Here at Prim Mart we have several how to make a handmade doll tutorials. This one will take you beyond the basics: making dolls with sewn-on eyelids. This effect looks especially nice on the 3-d doll heads we've share in our other tutorials.
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How to Make a Handmade Doll Eyelids
Take a piece of muslin and fold it half. Make the bottom edge (along the fold) just slightly longer then the oval shape of the eye you have on the doll. You cut the curve of the “eyelid” as high as you wish to make the final eyelid.
Pin one edge in place. I then shove a tiny ball of stuffing under the lid to help raise it up while I sew the lid in place. I start under the edge and just whip stitch all around the lid.
Pull your stitches tight! You don't want a loose lid!
Continue stitching all the way around the lid to where you have it pinned down. Knot your thread once you are done sewing.
Once the eyelid has been fully stitched in place, remove the small ball of stuffing from underneath. You can then take a small paintbrush and paint the lid with a small amount of tea or coffee.
Make sure this is a small amount or it may ruin the eye underneath!
If that worries you…..you can make the actual eyelid from a piece of fabric that has already been stained.
You can make the lids at different angles and in different sizes. Play around with it and enjoy learning how to make a handmade doll with eyelids.
Here are some patterns available from designers on Etsy you could use with this technique and make your dolls beautifully unique:
Sweet Meadow Farm
Prim and Proper Folks
Happy Heart PatternsTutorial submitted by Cedara
