Sep 012014
 

 

headcovering-rainbow

Springfield Dolls in Homemade Headcovering

I am a Christian woman and I wear a headcovering, so of course my dolls wear them too. Several years ago a few moms asked me if I had any ideas for easy headcoverings for their daughter’s 18-inch dolls and this post is the fruit of my labor. In the picture above you’ll see half a dozen Springfield Craft Dolls each wearing a different type of headcovering. They range from simple headbands to long veils to lacy bun covers. Some of them are no-sew. Some require a bit of stitching.

Hijab_Maria_front

Maria in her Hijab

Hijab-Maria_side-back-view

Side and Back View of Hijab

We’ll start on the left. You can see Maria wearing a hijab style headcovering over a blue headband (similar to the green one on Abby, the blond doll). The headband is really easy to make; you can see the method below. The white hijab is made from stretchy t-shirt fabric. I used an old white undershirt (that my youngest son had outgrown) for the fabric and then sewed it with a zig-zag stitch on my sewing machine. You must use a stretchy fabric for this pattern or it won’t fit the doll’s head properly.

Hijab Headcovering Pattern

 

Now, in case you  are wondering why I offer a pattern for a Muslim style headcovering, you may trust that I have a very good reason. In all of the testimony I’ve heard from formerly Muslim women who have converted to Christianity, there is one motivation they all  share over and over again. One of the biggest reasons they converted to Christianity is because of the warmth, kindness and forgiveness that they experienced from other Christian women. As a Christian woman, this really affected my perception of myself. I realized that part of my duty as a Christian is to be kind and loving to others, and to teach my children and grandchildren to do the same. So, as a Christian woman, I have taken it upon myself to always be kind to the Muslim women I see in the supermarket and about town. I treat them the way I would like to be treated, with kindness and respect. Because it’s the right thing to do. In my understanding of the bible, hostility and a cold shoulder do not serve God’s purpose. Love and kindness do.

And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Luke 6:31-37

I realize that there are lots of political and tragic events between Muslims and Christians in the International scene. I am not in charge of that stuff. Besides praying for peace, there is little I can do to affect it one way or the other. I have not been called to the missionary field in other countries. However I believe we can all do our part for His Purpose. For me this means being kind other women, regardless of their religious affiliations. This is how I serve God to the best of my ability in my own small, humble way.

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:12

Don’t worry ;-). You don’t have to agree with me to use the patterns and ideas found on this page.

Enough preaching and on to the next headcovering.

SCARF_OLIVIA_FRONT

Olivia in a Scarf Headcovering

Scarf_Olivia_side-back

Side and Back View of Scarf

Olivia, the red haired doll, is wearing a Springfield Dolls brand scarf, simply wrapped around her head and tied in the back. It’s an easy, no-fuss way to wear a headcovering, and it doesn’t stand out as odd, which is especially important for headcovering beginners and children.

Doily_Madison_front

Madison Wearing a Bun-Cover Headcovering.

Doily_Madison_side-back

Bun Cover Side and Back View

Next we have Madison. She is wearing a bun-cover made from a lace doily. This is a medium-sized lace doily. You can find them at Dollar Stores and Department Stores. They cost $1 or $2. All you do is get a length of narrow ribbon and a safety-pin. I start off with a yard of ribbon and trim it as necessary. Place the safety pin in one side of the ribbon and then weave it in and out of the holes around the outer edge of the doily. Draw up the ribbon to tighten it around a bun. Trim the ribbon so it’s not too long, but still long enough to be tied easily. This can be worn by people and dolls. On Madison it looks a little like a lace mob cap. On a person it looks like a bun covering. Quick, easy, no-sew. A kid can easily make this themselves.

Headband_Abby_front

Abby in a Headband

headband_Abby_side-back

Side and Back View of Abby’s Headband.

HEADBAND-GREEN

Standard Store-Bought Headband

headband-green-knot

Tie a knot on one end so it will be short enough to fit around a doll’s head.

Abby is wearing a very simple headband. It’s another no-sew idea. This is simply a regular people headband, with a knot tied in it. The knot is centered at the lower back of the doll’s head, underneath her hair. Some women who cover do not consider a headband to be an actual headcovering. I’m of the opinion that when we begin to wear a covering we need a lot of grace. There have been times in my life that this was the best I could do. Also, girls, especially if they attend public school, may need a headcovering that doesn’t stand out too much. I believe that under such circumstances a headband can be a perfectly legitimate alternative.

Also, easy huh?

Bandana_Emma_front

Emma Wearing a Bandana Style Headcovering.

Bandana_Emma_side-back

Side and Back View of Emma’s Bandana

Emma’s headcovering is similar to the bandana worn by many who cover. To make it I cut out a 12 or 13-inch square of fabric and then hemmed the edges. If you don’t sew you could use hem tape or iron-on glue to hem the ends. You could also cut the square out with pinking shears (the kind that cut a zig-zag line) and, assuming you used a tightly woven fabric, the edges wouldn’t fray too much and will still look tidy.

