Mimi's Handbook for Dollmakers

Mimi's Handbook for Dollmakers
Dollmaking Techniques

Mimi's Handbook for Dollmakers contains lots of "how-to-do-it" articles for dollmakers. I have tried to cover every aspect of cloth doll making, and as many aspects of making dolls from other media as I can. If you have additional techniques for making dolls that you feel should be included here, please send me an email at and tell me about your techniques. If we include one of your techniques, and you are the first person to tell me about that particular technique, you will be listed as the author.

Making an Armature and Display Base	Introduction Materials Tools Making the Armature Using the Armature Making the Base

Brushes, How to Care for	Introduction Tips on Using Brushes Proper Cleaning of Brushes The Loew-Cornell Brush Tub Drying Brushes Storing Brushes

Brushes, How to Select	Introduction Media Bristle/Hair Characteristics Handle Length Surface Style/Shape of Brushes Determining Overall Quality in a Brush Quick Guide to Loew-Cornell Brush Lines

Cleaning Your Doll	Chocolate Kisses Blood Spots General Cleaning Machine Washing Bear Baths

Which Convention Should I Go To?	They are all different. They are all good. Usually you pick which convention to go to based on location, classes offered, or date.

Copying Patterns and Videos	There are several good reasons for not copying doll patterns or video tapes: You can be sued: You are stealing the work of another. On a practical basis, nobody wants to sue and take away your house for making a copy of a pattern or selling a doll made from a pattern. If you make a few copies of a pattern or sell a few dolls on a local basis without attracting much attention, you will be breaking the law, but you aren't likely to be caught. On the other hand, if you set up a factory and produce thousands of copied patterns or dolls, you are certain to get caught and certain to pay a whole lot.

How to Copyright Your Work	There are two reasons for having at least a basic understanding of copyright: To protect your own work. To avoid infringing on another's work.

Starting a Doll Club	Many dollmakers have asked me how to form a dollmaking club in their area. Here are some general instructions together with answers to some of the questions people have asked. A lot of this information comes from talking to members of existing dollmaking clubs.

Doll People Love Company	Introduction General and Antique Collectors Fine Artists and Art Collectors Serious Dollmakers and Collectors General Dollmakers, All Media Original and Reproduction Porcelain Cloth Dollmakers (National) Paper Doll Artists and Collectors International Listing of Local Doll Clubs International Organizations On-Line (Computer) Clubs, Mailing Lists, and Newsgroups Other Organizations

Sewing the Doll Skin	Marking the Sewing Line Pressure Foot and Throat Cover Plate Pinning Seam Allowance Trouble Areas Double Sewing

Fabric	Finding the Right Side of Knit Fabrics Determining Stretch Iron Setting Cutting Templates Copying Details Tracing Disappearing Markers Avoiding Distortion Erasing Precision Sewing Doubled Pieces Remarking

Easy Face Painting	Introduction Painting Without Brushes Painting the Eyes Embroidering the Features

Fingers	Introduction Sewing the Fingers Trimming the Seams Turning the Fingers Stuffing the Fingers Wiring the Fingers Finishing Wired Hands

Glossary	Although you will find these words in a dictionary, the definitions do not always relate to dollmaking. Hopefully this glossary will help eliminate confusion.

Hair for the Doll that Bit You	This section comming one day soon.

Doll Joints (Plastic)	Making Joint Holes Preparing Joints Assembling Joints Removing Joints

Ladder Stitching	The ladder stitch is used to close all stuffing openings and to attach separate parts such as a doll's breasts. It's called the ladder stitch because the stitches look like a ladder until you pull the stitches tight to close the seam. Pull every four or five stitches as you stitch. Use a very strong 100% nylon drapery thread usually found in the home dec department of your fabric shop.

Needle Modeling Techniques	Three Big Secrets Thread Starting the Thread Secure Over Seam Broken Thread Avoiding Knots Ending the Thread Tying a Square Knot Sealing

What is an Original Doll or Pattern	This section comming one day soon.

Photographing Your Doll	Introduction What Type of Camera Film Cameras Digital Point and Shoot Cameras Digital SLR Cameras Cell Phone Cameras Learning to See Five Easy Steps Experiment a Bit Photographer's Checklist

Pricing Your Doll to Sell	Here is an article on pricing your dolls to sell, reprinted from my doll patterns.

Selling Dolls Made From Another Designer's Pattern	Many of us need to sell the dolls we make to support our habit. Here are some things you should know about selling dolls made from other designer's patterns.

Adjusting Sewing Machine Tension	When the top and bottom threads do not each go half way into the fabric, the tension needs adjusting. This is sometimes because it has become loose, and it is sometimes because it requires different adjustments for different kinds of fabrics. The method described in this article will work for whatever the problem is. It takes account of the fact that it is sometimes hard to remember which tension (top or bottom) to adjust, and which direction to adjust it.

Signing Your Work	Always sign your work. Embroider your name or use a permanent marker. (Sanford's® Sharpie® Extra Fine Point Marker and Sakura® .01 Pigma® pen are good.) On many dolls, you can sign at the back of the head where it will be covered by the hair. For dolls with upswept hair styles, or for naked dolls, sign on the bottom of the foot. If neither of these locations is good, sign on the hip underneath the clothes.

Stuffing Technique	Introduction The Nesting Technique Touching Up the Stuffing Firmness of Stuffing Removing Stuffing Reusing Stuffing Aching Fingers

Mimi's Stuffing Tool	I frequently make dolls without clothes to show off just how good a cloth doll can be. It's not that I particularly like nude dolls—it's that I don't want the clothing to hide my work. So, as you have probably noticed, I'm a little bit crazy about stuffing smoothly. I have described earlier how I use the nesting technique either with my fingers or with a hemostat. I also use a specially designed stuffing tool.

Teaching a Workshop	Most of us are frightened by the idea of getting up in front of a group of people and trying to teach them something. It's not really that hard, and can, in fact, be quite easy. Just pretend that you are in your own studio making a doll with a friend. Be yourself, and the rest will follow. It's just that simple. Give it a try. Here are some more suggestions that I use when I am teaching.

Making and Using Templates	Making Templates Using Templates Changing the Size of Patterns

Adjusting the Tension on Your Sewing Machine	When the top and bottom threads do not each go half way into the fabric, the tension needs adjusting. This is sometimes because it has become loose, and it is sometimes because it requires different adjustments for different kinds of fabrics. The method described in this article will work for whatever the problem is. It takes account of the fact that it is sometimes hard to remember which tension (top or bottom) to adjust, and which direction to adjust it.

Tools for Dollmakers	Mimi's Stuffing Tool Hemostats Hot Glue Gun Hot Gluing Tools Hair Loom Sewer's Aid Silicon Disappearing Markers Pins Marking Board Rotary Cutter Wonder Weights Sewing Machine Needles

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