Cloth Dolls

Developement of how the simple cloth doll has become revered as an object of art.

Sep 10, 2005 - Martha Checkett

The final creative touches added to the design of a cloth doll. Individual preferences and "doll's own" desires are considered.

Jun 25, 2005 - Martha Checkett

How to dress the cloth doll. Clothing and embellishments for an original or pattern doll.

May 20, 2005 - Martha Checkett

How to choose hair, wig, fibers or fantasy yarns and attatch it to the doll head to make hair.

Feb 17, 2005 - Martha Checkett

How to make a doll face using needle sculpting.

Dec 14, 2004 - Martha Checkett

Methods for creating a doll's face. It can be done in a number of different ways using paint, pencils, or markers. The face can also be sculpted with needle shaping.

Nov 14, 2004 - Martha Checkett

Some cloth dolls have materials in them to help create a particular shape or to help it stand up. This is called an armature and is usually wire substantial enough to hold a shape.

Aug 31, 2004 - Martha Checkett

After the doll parts are stuffed and stitched closed, they need to be assembled and jointed together to form a body.

Jul 6, 2004 - Martha Checkett

Shaping and filling out the sewn cloth doll body is done with stuffing, usually a polyester fiberfil. Other materials can also be used.

Jun 6, 2004 - Martha Checkett

After the pattern is prepared and transferred to the cloth, it is time to begin to sew. Knowledge and practice on the machine are important for a satisfactory end result.

May 10, 2004 - Martha Checkett

Before using a cloth doll pattern, there are a few steps to assure the pattern pieces will fit together and that the pattern can be used again if it necessary.

Mar 5, 2004 - Martha Checkett

When making a cloth doll the first consideration is the type of material to be used for the body parts.

Dec 29, 2003 - Martha Checkett

Patterns for making cloth dolls will be discussed. The different styles and types of construction will be compared and analyzed.

Nov 16, 2003 - Martha Checkett

Most fabric artists collect and covet a variety of supplies for their craft. These items can become quite extensive over the years. Items in this stash can include patterns, fabric and other tools necessary to the craft. Cloth doll makers usually own an extensive collection of supplies in their STASH

Oct 10, 2003 - Martha Checkett

As in many other areas of creativity, cloth doll artists share their works with other doll artists at meetings, doll clubs, workshops, classes and doll shows. When someone suggests an new idea for a doll , many others will join in and create a doll using the theme or idea.

Sometimes the dolls are made for a partner and exchanged when a certain time is up. The theme idea is called a Challenge. The exchange is called a Swap.

Sep 3, 2003 - Martha Checkett

A look at the variety of clubs and groups that get together to share and challenge and swap ideas, patterns, and techniques for making, collecting and caring for cloth dolls.

Jul 27, 2003 - Martha Checkett

Dolls have always been a part of my life. This is the story of the cloth dolls that I owned and loved and eventually created.

Jun 25, 2003 - Martha Checkett

This is a description of cloth dolls from the past specifically in early America. Mention is made of early European dolls made from other materials. The article describes varoius materials that might have been used to construct a play doll for a little girl in primitive times.

May 22, 2003 - Martha Checkett