Don't spend money on doll clothes when bits and pieces from around the house can be turned into fun, decorative, and even elegant doll apparel. With helpful hints from doll maker Barbara Johnston, your doll will be decked out in recyclables, too.
Johnston's Treasures from Found Objects
Buttons for...
- clothing/hat decorations
- doll jewelry
- shoes
Costume jewelry for...
- earrings
- trim on clothing
- hairdo embellishments
- bracelets (from old rings)
- hat bands and belts (from bracelets)
Denim for...
Doilies, linens, lace for...
- clothing trim
- doll hair
- collars
- coll lingerie, skirts, aprons blouses
- caps/purses
Fabric flowers for...
- fairy costumes/wings
- doll hats
- display setting accessories
Fur for...
- wrap/stole
- doll hair
- santa beard/hair
Hats for...
- doll hats (from re-shaped hats)
- visors (from felt brims)
Leather purses for...
Materials for doll hair:
- fur scraps
- wigs
- yarn unraveled from sweaters (curly)
- hemp rope, intact or frayed
- floral materials (moss, twigs, petals)
- hand-dyed upholstery fringe
- ribbons
Miscellaneous:
- sawdust for stuffing of vintage or country dolls
Nylon hose/tights for...
- costume/body stockings (from opaque tights)
- doll bodies/faces
- hats (from toe of tights/panty hose)
Quilted material for...
- doll bodies
- angel wings
- doll clothing
Sweaters, socks, t-shirts, and knits for...
- curly doll hair (from unraveled sweaters)
- doll clothing
- clothing, caps (from turtle-neck collars)
- sock dolls
Johnston's Dolls and their Recycled Clothing
- Kitty Blue was made from blue jeans and an old worn-out sweater. Her hair was made of yarn, and pieces from a prom dress served as a hair accessory. An old earring that lost its mate hung from one ear, and Kitty Blue's hands were adorned with false fingernails.
- Spike the Blind Date was also made from blue jeans. A Harley Davidson pin was turned into a great belt buckle.
- Dolls made from old linens from a garage sale were tea-stained and stuffed with sawdust to look like attic dolls.
- A treetop angel was made from a quilt. Although Barbara does not condone cutting up quilts, an old worn one makes a great country angel. Floral moss was used for the doll's hair.
- Estelle the Senior Citizen angel was made from many beautiful scraps. Her skirt was adorned with costume jewelry, while Christmas bells and tinsel added the sparkle. Her delicate dress was made from old doilies and pieces of lace and netting. The wings were fashioned from an old coat hanger and a stretchy lace scarf. Her angelic halo was created with a doily that was spray-painted gold.
- A doll hat was made from the crown of a wool felt hat, which already had some shape, but was further shaped by steaming and forming around a foam ball covered with foil.
- Beach thong sandals were made from kitchen sponges cut to shape with ribbon attached for the ties.
Resources Soft Dolls and Animals Magazine
Scott Publications
30595 Eight Mile Rd.
Livonia, MI 48152
USA
Phone: 248-477-6650
Toll Free Phone: 800-458-8237
URL:
scottpublications.com
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