How To Embroider Doll Faces By Hand
The face of a doll is what makes it perform its work or instead makes it interesting. That is why it is necessary to add beautiful patterns to the look. Different people make their dolls differently. The technique and material used are what will determine whether to embroider or not. But this shouldn’t limit you because you can still sew a pattern regardless of the material you are using. What matters the most is making that face look as realistic as possible.
If you find it quite challenging to do this, you have the option of painting it. But that’s not the interest now. So how do you go about embroidering a doll face? Is it the same way as when dealing with woven fabric? First of all, there is no way embroidering a doll will be similar to dealing with fabric. There is some stuffing in the doll face that you have to deal with; others are sculptures. In this article, you will learn how to go about the whole embroidering process. Moreover, you will also learn a few hacks to make your doll look great.
How to Embroider Doll Faces by Hand?
Contents
Start by ensuring that everything that is needed in that doll is in place. Ensure you stuff the body and sew in hair if it needs it. Mark the spots you want to sew. It includes the eyes, nose, eyebrows, or any other facial feature. You can use a pin for this. Use a marker to draw these features. Using an embroidery thread, sew the parts at those points. Besides, use a running stitch when embroidering.
Steps to Embroider Doll Face by Hand
Embroidering is usually a relatively straightforward technique, especially if your sewing techniques are perfect. But if you are a beginner, the process may be quite frustrating just a little bit. It will not, however, take long before getting the grove of things here. This way, embroidering a doll will be a walkover. In this section, you have an outline of carrying out this process.
Step 1: Choose the Pattern You Want to Have on Your Doll’s Face
Here is what calls for creativity. There are many attractive templates online that one can choose from. Thus, having a firm vision in mind of what you want your doll to look like will simplify your sewing process.
Step 2: Select the Equipment to Use
Selecting the equipment you want to use is as important as choosing the pattern you want to have. Besides, you can have different colors of thread for each part to give your doll some taste. The equipment includes the embroidery thread, needle, and colors list you need to color the facial features.
Step 3: Draw the Shape of the Parts You Need to Embroider
The shape you make will determine how your doll comes out. Especially for the eyes, you want them to look innocent. Or put like those of a child. Start by creating a light pencil sketch of the eyes, lips, nose, and eyebrows. Using things such as permanent markers may cause issues if you want to adjust the features.
Step 4: Start Stitching
For the eyelashes, eyebrows, and lips, you can use a running stitch. Most times, you will only require to make only a single stitch line on these parts. So, you will run your needle along with the shape you have made. Knot the thread at the end, push the needle to the doll’s inner part, and push it back again upwards. Also, the stitch you make should be neat, and you don’t need to run your needle through again.
On either part, you can use a different color thread. You can also use the strands of the embroidery thread three to get something unique. These parts are pretty straightforward to deal with. Now stitch the eyes.
Step 5: Stitch the Eyes
The sketch you make on the eyes is most probably a circle or an oval-like shape. You can also have other shapes; it’s all up to you! Where the pencil mark is on the eyes, sew it using a running stitch. After that, pass your thread and needle all around the sketch you have.
Running it once is enough. Then, fill in the inner parts of the stitch you made using a satin stitch. It will fill in the internal factors with a thread. After you fill in the inner details, make a knot on the thread and push the needle into the doll. Push it back again upwards.
Step 6: Trim the Excess Thread
In either part, of course, there is a thread that remains after pushing the needle upwards. Trim it close to the region near the doll’s face. Ensure you do this for every part you sew. That’s it!
Embroidery Stitches to Use on Doll Faces
1. Backstitch
Ensure you have your threaded needle on with two knots on end. It is one of the easiest and secure stitches to use on a doll face. Also, it will work well if the doll face has no stuffing yet. Start by inserting the needle from the backside of the doll’s face. At a stitch length away from the edge, push in the needle to the backside. Pull it up back to the right side and push it back again through the last stitch. Repeat this process to the end of your sketch.
2. Outline Stitch
Here, insert the thread from the backside. Drive the thread at the sketch line and a stitch length away. It should head to where your first stitch is. After that, pull the needle at almost halfway in the first stitch and repeat the process. Always ensure the thread passes above the line. It is best when embroidering lips, eyebrows, and eyelashes.
3. Stem Stitch
When using a stem stitch, pull the thread up through the sketch line. Ensure you hold the thread below the stitch. Run the needle along the stitch length and pass it again at half a stitch length. The needle should come through your last stitch.
4. Running Stitch
This stitch is easy to make. Even though it makes the sewing process easy, the final stitch won’t be as secure. Here, you push your needle up from the backside of the fabric. Push it back again to the wrong side and at the other edge of your line. Pass the needle up through your first stitch.
5. Satin Stitch
In satin, you will be filling in parts that have no stitches. You will apply it mostly when embroidering the eyes or the nose of the doll’s face. First, make a running stitch all around your sketch. Make horizontal stitches to fill in the inside part of the drawing.
Tips to Embroider Doll Faces
- Ensure you check the quality of the thread you will use to stitch. Some threads may stain your doll, and of course, you don’t want that.
- Use a different color thread to bring up an interesting variation on the doll’s face.
- If you find embroidering difficult, you have the option of using buttons for the eyes and nose.
- You can add some embellishments to the cheeks. You want your doll to be decorative. It is easy to add and stitch them.
Is It Best to Use a Button or to Embroider the Eyes of a Face Doll?
Whether to use a Button or embroider the eyes of your doll face will depend on various factors. One of which is the fabric that makes the face of the doll. For plastic dolls, a button-like eye will do it justice. The same applies to a woven fabric. The good thing with the button eye is that you need not have any skill to fix it. So, it works well on any material, making it the best option.
Which Is the Best Stitch to Use to Embroider Doll Face?
A backstitch. The best stitch to use is the one that secures the features of a doll’s face in place. It should also be simple to use. Most ordinary people will prefer using a running stitch on most parts. But it doesn’t offer the protection needed. A backstitch is easy to employ and also ensures the features are intact.
Crafting has always been a deep-seated passion of mine, one that has flourished and evolved over the years.
I've dedicated considerable time to both studying and practicing in the realm of fashion and sewing, amassing a wealth of experience and skills.
It brings me great joy to share these insights and experiences with you all, hoping to inspire and foster a similar passion for the art of sewing.
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