Assembly:
To sew the joint beads in place - Thread a 3" doll needle with approximately 1 ½ yards of upholstery thread. Tie a knot in the bottom of the doubled thread. Inset the needle into an outside point of fabric on the limb to be sewn and take a small stitch, string a single or triple bead on the thread and take a small stitch in the opposite point of the limb. Pull the bead snugly into the limb. Go back thru the bead and take another small stitch in the first point where you began. Continue to sew back and forth thru the bead and into the limb points 4 or 5 times. Tie off. Repeat this method for the opposite part of the limb.
Cloth Bead Doll pg. 4
Using the above method, joint the upper and lower legs together at the knees, with the front of the upper leg and the toe of the lower leg facing forward. Joint the completed legs to the bottom of the body, with the toes facing toward the front of the doll. Next, joint the upper and lower arms together at the elbows, with the front of the elbow facing the front of the thumb and then joint the completed arms into the shoulders with the thumbs facing toward the front of the doll.
Twist the completed head down onto the neck until it is firmly in place. Add additional stuffing, if needed. Make sure the head sets straight on the doll by lining up the neck and head seams. Check that the head is not riding too low or too high on the neck. When the position is correct, pin the head into place. Hand sew the head onto the neck with invisible stitches.
Hair: Thread a large eye needle with about 10" of the hair yarn. Take a ¼" stitch in the top of the head and leave the yarn ends loose and hanging down each side of the head. Wrap the yarn 20 to 25 times around a 6" piece of cardboard. Ease the yarn off the cardboard, keeping the loops in tact. Place the looped yarn bundle on top of the head over the hanging yarn ends. Position the bundle so the bangs lay just above the eye stars.
Take up the two hanging ends and tie them tightly over the bundle so the yarn is secured to the head. Lose the tie ends in the underside of the loop bundle. Lift the bangs and apply tacky glue to the forehead. Gently pull each loop down and press into the glue. Apply more glue to the side of the head and down to the nape of the neck. Pull and press the loops into the glue. Continue until the whole head is glued.
Shoulder Straps:
Cut two rectangles from Fabric # 4, each 3" wide and 9" long. Fold each band in half lengthwise with the right sides together. Sew across one short end and then halfway up the long side, and leaving a 2" opening for turning continue down the rest of the long side, and then across the other short end. Turn right side out. Hand sew the openings closed. Add any desired trim and then tack each end together at the center. Cut a 2" square of felt, if desired and place under the straps at the front end. Sew the 1" buttons in place at the front and back of the straps over the thread tacks in the centers. Place the completed straps over the dolls head and tack them to the dolls body at the center front and back under the buttons. Trim the felt piece, if necessary.
