Kid Giddy Sizzix Fall Fashion Maker Challenge

Hey everyone - Sizzix and I are so excited to announce the Kid Giddy Sizzix Fall Fashion Maker Challenge! Back in May I released 3 new Sizzix dies specifically for those really cute and fun 18" dolls! I've made a few outfits using the two Sizzix Kid Giddy 18" Apparel Dies and now we want to see what you can come up with! Maybe an outfit identical to a child's first day "back to school" outfit, something inspired by a couture fashion show, project runway or even a halloween costume? The skies the limit and I want to see how far you'll go! Here are the two dies included in the challenge!

The 18" Doll Apparel Tops:The pattern pieces included on the 18" Doll Apparel Tops die are so versatile you'll be surprised at how many different things you can sew with them. The project sheet includes instructions on how to make a Jacket, Reversible Tank Dress and a T-shirt. However - I'm going to show you this week some other really fun things you can make with these same pattern pieces, all very different and all very fun.

The 18" Doll Apparel Bottoms:
The pattern pieces for the 18" Doll Apparel Bottoms may only have 3 pieces (the pants panel and two different pockets) to make pants, shorts and capris, but again, I'm going to show you so many other things you can make using this same die with small tweaks.

Did you see my sneak peek I shared on social media last week? Remember this "giddy"patch I free motion quilted for fun?

You can find my Kid Giddy dies on Sizzix.com and these two new dies along with the new mini backpack die also in my Etsy shop. I have a limited number of dies here in my studio and am offering an awesome Doll Apparel/Backpack Bundle deal with a free gift (fyi: backpack is not  a part of the maker challenge) and free shipping in the U.S.! Don't miss out on this really great deal - I only have a limited number - so don't hesitate to grab it now while you can!

I truly am excited about these dies and can't wait to see all the different Fall Fashions you guys come up with these Kid Giddy Sizzix 18" Apparel Dies. Please be sure to tag me on social media (Kid Giddy: on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!) and join me here this week for tons of fun. For more information and all the details about the Kid Giddy Sizzix Maker Challenge - please visit the Sizzix blog.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Please be sure to sign up for my emails to get info about new patterns, new dies, future sales and other fun stuff.

Disclaimer: I am a Licensed Designer for Sizzix - opinions are my own and there are no affiliate links

Kid Giddy Sizzix Doll Appliqué Sew Along - Block 1

Hi everyone,
Sometimes the best laid plans are still not enough to give me more time on the clock. Last year I finally got around to finishing my Ballerina Doll Quilt, but wanted to have even more fun and make 9 applique doll blocks to put into one huge quilt. I thought there might be some other sewists out there that would join me in sewing together. You can make your blocks into a quilt as I am planning on doing, or you can make 9 different blocks and use them individually. As individual blocks, they could be great as tools in a Homeschool or Montessori style class room. They can be fully sewn or made to be a "get the doll dressed" style block that helps to teach specific skills.

This is the first Kid Giddy Doll Applique block using my Kid Giddy Sizzix Doll die for a fun 9 block quilt along I'm hosting throughout the rest of the year. This first block represents April Showers. You can make each of your blocks similar to mine, or you can create your very own blocks. Later on, some of my blocks may use a combo of the Sizzix Kid Giddy Doll die (for the head and body) and the Sizzix Kid Giddy Fox die (for the arms and legs) as I did for the first Ballerina Doll block above.

Before we get started, here are some basic tidbits of info you may find helpful:
In order to use the die, you'll need a Sizzix Big Shot Machine (if you can get the Big Shot Plus - you can use all of my dies on it) and the BigZ XL 25" cutting pads. You can use the smaller cutting pads for some parts, but not for the legs as they are longer than the shortest pads.

