I pondered whether this post should go into Sewing Tutorials, since it teaches something. However it’s not about sewing, per se, which is how it ended up here.
Learning from failure is kind of what this section is about. And though I can’t show you something going wrong, I can show you how I solved the problem.
Which brings me to my point.
When we sew for our dolls, we often also pose them – for displays, or photos. But as anyone who’s ever tried coaxing a doll into a pleasing standing position knows, they’re not always cooperative.
Especially when they’re china.
Of course, their cloth legs aren’t their fault, and they do make up for their wonky bodies by never having messy hair. But when I began dressing Hattie, she fell more times than I’m comfortable admitting.
I needed a solution, and I found it in my bin of miscellaneous craft items.
Take a look at this close-up view of a “failed” pose. Can you see what’s wrong with it? Hattie has a secret, and it’s showing.
Hidden beneath her dress, I’ve attached craft sticks to the backs of her legs with that putty stuff that doesn’t stick to walls (or conveniently, china). I then tie them around her and Voilà – she’s stiff as a board from the waist down. Between this extra help and something to lean on, she can “stand” wherever I want her to.
This works every time, and leaves no residue on Hattie. So if you’re looking for a way to make posing china dolls easier, this might just become your go-to solution.