The designs and methods you will learn are fun, and make very versatile doll patterns. If you followed the Beginning Design Class instructions and made a doll or two, you are ready for this adventure!
I am going to assume that you have now designed and made 1 or more (I hope more) of the basic tab head cloth dolls, using the methods taught in the “Beginning Design Your Own Doll Class”. I won’t be re-teaching anything that you learned there, but will mention things learned. You will want to have your printed out book, from the Beginning Design class available.
I hope you “played” with your basic pattern, changing it here and there.
If you held your pencils STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN for the beginning design process, you should have dolls with shapely forms. Some of the lady dolls will be very slim, but also shapely. If you stuffed firmly, and jointed tightly you should have dolls that will stand alone. Even your high heel dolls, with the more advanced foot, will stand alone. Of course a breeze will knock them over, but they will stand alone.
When we advance the “adult” doll patterns you will have very shapely bodies and finally, great “boobs” for the lady dolls.
If you designed a “kid” doll, they will usually have the cutest shapes, and if you made them jointed, they often stand pigeon toed, which adds to their charm. When we advance these “kid” patterns, you will have the most adorably shaped little beings! The Kid patterns are actually more versatile for making changes.
The “metamorphoses” I will document later are from a kid pattern. You won’t believe what the “cute kid” was changed into with a few snips, a few lines, a little tape and Ta-Da! 3 more whole new patterns!
We will be using the basic tab head doll patterns that you have designed as a jumping off point for more advanced designing. You will get the most from this class if you have designed both the “kid” type and the “adult” type doll patterns.
Even if you don’t like kid dolls, do design one, you won’t regret it later!
I will be doing advanced designs from both a high heel, lady type doll and from a “kid” type doll. The metamorphoses of the “kid” type doll will amaze you! With a few simple design changes, that require very little design ability, you can take this simple little Hispanic “kid” doll pattern to a wonderful elf with needle-sculptured nose. Then on too a great, black basketball player with a needle-sculptured nose, and pulled in mouth area. And then on to a short, fat, and hilarious sitting lady with the greatest body, boobs and needle-sculptured nose you’ve ever seen!
You will come up with more, different metamorphoses from your patterns, by simply following the “methods”. The idea is to make your own patterns and dolls. Descriptions, reduced size patterns and photos of my metamorphoses will be shown later in the class. The clothes for them were designed using the Beginning design class methods.
I never did get the lady dressed, she is so funny undressed.
You will learn how to make straight legs into bent legs and vice versa.
You will learn how to make your doll taller or shorter, fatter or thinner.
You will learn how to turn your flat, tab head, into a profile head, easily and successfully. I will touch on some other profile head types too, for those of you who are more adventurous. I do have to be careful that the design method I teach you doesn’t “bump” into someone else’s signature head style. I don’t own any patterns by anyone else, except one epb wall hanging, but I have seen many styles in magazines. The head style you will learn to design is different than any I have seen. It is also really Great! It can be anything from a cartoon type to a more realistic type. It can have a pointed nose or a sculpted nose. It can be young or old. It is really very versatile, and you will be able to design from your easy tab heads with ease.
You will learn how to make a 3 or 4-part body, and how to make the very best “boobs”, using that 3 or 4 part body.
You will learn some easy sculpture methods, not the kind that require hundreds of stitches to achieve. I guess I am basically, just too lazy to do the type of needle-sculpture that takes hours to do.
You will learn lots more in
this class, than what is listed above. Techniques, ideas, adaptations etc.
Far too many to list.
Now, a question. Have you taken the Finger Design
lesson?
If not, you need to do so right away. It’s free at Crafty College (Included with the download of the first Design Class). Make hand patterns in a number of sizes, because the first assignment for this class will be a hand project.
This Finger Design method is so much fun! And it makes beautiful hands!