Needle Felt Doll Part 2

I haven't progressed very far with my doll as I went off gallivanting for a long weekend with my hubby for his birthday. We went to the beautiful county of Warwickshire and amongst other things visited Warwick Castle. Well worth the visit if you get the opportunity! The birds of prey displays are worth the entrance fee alone. Then with Easter, there was egg decorating to do and new Spring lambs to visit.

I did decide on her hair colour though and she's now a redhead! I had originally intended to sew the hair on but decided it was best to needle felt it also. As I used a 100% wool DK which is quite fuzzy it attached really well. I started at the sides and worked a little at a time each side to make it even.
This also made it possible for her to have her hair down.

After a cut to even it all up, the next question was fringe or no fringe? I went with a fringe.

I then plaited it into the two French braids I had originally intended and I'm really happy with the outcome. I just used some pink thread to secure the bottom of the plaits.

Her face, however, took a couple of attempts! She now has blue eyes and a plummy pink lips, also done with the felting needle.

The first attempt was a little on the scary side to say the least. I wanted her to have eyelashes, this along with all black eyes gave her quite a sinister look- not what I was going for so they were hastily removed.

The next most important item was underwear!
She now sports of pair of rather colourful, paisley knickers. This is where I have to confess, I'm a do-it-by-eye-kinda-gal. Fingers are just as good a tool as a ruler for measuring, right? ;-)
Knickers are also great as they are very forgiving in terms of hiding non-precision measuring. I roughly drew a "pattern" on some white fabric. Unlike normal knickers (i.e. for real people) hers need to be larger at the front rather than back as she has a flat bottom but a rather pot belly. Once I was sure they would slip on, I used the white fabric to cut the same out of the paisley fabric and added the elastic at the top and each leg hole. Overall I'm happy that they're a nice fit.

Hopefully she'll have an outfit by next time, until then craft in earnest, Craftin' Ernest x