A Two-Day Class

• For All Skill Levels
• Class Size Limited to Twelve Students

Teaching Proposal
Mimi’s Elvin Folk
An 8-, 11- or 14-inch Fabric Sculpture

Two-Day Class
All Skill Levels
Class size limited to twelve

My new little Elvin Folk come with 3 pattern sizes, 8-inches, 11-inches, and 14-inches tall with round tummies, cute little bums, large heads with short arms, expressive hands, and short legs with turned up toes. Their faces are fully needle-modeled with dimensional eyes; short noses and smiling (or not) closed mouths. They can wear several styles of clothing vest, shirts, pants and hats from several time periods that they like to mix and match.

Course Description:

Pattern, sewing instructions, fabric and dream seamer tool will be sent to students 4 to 6 weeks prior to class. Entire doll skin and head must be stitched prior to class. This class is all about learning new techniques. Complete instructions to be handed out in class will help students to complete the figure at home if they do not finish in class. Some advanced students and those who work after class will finish the piece.

Starting with the pre-stitched torso students will learn how to stuff firmly and smoothly. They will make my new, easy leg armature. It is strong enough to allow the doll to stand firmly on it’s own and easy to form with arthritic hands, such as mine are. Students will next make my new hand armature made from jewelry wire woven and wrapped with floral tape to form realistic expressive hands. Legs will be armatured, stuffed, and pinned to torso. The figure will be balanced before legs are stitched in place. Arms are pinned into chosen pose and the figure is re-balanced if necessary. Head will be stuffed and face will be fully needle-modeled. Time permitting ears will be wired, stuffed and attached.

Note: If this proposal is for a multi-class symposium, the teacher is willing to do a two to three hour demo of either draping a stuffed figure to create sloper and patterns for clothing and wig caps OR a demonstration of needle-modeling a face at an event of mini classes and demonstrations at no additional charge.

Class outline:

Day One: Students will stuff and close their pre-sewn torso. Students will make a wrapped wire armature for both legs and hands and insert them into the legs and arms before stuffing them smoothly and firmly.

Day Two: Will be devoted to the head and face, The nose, dimensional eyes, eye sockets and closed mouth will be needle-modeled, cheeks and chin added. Students are encouraged to stitch two or more heads. More advanced student will be able to work a second or even third head while teacher is working with less experienced students. Heads will be pinned to the torso neck ready to be stitched into pose to match body language.

Kit Contents:

• Instructions and pattern for Mimi’s Elvin Folk (not yet published.)
• Enough Micro-suede fabric to make several elves
• Dream-seamer tool
• Three special needles
• Armature wire (two types) for legs and arms
• Floral tape
• Use of classroom supplies

Please note that this year I have included an additional $5 to kit fees to cover the cost of mailing each kit via priority mail and the new added costs of shipping and flying with supplies. This is my first increase in 20 years.

NOTE: Kits are optional. If student feels no need for a kit I will not supply one. If classroom is in a shop the shop may wish to stock supplies for retailing to students. I will be pleased to share sources with shop buyer. If kits are not wanted there will be a $15 fee to cover cost of pattern, instructions, handouts and use of classroom supplies and to help cover cost of flying and shipping supplies to venue.

Students Bring: (see note below)

• Pre-sewn body parts (no sewing machines needed in classroom)
• Favorite stuffing and sewing tools
• Hemostats, 5 and 7 inch straight Kellies or mosquitoes.
• Wire cutters
• 18 or 20 gauge floral wire either wrapped or bare on a paddle any color will do
• 20 or 24 gauge copper or brass or silver colored wire on a spool in the craft shop jewelry department
• Needle-nosed pliers
• White floral tape
• Grrrip glue and applicator with special tip (available from Dollmakersjourney.com)
• Mettler-Swiss Metrosene thread, off white color
• Purple air-soluble marker – NOT the blue one

Note: If student does not already own everything on this list I urge them NOT to rush out to purchase it. I will have some of everything in class for student use.

Classroom supplies: Supplied by Mimi

• Hemostats in several sizes
• Grrrip Glue
• Glue applicators with special tips
• Swiss Metrosene thread, nylon beading and drapery thread
• Extra needles (3 sizes) to replace lost and bent ones)
• Heavy-duty wire cutters, small wire cutters and pliers
• Channel locker pliers
• White floral tape
• Straight pins (long thin ones)
• Paint and brushes
• Colored pens and pencils

Pattern and instructions mailed to each individual student 4 to 6 weeks prior to class, or to class coordinator to be given to student upon registration.

Copyright © Jim and Gloria Winer.
You may make a copy of this article for your own personal use.
Copying for commercial purposes is prohibited.