Fabric and Needlework Page: 10 |
Thin knitting yarn: I find wool easier to use than cotton, since it has more stretch, and DMC makes a very fine crewel embroidery wool called Medici. Kay in Ottawa, Canada |
Removing gloss ... I tried to use alcohol on my IRL woodwork to Bunka: Bunka is the stuff tassels are made out of. It comes in lots of different colors and is used as trim. It looks like a tiny cord. But if you pull a string on one end, it unravels (or ravels?) Anyway, it makes a lovely tiny curly-frilly trim that can be used as decoration on everything from furniture to clothing and even looks like hair on tiniest dolls. I think most of the miniature ribbon and lace suppliers have it - you can get it from Etcetera, Etc. or Sandy's Laces, and probably most miniature shops carry it, because it's become such a staple item for decorating. Best of all, it's inexpensive, and a little package goes a long way. Paulette in IN |
Quilts: I have made several quilts 1:12 scale. The easiest way is to use fabric tack cloth glue, cut your pieces and glue them onto the backing, but I did large Granny Squares, not a tiny pattern. That way you don't have to sew that small scale. I didn't pad mine as the scale is so small it wouldn't really be noticeable unless it was a double padded quilt and would stiffen it more than it is. Then I made pillows to match. :) Pamela |
Finer Knitting Needles: http://www.lacis.com/catalog/catalog.html has them (she seems to have everything...): From the knitting section of the online catalog, click on 'knitting' in the index and its only a few listings from the top in the catalog frame. "KNITTING NEEDLES, DOUBLE POINTED STEEL: Maura Bass |
Mini Knitting: I just started mini knitting too. I use no.20 needles . I ordered mine through the Dollshouse Draper in the UK. You will also find them at www.dollshouseworld.com it is the site of the magazine so you must go to their Craftclub for the needles. Their p and p can be high though, so watch before you order. I used DMC tatting thread no 80 so far. It comes in lovely colors and it is easy to work with. You can also use one ply wool but this often splits which makes it harder for beginners. DMC flower thread is also nice and I have even used ordinary darning wool. Marianne |
Mini Knitting: I notice a few postings about mini knitting. While my range is mainly for dolls from 5" to 20" I have recently added two patterns for minis - Diana and Joy. I have also just finished a new one for Kelly 4" - a lovely dress with pleated skirt, puffed sleeves and striped bodice. Will be posting photos to my web site www.daydreamswindow.co.nz next week. Have recently knitted my Joy pattern with no. 20 (1mm) knitting needles and DMC flower thread and it fits a 2-1/4" Hilda (or similar) beautifully. Will also be posting a photo of this one on a Janna Joseph Hilda baby. Pam Jackson |
Tapestry: Outstanding site for Tapestry research..... lovely pictures etc. http://www.fix.net/~rwhaley/ This is an old friend from Arroyo Grande Ca. We're in Florida now and haven't keep in touch like we should. Good people, ask and I'm sure you can copy some of his images for mini work. No problem with copyright from Ron. . . he's cool. Judie |
Gluing Leather: I work with leather all the time in my full size bookbinding and also in the making of my twelfth scale books and this is what I was taught by my master bookbinder teacher. You need time to position and work with the leather and so a glue with too much grip does not work. His formula was called 50/50 glue and was made as follows: 50 percent alcolin glue (wood glue / white glue) and 50 percent starch paste. *To make the starch paste you take a couple of table spoons of Mazena (corn flour) or powdered starch, put it into a heat proof jug or bowl, and mix with JUST enough water to make a smooth paste. Have a WOODEN spoon ready and pour BOILING (bubble, bubble, bubble) water onto the paste, stirring with the wooden spoon, until the paste goes thick and clear. STOP pouring immediately. You should end up with a clear, smooth, lump free mixture, the consistency of pouring custard. If not, chuck it out and start again from the *, this time obeying the SHOUTS! I can't give you quantities but they are not crucial. Now mix equal quantities of starch paste and alcolin glue and put it into a Tupperware with the lid on. It keeps forever. To work with your leather, place the leather, wrong side up, on wax paper, and brush with the 50/50 glue. Cover with more wax paper. Leave for 10 minutes and repeat. The leather can be saturated. Don't worry if it goes dark - it dries. The thicker the leather, the longer you can leave it to drink up this mixture. You will find that this gives you time to position and re position the leather as much as you want to. Barbara B in South Africa |
Yellow Rain Slicker: There is an easier way of making those little yellow rain slickers and without sewing! Use one finger of a yellow rubber glove to cut the slicker from and then use small black hooks and eyes glued down the front for the closures. Makes a very convincing slicker. Cut off the finger approximately 1 1/2" from the tip of the glove. About 5/16 of an inch down from the tip of the finger cut horizontally int the front of finger until almost all the way through the glove finger, leave a "hinge to act as the flap that connects the "hood" of the slicker. Next, cut vertically down the center of the coat to create the opening. Make two little tubes out of a piece of the left over original glove material to make the sleeves. Glue sleeves and hooks on to slicker and you have it. Marilyn, MI |
