Hey remember those weighted dolls I mentioned?
Well i thought id do a progress update! This isn't what the official ones will look like, this was my "figuring out patterns and placement and technical aspects" doll. Consider it draft 3 of this multidraft project (I'll explain each draft below!). But I wanted to share, let's say, some progress photos on our way to a full shop! The ones for sale will not look like this, promise.
So what exactly did I accomplish?
Draft 1: The basic patterns, which I wrote mostly from scratch (I used a free pattern online for guidance on the head, the rest was 100% me). This was before I even started crocheting! This also involved me gathering materials like buying the correct sized eyes, getting buttons, finding the correct filler and heat source, etc.
Draft 2: The technical shit. This involved me figuring out how I wanted to do things like the pocket for the heat source, making sure the fillers were safe and that the heat source wasn't a burn hazard (I got a couple 1st degree burns with this part - no fun), figuring out how I wanted to do a heat source since draft 1's plan was one of the ones to give me burns, abd finally, making pattern mock ups to make sure Draft 1 patterns worked and stitching them together to double check. I had to do each piece of the doll except for the nose (brown part not the snout), ears, and head, between 2 to 5 times. The body was the worst, because first there was a problem with how I did the pocket, then it was too small for the filler, then it was both qt once, then the shape was just wrong, and FINALLY I got it right. This draft took freaking Forever ok.
Draft 3: the full draft. This involved making the pieces with the updated pattern changes from draft 2, figuring out placement of body parts (which need major adjustments now that it's all pieced together and I see it...), figuring out what I wanted to do for embellishments and pocket closures and just everything assembly related was figured out here, as technically I'd been making the updated body parts as I worked on each one. This wasn't a process easily separated into drafts.
The next steps: Next is making the whole thing over again, this time with it all together now. Consider it the dress rehearsal. We're gonna use the correct yarn (not this basic one), make the right patterns, solidify placements and process and everything, We're going All Out.
Depending on how it turns out, we may need a fifth draft to get some of the last tweaks fixed but more likely I'll fix them as I make draft 4. Then all it'll be is taking some good pictures and getting the shop up and running!! Exciting right?? I'll probably open with the bear as the only option, but I'll be working on the cat next and she should be fairly quick since the basic pattern is the same, its just modifying some small parts. And... yea!
Some notes on the pictures - yes, theres a lot of loose threads on it, these are just clinging from the many bits of yarn I'd clipped and are not actually attached. The total weight is 3lbs 3oz, with nonremovable weights in the body and all four limbs. There's a pocket under the doll for a heat source to be slipped in. I settled on a therapeutic hot/cold gel pack. The filler is terrarium rocks, though trust me you cannot tell its rocks from the exterior and it's very cuddly according to my mom who did not know they were rocks - she thought ut was beans actually. It is unscented though I'd provide an option whether it's unscented or with your choice of scent (not just lavender!). And finally, the doll is going to be a gift for a friend for his birthday!
