Medical Doll Set Kits

Hello, all! 

Today I'll be telling you about the kits I'm planning to put together to go along with the sewing pattern for the Medical Doll Set. 

If you're just only joining us today, here is where you can read about the Medical Dolls (and see all the photos) and here is where you can find out all the details of the sewing pattern.

I'm creating these kits primarily because I love sourcing for good materials for people to work with. Some years ago, I collaborated with a company called Take&Make to produce a limited run of kits for my Owie Doll sewing pattern. Those kits are no longer available, but it was an incredible experience to produce a kit commercially, and I so enjoyed being able to choose exactly what would eventually make it into the boxes. I no longer have the luxury of a team of people mass-packing and shipping for me, but I still like to offer kits when I can, even if in much smaller quantities. I think of it as another way to help people who're disinclined (or unable) to gather all the materials themselves, so that they can dive right into the making. Which is really the best part of a project, isn't it?

It's a fact that materials of higher quality will cost a bit more, but I believe that if I'm going to invest time in a project, I'd like it to last. This is especially true if the project is a toy that will be played with over months and years. Let's take felt as an example. 100% wool felt is wonderful to use in making toys, especially when working with small pieces. Unfortunately, 100% wool felt is not a staple at many big fabric stores, which tend to stock only acrylic felt. It's understandable - acrylic felt is considerably cheaper and since many people buy it for craft projects for which longevity is not important (such as those constructed with hot glue, single-use Halloween costumes and the like), the quality serves its intended purpose for the low cost. However, this same acrylic felt, when used in detailed sewing projects, or in the construction of toys meant to last, holds up quite poorly. Here is a side-by-side comparison of acrylic and 100% wool felt against a black background (you'll get the same effect by holding them up to the light). You can see the clear difference in quality - the density of the 100% wool felt is much higher; the fibers more tightly packed together so they do not disintegrate, and are able to hold stitches better.

Inch for inch, 100% wool felt can cost about ten times that of acrylic. Fortunately, many sewing projects utilize only a little bit of felt - either they're small to begin with, or require only small scraps for embellishment. For that reason, many felt stores (such as those on Etsy) offer wool felt in small sheets in addition to yardage on bolts. This in turn makes enjoying a better-quality product totally affordable. There are of course instances when materials of higher quality are difficult to find, or cost so much that we may decide to go with the cheaper option (or any available option, really!)  However, where possible, choose materials of as high a quality as are within your means. 

Let's now talk about the kits themselves. 

Each kit will essentially be a custom order of materials needed to make the projects in the Medical Doll Set sewing pattern. 

In the photo below, for instance, you'll see different colors of solid and accent cotton fabric, and the rolls of fusible and foam interfacing. The actual fabric yardage in your kit may differ from that shown below - for the photoshoot, I just grabbed a stack of my uncut cottons. The interfacing and solid cottons are the standard inclusions - the colors are specified in the pattern. You can make requests for the colors of the accent cottons, though - these will be used in the reversible sleeping mat, so pick your color scheme and I'll try to look out for those.

Here are the colors of flannel I have on hand. You can make requests for these in your kit. 

You'll also be able to request the weight and color of yarn you'd like for your doll.

Unlike the skin flannels, I don't have a stash of yarn from which you can pick your favorites and will have to go shopping with your orders. Go ahead and let me know if you'd like black, dark brown, light brown, red, gold, amber/dark gold, etc. and I'll look out for that in the store. 

Here's the list of what will be in your kit. Where not specified, the sizes/yardage will be at least what's specified in the materials list in the sewing pattern. The items in bold can be customized; the rest will be the same (fixed) in every kit.

FABRICS

• Flannel in skin color, 1/2 yd
• White flannel, 1/4 yd
• Light blue cotton, 1/3 yd
• Grey cotton, 1/2 yd
• Red cotton, 1/4 yd
• Print cotton, 2 fat quarters or equivalent
• White medium-weight cotton, 1/2 yd
• Pellon Flex-Foam interfacing, 3/4 yd
• Pellon Craft Fuse, 1/3 yd
• Smaller pieces of black cotton and fleece in white and 2 other colors
• 100% wool felt in grey, black, white and five other colors, various sizes
• Clear vinyl 

NOTIONS

• Embroidery floss, one skein in each of 9 colors: dark red, black, white, green, orange, blue, yellow, dark grey and a color that coordinates with the skin flannel
• 6mm black safety eyes, 1 pair
• Yarn 
• Red bias tape 
• Blue bias tape 
• Measured yardage of      

            -1/4" black ribbon

            -1/8" blue ribbon

            -1/4" cord

            -1/4" flat elastic

            -1/8" flat elastic

            -hook and loop tape

I'll put together your kit, and list in my Etsy shop as a reserved listing in your name. If I'm unable to find what you requested, I'll let you know and suggest alternatives before I finalize your order. 

To order a kit, send me an email at lier.koh@gmail.com and be sure to mention:

1. your preferred skin color (use the numbers 1-6 in the photo above
2. your preferred yarn color
3. whether you're planning to make a boy doll (chunky yarn) or girl doll (medium yarn) so I can select the correct weight of yarn for you
4. The two preferred colors you'd like for the accent cottons

The cost of the kit is $75 plus tax and shipping.

If you'd like to make a second doll with the kit, let me know also. They can both have the same hair and skin or you can request different skin and hair colors for the two dolls. I will put in enough materials for an additional doll, gown, arm bandage, arm sling, foot cast, cap, mask and sleeping mat.

The cost for the two-doll kit will be $90 plus tax and shipping.

I'll be accepting kit orders until Sunday Nov 29th, and aim to ship them by the second week of December.