What you'll need for each block:
1) 1 Fat Eighth of skin tone fabric of choice. Depending on how you choose to sew your doll applique blocks, you may need less. (1 Fat Qtr will be enough for 2 doll blocks, or 1 stuffed doll).
2) Background Fabric (I used white) - 13" x 18" (or larger if desired). 
3) Other materials will depend on the doll you wish to make (additional quilters cotton prints and wool felt for hair if desired).
4) Glue, Fine glue tip and Iron are helpful for glue basting your pieces in place.
5) Bright thread for stitch basting and matching thread for needle turn applique or raw edge applique.
6) Create A Pattern paper for designing any extra pieces (as I did for the jacket, hood and raindrops).

I have decided that I am going to needle turn all of my blocks. I just love the look of needle turn applique, but understand some others may prefer to raw edge applique. For those that also wish to needle turn applique, but haven't done so yet, I learned some great techniques from Carolyn Friedlander's CreativeBug class (not an affiliate link). If you are going to raw edge applique your blocks, you should use an iron on fusible stabilizer prior to cutting out your pieces on the die. Some steps may vary for raw edge appliquers but may not all be noted.

To Start sewing your block:
Step 1: Sew the doll and head pieces together, placing right sides together and using a 1/4" seam allowance. (You may notice in the later pics, I also sewed the boots to the bottom of the legs and the raincoat sleeves to the hands. I cut off the excess skin colored fabric underneath)
Step 2: Place your doll pieces down on your block background as desired (mine are centered but your design may not work best if centered). Lightly glue baste each piece to be sure correct placement at first (as this can be moved around if necessary). Using your brighter thread, stitch the pieces in place 1/2" away from the seam allowance. Clip and notch your curves (within the 1/4" seam allowance - not at, and not more than) to reduce the bulk around the edges (see pic below).

Step 3: While I am needle turning, I love using the two products: the Dritz squishy Thimble grips, and the Thread Cutterz ring. I have bought many and have them all scattered throughout my house and may mom and sister's houses too. lol.

Turn under your edges and stitch in place.

Step 4: When sewing the arms in place, make sure they are going to still be under the body portion when the body is turned 1/4" under too. Note that the little thumbs are pretty awkward, but the stitch basting here really helps.

Step 5: If you hold your block up to a light source, you can see one of my corners just barely makes it under the body edge (on the right hand side). I'll be sure to tuck it in the better on the next block. You may also see here that I have tucked the legs further up than normal. I wanted this one and all of mine to look younger and therefore shorter. Again, you can make your blocks as you would like, just be sure your blocks are all the same size in the end if you want uniformity, and that your blocks are large enough to accommodate your design.

Step 6: Continue adding and sewing all of your detail pieces as you'd like, as I'm doing with the hood, jacket panels and raindrops to complete your block, staying within the 1/4" - 1/2" seam allowance. I've decided to leave the jacket pieces unsewn on the inside and bottom edges. This will allow her jacket to move around. If you decided to add this type of feature, double roll the edges, glue baste and top stitch to secure the hems.

Step 7: Add a face as desired. This can be drawn with fabric markers, sewn with an embroidery machine (test on an extra face piece first), or hand embroidered (as I did for the first time ever below). I haven't decided how I am going to do their faces - I think I need some embroidery lessons or something - so the faces may come later. This one is from my Ballerina. Unplanned and noticeably so.  But I loved her little heart lips and those eye lashes!

Step 8: Once you have all of your pieces sewn, you can cut off the excess background from the back if you prefer, following the basting thread stitches. Be sure not to cut the front pieces and do not cut too close to the sewn edges (not shown). Remove the basting stitches.

Because this tutorial and sew along was supposed to start in April, I'm already a month behind my own schedule. I will be posting two blocks in June, unless I get May's block done sooner. As you can see, this is a pretty casual sew along. If you have any questions about this tutorial, please leave me a comment below so I can answer it for all to see and benefit from as well. I would really love to see your doll blocks. Please be sure to tag #kidgiddy on IG. I will be opening my KidGiddy Group up again on FB for sharing as well after I return from Quilt Market.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Please be sure to sign up for my emails to get info about new patterns, new dies, future sales and other fun stuff.

A Foxy Giveaway

Good afternoon and Good morning depending on your time zone...

