Let’s Make a Mermaid

Piper asked me to make her a mermaid waaaaaaay back in April when I was visiting.  Told her that I would get right on it as soon as I got home.  Of course, whatever I make for Piper, I make for Addison, Kendall, and Adley.  

So now we’re up to four mermaids.

My first thought was to take my Wee Wonderful Pattern that I bought a few years ago and adapt it a mermaid body.  

The best friends are a wee bit afraid of Rocker Doll

But I couldn’t make it work.  Who knew that adding a fish tail to a doll body would be so difficult?? So I decided to just make my own pattern.

These are the first 3 that I made….

mermaids

Then my “design” team came for a weekend.  They played with the mermaids and came up with some ideas.  The doll with the red hair was by far the favorite and I was advised to base the new pattern on her.  (Someday we’ll see these girls on Project Runway! Hopefully someone will comb their hair.)

mermaid designers

My two little helpers let me take them shopping (since they can’t drive nor have any money) and we came home with more fabric, felt and yarn. 

mermaid fabric

And I made two more….

mermaids

And took them all to visit Piper and Adley.  

mermaids

And Adley loved her doll….

mermaid adley mermaidadley1

Piper not so much.  Once again, the orange-haired mermaid was the favorite.

Time for another re-design….

piper design

The problem seemed to be in the way the fins met the body.  “Much too thick Grandma!”  

(And what exactly is wrong with a big-bottomed mermaid?)

Back to pick up supplies-more fabric, yarn, felt, and fabric pens. I drew a bunch of eyes and Piper picked out her favorite and then I drew some new faces.  Piper liked the one with the BIGGEST eyes.  (I thought she looked a bit like Amy Winehouse)

Let's Make a Mermaid

 

Let's Make a Mermaid

After checking the measurements, Piper decided that her new mermaid was PERFECT!

Piper mermaids

Let's Make a Mermaid

Let's Make a Mermaid

Let's Make a Mermaid

I’m not ready to distribute a pattern.  Still have some of my own changes to make. But here’s some tips if you want to make a doll….

I ALWAYS make the face first.  If you have the doll all sewn together and stuffed then screw up the face, you can just toss that baby in the trash!

I use the best polyfil I can get for stuffing. Usually “supreme” or “premium”.  After all of that work sewing together all those little parts, I don’t want to take a chance on the polyfil getting all lumpy and clumpy.

I use midweight fusible interfacing on all of the fabric pieces.  I started doing this with the Wee Wonderful Dolls because I used muslin for the skin on the first test doll and the polyfil showed through. Although I only use good-quality quilting cotton for the skin now, using the interfacing eliminated that issue and I still use it.  I didn’t use it on the tail piece for the first mermaid doll and the seam connecting the body to the upper section ripped!  So now I use it on all pieces just to make the doll sturdier. 

I used Sharpie fabric makers on the final version.  It feathers out a bit after applying so you need to account for that.  

The felt I used was “craft” or sometimes called “fun”.  I didn’t use wool although I’ve read on numerous blogs that it’s wonderful and doesn’t pill.  But it can’t be washed.  And I know that these darlings will be well loved and will be tossed into the washer on a regular basis. Wondering how other DIYers handle that?  Any comments?

Okay.  That’s it!  I’m sure that there will be more mermaids, toys, and dolls in the future! Especially since I have my new design team in place!

Let's Make a Mermaid

 

 

 

 

 

2 thoughts on “Let’s Make a Mermaid”

  1. I’m loving those mermaids! I’m with Piper, I like the big eyes. (as long as she doesn’t start singing Me & Mr.Jones, it’s all good!) But what I really like best is her involvement. It really was HERS when it was done. Making memories – Great job ladies!!!

    Reply
  2. I prefer Piper’s tail too. I think the body can be fatter but it needs to taper more and then have that bigger tail. Very cool!

    Reply

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