
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HEMOSTATS
An essential tool for sewers and dollmakers. They look and operate
like scissors (without cutting), but are actually little clamps
that can reach into the tiniest places like doll arms (and
even fingers), grab and clamp, then pull right side out. Their
dull tips are good for pointing corners and pushing. $6.75 Add
to Cart
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STUFFING FORKS:
These are highly recommended for being able to maneuver stuffing
into undesirable gaps and also to pack the stuffing for a good
fill with a smooth outer surface. We make these here with wood handles and I send with a sheet of
my own stuffing tips. Strongly recommend with all stuffings, and
for the best results possible, use with the wool roving above.
Large Fork (all general stuffing) $14.95 Add
to Cart
Small Fork (getting into small areas such as fingers or stuffing very small (3" types) doll arms and legs, not for heavy pushing) $12.95 Add
to Cart
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SOME INFO ABOUT STUFFING FORKS:
There are basically two styles of fork ends. For basic stuffing of larger cavities (like doll bodies or heads), you want only a tiny groove in a sturdier rod, not anything close to the definition of a fork with longer tines. But the reason is you only want enough of a "catch"on the tip is so that you can manipulate stuffing - mostly to grab it and push it in, plus move it once in tight spaces to fill gaps. The other style of fork is mainly used to guide stuffing inside a cavity where the stuffing is contained inside its decidedly longer forked ends and this is used in narrow places like doll fingers or tiny dolls. My regular forks are like the first description with a tiny groove in a sturdier metal rod while my smaller forks are made with definitive forked ends about 1/4" long.
If you are stuffing bigger things, you can make a good fork using a cheap screwdriver with an appropriate length shaft and head for your work, and use a file to make a small V-fork in the end. |
TURNING
TUBES ~ Inexpensive but good turning tubes very helpful
for things like doll fingers. I was going to make fancy ones
from brass and searched out ones from clear or white poly,
but these brightly colored ones will do the job (3 appropriate
sizes for my sizes of dolls) and are very reasonable. $10.00 Add
to Cart
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 Add
to Cart |
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NEW
SET OF STUFFING TUBES -
My invention for better stuffing. Faster, easier and little or
no stress on your hand/wrist. This is a set of two cut Aqua Cones
(large and small) and two tubes (large and small). You should use
them best with wool roving, though they also work with good poly
by feeding the poly in like roving and you will need a regular
sized stuffing fork. Set $7.50 Add
to Cart |
 
PURE WOOL STUFFING (sorry, never part of a sale)
The very best stuffing of all and worth the price for all-natural.
If you use this with the stuffing forks sold below, you will
have the best chance at good doll stuffing - the hardest part
of dollmaking. Most helpful for smooth surfaces on doll heads
and nice smooth legs and arms. The best for beginners too.
Can even be dyed for doll hair. (The cost of wool is high,
however, it is still the best stuffing and in relation to the
amount of work put into a doll, worth every penny. This is
not the place to skimp.).
8 oz. - enough for
4 - 6 smaller dolls $12 Add
to Cart
1 pound. - (about 20 yards) plenty for several dolls $23 (this item has a $4 shipping surcharge) Add
to Cart
Sorry, I can no longer supply greater quantities than 1 pound per order.
Shipping
Note on lightweight stuffings below: Due to new
shipping rates imposed on us that involve dimensional weight
(the size of the box is factored in even if lightweight and
low cost, such as a bag of stuffing), we must figure orders
with bags of stuffing on a box by box basis so that regular
shipping rates may not apply. This means it is best to order
stuffing with other items to keep your shipping reasonable.
Of course, if you need stuffing, you need stuffing and we are
happy to ship and we do squash it down as much as possible. Be
especially forwarned that on offers of reduced or free shipping
during a promotion will not apply.
