Bigger is better?

Stitching petite ladies and gentlemen, as well as their tiny garments is no easy task. Too small for the sewing machine, many items must be hand sewn and finished. These past few weeks, the shop has been encouraging the Boss to take on a bigger project.

Everyone was eager to create more detailed garments and accessories. The cutter was especially hoping for the chance to pattern and stitch some 18th Century stays and hoops. 

                                          https://www.periodcorsets.com/salon-18th-century

The cordwainer, already poking at the woodworker to complete shoe lasts, added a larger size to the list just in case. 

There is a simply darling chapeau tucked safely in a hat box because it does not suit any of the current clientele. 

The fabric stock, thanks to the far sighted buyer, is over flowing with fabrics featuring larger scale motifs. And the wig maker has assured our hairstylist that she has just the right wig for the job. 

Really, what could the Boss do but give in? 

So please welcome our newest cloth Queen Anne doll, adapted from the Clairebearsfolly Penny pattern. (The info on how to order this pattern on Etsy is listed in the Resources section of the website.)

Adelaide is 30 inches tall. She has sculpted face, hands, feet and ears. Her hair is currently kept tidy by a hair net. And yes, she is sitting in the Boss's own chair.

Adelaide was certainly exciting to bring to 'life'. She does have a solid presence. It is much easier to sew her together and turn out the larger limbs. It is also less frustrating to put the stuffing into place as well. She has a lovely long neck and her bigger feet should make for an easier shoe making experience.

But she was a challenge in many ways too. The Designer asked for a simple, calm visage.  Sculpting came first. The proportions of features are quite different on a bigger doll and their placement leaves Adelaide with the prominent forehead seen on many Queen Annes. The painter could not get away with anything on a larger doll. No erasures allowed. The features had to be drawn and coloured correctly the first time. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when it came time to give Adelaide's eyes their nail polish glow and fix the face paint with Krylon spray. 

Addy's ears needed more detailed sculpting and much care when stitched in place. Those ears are immediately obvious. It took some time to get the size and placement just right. The Designer could not resist finding some earrings right now!  Much humphing and sighing took place while the stitcher waited to mark and delicately sculpt Addy's little toes and fingers.

As for the stuffing, there was a LOT of it. The whole doll needed firm packing and buttoning the limbs to the torso required some champion doll wrestling. Fortunately the shop has learned to sculpt the hands and feet before the limbs are set in place. The Designer opted for smaller size buttons, so it does not show up under garments. A milliner's needle certainly came in handy.

Addy has a large head, measuring 16 inches. Over stuffing her head made is much too round and some had to be removed. The Designer then spent some time squishing it into a pleasing shape. The wig maker performed some real slight of hand to fit Addy's wig from what is in stock. She will put together a blog post revealing what magic was up her sleeve.

One of the biggest challenges while stuffing, was ensuring that Addy's head did not flop. A small dowel was inserted in the neck, up into the head and down into the chest. Though packed tightly, there is still some slack in the neck, creating a few lines across the front of it. Perhaps more clipping was need on the curve into her shoulders? The Designer has declared that Addy just might be a 'lady of a certain age'. All the more reason to give her a selection of bejewelled neck ribbons and necklaces. The dowel does do its job at any rate.

The shop has not forgotten Armand and the ladies. Their new clothes are waiting on the sewing table. The knitters are crunching the math for some larger stockings patterns, and have already chosen yarn for Armand's mitts and felted caps. 

Also on the list will be to build a proper platform so Adelaide can stand up for herself. For the moment she sits patiently, waiting for her hair to be styled and a shift to be fitted.

Please check out the earlier blogs to learn what it took to create the more diminutive ladies. The shop applied everything they learned then to this lady of stature. And more! Comments are always appreciated and your support is much valued.