Update: Craft Gossip Dolly Donation Challenge

1 down, 4 to go… Last night I completed the first of the 5 dolls I pledged to the Craft Gossip Dolly Donation Challenge.

Granted, he still has no face but we’ve got plans to address that. My dear friend and talented needlework artist, Denise Felton (our Needlework Editor here at Craft Gossip) has volunteered to do the faces on my five dollies. YAY!!! Thank you, Denise!!!

Not only will her embroidered look so soooo much better than what I could do, but that means I can focus my energy on creating a pattern for an extra shirt and pair of pants for this little guy.

I used the new “advanced” pattern to make this doll. Don’t let the name fool you – even the “advanced” is fairly easy. My only difficulty was when I was stitching around the body, but that was because I overstuffed the limbs. My doll was created within one evening, and I was able to use bits and pieces of fabric from my scrap bin.

If you’re making a dolly for the Dolly Donation Challenge, I’d love to hear about (and see) your progress!

[tags]sewing, Dolly Donation, challenge, charity]

Next Pattern:

I’m always tempted by the pretty velvets at the fabric store. So much texture! And the way the fibers catch the light! But sewing on velvet is trickier than you’d think. That nap that lends beautiful texture also likes to slip and crawl. That nap can also spell disaster if you cut a piece the wrong direction. That isn’t to say you shouldn’t use buy that velvet and sew it into something gorgeous, you just need to go into your velvet sewing project prepared. And Melissa at Melly Sews has a post that takes you step by step through sewing on velvet.

Velvet is such a luscious fabric, especially for winter sewing projects. Of course there are velvet Christmas sewing projects – stockings, tree skirts, santa hats – but velvet is beautiful for all winter. Think of all the gorgeous velvet dresses, evening bags, hair accessories, even pillows and other home décor that you see all winter long.

Melly Sews’ post gives you the tips and tricks you need to know in order for your velvet sewing project to end up a success. There are types of projects better suited for velvets, and kinds of projects to avoid. She describes the different types of velvet available. And she also tells the best way to lay out and cut your pattern pieces from velvet fabric. Her tutorial also covers marking, pressing, and of course sewing that beautiful fabric. There’s also a video included in case that’s your preferred method for learning.

Head over to Melly Sews to learn how to sew on velvet fabric.

And if you want to learn more about that lovely blue velvet dress shown, she has a post that tells more about it including 2 ways to style it depending on if you want to be more dressy or more casual.

[photo credit: Melly Sews]

Next Pattern:

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