HALF DOLL HALLOWEEN WITCH DOLL WITH TUTORIAL

Hello everyone

 

Are you getting ready for Halloween. Have

you got HALLOWEEN FEVER!!! For a change

I am early.

 

I have been BITTEN by the Half-Dolls and

their pincushions. Going back to an era that

contained Grace with Beauty. The 1920s, 1930s

and the 1940s were before my time yet everything

they owned had a purpose, a function.

 

I will be doing tutorials on these half dolls

that I make so you can see how to make the

pincushions for them. I hope to be able to make

the pincushions different for each doll.

As usual be sure to read thoroughly and understand

each and all directions before proceeding onto the

next. IT IS NOT HARD TO MAKE THESE HALF
DOLL PINCUSHIONS, FOR ME, ONLY TIME
CONSUMING. Because it takes me time

to figure out what I want them to look like.

Generally I use what I have in my fabric piles.

I am known for using old and new clothes.

Some things need a new lease on life!

 

A LOVELY HALF DOLL IN WHITE WILL
BE COMING FOR CHRISTMAS!!!

 

 

Her gown is a deep dark black. I took

HUNDREDS of photo's (every step of the way),

and many of my photo's did not take well

(or there would have been more). But if

you know anything about a little bit of sewing,

perhaps you will understand what I am saying

or improvise. Thank you for your consideration

in realizing these tutorials do not always come

easy to make for some people.

 

MEET MELANIE!

Yes, I know that Melanie is not a good witch name

but I was hoping for a pretty witch. As

it turns out I cannot stick a pin in her

to use, but I can stick a couple of pins

in her to show you her use. I never

plan on taking the pins out!

Melanie is lovely and I hope you

think so also.

As far as I know a Halloween witch has

never been made for one of these half dolls.

So I think that I give to you THE FIRST. I hope that

Melanie sparks your creativity and the interest

to THEME a half doll.

Get ready for lots of photos.

This is a LONG TUTORIAL.

 

Melanie takes on a mystique quality when it involves

a close up. TAKE A PEEK! Including the half-doll

and the pincushion she is about 11 inches tall.

 

This half doll only cost me $3.00. That is right!

She was a bargain. The half doll was only dirty.

Melanie cleaned up nicely!

 

Her cape is glittery and so is her hat.

 

I used an earring on her hat and silk ribbon for

the cape ties.

 

This is a fat pincushion! I love it!!!

 

Sorry that this photo is a little light, but you can

see the gown better. In this pic her face did not

take very well, but that is okay.

 

Here is Melanie on my cutting table. Sorry about

the mess, but craft and cutting tables get like that.

Or maybe I am just messy like that. Lol.

 

The deep black gown also glitters because of the

many sequins that is on the gown.

 

Just a better close-up of the bottom of the gown.

 

 

As you can tell this is Melanie's cape.

 

I lifted up the cape to give you a peek underneath.

 

You can embellish your hat anyway that you wish.

I opted for something simple.

 

Here is Melanie without the cape.

 

A close up of her hat, bodice and skirt.

 

All of my hats are big. Her hat is 2 inches high

from the top of her brim to the top of the

flower where the hat bends.

 

This skirt has 3 layers. The first layer has the

ruffle.

 

This is the second inner ruffle. Even though you

cannot see it - it also glitters with sequins.

 

This is the inner skirt.

 

The above photo did not

show the flareness to the inner skirt. All of the skirts

are pure black.

 

The pincushion is a lovely 100% black silk.

 

Photo just shows a little higher up the skirt.

MATERIALS NEEDED:

1. I attach the dolls to the pincushion with

a 2 inch curved needle. I also break them a lot! Once

you get the hang of it, they are not so bad to use.

I use the cheaper needles, not these. This photo

is here for you to see. You can attach the doll

to the pincushion using a different method if

you prefer.

2. If you sew the half doll down you will also

need strong button thread in black. I have used

white so you can see better what I have done.

You will also need a sewing needle for some hand

sewing. I always use small quilting needles.



 

3. Last year I had bought this girls skirt from the

thrift store.

I noticed this year that they are still around,

if you prefer to use the type of skirt that I have.

This skirt has the outer skirt, an inner piece and the

inner skirt ALL ATTACHED TOGETHER by the

waistband. There are plenty of sequins on the skirt.

