Dancing diva mobile

By Spotlight

Fat quarters take on a new life in this whimsical sewing adventure.

Final Result

Materials

• 3 x flat fat ¼s small print in co-ordinating colours
• merino wool rovings - small amount of 3 colours
• black seed beads
• coloured seed beads
• beading wire
• matching Gütermann thread
• sewing machine
• optional: wooden chopstick to help push stuffing
• hobby fill
• scissors
• hand needle
• craft glue or hot glue gun & glue sticks
• round nose pliers
• non stretch nylon beading thread
• optional - quilt hanger

Step 1

Cut
Enlarge the pattern to desired size and trace onto sew in light weight interfacing. Iron the flat fat ¼s and fold each in half right sides together. Place the pattern on the wrong side of each, one at a time, and cut out the double thickness. This will give you a front and a back for each doll.

Step 2

Working on one doll at a time:

Sew
With right sides together, raw edges matching and using a 5mm seam allowance, stitch front to back, leaving a 5cm opening along the bottom straight edge. Clip curves and corners and turn through to right side.

Step 3

Stuff
Add the polyester filling in small amounts keeping it fluffy. Use your fingers then push firmly into position with a stuffing ‘aid’ such as a wooden chopstick or a pencil unsharpened end). Smooth each added amount of filling by compressing with your hands from the outside. Carefully work filling into tight corners and remember lots of fluffy layers will give a smooth result. When finished stitch opening closed.

Step 4

Hair & face
Tease out a small amount of merino wool roving and glue onto head. Stitch on black seed beads for eyes and a red seed bead for a mouth.

Step 5

Jewellery
Cut a length of beading wire to wrap around the waist, one to wrap around the straight arm and another to twist around the other wrist. Using the pliers form a loop in one end to prevent the beads from falling off. Thread with seed beads until desired length and form a loop in the end to hold beads in place. Trim off any excess wire. Repeat for all three pieces of jewellery. Wrap the belt around the waist and twist wires together to hold in place. Repeat for the wrist bracelet. Take the remaining piece and wrap it firmly around the arm to create a spiral.

Step 6

Hang
Cut 3 different lengths of non stretch nylon beading thread. Tie a knot in one end, thread on a seed bead then take the thread back through the bead. Thread the end through a needle and stitch into the back of the doll’s head. Remove the needle and tie the end around the rod in the hanger.