A Three-Day Class

• For Advanced Skill Level
• Class Size Limited to Twelve Students

Stud Muffin is a beautiful, well-muscled male figure. He is posed standing with one foot slightly behind the other. He wears no shirt but carries it hanging from his thumb over his shoulder. He wears a pair of cut off jeans, socks and work boots.

Note: If this proposal is for a multi-class symposium teacher is willing to do a demo for draping a stuffed figure to create patterns for clothing and/or wigs at an event of mini classes and demonstrations at no additional charge.

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, not completing a doll. Complete instructions to be handed out in class will help students to complete the figure at home. Some advanced students and those who work after class may finish the piece.

Starting with the pre-stitched torso, students will learn to stuff firmly and smoothly. They will learn how to needle-model and stitch masculine abs and pects. Other techniques learned in this class include; stuffing a muslin “skull” with an overlay of cotton-spandex onto which they will learn to model and stitch dimensional eyes, a masculine nose, jaw, chin and mouth, Students will construct a wire armature that is designed to support the freestanding figure. Students will learn how to create a hand armature for strong, masculine hands and insert them into the “gloves” and attach them to the forearms. Students will also learn to balance the figure as if to catch him in mid step.
Time permitting there will be demos or discussions for draping the head to make a custom skin wig or wig cap and how to weft fiber and apply it to the doll’s head.

Class Outline:

Day One: Students will learn my technique of stuffing the torso firmly and smoothly. Torso will be closed and needle modeled to form the musculature of a studly male construction worker. Leg armatures will be made. Legs will be trimmed, treated, turned, and stuffed.

Day Two: Will be entirely devoted the head and face. We will stuff the sewn skull and needle-model the masculine nose and affix the cotton-spandex overlay. The overlay will be stitched to the nose and eye-sockets, dimensional eyes, jaw and an open mouth will be modeled and stitched. Cheeks and facial tissue will be added. Overlay will be finished and closed. Ears will be turned, stuffed, needle modeled and affixed to the head.

Students are encouraged to pre-stitch two or more heads. A more advanced student will be able to work a second or even third head while teacher is working with less experienced students.

Day Three: The head will be pinned and stitched to the torso. Hand armatures will be constructed of wire then woven and wrapped with floral tape and inserted into sewn, turned “gloves”. Arms will be armatured, stuffed, assembled and attached to the torso. Legs will be pinned in place, the figure balanced to stand correctly and stitched to torso. Time permitting costuming and wigging as well as coloring face and hands and painting boots will be discussed and demonstrated. Unless the entire class is very advanced this is not likely to happen; although teacher will try to discuss the subject and demo as much as possible while students are working.

This is an intense class due to the amount of technique to learn but we do have a lot of fun as well.

Kit Contents:

• Book of instructions and pattern for Mimi’s not yet published “Mimi’s Stud Muffin”
• Enough fabric for two or more dolls
• Enough cotton spandex for several heads
• Dream Seamer tool
• Four special needles
• Armature wire and tape for wrapping leg armatures
• Brass wire and wrapping for hands
• Use of classroom supplies

Please note that This year I have added $5 to the kit costs to cover the increased cost of shipping each kit priority mail and for 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 suppliers with shop buyer. If kits are not wanted there will be a $15 fee to cover cost of pattern and instruction book and for shipping classroom supplies to venue. Fee is payable in class.

Classroom Supplies: Supplied by Mimi

• Hemostats in several sizes
• Grrrip Glue
• Glue applicators with special tips
• Swiss Metrosene and nylon beading and drapery thread
• Extra needles 4 sizes –to replace bent or lost ones
• Heavy-duty wire cutters, small wire cutters and pliers
• Steel wire and brass wire
• Channel locker pliers
• White floral tape
• Straight pins and quilting pins
• Paint and brushes
• Colored pens and pencils

Student Brings:

• Pre-sewn body parts (If homework is done no sewing machine is needed.)
• Your favorite stuffing and sewing tools
• Optivisor (head-mounted magnifying glass) if you need one
• Hemostats, 5 and 7 inch straight Kellies
• Wire cutters both small and heavy-duty
• 16 gauge wire from home depot (steel clothesline wire)
• Needle nosed pliers
• 20 gauge brass wire for hand armatures (from jewelry making department of craft shop)
• White florist tape (also from craft shop)
• Grrrip glue
• Glue applicator with special tip (available from Dollmakersjourney.com)
• Mettler Swiss Metrosene thread, off white color
• Purple air-soluble marker, NOT the blue one.
• A work light if you need one and an extension cord
• A pillow to make the chair comfortable
• Nose, eyes, mouths and ear sculpting aides in several ethnicities.

It would be helpful if a blackboard or whiteboard with markers or chalk would be provided in the classroom. If not available an easel and a large drawing pad would be appreciated.

Copyright © Jim and Gloria Winer.
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