STOCKINGS AND SILK SLIPPERS FOR LADIES AND GIRLS
(AND REGENCY MEN TOO IF YOU WISH!)
I am often surprised when I see a beautifully dressed doll with painted shoes. Stockings and slippers are so very easy to make and they definitely add a touch of class to a dressed doll. I use our flat bottom #660 lady legs as they work best (easiest to do).
Directions for making stockings from panty hose are given in most of my sewing patterns, but as an overview, I fold the stocking (up and down) then set my sewing machine to a very small stitch and sew about 1/4" or less from the fold. I make long, long strips, sewing the whole length of the stocking. Then I trim quite close to the sewing, but not close enough that the stitches will break, and turn the tube inside out. I use a 'lingerie strap' turner.
Put the stocking on the doll with the seam to the back and pull it up over the porcelain leg. Dot glue at the top front and back, then smooth down to the foot. Watch the ankle and keep the stocking neat - don't pull too tightly. Cut off under the foot and glue flat to the bottom of the foot. Use the remaining tube for more stockings.
THE SLIPPERS:
To make silk ribbon shoes for 1/12th scale dolls, you need a short length of 7mm silk ribbon. Cut a piece about 3" long and lay this around the foot with the centre of the ribbon at the centre back of the foot.
Now spread glue over the foot where the slipper will go and glue the ribbon on. Do NOT cross at the front, but just bring the ribbon edges together at the toe.
Glue the extra ribbon neatly below the foot. Let this dry for a while, then trim off the ribbon extending out from the toe. Trim even with the end of the toe - don't cut the stocking *g*.
Use a second piece of silk ribbon, about 2" long, and lay this over the toe from side to side, so that half the width of the ribbon is on top of the toe and half the width of the ribbon is below the toe. Glue the top and under the toe where the ribbon will go and lay the ribbon over. Press and pull neatly above and below the foot.
When this has dried, take the two ends and bring them back under the foot and glue down neatly. I cross the ribbon under the foot. Trim off any excess ribbon. Poke and prod and use glue to get the bottom of the shoe flat. Cut off any bumps.
You can either make card soles and glue them on, or lay a piece of ribbon flat on the sole and glue it down, then trim around the foot. Add a tiny buckle, a silk rose, a small bow, or whatever you fancy that will look good, to the toe of the slipper. The blue slippers are trimmed with 2mm silk ribbon knotted and then 'scrunched up'.
If you wish to have removable slippers, take a piece of cling film (Saran Wrap) about 5"x5". Put the foot in the middle and draw the film up tightly around the foot. Keep the film as neat and tight as possible. Tape, or use a twist tie, around the ankle to hold. Now make the slipper over this. When the glue has DRIED! you should be able to gently ease the foot out of the slipper and then ease the cling film out of the slipper. Best to make removable slippers over the porcelain foot, rather than over a stocking.
Have fun! But please remember that these tutorials, photos, instructions and patterns are copyright, and are not to be used as a tutorial of your own. This means that you may not copy or post this tutorial to your own website, or print it out and sell it, or distribute it as your own.