 

The waistband is used for the WITCH HAT, so be sure

to keep this part when it gets cut off. Also needed for

the witch hat is any kind of earring that dangles. I

used 4 ready made bows that I bought from Wal-Mart

years ago. I believe these are still around. Check

JoAnn's fabrics or online.

 

Here is the real color of the skirt. Make sure the

skirt has no holes and is in very good condition.

 

Just another look at the layers.

 

This is the tag that was on the inside of the skirt.

 

4. My daughter's lovely black silk skirt that she no

longer wanted became the PINCUSHION BASE. You

do need a large piece of silk to make this pincushion!

I used a 4&1/2 inch plastic butter lid instead of

cardboard for the base. Again use what you have.

Also needed is Polyester filling or cotton Quilt batting

that I prefer torn into strips and then tiny pieces.

If using cotton quilt batting like me then 

it will take a lot for this fat pincushion!

 

5. This glittery fabric came from a costume

cape/skirt/dress from the thrift store YEARS AGO.

I used some of it for the cape on a porcelain doll

that I remade into a Halloween witch. My grand

daughter Elise promptly took the doll home with her.

I still have some of this glittery fabric left, even

after this project. You will also need black satin or

silk ribbon for the cape ties.

 

6. You need a Half Doll. I looked around and

found this doll with the orange bodice and

black trim. Perfect for the $3.00 price I paid

for her! Melanie did not have any chips

or cracks on her.

 

Melanie's back.

 

LETS BEGIN WITH THE PINCUSHION.

As in the making of the pattern for the other

pincushion, you must make a pattern. Tape together

4 pieces of printer paper. Be sure to tape the front

and the back. You do not want the pattern falling

apart.

 

You see what I have written on the paper. I was

hoping to get about an 8&1/2 inch high pincushion.

But I did not get that. The pincushion is fat!!!!!

And I love the fatness of it. The height turned out

to be more to 6&1/2 inches high. You will see later

on in a photo the ruler that is placed next to it.

So, I now know that if I want a taller pincushion

that I must go taller than a 12 inch height.

Cut this pattern out and place it on your fabric.
You can place the pattern on a seam or however

you wish on the BLACK FABRIC that enables

you to get this size. That choice is yours.

 

In this photo, I have taken the width of 21&1/2

inches and folded it in half.

 

I pinned it with pins that you can see

 

I used white thread so I could see what I was

doing. Anyway sew a seam and be careful not

to run over the pins.

 

Seam made as straight as possible.

Also be sure to backstitch your seams.

This forms a TUBE. Both sides of the tube

are open.

 

Cut off the end threads.

 

My pincushion has only this seam as you can see.

Lay the tube down as you see her so the seam is

facing you.

Put the seam so you can see it.

 

Finger press it open. Do this several times.

 

Turn to the right side. Do you see my seam here.

 

We are going to make the bottom first. See this is

the right side of the tube. See my seam. It does

not matter which side of the open tube that you use.

Just pick one.

 

Thread a needle with long black thread and set

aside. Start at the seam (as above photo)

and turn under

the raw edge about a half inch.

With the long threaded needle start sewing

through both layers as you see I am doing here.

 

See here.

 

Once you have finished sewing all the way around

gather it up!

 

Just gather it up nicely and make sure there are

not any puckers. Keep the tension tight/taut

and knot off the thread on the inside near

the seam.

 

It will look something like this. If you want a

more rounder shape than what you see here, then

play with it. This look does not bother me.

 

I used a 4 & 1/2 inch lid (you can use cardboard)

if you prefer.  

 

Place the lid or cardboard on the inside of your

tube. Place it in the middle of the bottom.

 

Start at the bottom trying to keep the butter

lid or cardboard in the middle of the tube.

STUFF FIRMLY!!!!

With each little bit of stuffing that you do,

be sure to keep smashing the cotton quilt

batting or fiberfill down hard.

 

I am at the top of the pincushion. And as I sew

the top closed keep adding in batting or fiberfill

till you can no longer add anymore.

 

Start at the seam and turn under the raw edge.

With a long threaded needle sew through

both layers.

 

My seam ended up to be a long seam and not

round. I hope this does not bother you. This lady

has hips! I could have still stuffed in more quilt

batting to get as much of the wrinkles out as possible.

Now, at this point you might have to start molding

the pincushion into shape. I have done this also

to mine. Just get a pleasing shape to you while

still making sure that the butter lid or cardboard

still stays in the middle at the bottom

 

The top of the pincushion.

 

The bottom of the pincushion. The butter lid or

cardboard is still in the middle. Can you see the

indention of it.

