BurdaStyle Blog

March Madness

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:59:00 +0000

Need a reason to get into your crafting area and sew? Not only is March National Crafting month, but March 20 is National Quilting day! During this time you'll find lots of reasons to celebrate - free projects, fabric and crafting sales, giveaways, and more! Celebrate the month by making something for yourself or others, share your love of creating by teaching someone else to sew, or learn a new skill or technique. No matter what you do, be sure to share it in the gallery!

Guest Column: The Super Simple Way to Create a Cute Face for Your Doll!

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:30:00 +0000

We’re ready for hair and makeup! This is where our dolls get their personality. I realize that a lot of folks find this step intimidating. I know how you feel! When I first began making dolls, I left off the nose because the noses that I drew looked, well, strange. So I read dollmaking books and magazines and experimented. The result of this experimentation is an innovation that I’ve included in Doll Fashionistas makes it easy to create a sweet doll face. I call it my Face Template.

Details of McQueen

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:55:00 +0000

Details of McQueen

Guest Column: Sewing Dolls – How Green is This?

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:59:00 +0000

If you are making these dolls, guess what! You’ve already got your green on!! Sewing dolls is a very eco friendly activity.

BurdaStyle Sewing Club Update: Badges, Letters, etc.

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:31:00 +0000

With flower seeds in hand, Spring is finally preparing to return to New York! We at BurdaStyle are excitedly setting aside time for group picnics and other fun activities in the sun. For our sewing clubs, we hope the upcoming season (whether it be spring or fall) will also inspire you to join your fellow sewers in creative and motivating activities. Here is some of the latest news for BurdaStyle Club members!:

Guest Column: Stuffing the Doll

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:16:00 +0000

Once the doll parts are sewn and turned, they are ready to be stuffed. There are many choices for stuffing including sawdust, wood shavings (also called excelcior), clean sand, metal or plastic pellets, fiberfill, shredded foam, and stuff around the house like cut up nylon stockings (at least there is something useful to do with nylon stockings after they have run!).

Close Knit

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:43:00 +0000

Do you knit? We don't talk much about knitting here on BurdaStyle, being the seamstresses & seamsters that we are, but I must say I am so impressed by all of the cool knitting projects I have discovered on the site!

Featured Member: Peter in NYC

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:21:00 +0000

1. Where are you from and/or where do you live? I'm a native New Yorker, originally from the Bronx (Ralph and Calvin's old neighborhood in fact). I currently live in Chelsea on Manhattan's West side. I'm truly fortunate to be just blocks from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) -- I can see it out my window, in fact -- as well as many wonderful fabric and notions stores. And the Chelsea Flea Market, an endless source of inspiration! 2. What was the 1st thing you made? How did you start sewing? Get this: In May of 2009, I picked up a pair of Edwin Jeans at my local Goodwill but they were about 4" too long -- not unusual, since I'm only 5'7." I wanted them shortened but I didn't want to pay for the privilege. I don't even remember how, but it occurred to me one night that I could probably buy a sewing machine and make my own alterations, and it would pay for itself in no time. Long story short: I bought a vintage Kenmore on eBay and my life hasn't been the same since.

Guest Column: Humble, Utilitarian, Wondrous, Super- Awesome Wool Felt!

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:40:00 +0000

Wool Felt is an amazing, versatile textile. It predates the spinning of yarn and the weaving of threads into fabric. Because it isn't woven, it does not ravel and it holds its shape beautifully. Today, felt comes in a wide variety of textures and thicknesses and in every color of the rainbow. Pure wool felt is smooth, soft and sturdy all at the same time. For doll making I use 12 to 16 oz. per yard weight of wool felt.

Guest Column - Doll Making, Getting Started

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:24:00 +0000

Getting started with doll making is simple. You already have much of what you need in your sewing area or in your kitchen. There are basically two types of dolls for sewing. A two-dimensional doll often called a pancake or gingerbread doll. This is simply two pieces of tightly woven fabric or felt stitched together, turned (or not), and stuffed.