OMG...my cat just walked across my keyboard and erased this whole post...here we go again:

I'm posting links to the pics, as there are 18 or so..

1. Take your stockinette, sew a gathering stitch, and turn right side out.

http://www.boomspeed.com/olismum/stockinette.jpg

2. Make a ball of wool, and then take 2 strips and make a cross. Place the ball in the center, and wrap the ball to make a ball with a bunch at the bottom. This bunch will form the 'shoulders' that is sewn inside the body to stabilize the head.

http://www.boomspeed.com/olismum/1.jpg

3. Fit the stockinette tightly over the ball, and tie at the base of the ball.

4. Follow the instructions on the pattern page to tie the head into shape: Your head should look something like this:

http://www.boomspeed.com/olismum/2.jpg

side view:

http://www.boomspeed.com/olismum/3side.jpg

5. Pull down the thread running across the back of the head until it is at the base of the neck:

http://www.boomspeed.com/olismum/4pulldown.jpg

back view:

http://www.boomspeed.com/olismum/6backclose.jpg

6. Place head onto a piece of the skin coloured interlock, folded in half, so that the front of the face is at the fold. Trace around the head, as closely as possible, then sew along the line you drew. I machine sew, as it is faster, but you could do it by hand.

http://www.boomspeed.com/olismum/7trace.jpg

7. Cut around the head cover, close to the line of stitching, and fit over the top of the head. You may need to make some tucks along the top to get a really tight fit...just tack down the sticky-up bits.

http://www.boomspeed.com/olismum/8fitcover.jpg

8. Your head is almost done: You need to tie it off tightly under the chin, and then run a gathering stitch around the bottom of the 'shoulders' , and gather it in.

http://www.boomspeed.com/olismum/finishedhead.jpg
http://www.boomspeed.com/olismum/finishedshouldersgather.jpg

9. Make a space for the shoulders inside the body. Make sure your body is stuffed well, and then sew the head to the body. I use a zillion pins, and make really tiny stitches, a couple of times around the head, to avoid puckering.

http://www.boomspeed.com/olismum/10headon.jpg
http://www.boomspeed.com/olismum/9sewtogether.jpg

10. mark the position of the features with pins until you like the positioning.

http://www.boomspeed.com/olismum/11position.jpg

11. Follow the instructions on the pattern page, and your doll should now look like this:

http://www.boomspeed.com/olismum/features.jpg

12. To make the hair the way I did it: (long and loose with bangs)

a. measure from just above the eyes, to the top of the legs (or however long you want the hair) and add one inch. Mine was 9 inches. Cut enough 9" pieces of yarn to cover the forehead area evenly. Sew along the hairline with embroidery thread (I use one of the 6 strands). I make 2 passes to catch all the hairs. Then repeat about 2 inches back.

b. measure from the top of the head to the top of the legs (or however long you want the hair). Double this measurement, and add one inch. Cut enough yarn to cover the head from forehead/bangs to crown *3 times* Keep all 3 lots seperate.

c. take the first lot, and stitch down center part, at 45 degrees (where the eyeline represents 90 degrees) and then around the hairline at 90 degrees)

d. take the second lot, stitch down center part, and at 45 degrees. Be sure to bring the hair around to meet at the back of the head

e. Take the third lot and sew only down the center part. be sure to bring the hair together at the back.

This hair can be left long and loose, braided, etc..

http://www.boomspeed.com/olismum/finale.jpg
http://www.boomspeed.com/olismum/hair1.jpg

More pics when I've made the clothes..

ok, how did you do the belly button? too cute!

sarah

I just made a little ball of wool batting, and pinned through it into the belly. Then I sewed a tiny stitch on the inside by the pin, then on the outside of the wee ball, all the way around...That wasn't very clear, was it? Sorry...if you imagine from the inside the wee ball would be sewn onto the body fabric by a web of stitches....aacckk...it's getting worse :p
Just give it a shot- it's easier than it sounds LOL

Thank you SO much for those head directions - they are easier to follow than the ones I got from Little Joys - I have done 2 dolls in the past, and the sewing of the head fabric was always such a chore and I got my fingers pricked over & over - why didn't I think of sewing the skin fabric together by machine & then slipping it over the head?! This may inspire me to make my next doll, which I have all the "ingredients" for in a box.

Glad I could help :) Sure makes it a lot easier doesn't it?