 

My pincushion worked out to be this high.

Perhaps yours is taller or shorter. It does

not matter.

 

If you have stuffed it firmly, then it should be

about 20&1/2 inches around. If not it is okay.

Every person is an individual.

 

Take your half doll and make sure she is

clean and sparkly!

 

Place the half doll in the middle of your stitching

line. make sure she is even from side to side and

front to back. (I am sorry but the photo's for

attaching the doll did not turn out) Just take a

few big head straight pins and put through the holes into the

pincushion to just anchor the doll down till you

get ready to sew her down. Place her where she

will not get knocked over.

If you have another method of attaching the half

doll down buy all means do what you prefer.

Now is the time to use your method or proceed

on to mine.

 

I do not put sewing needles in large pincushions

because they get lost inside the pincushion and

can poke you badly. The bottle cap pincushions

or any kind of small pincushion is ideal for needles.

Here is the 2 inch curved needle in the pincushion.

 

Can you see it better here. Take this needle and

thread it with black or whatever color you wish with

BUTTON THREAD. This type of thread is strong.

So is Carpet thread. Knot the end of the thread.

Take your pincushion with the doll on it and take

one at a time or all of the pins out of the doll holes.

Start with one of the holes and stitch the doll down

into the pincushion. You will have to get used to

putting the needle in and out and how to swing

the needle to come up into the air to be able to get

another stitch. I am confident in you that you

can do it!

Do one hole at a time.

Sorry but those photos did not take! So I cannot

show you anymore of that.

Once you are finished with sewing the half doll

down - then we move onto her gown

 

 

MAKING THE GOWN FOR THE HALF DOLL.

Like I said this is the skirt that I used. If you have

found something different and better then that is

okay.

 

With the half doll attached to the pincushion, we then

must measure. I eyeball everything and then add.

Place the skirt around the pincushion. Do not worry

about her head. (some of these photos also were not

clear). Sorry about that.

 

Fluff the skirt out at the bottom. Run your hands

around the body of the pincushion and keep the

skirt uniform, at the back pinch together to see how

much fabric needs to come off. Put a pin there and

keep adjusting and playing with it until the skirt

looks right around the pincushion. Do not cut anything.

 

Mine worked out to be 4&1/2 inches. I will not cut

off that. I will cut off something like 3&1/2 to 4 inches

when I get ready to cut it off. At this point you can

remove the pin if you are working on the skirt now.

You might want to leave the pin if you are taking

a break just so you do not forget the measurement.

I kept right on going.

For now, just measure with a ruler. My first pin

goes towards the top of the fabric but not on the

waistband at the 4&12 inch mark. (By the way

the waistband is little stretchy. And you want that).

 

Back to the skirt See where my pin headed straight

pins start. Mine starts at the 4&12 inch mark on

the ruler. Yours might start somewhere else.

I pin just as you see here all around the skirt

and I end about 9 inches away from where the first

pink pin is placed. (Remember my first pink pin

is placed 4&12 edges away from the left edge.
So I must stop my pins 4&1/2 inches in the back away from

that same edge making it 9 inches total).

Your measurement

might be the same as mine or not. Just remember

that your pin should stop on the backside in the

same place as your first pin started.

Also be sure to only pin through the front 3 layers

of the skirt as you pin around the skirt. Does that

make sense to you. Do not pin the front and back

together. Also notice that I have pinned everything

on the front side of the skirt.

THE MOST CONSUMING PART IN MAKING

THIS SKIRT IS THE PINNING. BUT
BELIEVE ME THIS GOES REALLY FAST!

THE REASON IS
BECAUSE BEFORE I CUT ANY OF THIS
SKIRT, I WILL PLACE IT ON TOP OF THE
DOLL PINCUSHION TO SEE IF IT FITS OR
NEEDS TO BE BIGGER.

 

See where I have ended 9 inches away from the

first pink pin.

 

Now, notice your skirt. See how mine flares out on

the sides. See where I have pinned down this side.

I have placed the pins where they flare out mimicking

the flare of the sides.

Pin the other side the same way. By the way I use

CORSAGE PINS. Sorry, I forgot to tell you sooner.

 

 Just another photo to show you my pins. Be sure

to check and make sure everything is right as it

should be. At this point place it on the pincushion.

If it fits nicely then it is time to cut.

Start at the bottom of the skirt to the left of the pin

and with your scissors cut through the 3 layers all

the way to the top, even cutting away the waistband.

