April 26, 2014 -- Paper Dolls of Fabric

A couple of years ago, my sister gave me this book for Christmas:

There are patterns for quilts with the dolls in the middle, various appliquéd toys in the borders and pockets for clothes under the dolls.  The dolls can also be made to stand alone.  Velcro holds the changes of clothes on the dolls.

Lura Kay wants a couple of sets for her little granddaughters and great-granddaughters.

Today I finished the dolls on the stands.  Next week, I will start on the clothes.

I have a few remarks to make on EZ-Steam II Two-Sided Pressure-Sensitive Fusible Web & Adhesive, which I am using to affix doll and background to double-thick Pellon stand-alone-stand-that-doesn’t:

1) Aarrgghh
2) Aaauuuggghhh
3) RRrroooowwwwrrrrr
4) Repeat above 3 comments

 

On the front of the package, it says:

•         5 simple steps (hahaha) for a permanent hold on any project

•         Great for projects (sherrrrrr it is) such as appliqué, hems, collars, mixed media arts and trims

•         No sewing required, bonds permanently after fusing with an iron (uh-huh, and it bonds permanently before fusing with an iron, too. Especially to itself. And to the ironing board.)
 

On the back:

1.     Check which side of the paper-backing (I should have known, companies that don’t use hyphens and commas properly would have troublesome products) removes more easily. (One of the sides removes easily?!)

2.     Peel off the paper-backing on the opposite side and place the pressure sensitive adhesive fusible web… (blah blah blah) (‘Place’, they say. Just like that: ‘place’. As if you can, when the thing is reaching out and grabbing anything and everything within a 10-foot swath, and trying to fold upon itself!)

3.     Blah blah blah

4.     Peel off remaining paper backing (this is not possible) (somebody hand me a crowbar) and position the appliqué … blah blah blah. (‘Position’, they say. ‘Position.’ Like you have an option over where the thing lands, what it grabs, and to what it affixes itself.)

5.     Set iron to Cotton setting with steam. Cover with damp press cloth and press down firmly in place for 10-15 seconds … blah blah blah. Repeat this step if needed. (There are now several surfaces and pieces of fabric coated with sensitive fusible web & adhesive. ‘Sensitive’. I probably hurt its feelings at the beginning, and it’s been retaliating ever since.)

Nevertheless, I press (with steam) doggedly on!

The ‘hair’ fabric shows through the ‘face’ fabric where the seam allowance is tucked under. The arms and legs are lumpy and rumply; no idea why. One of the little boys has astigmatism. However, if you ignore these diffugalties (should be a word) and discombobulations, they’re kinda sorta cute!

Aarrgghh.

P.S.:  After I put ribbon on the wings and tied them together, the stand-alone stand actually... Stands!