Handwork: Tuesday the 24th

 Handwork from Home

Kia ora Class 6,

I hope you are all doing well, and finding plenty of things to keep you busy and happy.

Today is handwork day and although it is difficult to continue with the doll making project from home I have a few suggestions about what you can do today (or whenever you are feeling creative). Remember you all have great skills in a variety of things - knitting, crocheting, sewing, drawing - so there are some things you could be doing to give your doll a fantastic wardrobe of clothes and accessories.

Here are a few suggestions for today:

·       Draw your Doll - Have another go at drawing what you want your doll to look like. This time try to be very specific about each article of clothing you are wanting to make and also think about the extra things such as shoes, hats , and other accessories (special things that your doll may need). I know some of you have certain characters in mind for your doll so I’m thinking they will have particular pieces of clothing or ‘extras’ they will be needing.

·       Make something simple – You could keep those skills honed by making a little something .. knit a scarf or a headband, crochet or sew a shoulder bag, make a scrunchie to tie up your doll’s hair. 

    Here are some approximate measurements for a doll the size you are making:

Head circumference:  30cm

Neck circumference:  18cm

Body length from neck to top of the legs:  16cm

Body width from side to side:  13cm

Now for some Maths: Proportion

You can use these measurements to help you work out how big to make something. For example, look at the size of a shoulder bag you have at home. Hold it up to your own body and see how big it is. Think about how much of your tummy area it covers. Think about where if sits near your hip when you wear it and how long the strap is.

Now think about how you can make a bag that is the correct size for your doll. Perhaps draw a rough outline of a doll body using the above measurements and then sketch the bag size as well. From this you can probably make a pattern for the bag.

Remember to take into account the seams of anything you make – generally we allow 1cm for a seam.  Also, think about how you stitched the body cloth for your doll .. right side of the fabric to right side (so working inside out) and then once stitched you turn it in the right way.

 

To make a strap you do the same thing – cut a piece of fabric the length you think you need to go from the bag, over the shoulder and back again – add 2 cm to the length when you cut it. For the width of the strap .. think how wide you would like it to be when finished, double that and then add 2cm. Stitch along one side just as you did for your doll’s body cloth. Remember tacking first then backstitch.

Backstitch along the red line from end to end. Then turn the strap in the right way and iron it to get a neat job. You can attach this to the body of your bag.

You can do the same thing to make a scrunchie and then feed some elastic through to give it the stretch.

These are all just suggestions to get your creative juices flowing. I know you all have your own great ideas so make up something of your own too.

I would love for you to get in touch with me to let me know what you are doing or to ask for some help. Send me a message at janiceb@ch.steiner.school.nz any time and I will reply to you as soon as I can.

Happy handworking.

Janice