 

Starting at the waistband, cutting away the seam

from the skirt. Be careful with the pins.

 

Cut it away all round the skirt untill you get where

the pins end.

 

On the left is where I started cutting away the excess

fabric with the waistband. On the right is where I

finished cutting at the bottom edge of the pins.  

This is my skirt with the 9 inches cut away. Yours

will look similar. This skirt is scrunched up in this

photo, nothing in the middle is cut out here as what the

photo appears.

 

Now, what I did was to take the right side of the

skirt (like in the above photo) and place that pinned

side on top of the left side. Pins on top of pins. Match

it up as good as you can. Make sure all layers are in

the seam before you sew it together.

 

I have a photo missing here that just was so blurry that

I could not use it. Anyway I left the pins in and stitched

as you see here. Being careful not to stitch on any

pins. You can see the pink pins are still in the waistband area.

The pink pins are still on the inside edge of

the side seam also.

 

Then I turned the skirt right side out and took out

those side pins.  Try not to let the pins stick you!

Your skirt should have a flare on the sides if your

skirt originally had the flares. See the pink headed

pins. They are still there.

 

(Sorry about that, I meant to turn this photo before

placing it here).

With a long black threaded sewing

needle turn

under the raw edge and start sewing a seam

through the layers all around the edge of the skirt.

Remove each pin as you go.

 

Gather it up, adjust the gathers somewhat and leave

a hole big enough to go over the half doll's head.

 

Place the skirt around the end of the

of her bodice onto the pincushion.

Draw up those gathers as tightly as possible.

Keep the thread taut and tight but do not break

the thread, and knot the thread really good.

And as in quilting draw the thread to the inside

by carefully pulling the knot through to the

inside of the fabric before cutting the thread

off.

 

Adjust the gathers and play with the skirt

to arrange folds or layers.

 

Do the same to the back.

 

The skirt will move. If you have a side longer

turn it towards the back. Adjust and play with

the skirt until it looks right.

It is up to you if you want to give her a nice

ribbon bow, but you do not need it. Remember

she is a witch. I opted to not have one.

SKIRT IS FINISHED.

 

 

MAKING THE CAPE.

As I stated earlier. This was a piece of a costume

that I had left over from a prior project.

It is lovely glittery and sheer.

 

This skirt still had 2 seams left in it. I still have more.

 

I cut away the excess fabric at each of the

seams. I cut to the right of the seams so I could

still use those seams. Does this make sense

to you? I liked having the seams on each side

of the cape. It kind of finished off the edges.

You might not like it and if that is the

case then cut the seams off.

 

Here is the size of the piece of this glittery

fabric to use for your cape.

 

See how I cut to the right of the seam.

 

See the ruler above. It is there for me to measure

with. I hand sewed almost 4 inches away from the

top. Start at the right side and with a threaded needle

start at the side raw edge and just sew across the

fabric to the other side. The stitches do not have

to be too small nor to big.

Gather up the fabric as you go to about 2 to 3 inches.

Make a knot and cut off the threads.

 

I used about 12 inches of black silk ribbon

that I bought from the internet. Remember her

pincushion is 100% silk so I wanted the ribbon

to match.

What I did was to fold the ribbon in half to

find the middle of the ribbon, then I placed

the middle point of the ribbon in the middle

of the gathered glittery fabric. Let both sides

of the ribbon dangle. (I am right handed).

I started at the right side of the edge of the

glittery fabric. Placed my knot where you could

not see it and started sewing in the

middle of the ribbon on top of the gathered

stitches. I pulled up the gathers of the ribbon

as I went. This is called rauching. Sew to

the other edge, then I knotted

off the thread when finished and cut it off.

Always hide your knots even if I forget to

tell you to do so.

Place the cape around her neck and tie or

knot it. I did not knot it. I only tied it once.

Let this top part of the cape fall back onto

the rest of the cape. Refer to the photo's if

need be. Fluff it up.

 

 

MAKING THE WITCH HAT.

Making a witch's hat is easy. You can

try to find a pattern or try my way.

Everyone is unique. It is great if your

hat turns out differently than mine!

Do not worry or sweat it.

Below is a photo of the waistband. You

want this to be a little stretchy. This is not

the exact measurement that I cut off from it.

You will see below that it is actually a little

longer than 7 inches.

I cut almost in half 4 inches for the top

of the hat. (The top piece

that I cut away will be the brim so do

not throw the leftover piece away).

