The Cone Doll
A delightful way to use those empty
cones shared by Rosemary Paul rearep@BREMNER.UCT.AC.ZA
I have had a tremendous response 50+ wanting
this pattern. But remember it is from out my head so please try
it out first. I
finished my first witch last night and she has turned out well. I
put a stone under the fabric to give her a big snitch (nose).
You stick a smallish styrene ball (about 1" across) on the end of a small dowel rod 12/14" long. Rod must fit through small hole in cone. Then you cover the ball with flesh coloured stretchy fabric and tie tightly round the neck (stick). Then you sew the features on. I use petticoat fabric. For a clown I do black cross for eyes and with a double strand of red in a long st for the mouth. Then with a pin pull the one strand down and stick in place. Gives you a big smiley mouth. Sometimes its easier to pull the strand down before you fasten off the st. I take my needle down from the top of the ball so the knots and ends are under the hair.
Right that was the easy part. I cut out a very simple gown shape. It has to be the same size round the bottom as the bottom of the cone. The cone must have a small hole by the way. So the shape goes out slightly for the arms from the base, is only about 3-4" in depth. The depth must not be too long as this will allow the stick to be pushed through the hole inside the cone and it won't come out again!
Sew up the shoulders of the gown leaving a big enough hole to gather up round the stick, about 1" wide. Sew up under arms and side seam. See if the bottom fits nicely over the bottom of the cone. If too big widen the seams.
OK now you can dress your doll. Turn in a very small seam round the neck hole, pull the gown up round the stick and pull up the cotton as tightly as you can under the ball/head. If making a clown I also put a frill of lace round now using same thread. Do a narrow seam round the sleeve ends and gather up round a very simple mitten shape felt hand. The material used for the gown must be soft and not stiff otherwise it wont pull back into the cone when it hides away.
You can do your hair and hat now. For the clown I do a cone of felt about 1" across at the open end 2" high, and a square of white batting for the hair. I put the batting over the top of the head (about a 2" square should do) push four pins in to keep it in place, then put the hat in the middle with another four pins. Then st with double cotton through the hat, batting and into the fabric all round to secure in place. Trim the batting into a circle and fluff out the edges so it hides the sts round the hat.
Push the stick down into the cone and out the hole at the bottom. Stick the material, about 1/2" of it, over the outside of the cone. Test before you glue by putting an elastic band round so when you push the stick up at least 1" of it protrudes from the hole. If it goes in too far your gown needs shortening. Pull down on the stick and check that your doll disappears right down into the hole of the cone. You will see now why you need a soft fabric. If all is OK go ahead and stick.
Before you assemble your doll it is a good idea to cut the cover for the cone. I used gift wrap but it can be covered with fabric too. If done with fabric you would have to put some braid round the cut end to hide it. Or if you are really industrious you could knit a cover. I do hope I have explained this alright for you to follow. Please if you have any problems just ask me and I will try and help.
As you must realise I am also in the experimental stage so any ideas you have to improve the hide-away doll will be welcome. Cheers