From The Editor – Back from vacation to the chilly waters of icebergs, I am ready for fall and winter sewing. I must admit in every village of Greenland, (there were no cities or towns as we know!), there were handicrafts, mostly sewn, and many with intricate beadwork. The Inuit/Eskimo ladies have not much more to do in the long winter months. There is NO vegetation so they use bold colors to brighten their homes and clothing. Even their homes are painted bright colors to be seen against the white landscape…this being from both an aesthetic and practical point. And just FYI, I have almost finished my summer sewing list (for once) and am starting a challenging one for fall and winter. Are you ready with your list? Speaking of lists, I hope you have your shopping list ready for the Creative Sewing market to be held in Birmingham, AL September 13 and 14. There has been some confusion as to the duration of the market but rest assured Sunday will see all of your favorite vendors waiting for you. Bear Threads will, as always, have some of their unusual and vintage items there for you to peruse. The market opens at 10AM on Sunday. We hope to see you all there. We welcome Linda Wall as a guest with her ‘modern’ doll and ‘how-to’ instructions. She is a gifted and dedicated doll artisan and we thought with the appreciation and knowledge we have gained from Louise Hedrick, this would be a great time for many of you who have become so intrigued with the doll world, to have someone share their doll making and dressing skills. We look forward to more from Linda in the future.

Louise Hedrick is back with ‘The Little Ones’. Oh Dear Me!!! And I was amazed with the intricacy of the ‘larger dolls’, but these are phenomenal! No more will I hear from our readers, ‘I don’t have anyone for which to sew’!!!!! Problem solved!!! Enough from me….enjoy this issue. Happy sewing and see you at market. Happy stitching…

Sheila

Bear in Mind An electronic newsletter from Bear Threads Ltd. Volume 7 – Issue 8 September 2015

“THE LITTLE ONES” By

Louise Hedrick While the primary products of the doll world in France and Germany during the second half of the 10th century consisted primarily of poupees (fashion dolls) and bebes (children), a small doll made her appearance in both countries during this same time period. She was all bisque and measured from 2” to 10”. She was known as a ‘pocket doll’, a ‘mignonette’, or a ‘penny doll’. She varied from no articulation and painted eyes to the most elaborate with glass eyes, swivel necks and jointed limbs. The rarest featured a jointed waist as well. The first were made in France in 1878. See photo #1. Most were 5-6 inches although a few were both smaller and larger. They had long slim bodies, meant to represent a tiny French Fashion, closed mouths and glass eyes. Note the ball jointed arms on the one on the left. They had either molded boots or were barefooted. If barefooted, their little leather shoes measured less than ½”! See photo #2. Collectors today frequently leave these dolls undressed, but patterns for their elaborate wardrobes were tucked into the corners of ‘La Poupee Modele”. See photo #3 where the six pieces of a coat pattern and sketch appears at the top of the center fold. The little lady in photo #2 has a large wardrobe with a tiny French trunk.

Photo 1

Photo 2 Photo 3 Other presentations of these tiny dolls included special small boxes or containers which surprisingly have survived in almost perfect condition over 100 years later. Photo #4 is an elaborate Easter presentation egg, a papier mache egg containing an originally dressed 5-1/2” French all bisque. Photo #5 illustrates a boy and girl dressed in court costumes of the period. Photo #6 is a boxed ball gown for a 7” all bisque doll made of light weight pink silk taffeta and heavily embellished with rows of hand stitched ecru edging lace.

Photo 4 Photo 5 Photo 6

All bisque dolls made their appearance a little later in Germany. At first they were produced by the Kestner Company, to be followed by Simon and Halbig and other companies. They were first advertised in the early 1880’s. They were chubbier versions of the French. Their child like faces were more expressive, their limbs more life-like and well formed. They had smiling faces and some had open mouths with the tiniest teeth. These little charmers were immediate favorites of all the little girls at the time. Photo 7 Photo 8

Two examples of these little Kestners are shown in photos #7 and #8. The first is the earliest, a 6” barefooted closed mouth version with a wonderfully sculpted early model, the second from a few years later, at 8-1/2, is referred to by collectors as a “French Wrestler” because of this unique muscular body. Simon and Halbig marketed their ‘black stocking’ dolls a little later and are shown here in a 5” version, photo #9, in a presentation box with accessories, and photo #10 with her little spaniel. Photo 9 Photo 10 Next month we will observe the ever popular ‘Bleuette’ a favorite of little French girls during their 55 years of manufacture.