Because I like a tall hat is the reason mine

is 4 inches. Plus at 4 inches you can scrunch

this hat smaller if you wish.

BUT DO NOT CUT THIS APART JUST
YET!!!

Notice how this bottom piece of the

waistband flares out a little bit. I used

that to my advantage. It is this part that

I will put against the doll's head to get

her measurement.

 

You can not see how the rest of the piece

(of the fabric above) is scrunched up in my

left hand, but it is. I am measuring her head.

All I did was take the piece and wrap

it around her head. Measure it good and

had about an inch to what you have. If

it takes all 5 inches then that is okay.

If 4 inches will do it then that is okay also.

 

Okay I have my measurement. I know where

I am cutting the fabric at.

 

So then I folded that piece of the

waistband fabric in half. See how it is

a little over 7 inches.

 

See how I cut this. I

cut a little above 4 inches.

 

Open up both pieces again. See

the shape. This is what you want.

Cut those wings away so that you

have 3 inches of the fabric left.

The top part will be used for the

brim.

 

I took the 2 pieces, the brim and the hat and placed

them on top of a piece of the glittery fabric

Notice that I rounded off 2 sides of the hat brim.

 

So, cut the glittery pieces out larger like this.

 

For the pointed hat part, turn both pieces to the

inside and sew. I hand sewed it. You could

machine sew it if you want. See why I said

to cut the glittery pieces out larger, so that

you make sure it gets sewed in. You can always

cut off excess. I leave the bulk in

for my hats.

 

Some people sew this to the inside seam. I don't.

I just place it inside up against the seam. If the

wire gets crooked inside then I can twist the

shape into what I like. You must play with it.

 

Sorry this photo is blurry. Do not enlarge it, it

might hurt your eyes. The wire is inside and I bent

down the top piece. I have also stuffed the inside

with tiny torn pieces of quilt batting to give the hat

shape.

 

Play with it. Stuff with batting or fiberfill just

far enough up to where her head can still be put

in there. Do not cut off the excess glittery fabric

yet. (I never cut this excess glittery fabric off, I

left it there for bulk to stick in or out).

 

Here is the brim part. I removed the glittery part

and put as slit in there for her head. Measure up to

her head so her head goes up and in. Put the

glittery fabric on top and cut in a small slit just

enough to open.

 

I know this part looks strange. But what I did was

slide the brim over the top of the hat to the pointed

hat fabric edge. (not the glittery edge).

Then with white thread as you can see here I started

whip stitching the 2 pieces together. Sew all the

way around the 2 pieces until they are sewn together.

Knot off the thread and cut it.

 

This photo is very blurry. Do not enlarge it, cause

you can see it better this way.

See where I sewed all around the edge of the brim

and the pointed hat. They are now sewn together.

 

Turn the brim over to expose your witch's hat.

I lifted up the glittery fabric and rounded off more

of the stretchy hat brim fabric.  Do each side if

you want.

 

A better photo here.

 

See round off another side of the brim. Once the brim

is rounded off on the corners, cut the glittery fabric

any which way you choose. Cut it off to your liking.

I cut mine up to the brim with little cuts and then

cut some off here and there until it was scraggly

looking.  Do what you want to do.

 

At this point I cut 2 thin strips of glittery fabric

about 6 inches long for the hat ties.

 

I glued each

strip on the inside to each side of her hat brim.

Let the glue dry good. See the cotton batting inside

of the hat.

 

I also took 2 one inch strips and sewed them

together. I gathered this up along one long edge

and gathered it up. I placed this on the outside of

her brim. On top of the seam there, I sewed on

a sheer flowered bow. I placed 3 more flowered

bows on her hat. I took an ear ring that had a

dangled piece on it and cut off some of the

ear ring wire so the wire would poke through

to the other side. With glue on the edge of the

wire I  shoved it really good into the pointed area

of the hat. Make sure the wire does not go through

the other side of the hat. If it does, cut it off. If

you used batting for stuffing, then you will have to

shove the ear ring hard. The ear ring also came

from the thrift store.

Place the hat on her head anyway you like.

Hide the white or black stitches by pushing it

up into her hat. Tie a bow under her chin. This

also keeps on her cape ribbons tied on.

 

I hope you have enjoyed the directions and that you

found the tutorial easy. I really hope that I have

not left out anything. If so let me know.

Now, on to find an ugly half doll to make an ugly

witch!!

Thank you for visiting me!

 

 HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!