Diapers: The size of "old-fashioned" nappies: Newborn size 22 x 22 inches, Regular size 28 x 28 inches. If you want to display it as folded nappies, it may be too bulky. Glue a piece of white fabric to a square of heavy duty tinfoil, fold in the raw edges, fold the nappy and display a stack somewhere in the scene. Betsie |
Mini Quilting Supplies: For quilting supplies in miniature, such as rotarycutters quilting squares, cutting mats, try Sylvia Hansen Trish in Sunnyvale, CA |
Mini Quilting Supplies: I know this isn't exactly what you asked for, but the ex-theatre-propmistress in me had a few ideas you could use if the minis you need are not available. Rotary cutter: polyclay handle, with a flat silver sequin held in place by a mini nail and a different color polyclay for the guard. I'd make an olfa cutter, since they are much easier to sculpt than the Fiskars cutter. Green or grey cutting mat: Thin green or gray 'foamies' from Michaels, cut to size (my cutting mat is one of the big ones, 2.5x6 feet in two sections, but you can get them in just a 3x4 size and smaller) with a grid carefully drawn on in opaque yellow (for green) or orange (for gray) gel pen. You may also do the grid as a clear printable sticker or decal and apply that to the foam sheet. White cutting mat: slightly translucent white plastic food container lid (like on plain cool-whip or shortening cans), cut to size (these come in similar sizes to the green and gray ones) with a clear printable sticker of the grid. Templates, clear rulers: Acetate sheet, or plastic report covers, cut to size and marked very carefully by hand or with printed clear labels. Colored templates should be colored on the back with permanent marker if you are only using clear plastic. These would need to be carded if hung in a display, and the cards could also be printies. Pencils are pretty easy to do: cut toothpicks or very skinny dowels to size (3/4 inch?) and sharpen one end, then color it the right colors for quilter's markers. These need to be carded or displayed in a stand of some kind, so you'd need lots. Maura Bass |
Mini Quilting Supplies: For quilting supplies in miniature, such as rotary cutters quilting squares, cutting mats, try Sylvia Hansen Trish in Sunnyvale, CA |
Quilts: I have made several quilts 1:12 scale. The easiest way is to use fabric tack cloth glue, cut your pieces and glue them onto the backing, but I did large Granny Squares, not a tiny pattern. That way you don't have to sew that small scale. I didn't pad mine as the scale is so small it wouldn't really be noticeable unless it was a double padded quilt and would stiffen it more than it is. Then I made pillows to match. :) Pamela |
Finer Knitting Needles: http://www.lacis.com/catalog/catalog.html has them (she seems to have everything...): From the knitting section of the online catalog, click on 'knitting' in the index and its only a few listings from the top in the catalog frame. "KNITTING NEEDLES, DOUBLE POINTED STEEL: Maura Bass |
Mini Knitting: I just started mini knitting too. I use no.20 needles . I ordered mine through the Dollshouse Draper in the UK. You will also find them at www.dollshouseworld.com it is the site of the magazine so you must go to their Craftclub for the needles. Their p and p can be high though, so watch before you order. I used DMC tatting thread no 80 so far. It comes in lovely colors and it is easy to work with. You can also use one ply wool but this often splits which makes it harder for beginners. DMC flower thread is also nice and I have even used ordinary darning wool. Marianne |
Mini Knitting: I notice a few postings about mini knitting. While my range is mainly for dolls from 5" to 20" I have recently added two patterns for minis - Diana and Joy. I have also just finished a new one for Kelly 4" - a lovely dress with pleated skirt, puffed sleeves and striped bodice. Will be posting photos to my web site www.daydreamswindow.co.nz next week. Have recently knitted my Joy pattern with no. 20 (1mm) knitting needles and DMC flower thread and it fits a 2-1/4" Hilda (or similar) beautifully. Will also be posting a photo of this one on a Janna Joseph Hilda baby. Pam Jackson |
Dying Leather: Ladies' kid gloves are the thinnest leather I know of, although there's sure to be a SSer with more knowledge in this area than me. I do know that leather dyes are available through Tandy and many of the larger craft suppliers. I plan on using old kid gloves for the upholstery on my mini-furniture--damaged (i.e., fingers worn, torn seams) ones are cheaper at the antique stores than wearable ones. Molly |
Source for thin leather: Here in Minnesota we have very large fabric outlet store that carries some very amazing things. Every thing is sold at half of the regular price. They do have very thin leather sold by the piece. This is the address for that store: S. R. Harris Ann Fisher in Minnesota |
Leather: Although Tandy no longer has retail stores, they do have a great web site at: Molly |
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