Dress Making for the Doll

It has been two months since I started making a dress for the doll. It wasn't straightforward, I struggled a lot. My initial plan was to make a one piece dress but as my doll isn't very flexible, to wear it the body had to be dismantled.
So the plan had to be changed to make two pieces. The round collar was the most challenging part of all, in contrast, making knickers was the easiest.
Then search for a sash belt/ribbon took a while. Although the pattern of the ribbon is perfect for my image, the texture is rougher than I expected. Over all it was very slow progress, I wish someone else could make a dresses for my dolls.

Fabric: Liberty Tana Lawn Plain Black

The one piece dress doesn't go below
the shoulder

Wearing knickers.
Vintage ribbon from the USA
East European design?

 
                  T

Make-up and Hair

1. Eyeliner & thin eyebrow

2. Thicker eyebrow &
grey eye shadow

Make-up has to be done before the skin 
colour paint dries. If I change my mind or 
make a mistake, the paint can be used to 
conceal the unwanted lines and colours. 

3. Removed eyebrow &
added lip colour

 4. The wig before ironing

5. Straighten the hair

6. Add cheek colour &
cut fringe carefully

7. Done!

Skin Colour

One sunny afternoon I decided to make the skin colour for the doll. Sunshine is essential for me to make skin colours, because mixing the colours on a cloudy day or under room light tends to create the wrong shade, which often turns out very pink.
I had coated the surface with three layers and then noticed that it was too yellow.

The next day I added a bit of red paint to make a more appropriate colour and layered four more coats. Finally the skin colour was as I wanted and evenly painted.

On the third day, the paint had completely dried and I could connect all the parts with elastic.

It has been a long time since I put the eyes in and since the undercoat covered the eyeballs I had totally forgotten the colour of the eyes until I cleaned it off.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Over the last two months of 2015, I barely touched my dolls. I found sanding the surface very uncomfortable as I didn't have normal strength in my left hand. My doctor told me the reason might be carpal tunnel syndrome or possibly just overuse.

Having a rest for two months made no great improvement, so I decided to continue working very gradually, 30 - 90 minutes per day.

This work included fixing the joints, making the surface smooth, buying fabric for dressmaking and applying Gesso to make the surface completely white, which is now ready for painting the skin colour.

Liberty Print Knickers (Peacock of Grantham Hall)

When I recently received an order from Kotori (in Hayama, Japan) I made some additional knickers with different patterens to the shop owner's choice.
This is one of Liberty's current season's collection, called Peacock of Grantham Hall.
Available sizes : 10 and 12.

Finished Making the Wig

Putting the wig on to the doll's head with temporary eyebrows drawn with an HB pencil. The wig will be cut to a shorter hair style.

The completion is soon! However I noticed that one of the ball joints is broken. It will take a little longer to finish off the whole body than initially planned.

Making a Wig

Before sanding the surface of the modelling paste layer completely smooth, I started making the wig for the doll with 100% human hair (European straight, dyed black).