I have a fun announcement to share. Sizzix is hosting an awesome Kid Giddy Fox Die giveaway on their Facebook page. You can click on the link above for all the details. But while you are here...check out some of the awesome things the Kid Giddy Fox die can do!

The Fox die comes with all the pieces you need to make the Party fox (as shown above). The hat can be made into a witches hat, or a Santa hat too and the balloons can be sewn onto some cardstock for some cute birthday cards (or other special occasion). Of course you can make him without all the bells and whistles too (as shown below) - a perfect friend to play out in the yard with during the fall season...but that is not all.

You can also mix and match the Fox and Kid Giddy Doll die pieces to make even more combinations. Crazy fun right?! I love using the Fox arms and legs on the doll die (like I did on the Bubbles Doll below) and using the Fox body for a fuller figure (like a Santa doll). They can mix and match perfectly because the neck width is the exact same.

Here's the Santa Doll (the body and his hat are both from the Fox die).

There are truly so many possibilities with the Kid Giddy Fox die and even more when used with the Kid Giddy Doll die. So head on over to the Sizzix Facebook Page for your chance to win my Kid Giddy Fox Die!

Would you like some Sprinkles with that?

Hi everyone - Dana Willard's (MADE Everyday) Boardwalk Delight Fabrics party is ramping up, and today I'm sharing my sweet little Sprinkles doll with you.

Sprinkles was always the first one in line when the ice cream truck rolled around the corner. With a quarter in her hand (I know ice cream off a truck is not $0.25 anymore - but let's go back to that sweet time when it was) she excitedly picked the Cherry Chip ice cream pop covered in chocolate and got a free warm pretzel. Everyday she tried to pick a different ice cream and liked them all, but if you asked her, she would say "anything with sprinkles on top, is my favorite".
She was always decked out in her favorite playtime summer dress (the one with sprinkles all over it of course) her comfy Mary Jane's and little bows around her perfect pig tails. After her ice cream was all gone, she skipped and played hopscotch along the boardwalk until the sun was setting and it was time to go in for dinner.

As soon as I saw Boardwalk Delight, I knew I had to make a little doll that was obsessed with Ice Cream. Sprinkles is that little girl.

I was so grateful Dana asked me to make something for her Boardwalk Delight Lookbook. I loved the fun and playful vibe of Dana's new fabric line and love that it brought back awesome memories of running down the beaches and boardwalks of Long Island, N.Y. when I was younger. It reminded me of the days when guys walked past us carrying coolers filled with novelty ice cream and sodas. (Do they even do that anymore?) It's the perfect fabric to remind you that when you see the ice cream truck coming through your neighborhood for the first and last time of the summer...you make memories and buy ridiculously expensive ice cream, because our children will be grown way too soon and summer will be over before you know it.

How I made the Sprinkles Doll:
I have posted some other tutorials (Queen Phoebe Bunny Doll, Bubbles) that can show you how to make the dress on her. I used my Kid Giddy Sizzix Doll die for her head, body and hair. I used my Kid Giddy Sizzix Fox die for her arms and legs, as well as her socks and mary jane's.

Her collar and bloomers (which you can't fully see in the pic above), were made using my new Kid Giddy Sizzix Doll Clothes die. The quick belly button is a must when making your new dolls with clothes.

I love sharing a new tip, trick or tutorial with each new doll that I make...so if you want to make some little socks for your dolls, you can do so using my quick and easy tutorial below. This tutorial will work with the doll leg/foot piece as well as the fox leg/foot piece as shown in the pics.
Step 1: Begin by cutting out 4 leg/foot pieces. Trim to desired length. If you want to add a cute edge, do so after cutting the sock pieces from the leg/foot areas on the die so you can be sure they are all the same length. I decided to add a little cotton lace detail on the top edge of the socks (because that is how socks always were back in the day). You can do a rolled hem instead or use some other fabric trim. If you do, be sure that you put the right sides together, so the seam of the hem or edge is showing as shown below.
Step 2: Stitch the top 1" - 1 1/2" on the sides. (TIP: I used a thinner old t-shirt material for these socks and used a serger. If you are using quilters cotton, a simple straight stitch will be sufficient.)

