Feature: Black Apple Doll Tutorial

It's a {Feature Friday} here at CaitsCreates

This week I am featuring my creative and down to earth friend, Kat!

I have to admit that Kat has been a real inspiration to me this year. She turned her second room into a craft station and I thought, "OMG I need one of those". A few short weeks later guess what I had!?!? A new craft room :). Kat has created so many cool crafts from cards to dolls. Please stop by and check out her blog  Pins & Needles.

Black Apple Doll Tutorial 

Crafter Emily Martin created this doll pattern. She is a top seller on Etsy and owns her label The Black Apple. 

Materials: 

Black Apple doll pattern this can be found HERE 

1/4 yard of patterned fabric for the body 

1/4 yard of another patterned fabric for legs 

1/4 yard of muslin or skin-tone fabric for arms and face 

Felt for hair

Felt for collar

Ribbon and buttons for accessories

Acrylic craft paint (black, red, pink) 

Step 1: Download the pattern from Marthastewert.com and increase by 150%. Cut out your pattern pieces. 

Step 2:  Trace the pattern pieces onto the wrong side of your fabric and cut them out. Each pattern piece will specify how many you'll need. When tracing the arms and legs, trace two in the reverse direction (as shown below). When cutting out the arms and legs, I suggest cutting around the lines. This way you can sew directly on the line, which makes these tiny pieces more manageable. 

Step 3: Pin and sew the hair directly onto the doll's face. Sew a straight stitch along the bangs (the rest will be sewn later).

Step 4: Cut a collar from felt (you can be creative and cut whatever shape you like). Pin the collar to the front of your doll;s body. I also like to sew a tiny button to add some extra charm.

Step 5: Sew the face on the front of the body. Pin your doll's face to the neckline of the body, right sides facing. Sew a straight stitch along the neckline. She should look like this.

Follow the same steps to sew the back of the heads to the back bod piece. Afterwards you should have two pieces that look like this.

Step 6: Sew the arms and legs, right sides facing and leaving an opening at the top. Remember, you can sew directly on the line. You may want to trim the edges when you're done.

Next, turn the arms and legs right side out. I like to use a crochet hook to help with this. You could use any long, skinny tool that works for you. 

Finally, stuff the arms and legs. The long, skinny tool comes in handy here too. 

Step 7: Before I sew my dolls together I like to add a personal touch. Sewing on a personal label can make a gift extra special, not to mention credit your hard work :)

Step 8: Make a doll sandwich! Place your arms and legs inside the front and back pieces of your doll, right sides facing. Pin the edges, leaving an opening at the top of the head. 

Step 9: Sew around the edge of your doll, leaving the opening at the top of the head. Then, (this is my favorite part) reach inside and pull out the doll's legs to turn her right side out...VOILA! 

Step 10: Stuff your doll and close the opening in her head with a whipstitch.

Step 11: Give your doll a personality. Hair accessories and scares are my favorite finishing touches. But most importantly, she needs a face! I use acrylic craft paint to give my dolls eyes, a smile and rosy cheeks. I suggest using a pencil to lightly draw the face first before using a loaded paintbrush...just in case.

And before you know it...TADA!

Thanks again for sharing Kat! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend filled with great weather :)