Make Pantyhose People!

(Page 4 of 4)

November/December 1981
By Deborah Goehring 
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The legs are made in the same way as the arms. You'll have to increase the length of the panty hose sections used, however, and make shorter lines of stitches to produce toes.

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Once in a while I get a kick out of producing dolls with huge bellies. To do this, just cut out a circle of panty hose about the size of a saucer. Glue a big round glob of fiberfill onto the center of the stomach area and cover it with the nylon circle. Then tuck in the edges of the hose patch and stitch around the belly and through the body material. Finish the chubby fellow's tummy with a belly button, which is made exactly as is a dimple.

Clothing Adds the Final Touch

If you aren't an experienced tailor, it might be wise to make up little patterns before cutting material for your doll's clothing. To do so, place the panty hose person on a piece of newspaper and trace around its torso, arms and legs. (Remember to leave a half-inch seam allowance on all sides.) Hats, shoes and other accessories can then be cobbled together to complete the wardrobe.

Marketing Matters

So far I've made over 30 dolls, and I haven't exhausted their potential for uniqueness yet. I usually devote two or three days to working on each creation, and — because I tend to get quite attached to every little character — I give them all names. Then, when I prepare one for sale, I decorate a card with the doll's name and an original poem about him or her, and attach it to one wrist with ribbon.

My panty hose people are priced from $15 to $30 each. (I charge $35 for special made-to-order creations, since it's often difficult to predict just how long it'll take to get a "custom" doll just right.)

I urge you to try your hand at this unusual craft. It's as old as the first beloved sock doll, and as new as contemporary soft sculpture. So, whether you're interested in preserving an old art form or experimenting with a new one, I think you'll find that panty hose people are entertaining to make and can quite possibly bring you in some extra cash, too!

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