My Felt Doll: Easy sewing patterns for wonderfully whimsical dolls

I recently purchased the book while ordering the pocket poppet off of the gingermelon etsy shop. I thought that the book doll would be the same size as the pocket poppet. The doll from the book is larger. The patterns are very similar though. The only difference besides the size is the construction of the legs. I honestly though that I was getting a bargin when purchasing the book. It's still a barging, although the patterns dont fit the dolls I just made . The book has way more outfits and design ideas than what is offered for a single doll (pocket poppet) design on the etsy website. Im just sad that everything is too big for the dolls that I just made. I would either have to figure out how to scale down the patterns or make another purchase from gingermelon's etsy shop. There are some overlapping outfit designs that both dolls can wear. That's why I purchased the book in the first place. I havent made a doll from the book yet, but the pocket poppet was super easy to make in terms of skill level. I've made two dolls in less than a week while waiting for my book to arrive. The first was made with items found around my house. I used dark brown felt (body),yellow felt (dress) , cotton balls (to stuff body) and black thread ( to embroider entire face and do edging along the dress). I can tell you now, buying the recommended items ( felt with matching embroidery floss and fiber-fil ) makes for a professional made looking/feeling doll. The second doll was made from supplies bought from both micheal's and joann's craft stores. This doll turned out super cute and didnt look like a voodoo doll( that is what everyone said before I gave the first one hair LOL). There are some slight negatives. I wish this book went into more emroidery visual instructions. For instance, the little pricess pattern does not show how to do the face. Omg, that is not as simple as popping in a set of safety eyes and making a line for a mouth. I purchased another pattern from gingermelon's etsy to get instruction on how to embroider eyes and lips. Also, safety eyes are not as easy to come by unlike felt, emroidery floss, needles and yarn. Overall, I recommend this book whole heartedly. I wish there were more handsewn humanoid doll books out there.

I bought this book and have made two lovely felt dolls so far. The patterns are so cute and easy to make! I do have some suturing experience (as a nurse), but I have no doubt that even beginners would find the instructions easy to follow! The book has ignited a passion for sewing in me. I am so happy to have found this new hobby. I have a 5 month old baby girl and I'm excited to create hand-sewn dolls for her in the future (when she's not putting everything in her mouth lol).

In 'My Felt Doll,' Shelly Down has created an outstanding reference work that has a place in any doll-crafters library, with contents that appeal to kids and adult collectors alike. The dolls are made from felt squares, ideally using wool or a wool blend, and entirely hand-stitched using embroidery floss. The author illustrates two face options: embroidery only, and embroidery plus plastic doll eyes, along with several different hair treatments. There are color photos of every material used and brand names are listed with each photo so you can tell what's what; she also includes, bless her, a kinky-haired doll (in this case a redhead). The book is lushly illustrated and has well-written descriptions and instructions, making the crafting of these dolls an easily understood endeavor, even the tricky bits. The full-sized patterns make for quick and easy pattern creation (I use tracing paper to create my own paper patterns but they could also be photocopied). I especially recommend this book to beginning doll-makers for it's clarity and ease of use; this would also be a good resource for someone wanting to teach doll making to younger crafters. The book is organized around photos of 12 basic doll/clothing combinations with each doll (of different skin/hair tones) fully illustrated from the basic materials used per doll, through photos of the construction process up to photos of each finished basic project. There is also a well-written section describing all the embroidery stitches suggested in the book, and various tips on doll-making intelligently placed throughout the book. The book contains full-sized patterns for creating: - basic girl or boy doll (10"/25cm) - mermaid doll (10"/25cm) - 12 different basic outfits with many, many more easily created by combining separate pieces - accessories (undies/swim suit, purses, bags, hats, coats, capes, shoes, tie, book, basket, etc.) - properly scaled pet hedgehog - teddy bear The teddy bear pattern can be easily modified several ways and is the ideal pattern to use as a starter or practice pattern to get one's hand stitching up to snuff, as construction stitches on these doll bodies are visible. As many have pointed out, the author runs a terrific Etsy store called Gingermelon, featuring charming patterns & kits for handmade felt dolls of many types along with a well-curated selection of merino & blended felts and notions, all offered at quite reasonable prices. Many of her doll patterns are sold as completed dolls by other Etsy vendors. Her store is an excellent resource for any felt square crafting need as the supplies she offers are of excellent quality and are good value for money.

This is a great doll diy book for beginners and creative hobbiests. You can create so many variations for the doll's appearance and assessors. Lots of fun!

