Grosgrain Ribbon Fringe: I have always bought ribbon double the width I want and cut down the middle lengthways and fringed. That way you only need 6 inches rather than a foot. And I always look for the ribbon in the leftover bins at Joann's and in the crafts section at Big Lots.

Loretta Sniarowski

For the modern ladies boutique, a few very lovely knitted sweaters would be very nice. They are tres chic at the moment, especially the "handmade" ones. If you can knit small things, or crochet, you can scale down a Barbie pattern by using smaller needles and finer thread. There are some interesting ones on the net at various sites, look for "Barbie" + "free" +"pattern" or variations thereof. There was also a fairly simple sweater pattern that was meant for a Christmas ornament at : http://knitting.about.com/hobbies/knitting/library/blsweorn.htm

It is strangely designed, but if you add a few stitches here and take away a few there it makes a sweet pullover. It is a very simple pattern, and has several variations (including a mock cable-knit).

Kim Bulback

Mini crochet: I use a #10 hook with regular sewing thread. It depends on how tight you want to crochet - you could use a #12 for that size too. I crochet pretty loose. If you want to make mini afghans or sweaters, etc, you can use Punch embroidery yarn which is really small, about a #30 thread size. I use a #7 or 8 hook (American sizes) with the yarns. I also have lots of cones of fine weaving or knitting machine yarn which is fine as #30 or #20 crochet thread (Second hand store stuff).

Rhoda Conley

Dyeing Fabric: I took a rug hooking class a few years back, and we worked mostly with scrap wool, but sometimes with cotton or silk. The teacher believed in natural dyes, and each time we came to class, there would be a pot on the stove with a new color for us to add our fabrics to.

The one we all liked best was--Onion Skins! We collected those yellow-orange skins at the bottom of the grocer's bin, put them in a nylon bag and tossed them into water to boil for 10 minutes. Then we turned off the heat and added the fabrics and let them soak till they were the right color. It turned light fabrics a subtle shade of off white and always seemed to unify the general coloration on a bunch of otherwise unmatching patterns and fabrics.

Lynn O'Shaughnessy, Princeton, NJ

Braided Rug: my mother made a braided rug for my kitchen by chain-stitching around and round an oval shape with embroidery floss on felt. She used the full 6 strands of floss to give it the braided effect, then once it was large enough finished off the felt border with pinking shears. It's really neat and a little more textured than gluing the thread down, which can end up looking flattened.

Loretta Sniarowski

Braided Rug:

1. I make my rug 3 strands of embroidery thread.
2. There is a special type of turn that you make when making oval rugs so you don't have it kink and buckle the first few inner turns (the first couple hairpin turns), then I braid as normal.
3. Because of this special turn in the braid, I do the whole rug on a pin board with the "gluey" part of the interfacing up to meet the braid.
4. Once the rug is done I gently remove the pins area by area and iron to the interfacing.
5. If it goes into a kids dollhouse, then I also run a few stitches throughout the rug for extra stability.

Yes, it is convoluted, but I like the rugs when they are done. They are flat, flexible (great for cleaning scenes), and sturdy.

Sudie

Mini Crochet: For crocheting doilies, tables cloths, etc., I use a #14 hook, very fine. I use sewing thread for the fine work. For "wooly" looking things, I use punch needle thread. It is polyester, and slightly fuzzy. It works well for afghans and sweaters, and comes in every color imaginable.

Rita Braun

Mini Crochet: I use embroidery floss for small and colorful projects, since you would have to knot often for larger ones. If that's not an issue, then I love all those colors! My crochet hooks are 13 (.60mm),14 and I am going to get a 15 soon, being the smallest I have seen yet. My best tip for someone wanting to go into miniature crochet, is work your way down to small scale to avoid frustration.

Michelle Blohm

Softening leather: To soften leather, use saddle soap or possibly Neatsfoot oil. You find them in the store in the section with shoe polish and laces. I use saddle soap on my leather purses to keep them soft and clean. I even used saddle soap once to clean antique family oil paintings of my ancestors. My son and I experimented on a corner with lots of stuff. There were years of grime and soot. We used water and Q-tips and went a little at a time.

The patch leather purse I got second hand, (free), was made of suede mostly and worked great for book covers. I am currently using a chamois leather to make mini purses and vests. Lets see that Indian doll needs a costume..... :)

Rhoda Conley

Fleur de Lys Stamp: Try sorting through fennel or caraway seeds to find a straight seed and a pair of curved seeds, then glue them to a pencil eraser in the fleur de lys shape.  Then use that to stamp the pattern onto the fabric with gold fabric paint.  [That's how I faked an iris shape on faux Roseville pottery when there was a Stapleton shortage at local shows.]

Loretta.Sniarowski

Removable Doll Clothing: You can use a seed bead for a button with an elastic loop made of elastic sewing thread. Or, you can make your own hook -n- eyes with beading wire. Or, you can make buttons of fimo with sew holes, and use elastic loops for "buttonholes". I have been making a few removable doll clothes here and there for many years, but it sure is a lot easier to sew them on to the doll!   Also, it is hard to make miniature doll clothes removable without adding the extra bulk of facings. The tiny seams are delicate for child's play.

Nada

Removable Doll Clothing:  I have had luck with putting a few drops of Aleenes TACK IT over &over.  It is a liquid, pressure adhesive.  I find it great for many mini closings when I don't want bulk.

Rhoda

The best way I have found to separate the DMC thread is to lay out the skein, hold onto the end of the skein gently, and pull ONE strand straight out from the rest.  The skein will kind of bunch up behind your fingers, but keep pulling the one strand.  Do not pull from the side or it will snag up and really cause problems.

Cordi

DMC FLOSS: To the person asking about separating six strand floss. If you undo a little then lay if across some Velcro and pull gently it will separate and untwist it. At least that the way I do it.

Lulu

Knitting & crocheting: Sorry for the delay in response but I just returned from a trip.  For a soft, matte look that behaves well while working, try using "flower thread".  This can be purchased at a needlework shop and although it is cotton will take on the appearance of wool when worked up.

Jeanette

Unwinding Floss: I have tied one strand to the back of a dining room chair and walked backwards through the house with my finger between the one stand and the rest to keep it from tangling.  If your house is not big and open like mine go outside and tie it to a bush or anything where you have room to wander. Just keep tension on it as you unwind it.

Elizabeth Cooper

Fringe: For curtain fringe, I think I would use a strip of course fabric, such as osnaburg for a natural color, heavier fringe, muslin for lighter fringe.  The fringe would be softer than the fringe one gets from grosgrain ribbon or rayon seam binding.  The strip of fringe could then be glued or sewn on the the edge of the curtain. (Or it would work for a rug also).

Earlene Lane

Making Fringe for rugs or curtains: I once made fringe for a rug by cutting one edge off 1/4 inch or narrower grosgrain ribbon then 'fringing' it out.

Martha Simpson Nock

Mini crochet patterns: Dollshouse World magazine has crochet patterns for mini garments nearly every month. Different time periods, a lot of modern.

Patricia LeBeau

Mini Cross Stitch: Here are the names of a couple of books that I can think of right off hand: "Miniature Needlepoint Rugs For Dollhouses" by Susan McBaine And "Needlework Desgins For Miniature Project" by Eileen Folk. You can also get patterns from: Walden Woods' Designs  4604 Wilson Ave. Signal Mountain, TN 37377

Shirley