Step 3: Turn the sock right side out (according to the top area) and sew the remaining raw edge of the sock from one side around the toe, and up to the other side.

Step 4: Turn the sock right side out again (according to the bottom portion of the sock).

Step 5: Fold down the top edge of the sock. All seam allowances are hidden and the socks go on and off easily. Perfect for kids learning fine motor skills.

Her Mary Jane shoes were made using the same leg/foot piece on the Fox die as were the legs and socks, just cut, trimmed and top stitched accordingly. If you are making a doll using the doll legs, you can do the same thing, just eye ball it as I have done, and add a little strap and button.

For more information or to find out where you can get some of Dana's new fabric, visit Dana's website (link above) or the Art Gallery Fabrics site. For more information on my Kid Giddy dies with Sizzix, please visit Sizzix.com where you can find projects and videos to help you make your own special soft toys.

Thanks so much for stopping by and reading all about Sprinkles as inspired by Boardwalk Delight.

Disclaimer: I received fabric from Art Gallery Fabrics to design this doll with. Opinions are my own, and there are no affiliate links. Thank you.

A Little Pixie Doll

I'm so excited to share what I made using Tasha Noel's newest fabric line Pixie Noel with Riley Blake fabrics for Tasha's Pixie Noel blog tour. This fabric is adorable and so great for multiple holiday sewing projects with all the various colors and prints. I always enjoy getting the fabric and being inspired by it. This line was no different. I couldn't resist making my own "Pixie", since gnomes and I go way back.

This little girl, Crystal, is always cold and loves to quilt with her hat on. Right now she's debating which fussy cut center to use in her next block.

Crystal has made 6 blocks already and thinks this one with the little birdie singing in the center is her favorite so far. She has so much fun making these blocks and using all the cute pics in the centers.

Crystal also enjoys making her own clothes. Here's her newest outfit...a button down collared shirt, with a skirt and striped bloomers. When she's warm, she scrunches the bloomers up a little like capris, and when she's really cold, she will tuck them into her boots.
Her reversible hat and fuzzy mittens and boots, keep her cozy warm in the studio. Luckily they match all of her outfits, so she only has to make more when she wears them out. Maybe tomorrow she will make herself a little dress...or some more fussy cut blocks?
Thanks so much for visiting and sharing in my Pixie Noel creations and thanks so much to Tasha and Riley Blake Fabrics for asking me to be a part of your Pixie Noel tour!

The doll, and all of the doll clothes were made using my Kid Giddy Sizzix: Doll and Doll Clothes die cuts. The boots and mittens were made using my Doll die as well, with a scant seam allowance. Please visit the link above for more info and to see multiple videos to help you create your own one of a kind dolls and stuffies. Want to come sew dolls with me? I'll be teaching all of my tips and tricks for doll/fox making and doll clothes sewing this August at the Kid Giddy Missouri Star Quilt Co Retreat. It's not too late to sign up and come have fun sewing with me!

Disclaimer: I received fabric from Riley Blake Fabrics to use for this project. Opinions are my own and there are no affiliate links. Thank you.

Come Sew with Me!

Want to come sew with me and learn how to make a doll or two or tons? I'm so excited to announce that I'll be teaching a Sizzix Kid Giddy retreat in mid August at the Missouri Star Quilt Co retreat center and I would LOVE for you to join me for some seriously fun sewing! I want to teach you all I know - all of my doll sewing secrets. Here's why...
"Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he'll never go hungry." Sound familiar? This was the response I gave to my friend at our lunch date when she asked one last time if she could pay me to make her a doll for her daughter. She loved my dolls, but I rarely sell them.  Quickly I said "no" (again).

Instead of making it for her, I suggested she come over to my home studio so I could teach her how to make her own. She knew how to sew a little, but never made a doll. I told her she could buy a doll from me, or anyone else, or she could learn how to make countless dolls. Not only would it save her money - for reals, but each doll would become something special, something worth passing down...heirlooms. My friend accepted my offer, so we booked a date.
She came over two weeks later to make a doll for her daughter. Between our chatter and giggles, she learned how to use the Sizzix die cut machine, glue baste, sew curves, use new stitches on the sewing machine, clip and notch curves, and stuff her doll in only 4 hours. That's it - just 4 hours!

