Stitch Guide: I came across this URL and it's a really good basic place for stitches and instructions for crochet, cross stitch, embroidery, knitting, plastic canvas, ribbon embroidery and tatting. The site is also in the process of having on-line videos installed of how to do more complicated stitches. In each section (further down on the left you'll see), are links that take you to diagrams of each type of stitch for the category you are looking in. Anyhow, you might find this useful because it sure does apply to mini work also.

http://www.StitchGuide.com/

Joy Perkins in Pointe Claire

Mini Clothing Patterns: For the person who requested a source for patterns for mini clothing, contact Pam Kille of Etcetera, ETC  at  rwk@rt66.com. I have her catalog and she has a great selection of mini patterns.

Penny Johnson

Satin Coverlet: For your quilt, if you to not want to quilt it at all, then leave out the batting. If you do decide to quilt it, then I suggest an "all over" pattern.

Linda in GA

Mini Clothing Patterns:

Kitz! http://www.minikitz.com has a page of listings for back issues of this mag. 13220 S. 38th Pl.  Phoenix, AZ 85044 Catalog is $3. Also a nice selection of 1/4" kits.

Sandy's Lace & Trim http://www.sandyslace.com 7417 N. Knoxville Ave. Peoria, Il 61614 Catalog $4 has lots of patterns and supplies for doll clothes.  Lots of booklets available also with patterns.  I have just read about them in the catalog, no personal experience.  The stuff I have ordered from there arrives in a timely manner.

Peter Bugg

Bunka Rugs: There are two ways to do Bunka rugs, one is to unravel the thread and press it down to the sticky side of masking tape. glue the tape side down to index card or lightweight card to keep it flat. Another way is to use a "punch embroidery" needle and punch it on a large piece of aida cloth then cut it out close to the outside edge. Run a thin line of glue around the underneath edge.

Norieta in Hawaii

Mini Clothing Patterns: For all kinds and sizes of doll patterns .Also sells molds and supplies

http://www.houseofcaron.com/

Shirley Stuart

Tudor Patterns: I have a booklet called 'Costumes for the Period Nursery' Book 1 - Tudor,  by Ann Lynch of Jaklyn Dolls. This has patterns for a Wet Nurse, Dry Nurse(Nanny), Baby, Boy and Girl. I obtained it from Dolls House & Miniature Scene Magazine.  In fact it came as a free gift with their Projects Magazine Subscription and the patterns are very easy to follow.

Chrissie - U.K

Gluing Seams: If you are wanting to glue seams or fuse them a good product is fusible thread. I think you could get this from Clotilde or Newark Dressmakers supply http://www.newarkdress.com You can use it as the top thread in your sewing machine on a loose tension and stitch from the side that you want to stick to something then just iron it in place.You can also just lay it in the seam and then iron it. I have used this for hems in mini dolls clothes too and it worked nicely.

Marsha Hedrick

Doll Clothes Patterns: I was at the library the other day and in the research section I found a great book for doll makers. It probably is no longer in print, but your library may have it too - or you could find it second hand. Here is what the cover said:

"The Collector's Book of Doll Clothes Costumes in Miniature 1700-1920" The most complete book on doll's clothes ever published, by the authors of The Collector's Encyclopedia of Dolls. More than 800 illustrations. Patterns for more than 400 garments.

by Dorothy S. Elizabeth A., and Evelyn J. Coleman

Copyright 1975 - Published by Crown Publishers, N.Y.

It's a big fat book with lots of illustrations. I think you will like it!

Anne Gerdes

Mistakes:  The Navajo Indians, who weave some of the finest rugs in the world, always put a "mistake" in their weavings.  They say that only Mother Nature is "perfect".  I think that anything that is hand made will have some imperfection in it, no matter how small. That's what makes it special and a collector's item.

Spencer

Needlework kits:  Make it up with one's own stock, it is much easier.  Newbies need to know this hot tip - buy your own threads, choose your own colours for your threads for the needlework kit you are about to do.  Not only does this make it more your own, but also you never run out that way.

