Australian Homespun — October 2017

19

Pin the centre back seam and

sew from G to H to K. Neaten

the raw edges of the seam with zigzag

stitch and topstitch the seam allowance

of the neckband fl at to fi nish it neatly.

Dowel

20

Drill a 3mm (^1 ⁄ 8 in) hole through

the dowel 7cm (2^1 ⁄ 2 in) down

from the top end. Rotate the dowel

90 degrees and drill a second hole,

crossing the fi rst one. (It doesn’t

matter if it doesn’t exactly cross

the fi rst hole, as long as they both

go right through the dowel.)

21

Use a compass to draw a circle

with a diameter of 10in or trace

around a plate that’s about this size

• it doesn’t need to be precisely 10in


• on the calico or scrap fabric. Cut it
  out on the line. Hand sew a line of
  large running stitches close to the
  edge using upholstery or topstitching
  thread; leave long thread tails. Pull up
  the threads so the fabric forms a cup
  shape and stuff it fi rmly with fi bre fi ll.

22

Push the top of the dowel

(drilled end) inside the stuffi ng

and pull the thread tightly to close

the fabric around it. Knot the ends

tightly, then thread them through

a large needle. Pass the needle and

thread through the holes you drilled

in the dowel several times back and

forth in all directions, catching some

of the gathered fabric each time as

you go and pulling the thread tightly.

Repeat until the fabric is gathered

into a tight ball shape and fi nish

off the thread securely.

Stuffi ng

23

Stuff the nose and front part

of the head areas fi rmly with

fi bre fi ll. Insert the covered end of the

dowel into the head, nestling it into

the stuffi ng. Fill the rest of the head

and neck around the end of the dowel

very well to avoid lumps. Ensure that

the dowel is in the centre of the neck

in the middle of the stuffi ng.

24

Cut a very long length of strong

thread, double it in the needle

and knot the ends securely. Sew large

running stitches around the

tummy+back on the gathering line,

coming out of the fabric on the outside

of the back with the last stitch.

25

Pull the thread to start

gathering the base, adding

more stuffi ng to fi ll out the bottom

part of the neck. Continue pulling

the thread to gather the fabric tightly

around the dowel. Wrap the thread

around the gathered fabric and dowel

three times and secure it with a knot.

Don’t cut the thread yet.

26

Lift up the neckband and drill

two more holes at 90 degrees

to each other just below the gathered

fabric. Pass the needle and thread

back and forth through the holes

and gathered fabric as you did

before. Pauline recommends either

repeating this sewing step with

a second piece of thread or tying

a cable tie very fi rmly around the

outside of the gathered fabric

immediately above the seam of

the neckband for extra durability.

PAULINE’S HEAD-

SECURING TIP

Recently, someone told me that

they use a cable tie to hold the

gathered fabric very securely in

place. I think this would be much

more durable than thread. Cable

ties are available in various

lengths, widths and colours from

hardware stores, and you’ll have

seen them used to fasten tools

to cardboard packaging for

hang-sell display among other

things. They have one-sided

serrations that slide easily

when they’re being fastened,

but can’t slide back out again.

Trim the excess length neatly.

03

PROJECT

54 Homespun

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