By Heidi Kilgore
It’s been a while since I produced and made my first paper dolls for Designs by Sick, and I have heard some good ideas that I hope to share here.
On the appliqué clothes, some people have told me they had old clothes that belonged to their children, and grandchildren, these would make for wonderful appliqué on the dolls. What a wonderful way to have a piece of today with yesterday’s memories in it. These would be so special to the children that received them with a small story about where the fabric came from and what their mommies and daddies where doing during that time.
For the Moms and Grandmoms who make clothing items for your children and grandchildren – just imagine how they would feel to have their own paper doll and be dressed just alike!
There are different ways to attach the clothes. I went with the Velcro dots that you can get at craft stores. They are easy to dress for the little hands. Some of the wonderful letters I received suggest a tacky glue that will work over and over to put the clothes on and then when it quits working you can reapply the glue. (i.e. Aleene’s “Tack It Over and Over” – click here to see an example. )
For the backing I suggested maybe plastic canvas. This is what some of your fellow sewers came up with that I never even dreamed of. Also, some have used sticky back foam, or just foam.
The folks on the Forums even made the stand for them. http://www.designsbysick.com/forums/chickie-paper-doll-t11562.html . You can see Skipper’s Chickie Doll below. It is so pretty, and it she even created a stand for it.
I have read so many emails from folks who describe how these paper dolls have become cherished memories for so many, taking the clothes of a loved one that has passed and putting them into the paper doll clothes. I’m so honored and touch by all of these stories, it really brings tears to my eyes that you loved them so much.
So when you get into making these dolls your imagination will take over and you will have great results with yours.
Chicky, I would imagine, is going to be a great Easter gift for giving to the young ones.
There will be others down the line as my mind still goes back to making them, and I am constantly on the look out for more that I can use on these dolls.
These are wonderful….I cannot get the chickie html to come up so I can see the stands better…I get a blank page…any suggestions?
Very cute and I use the Tack it over and over glue. It works fine. The plastic canvas was a new idea. Will have to try and see how it works.
I am making a quilt for a special cousin whose baby girl is due in February. I am putting a special pocket on the back of it to hold the paper dolls for the years to come when little hands want something to play with. I used velcro for fastening so buttons won’t get into little mouths.
I have never tryed this, however, they are cute.
So cute. Wish I had these when I was a little girl, 60+ years ago.
Those pictures really did it for me!The use of the stands was perfect! I had no interest in paper doll embroidery, but after seeing them…. well,I just HAVE to make them!
Just what I was looking for – am new to forum – but I really want to make the dolls for my granddaughter – how was the stand made? Thanks
Heidi, about the time I think I’m going to make a paper doll y’all come up with a new one. SO MANY CHOICES SO LITTLE TIME!!!! I can’t wait to see my first set completed. MJ in Colorado
Can someone tell me where the chickie design and the clothes designs can be found. It is absolutely adorable! As a subscriber, I would love to see more of this type designs…granddaughter would love them!
Thank you,
Ellen in Las Vegas
I am lookin for “reall dolls and her or his clothes” Not animal with clothes. They are cute, but they are not real dolls.
Love your site,
Acelia
[Editor's note: Here are 2 sets with people:
http://www.designsbysick.com/search?firstword=paper
huggers
rob]
If you go here you and go through the pages you will find all of my paper dolls to date
http://www.designsbysick.com/bydigitizer/?digitizer=Heidi
Love the comments girls, you may have to ask on the forum about how to do the paper doll stands.
happy sewing
Heidi
How do I get this paper doll pattern? I clicked on the link and it said the link was broken. Please send me the link to purchase Chickie. Thanks.
[link fixed - rob]
I love the paper dolls does bring back memories of when I was young. Didn’t have money for dolls and frilly things as my folks called it. Would set for hours with an old Sears catalog and cut out paper dolls. I have a grand daughter on the way and you bet I will be making some of these.
Love it.
Diana
These are great designs. Love the ideas. How is the plastic canvas done?
These are great to make for http://www.smilesforchildrenproject.com
love your dolls so far!!!!! how about a raggedy ann and andy paper doll? i think they would be a hit!
Just found Chickie in Newsletter Reading Room. Think he is wonderful. What talent you have. Is he still available?
[editor’s note: He sure is! http://www.designsbysick.com/details/chickiedoll
I haven’t made any paper dolls yet, can’t wait for time to do it. However, my fabric store mentioned using Pentax for the doll in that it is very stiff and wouldn’t bend with play. I want to try making the clothes and when they are cut out, simply cut the fabric for tabs to bend behind the dolls, just like in paper dolls. Just haven’t decided what the basic fabric should be to be able to do that. If I come up with a solution that works, I’ll post it in the future.
Thank you Nadyne, i thought about the tabs, but with the velcor dots i liked it just as well, and a lot of people are doing something called sticky glue it’s reusuable and then just peel and stick new one. but as always we love to hear new ideas. Keep us posted.
heidi
I want to make a set of these dolls soon. What I was going to try is something suggested at another site. They suggested laying down a ribbon across the clothes pattern prior to embroidering. This way little ones can learn to tie too. I too am afraid of swallowed dots & the tacky glue getting on little fingers & getting ingested. There’s a lot of toxins in glue.
But I must say I love all the dolls that you created!
Is the a sister for mile
[editor's note: Yes, the Paper Dolls are here: Paper Dolls
huggers,
rob
editor]