The NEW non-paper doll for on the go play!
Hello! This is Jennifer Long of Bee Sew Inspired - Modern Rag Doll Designer, Educator and former professional Ballet dancer. Do you remember playing with paper dolls? When we were young, my sister and I loved collecting, dressing and acting out elaborate scenes for our paper dolls! They were wonderful because we could take a whole collection of them almost anywhere... in the car, on a picnic, camping, even to church! We had hours and hours of fun... but it sure was disappointing when their heads or hands ripped off. Sometimes the tabs on their dresses would get over used and not fold over anymore. I am so excited to introduce to you the solution for avoiding the disappointment of ripping, crumpling paper dolls.... Felt Dolls! These dolls are constructed completely "in-the-hoop" of your domestic, home embroidery machine!!! They are full of wonderful details and are stabilized so they will never rip or tear! Best of all, felt naturally sticks to felt… so you don't even need anything extra for attaching their clothes!!! Are you ready to enter this world of imagination with me?
Beginner Friendly! These felt dolls don't require any special skills... they are so easy to make on your home embroidery machine, the children in your life can even help!!! You will need about 1 hour per Felt Doll and Accessory set to complete this project from start to finish!
What You Need: Felt Doll Embroidery Machine Pattern
Embroidery Machine
5x7 hoop or larger
Stabilizer
Embroidery Threads
Applique and straight scissors
Heat n Bond Craft Extra-Firm Fusible Interfacing
Spray n Bond Basting Adhesive
Benzie Felt in the following colors:
Strawberry Wool Blend Felt
Mustard Wool Blend Felt
Moss Wool Blend Felt
Fern Wool Blend Felt
Olive Wool Blend Felt
Swan Wool Blend Felt
Black Wool Blend Felt
White Wool Blend Felt
Use the code "BEESEWINSPIRED" at Benzie Design checkout to receive 10% off your first Felt purchase!
Basic Instructions:
Each Felt Doll or Felt Doll Accessory, is made in one complete hooping.
You can download, print and follow the Embroidery Step Sheet to know when to change colors and trim applique steps. Click HERE to download.
Download the Embroidery Files to use on your home embroidery machine. You will need to have at least a 5x7 hoop on your machine. The files are formatted in (DST, EXP, JEF,PES,VP3 and XXX) to work in all home embroidery machines.
Step 1: Placement Step:
Stitch out step 1 so you know where to place your felt fabric.
Step 2: Tackdown Step:
Using a coordinating thread color, place extra firm interfacing and main body felt fabric face up over the entire placement stitch. Stitch out the tackdown step.
Step 3: Placement Step:
Stitch out step 3 so you know where to place your felt fabric.
Step 4: Tackdown Step:
Using a coordinating thread color, place accent body felt fabric face up over the entire placement stitch. Stitch out the tackdown step. Using applique scissors trim closely around the outside perimeter of the applique.
Step 5: Frog Feet Detail Step:
Change to an accent thread color and stitch out the frog feet details.
Step 6: Eye Detail Step:
Change to a black thread color and stitch out the eyelash details.
Step 7: Cheek Detail Step:
Change to a pink thread color and stitch out the cheek details.
Step 8: Nose and Belly Button Detail Step:
Change to a green thread color and stitch out the nose and belly button details.
Step 9: Lips Detail Step:
Change to a pink or red thread color and stitch out the lip details.
Step 10: Bikini Placement Step:
Stitch out step 10 so you know where to place your felt fabric.
Step 11: Bikini Tackdown Step:
Using a coordinating thread color, stitch out the bikini tackdown step. Using applique scissors trim closely around the outside perimeter of the applique.
Step 12: Bikini Dots Detail Step:
Change to an accent thread color and stitch out the bikini dot details.
Backing Step: This is the Backing Step or Finishing Step of the Felt Doll Project.
1. Remove the hoop from the embroidery machine.
2. Flip the hoop over and cover the entire stitched area with Backing Felt (right side of fabric facing out). Make sure the backing fabric is larger than the stitched area.
3. Using masking tape, tape the edges of the fabric to the hoop or stabilizer so the backing does not shift when stitching the final steps.
4. Flip the hoop right side up and reattach the hoop to the machine.
5. Finish the outline steps. This is called “floating the backing.”
Final Outline Steps:
Using your coordinating body color threads, stitch out outline steps so all three layers are stitched together.
Remove the Felt Doll from the hoop. Using your straight, sharp scissors, trim evenly around the outside perimeter at 1/8” through all the layers of the Felt Doll.
Your Felt Doll is complete!!! Repeat this process for all the Felt Dolls: Frog and Frogette Doll and Frog and Frogette Accessories. Place your Felt Dolls and Accessories in a little bag and have them in your purse or vehicle for “On the Go” fun anytime!!! This is the first in a series of Felt Doll Embroidery Patterns being released monthly! Make sure you sign up for the FREE Doll Making Newsletter at www.beesewinspired.com to be INSPIRED and know when the next patterns will be released!
Please share you Felt Doll on social media and tag @benziedesign and @beesewinspired. I would love to share and tag you back!
Video Tutorials:
Join our FREE, private educational FB group where we offer free weekly tutorial videos on all the Bee Sew Inspired Projects. The Frog Felt Doll Tutorial using Benzie Felt will be LIVE on Wednesday, May 19th. Pattern questions email to info@beesewinspired.com