Helen from York, England

Needlework Kits: HiJinx kits include plenty of "round the edges" spare fabric, coded thread sorters so you don't get your colours confused and after we stitch each design we add an extra twenty percent of each thread amount and, I'm told, we're very reasonably priced too.

Miniature carpet & furnishing designs for cross-stitch and needlepoint http://www.hijinx.co.nz

Elli from New Zealand

Realistic Folds and Draping: This post is primarily for anyone who gets frustrated that by the time your miniature clothes are finished they sometimes look stiff as a board. This was one of the things some of us complained about a few years ago in our club after we had made clothing for a laundry scene in a dome. So, before the second half of the workshop, I cut lots of pictures from catalogs and detergent and bleach advertisements, etc., to illustrate more natural folds and draping for both hanging and wrinkled, piled or dropped garments, etc. Several of these were placed on one sheet of paper, duplicated at the copy place. We used cheap small paintbrushes to paint glue on the back of some of the garments, and some we also spritzed with a very fine mist of water. Then, we scrunched our items or pinned in folds to see how closely we could duplicate the pictures. We came out with realistic laundry room scenes, with dirty socks by the hamper (small wood block covered with needlepoint canvas) and piled dirty clothing (grunged with eye shadows) in the laundry basket (made from dishwasher clean-rinse baskets that hang on rack). Items dropped on the floor we pinned into shape to dry first on little work boards.  We also had items hanging over a drying rack, as well as clean hanging and folded shirts and linens, etc. By the way, I used several ideas gleaned from persons who are now Small Stuff members:

Alice Zinn has a great booklet on making clothes, which we used for the socks, stockings, folded shirts and several other items of clothing. Rosemary Torre uses both white and pastel Kleenex to make clean, folded linens. Great scale. Judee Williamson was my inspiration for the little 4" workboards, which I made from scraps of leftover ceiling tile covered with a piece of graph paper and topped with wax paper. Having those photographs to look at made all the difference in creating our own gravity for the hanging items and to get a more realistic look on the other clean and dirty clothes.

Wanna in El Paso

Needlework kits:  One company that I have had kits from who does not skimp is Ivydene Miniatures. Marion does lovely kits and supplies enough materials. She can be found at

http://www.ivydeneminiatures.com

Colette in Dubai

Bunka: I don't know of one in the States, but there sure is a great one in Canada

HOBI International House of Bunka Inc.
19 Tulane Cres.
Don Mills, Ontario
M3A 2B9 Canada
Phone (416)455-1875 Fax (416)444-6705

Jonesy

Needlework kits:  I have done a kit by Annelle Ferguson which turned out beautifully. She provided ample supplies so I would not hesitate to recommend her kits to anyone! I wish everyone did the same thing. Way to go Annelle!

Cheryl from Brampton, Ontario

Bunka: Bunka is a knitted rayon cord that is similar to the material used to make decorative tassles and graduation tassels. When you pull the thread it unravels into a loopy thread. It has a lot of uses in miniatures! I use it to finish off my hats, dresses, curtains . . . you can buy it from anyone who sells mini doll supplies.

Marsha, Newark, CA

Cross Stitch kits: In all my sampler kits, I provide a 5" x 5" piece of fabric for a sampler size that averages around 1-1/2" x 2".  I've also stitched each pattern myself and know that most every pattern uses at most two single strands of floss and I include six single strands of each color.  Now, since I *am* a person (as opposed to a manufacturer), I have messed up two or three times (that I know of) and left out a color.  But in each kit I have my address and phone number and urge the buyer to contact me if there are any problems.  Fortunately, in those cases (again that I know of), the stitcher has contacted me and I've sent out what they need by the next day's mail.  So I guess what I'm asking, is please don't lump all miniature needlework kits into a "don't ever get any" category.  And also, please, if any of the frustrated posts are from people who had a problem with one of my kits, please contact me and let me make it right for you.

http://www.angelfire.com/wv/minipix

Mary Lynne in Huntington, WV

Bunka: Etcetera, Etc., 13 Isla Ct., Roswell, NM 88201. They sell trims, fabric, lace, ribbons, etc.

Laura

Bunka: You'll find your answer here... and with a picture too!  http://kuoi.asui.uidaho.edu/~nyssa/bunka.html

Viola Williams