Whether you are stitching a Tiny Jane Jacobs or Tiny I.M. Pei this tutorial will help you successfully sew your own Tiny Activist Doll! Buy a Sew Your Own Kit HERE.
🧵 Step 1: Cut ✂️the pattern slightly outside the dashed lines. Do not cut between the legs. Keeping the legs “attached” at this stage makes sewing a bit easier.
🧵 Step 2: Match up the fabric, so that the printed side facing inward. Do your best to overlap the body - if you cut ✂️closely around the dashed edges you can use the lines as a guide for a perfect overlay. Once you have your sides match, you can pin 📍them together to prevent any wiggles while stitching. ⭐️I recommend starting your stitching on the doll’s torso -a bit above its hips and stopping stitching a bit below the armpit on that same side (this will make flipping easier). If you choose to hand stitch your doll, please do your tiniest neatest stitches possible to avoid any future stuffing blow-outs. 😬
🧵 Step 3: Okay, now this is the hardest part - flipping your Tiny Activist right side out! First you need to snip into the corners (armpits, neck, outside/inside thighs) and trim around the curves (refer to photo). Next you need to pull out your chop sticks (no chopsticks? no worries - grab a couple of pens). You will insert the base of a chopstick down an arm or leg and using the “pointier” side of the chopstick, you will push up into the body. Once you get it started you’ll be able to roll the limbs into the torso. Do this for both of the arms and legs. Now that the limbs are all inside your doll’s torso, you will reach into the approx.1-inch hole you left on the side and pull out the legs, the arms, and then finally the head.
🧵 Step 4: After flipping the doll to be right side out, use your chopstick🥢 (or pen🖊) to fully push out Tiny Pei’s ears, Tiny Jane’s dress, and both of their heads, hands, and feet. Now you are ready to stuff! Each sew-your-own kit comes with poly-fil, but you could use rice, beans, or a combination of things to stuff your doll. I like to start by stuffing the doll’s head, because it is quick gratification. Next stuff the arms and legs. Pinch off small pieces of stuff and put them at the joint where the limb starts. Your chopstick will help push the stuffing into the limbs. Once you are done with those, fill the doll’s stomach.
🧵 Step 5: The final step!!! Get a thread that matches your Tiny Activist’s attire and seal your doll however you prefer. You can do a slip/ladder stitch, basic stitch, something decorative, or something else that tickles your fancy. Choose your preferred stitch, seal the hole, and then take your Tiny Activist on an adventure! Make sure to tag your adventure photos with #tinyjanejacobsor #tinyimpei.