MY
FAVORITE WHITE POLY STUFFING (IF
YOU NEED TO USE POLY)
This is the best white poly. This used to be called "Super
Fluff" and now is named Mountain Mist, but made by same
Buffalo Batt and Felt Company. Stays put and is not slippery
or lumpy. Has the best effect closest to firm vintage stuffed dolls.
12 oz. Bag $5.45 Add
to Cart (this item has a $2.00 shipping surcharge)
2# Bag. Sorry, I am no longer selling this size.
COTTON
FOR STUFFING:
I have always avoided old-fashioned cotton for stuffing, though
it was used extensively in old dolls and animals. That was because
it was hard to avoid lumps. But my interest in one aspect of
vintage dolls and animals - that of the heft and "solidness" of
old stuffing - led me to try this brand of cotton. I was very
impressed and had no trouble stuffing without lumps and at the
same time achieving the desirable heft. I still recommend my
other stand-by's above, but am now adding this product to my
line-up of different materials to use. I have also tried kapok
(did not like how air-born it was) and will be doing somework
with excelsior and horse hair to see if these too may be added.
Try this on vintage style dolls where you wish for authenticity
in all aspects. The large 16 oz. bags are actually very soft
rolls of batting that easily pulls apart for stuffing and will
do several dolls of medium size. $6.50 Temporarily Unavailable
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FLUMO ~ A LIQUID PAPIER
MACHE POURING MEDIUM for PLASTER MOLDS - NEW LOWER PRICE :
This product (Flumo, made in Spain)
is the modern equivalent of liquid (and pourable) papier mache.
It has some paper pulp in it along with a more modern and more
workable polymer base. This material is the best on the market
(I feel) and I have gone to great lengths to have it. It must
be used in plaster molds. Liter
size (a bit more than a quart) - does not need to be shipped separately from rest of order
but may require additional shipping. Due to a bulk purchase, I can now offer a lower price of $22.75 instead of the old price of $28.75. Sorry,
gallons are no longer offered due to shipping nightmares. Order 4 liters instead and receive 10% off.
FLUMO RATES:
Liter Size Flumo $22.75 Add
to Cart.
4 Liters $82 (with 10% off) Add
to Cart
SHIPPING RATES FOR FLUMO (domestic shipping only and we add shipping costs when we set up your order here, not on your online order form):
1 Liter = $14.95 A single liter may be shipped with other items (not always), but the minimum shipping rate will be $16.95.
2 Liters = $16.95 Multiple liters must be shipped independently of other items.
3-4 Liters = $20.95
4 liters is the maximum shipped in one box and no other items may be added to the box.
GAIL'S
SPECIAL WOOD TOOL:
If you do any research on papier
mache, you will find references to the necessity of working with
very hard wooden tools. There is one shape that in all the many
thousands of doll parts that I have worked on is just simply a
necessity. Of course it did not really exist in wood, only in a
tiny pocket knife that is the only tool (besides two keyboards)
I actually wore out from use. One day after Skip (my husband) had
done our annual orchard pruning, I asked him to make one from applewood
(a very hard wood). I cannot live without this tool (and the little
new Swiss Army pocket knife which you can still buy and which has the blade I grew to love).
Skip continues to make them and we offer them here. $15.75 Add
to Cart
PAPERCLAY:
Handworkable papier mache. Dries
hard, can be sanded, drilled, etc. This product can be used to
add on to any of my molded doll parts. Choose a size that best
fits your project since it is best to use it in a short period
of time once opened but will keep in a tightly sealed plastic
bag for future use. 4 oz. We can no longer stock PaperClay due to shelf life. It is readily available online including Amazon.
MAKE
YOUR OWN PAPIER MACHE DOLL
This doll used to live here, but she has moved to her own page under Dolls by Type where you can read in more detail about her. There are molds to cast your own parts (make one or lots), already molded parts to start right in on, and instructions and patterns to make the cloth body and many choices of clothing, plus all the miscellaneous extras are there too so you won't need to come back here.
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