My daughter’s Christmas present! This book was very detailed with lots of pictures and easy to follow instructions. The doll is the perfect size for a little girl. The clothing patterns are easy to modify, so I was able to make the shirt, overalls, and hat based off of the other clothes provided. I’m very happy with the finished product and look forward to making more, just as soon as I can figure out which doll to do!

I think the dolls in this book are absolutely adorable! I was super excited to try my hand at one. I even told myself that this was a project that I would stick to and make for all the little people, and big, that I knew would love them - I could even start personalizing them! Well, I made one and she was almost adorable, but these were my problems: * The felt she recommends to use is the higher end stuff. By all means you have free will and can use whichever kind you want, but I wanted to make it just as she recommended, so I went for the high end, wool, felt. She described it as being almost buttery to stitch through. That description proved to be perfectly accurate when I started stitching up my doll. It was TOO buttery though! I found that it was too fragile. Too wispy? Actually, I"m not sure there is a better way to describe it other than her own description: Buttery! I since made a second doll (I have several doll heads laying around .. creepy) and used the cheaper felt and found it much easier to work with. That's just me. * Her description of tools, and materials was extensive and I found to be very helpful, being a total novice. It was descriptive and thorough. Good! * Picture are close up, no enlarging of patterns, directions clear and make you feel like 'no problem! I can DO this!' I like instructions that are clear and don't feel confusing before I've even begun. When I went to assemble my sweet girl, that is when I started panicking. I had a lot of trouble attaching her head. I'm not sure what I did wrong, but it wobbles and falls forward and the stitching is very visible. It's suggested to stitch until the head is firmly held in place but I couldn't fit anymore stitches as it was already becoming a jumbled nest of stitches in such a tiny place..I will keep trying. This was only my first try, mind you. I think with practice, she'll look better, but wish there was a trouble shooting or maybe a link for a youtube channel to see the assembly taking place .. however, as I type that, I'm sure there IS a youtube video someplace, somewhere, showing just that :) The book is so adorable that it motivates me to keep trying! I would recommend, but if you're a novice, like myself, maybe keep youtube nearby for real time footage of the neck area.

So complete and informative, I was 100% happy with the information I got from this book. I am so excited to start my Christmas Mermaids for my Granddaughters. I love this purchase.

I'm so glad that I ordered this book! I had an older copy and lamented giving it away; but this newer version is way better! I started making the doll right away and it is turning out so cute. The patterns say for felt, but I am using cloth. Also just an fyi, when you cut out the patterns, you have to add about 1/8" all around for a seam.

Love this book with lots of different dolls to make.instructions are easy to follow.

Leider gab's das Buch ja nicht auf Deutsch, die englische Variante war aber auch okay, die Bebilderung hat dabei (Übersetzung) natürlich auch geholfen. Habe schon zwei Puppen genäht, allerdings nur zur Probe mit einfachen Bastelfilz, der hält natürlich nicht soviel aus. Werde demnächst hochwertigeren Filz kaufen und mich an die nächste Puppenherstellung wagen. Die Haare bekomme ich leider noch nicht so richtig hin, was vllt. an den Übersetzungsschwierigkeiten liegt, aber bestimmt gibt es irgendwo im Internet auch dafür Tipps (Videos). Ich hätte ein Hartcover besser gefunden und es wäre sicherlich auch angenehmer, wenn die Schnittmuster nicht mitten im Buch zum Kopieren wären, denn das Buch muss ganz schön "leiden", wenn man eine Kopie machen will, da man es sehr fest auf den Drucker pressen muss, aber das ist naturlich nur meine persönliche Meinung. Der Inhalt und die Aufmachung (Layout) sind sehr liebevoll und detailliert, daher volle 5 Sterne.

I fell in love with the front cover doll and had to have. There are some variations to it, but essentially it is just one basic doll, which isn't surprising but just a teeny tad disappointing. On the other hand the instructions are very comprehensive (127 pages) both for the doll and her extensive wardrobe and accessories including all bags, baskets, satchels and suitcases etc. All the patterns are included ready for tracing off the page with no need to enlarge which is sooo good. Clearly this is going to be a labour of love. There are no shortcuts, everything is sewn by hand with tiny neat little stitches using embroidery thread. I am looking forward to a very serene and absorbing time.

I have purchased several Gingermelon patterns and they are easy to follow and always turn out great. This book is also very well done, with lots of easy to follow instructions and beautiful examples, and patterns of all the dolls through out the book. Before discovering Shelly Down's Gingermelon site I had never sewn felt characters before. Her patterns are too cute to resist, I have since learned how to do all the stitches needed to create several little dolls for my Grand daughter.

Descrizioni per la realizzazione delle doll(bambole)molto chiara,davvero un bel libro