To wear the headcovering you simply fold it half, making a triangle, wrap it around the doll’s head and tie it under the hair, at the back of the doll’s neck. I used a pink printed gingham for Emma’s covering and folded all of the edges of the square under before hemming in place with a straight stitch on  my sewing machine.

You’ll notice that the part that goes around the doll’s face is somewhat stretchy because this is the bias of the fabric. If you make headcoverings for yourself or your daughters please note that they fit better and hang more neatly if the bias of the fabric is the part that wraps around your face. This is what makes bandanas so easy to wear.

Kerchief_Gina-front

Gina Wearing a Kerchief Headcovering.

Kerchief_Gina_side-back

Side and Back View of the Kerchief Headcovering.

Lastly, Gina, a discontinued doll, is wearing a cotton handkerchief as her headcovering. White cotton handkerchiefs make great coverings for little girls and for dolls too. They can found very affordably at Dollar Stores. Dollar General and Family Dollar both have 3-packs for about $2. Sometimes you can find very pretty handkerchiefs at Thrift Stores and yard sales. I always keep an eye out for them.

To wear the covering I simply folded the handkerchief in half, wrapped it around Gina’s head and tied it under her hair, at the back of her neck. It’s very pretty and I admit, probably my favorite of the entire collection.

That our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace. Psalms 144:12

 

Oct 232012
 

First a quick note to all my loyal fans. My Granny (who is 92) injured her leg just recently and I’m on the Granny-Care rotation which means I will be spending at least 3 days with her this week and probably at least 3 next week, maybe 4. Her leg will be fine but as a loyal granddaughter my obligation is to help in her care and recuperation, which will probably last a couple of weeks before she can get around on her own again. Right now she’s using a walker and sometimes a wheelchair. So anyway, family has to come first and I know y’all will understand when posts are hit and miss for the next couple of weeks. We have complete confidence that she will make a full recovery, but her knee is swollen right now and it’s hard to walk on, which makes it hard to do everything else in life such as washing the dishes, hanging the laundry on the line, taking a bath or shower, cooking, getting from one room to the next, changing the channel on the TV etc. Until she’s able to do for herself, I’ll be on the rotation schedule along with my aunts.

Now onto our main theme. Our good and faithful and extremely talented HardyGirl66 has been working overtime on a brand new Halloween Video, that right, Brand New! She made a super video last year which I shared earlier this month. This month however, she has exceeded our greatest expectations! She has created the piece de resistance! The epic 1970’s Halloween Extravaganza. You can check it out below. Also be sure to visit YouTube and leave her some feedback. Feedback feeds the imagination of our beloved YouTubers. If we want more videos we must feed the ones who create such treasures for our viewing pleasure. So be sure to let Sharry (aka HardyGirl66) know what you think of her 1970’s Halloween Carnival!

Oct 152012
 
AG doll Kaya — Niya Dressed In My Pattern — Niya Undressed

PDF File

I’m especially fond of Native American Culture and I thoroughly enjoyed the stories of the American Girl doll Kaya. A few years back Springfield used to make a native american doll named Niya. She is the doll I used as my model for this pattern. If you don’t have a Niya doll, then a Maria (or Sofia) doll will do just fine.

Springfield Collection Doll Niya in a homemade Indian Princess outfit.

The pattern for Niya’s clothes is my own invention, designed after looking at several patterns for Indian Princess doll costumes. The fabric was purchased on sale at my local fabric store. It took less than 1/2-yard for the dress and overlay. I think the material was intended as an upholstery fabric, but I could be wrong. It’s stiffer than ultra suede, similar to microsuede, only not as expensive as most microsuede I’ve seen. The trim came from AC Moore. It’s a cream colored cotton braid. I accented the front of the cape with small strips of red leather cord topped with a plastic gold bead. It was very challenging to sew through the red leather cord and if I had it to do over again I would choose yarn or even ribbon. Anything that is easier to sew. I only did 3 because it was so hard to get the needle through the red leather cord. The necklace is made from inexpensive glass beads strung on a thin elastic thread. I have a lot of them leftover from kid and craft projects over the years. The hair ornaments are big plastic buttons that were found on sale at Hancock fabrics about 15 years ago. They have lurked in my button tin until I rescued them for this project. I ran a short length of elastic thread through the button shank and then tied it and trimmed the ends. They fit on her braids like any elastic hair band would. The ends of her braids are tied with simple cotton string. Kiyah’s boots are inexpensive Springfield doll boots I bought at a going-out-of-business sale at a craft shop in the late 90’s. I stashed them with my doll stuff until bringing them out for this project.

Close-up of bodice overlay

The outfit I designed isn’t associated with any particular tribe. It’s modest and the cape gives it double coverage, which my inner anabaptist finds very pleasing. If you’re making a historical character, this pattern can be made suitable for both Pocahontas and Sacajawea by using different colored fabric and varying the trim. I think an ecru or ivory fabric would be great for Pocahontas.  A darker color would do for Sacajawea since she is traveling. A baby in a papoose would be a fun and historically accurate addition to Sacajawea’s ensemble. Felt is inexpensive and widely available at craft stores in 36-inch square yard packages. It is very easy to work with, especially for beginners. It would work perfectly for this dress.

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