edge about^33 ⁄ 4 in up from the folded
bottom edge of the skirt. Topstitch
around the side and bottom edges,
leaving the top edges open.31
Change to the longest stitch
length on your machine and
sew a line of machine gathering near
the top raw edges of the skirt through
both layers, leaving long thread tails
at both ends. Pull up the threads to
gather the top of the skirt evenly
to measure 8in.32
With right sides together, pin
one long edge of the waistband
to the gathered edge of the skirt,
leaving^1 ⁄ 2 in of band overhanging at
each end. Stitch it in place, adjusting
the gathers evenly as you go.33
Press the band and seam away
from the skirt. Press under a
narrow seam allowance on the other
long edge of the waistband, fold it
down to the inside and hand stitch
it to the previous line of machine
stitching, tucking in the raw short
ends as you go.34
Press the straps in half, wrong
sides together and long edges
matching. Open them out, fold the
long raw edges in to the centre
crease and press. Then fold the strap
in half again and press again.
Topstitch down the open long edges
of both straps. See Diagram 2.35
Fold the skirt in half, short
edges matching, and fi nger
press a crease in the waistband to
mark the centre. Measure^3 ⁄ 4 in to the
left and right of the centre crease.
Pin one end of each strap behind the
front waistband at these marks and
hand stitch them in place.36
Press the skirt well and wrap
it around Olga’s tummy. Cross
the straps over at the back and seweach one behind the back waistband.
Ladder stitch down the centre back
of the skirt to close the back seam.
Knitted shawl37
Using the 3.25mm needles
and dark mustard yarn, cast
on two stitches. Work in garter stitch,
increasing one stitch at the beginning
of the fi rst and every following row
until there are 12 stitches.38
Continue the body of the scarf
in stocking stitch (starting
with a purl row), working garter
stitch for the fi rst and last fi ve
stitches and continuing to increase
one stitch at the start of every row,
until there are 53 stitches.39
To shape the top, increase
one stitch, knit 10, knit two
together fi ve times, knit 11, knit two
together fi ve times, knit 11. Cast off
and weave in ends.40
Wrap the cast off edge of the
shawl around the doll’s neck
and anchor the points of the shawl
just above the waistband of the skirt
with a few stitches.
Headscarf41
Run the two^3 ⁄ 4 in-wide strips
of fabric through the bias tape
maker, as shown in Diagram 3, and
press them well.42
Pin the longer folded strip
along the pointed edges of
the scarf, mitring it at the corner.
Topstitch it in place.43
Pin the shorter folded strip to
the straight edge of the scarf,
covering the raw ends of the previous
strip as you go. Topstitch it in place.44
Put the headscarf on Olga’s
head and wrap the long
ends around the back of the head,
stitching them in place to the
centre bottom of the head. Foldthe pointed end down over the back
of her head and stitch it in place.
Add a few dabs of glue under the
headscarf around the hairline to
hold it in place around the face.
Boots45
Lay a boot and a boot reversed
shape on the table, right sides
facing up and toes facing each other.
Pin a heel and a heel reversed patch
on them and machine stitch around
the curved edges only.46
With right sides together,
machine stitch the two boot
shapes together down the centre
back straight edges and along the
front curved toe edge, leaving the
sole and top edges open.47
Turn the boot right side out.
Use two strands of black
thread to blanket stitch the sole
to the bottom opening of the boot.48
Stuff a good amount of fi bre
fi ll into just the toe of the boot.
Put the boot on the bottom of a leg,
making sure that the leg goes right
to the bottom of the boot. Make sure
the toe is facing forwards – Simone
splayed the feet very slightly
outwards. Apply a little glue around
the inside top edge of each boot to
secure it to the leg.49
Repeat Steps 45-48 for the
other boot to complete Olga.
Now it’s time to make her playmate,
Crumpet, the piglet.Diagram 2Diagram 3