Customer Reviews

The Complete Book of Dollmaking: A Practical Step-by-Step Guide to More Than 50 Traditional and Contemporary Techniques (Watson-Guptill Crafts)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I was intensely irked by this book. The descriptions looked good on the page, but the actual directions were vague and lost me at several crucial junctures. Some of the dolls are nice to look at, but others are just coarse. It feels like someone wanted to cash in on some percieved dollmaking thing, and couldn't stop nattering. There are many books on separate topics from this book - cloth dolls are admirably covered by Eloise Piper and Susanna Oroyan, art dolls are all in Susanna Oroyan's several books, play dolls are in Miriam Gourley and Jodie Davis' various books.

Skip this one, and check out some other books that actually cover the topic better.

I bought this book with high expectations, but was very disappointed. The directions were vague and sometimes impossible to understand for the one doll I attempted. Although this admittedly covers many techniques, and the pictures of the dolls can be inspiring, the technical writing of directions leaves much to be desired. Check it out at the library if you want to look at the pictures. There are much better books out there.

a good sorce of information to get you started on makeing dolls
What I like is she has a few techniques to try. I think this book is very good for some one who knows nothing about makeing dolls whos interested in learning.

A lot of techniques are packed into this slender volume. Making a molded felt head is one that I had been searching for, and found clearly explained in this book. The directions are clear with pictures that explain the process beautifully. I love this book and turn to it again and again.

The only thing that keeps my from making this a 2 instead of a 1 is the instructions for making pressed felt faces in the front section of the book. That and the hair section, small as it is. I did use those to great success.

Most of the time the directions are just, well, vague. If anyone out there understands Lavinia's knee joint, I would like to know how the top part works. I crafted a leg and got the part where you flatten the top of the knee to make the top seam horizontal, as compared to the vertical seam in the back, but then, sew S through P-Q? Are we supposed to dimple it, or somehow round it? Is that to prep the knee joint? It's confusing. Not to mention the thigh pattern. There are no pictures showing the step, or clear written instructions telling you how it's supposed to look.

I had to assemble a few of them before I was able to begin working out the puzzle. I'd almost say the book was badly translated, having read several foreign craft books before. I had some other people look at the book, including a few sewers, quilters, knitters and even a structural engineer, but we weren't able to discover the true technique.

What would make this book much better are a few more pictures, photos or illustrations, of the bodies in progress. The patterns are also somewhat rough, like Lavinia's feet. (I'm really picking on the poor thing, aren't I?) They're rough and unattractive, and I tidied them up a bit. I like her bust, though, and that came out OK. But they're lack-luster and rounded, almost frumpy.

All in all, read it at the library, but it's not needed for a good collection.

This is A Complete Book of Dollmaking and she uses many Techniques,It is a good sorce of information to get you started on makeing dolls
Pamela Peake has a few techniques to try. I think this book is very good for some one who knows nothing about makeing dolls whos interested in learning.

great step by step doll making. easy to follow. good for any one who wants to learn how to make dolls.