Fall’s Falling Rainbow of Colors

Move over navy and black. This fall you have some competition. It may be called burgundy, wine, or maroon, but the deep hued shade of the red family has been selected by Pantone as the 2015 Color of the Year. And we think that a deeper shade of summer’s sun – we call it gold – is not far behind. Now pair these with gray, orange, purple and brown – and you have a wonderful fall rainbow. Think about it – how many schools and universities have used these as their spirit colors! These colors are everywhere in the children’s clothing departments. You will also see these in various combinations of gorgeous tweeds and plaids for ladies suiting. So don’t be too quick to pack away your bolts of summer’s yellows and golds. And, you just might pull out early, a few of those deep red and burgundy bolts you were saving for the holidays. Another fall idea – Try using plaids, checks, even fall prints as a lining. Just a peak of the lining creates a whimsical look…and you just might have made the garment reversible!

Basic “Bear” Sewing

Part I

with

Linda Wall

“Oh those beautiful dolls!” the dolls or their

costumes? That is the real question to be answered.

As a very young girl, I was fortunate to have a

mother that taught me to sew. I made the most

beautiful designer dresses on my “story book dolls”

and played for hours with my dolls, my dog having

wonderful tea parties. That is a childhood memory

that probably started my life-long fascination with

dolls.

The beautiful French Children, dolls from 1860 –

1890s are undeniably beautiful in their original and

reproduction costumes.

“I can sew them, therefore, all I need is a pattern!”

Wrong. I finished with nice costumes but that “over

the top” costume seemed just out-of-reach. “How

did they do that exact workmanship?” I could

adjust the patterns to fit, but all those extras – they

were the elusive butterflies.

Recreating or creating a costume for any doll,

requires a few basics:

1. Doll

2. Research the period the doll being created,

to include costumes /patterns; fabrics; trims,

etc.

3. Purpose of the costume/clothing –

display/play?

4. Quality fabrics and trims of natural fibers.

5. Fine hand needles and thread. I prefer

“Aurifil” for both machine and hand.

6. Basic knowledge of construction of

garments.

7. Always have undergarments in place,

prior to making patterns for the outer

garment.

8. Plan all decoration of fabric or garment to be

constructed, as much as possible, in the

“flat” state (prior to assembling).

9. Make sure that your pattern fits the doll,

BEFORE you do all the detailed “fluff” to

the fabric(s).

10. Plan and figure ahead for the finished

product, prior to construction. Example:

The skirt in this project and the lace down

the front of the bodice.

Yes, antique dolls have beautiful clothing, but the

modern dolls also have lovely exquisite clothing.

Many of the techniques used in construction of the

modern garments, are the same for the antique

costume construction.

Basic helpful hints:

1. The iron has to come out of the closet and be

your best friend.

2. Need to pull a thread on natural fibers to

obtain the “straight of the fabric”.

3. When pressing, be careful how you press.

Making tucks:

1. Carefully press “Bearissima II Swiss

Batiste” making sure that you are NOT

twisting fabric.

2. Allow more than enough fabric at the

bottom for hem, etc.

3. On the side of the fabric, snip with scissors

and carefully pull ONE thread across the

fabric.

Hint: If the thread breaks, just take a fine

needle and pull the end of the thread where

the thread broke, and continue to pull.

4. Fold, having “pulled thread line” exactly on

the edge. Finger press the press on the

ironing board – straight!

5. Machine stitch (#2 stitch length on Pfaff) or

very small running stitches the distance from

the folded edge for your first tuck.

6. Measure up the side of the fabric from the

stitched tuck, and again clip for a pull

thread.

7. Repeat above steps, and you will have

beautiful tucks.

HINTS:

1. The distance between the tucks depends on

the width of the tuck and the distance you

wish between each tuck. Make a fabric

sample starting with a 6” x 6” piece of

fabric. Follow the directions above and

write on the sample the measurements that

you used. You may have two to three

samples, but they are good reference items

for other projects.

2. Press tucks between stitching, making sure

that you do not make the tuck uneven

because of the pressing.

3. Always allow more fabric, length and width,

when making tucks. This allows you to

“pick” your best work when cutting your

pattern pieces!

4. To determine the fullness of the skirt/slip, I

measured around the waist (bottom of the

bodice) and multiplied by 2.5. If you wish

to have the skirt fuller you would multiply

by 3.