Once she finished stuffing the doll, I taught her how to sew a ladder stitch to close up the bottom of the doll. Then we gave her eyes, as well as a belly button to call it done. As she was sewing it closed we got to chatting about handmade things. She didn't know all that it took to make a doll and how not everyone realizes how long things take to make - be it clothing, or dolls, or quilts. Everything takes time, every stitch is thought out and meaningful. When we make something with our own hands, it will be appreciated so much more than it would've been otherwise, if purchased. She was so proud of her doll, and I was so proud of her and her doll too. We were pretty exhausted but we took a selfie with her doll anyway just before she left at 10pm.

The next morning, her daughter woke up to the best present her mother had ever made her. She sent me a video (which I understandably can't share) in the which her daughter exclaimed her excitement that this new doll was all hers, and her mom made it. She even said "WOW - good job Mommy"! After much excitement, her daughter also lovingly gave her doll a name, later changing it to Elizabeth. 

This was never meant to be a blog post...but I asked my friend recently if I could share this story. I wanted to share why I'm so excited to teach this class, and what it means to me. It's in these moments that I realize, this is why I do what I do, and why I want to share it with others. The moments of teaching someone something new and seeing the lightbulb grow brighter every second, or the daughter's moment of excitement seeing this brand new doll to love on, made just for her, by her mom, it's all worth it. Here's what my sweet friend said about her experience - nothing edited:

"I have known Kerry for approx 2 years. When I found out she sewed for a living and I saw all her beautiful creations, I just knew I had to get my hands on a doll! They are so incredibly cute and I knew my daughter would love to have one. Especially if it looked just like her. So a few months ago Kerry and I met up and I asked her once again if she would make me a doll. I even offered to pay!!! She finally caved in and said, “NO, but you can come over and I will TEACH you how to make a doll.” I’m not going to lie, I wasn’t very thrilled. I’m extremely intimidated with sewing machines and anything to do with a needle and thread. However, since I really wanted this doll, I knew I had to commit and just do it! Kerry was amazing to say the least. She is so particular and an achiever at everything she does. Making the doll was definitely challenging; Mind you, like I said before, I’m scared of anything to do with sewing. Kerry made it as simple and easy as possible for me. This doll took us four hours to complete but was totally doable, and we had an AWESOME time making this doll together! I found out a lot of other hidden talents this lady has, she is unbelievably talented. She is an amazing mom, wife and friend.

After I left, I had such immense gratitude for her. That doll took us 4 hours to make. I know she can probably get a doll done on her own much quicker, but it still takes time, precision and effort on her part. You know the saying, “give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”. Well she took the time out of her busy schedule and not only taught me how to make a doll, but gave me the confidence and realization that I could do this again. Next time, I know I won’t be so nervous! Yes, there will be a next time, since my daughter is already asking for another one. Kerry, THANK YOU for all your love and encouragement and helping me make something so precious. It is an heirloom that will be passed down for many generations to come."

We made this doll "naked" so we could take her daughter's old clothes and make them doll size with my new die. During the retreat, we will be making Kid Giddy Dolls (and/or Foxes), Doll Clothes (using my new Sizzix Doll Clothes die) and even a fun class on using my Sizzix Kid Giddy Doll/Fox pieces for a really cute applique quilt block. Did I mention there will be a trunk show with Jenny Doan Wednesday evening and a trunk show with me the morning we get started? I'm bringing all my dolls with me - including Bubbles, Queen Phoebe, Elvis and so many others! They didn't want to miss out on coming to the retreat too for inspiration and to meet all of you.

For more information about the class, materials to bring, registration info and to sign up, please click here to visit the Missouri Star Quilt Co. / Kid Giddy retreat listing. I'm so excited to sew with you and teach you all of my tips and tricks in doll making! I can't wait to see what we make together!