The featured project is a cute modern reproduction

doll named Hiliary with painted eyes, blonde wig,

on a MB925S New York Doll Products strung

body. Her total height is 12”. She proudly displays

her matching slip and panties. The slip could easily

be made into a sundress, and shown with Hilary and

her kitty.

You may add a ribbon belt, and you have a cute

sundress for your 12” doll.

I had only four pattern pieces that were made from

good paper towels, for this project. I use paper

towels to make patterns because I sew them

together and fit the doll. Note: Good paper towels

have a “straight” also, and therefore the towels will

“drape”.

Remember to allow for the doll stand when making

your pattern.

Skirt tucks and lace in progress.

skirt hem using a stitching line.

Skirt hem planning using a stitching line for the

exact measurement. When hand stitched to the

stitching, this minimizes stitches showing on the

right side of the fabric.

Many times you will need to cut and assemble laces

to get the desired look.

Prior to assembly

You can make small buttonholes, but I prefer to

make buttonhole “loop” closures. When making the

“loop” closures, I find the small scissors, my best

friend.

All Hilary needs now, is a pair of sandals or shoes.

This Hiliary will have little white leather shoes to

accessorize her pale green dress with white waffle

pinafore.

I will use this pattern for making undergarments for

two different size German toddler dolls, Googlies

(GB8.5 and GS875). They too, will have tucks, but

the type and amount of lace will differ from the

modern type doll. This is where the research of the

doll comes into play.

Until then, happy stitching!

Linda

About the Author – Linda E Wall

Linda has been making dolls and costuming dolls

for over 30 years. After retirement from her job

with the Federal Government as Chief of

Labor/Management Employee Relations Division,

Linda founded her full service doll studio, Uniquely

Yours Porcelain Dolls, in 1999. Since that time she

has continuously taught weekly doll classes and

seminars on all aspects of porcelain doll making.

She has also taught doll making at her local

community college and senior centers, as well as

after school for children. For a number of years she

sponsored an annual doll show through the

Strasburg Historic Society, and she helped organize

the Colorado Doll and Bear Extravaganza.

After becoming a D.A.G.(Doll Artisan Guild)

Teacher in 2003 and Instructor in 2005, Linda

began teaching D.A.G. seminars at her studio and at

other locations around the country. She has also

been an integral part of many D.A.G. events and

supported events, where she teaches workshops,

presents lectures, judge’s dolls, helps manage

competition and represents the D.A.G.

A top award winning artist, Linda has earned the

Triple Crown of Dollmaking title and D.A.G.

Master Educator status. She has also served on the

Board of Directors of the Doll Artisan Guild

International, Inc. since 2009.

She holds the honorary title of Doctor of

Dollmaking for her long dedication and

innumerable contributions to the Doll Artisan Guild

and the field of porcelain doll making.

Linda has served as President of a UFDC (United

Federation of Doll Clubs) club and has been a

member for many years. She is currently finishing

the apprenticeship judging program with UFDC,

and is a featured dinner artist for the UFDC Region

6 event in Billings, MO, in September 2016.

Linda enjoys all aspects of the “world of dolls” but

especially loves sharing of her knowledge with

others.

Questions or Kits:

Uniquely Yours Porcelain Doll

303-622-9639 or 1-855-51DOLLS

Homecoming for Annabelle and Ping Ping continues to be amazed at the cultural differences between Singapore and the United States. Coming to this country in January she had no idea what football was all about. Such pomp and excitement that football brings to a school was certainly unimaginable to her. The night games, band and majorettes, and cheerleaders waving their pom-poms (who knew what a pom-pom was!) were all so exciting. But the concept of HOMECOMING really took her by surprise. To top it all off both she and Annabelle were elected to the Homecoming Court. She knew this was a really big honor and was simply in shock. Annabelle and she would be going to the football game and during the game a Homecoming Queen would be crowned. She understood the selection was based partially from her school peers votes, and partly from grades, extracurricular activities, and teachers input.

And finally the evening arrived and amongst the excitement of the Half Time activities, Annabelle was crowned Homecoming Queen for 2015. Both girls were awestruck. Surrounded by friends and family they both beamed. Annabelle looked the regal Queen in her Purple Swiss dress trimmed with French lace with a bow motif. Ping’s Ecru Swiss dress was completely made of E-139A, a Swiss 6” Ecru trim with a geometrical design. It perfectly complemented her gorgeous hair. Editor’s note: Thank you Lori Popelka, one of SAGA’s Regional Representatives, for these lovely dresses! All fabrics available from Bear Threads, Ltd.

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