France

   

FRANCE

 

Bonjour. Today we are going to talk about France and learn how to make a French clothespin doll. 

Some facts about France:

¯ People in France speak French

¯ The standard coin of France is called a franc

¯ France is the largest country of Western Europe

¯ French are famous for their enjoyment of life

¯ National Motto: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity

¯ The Loire River is the longest river entirely in France

¯ More than 6 million people visit France every year

¯ 67.2 million people call France home

 

There are 29 countries in the world whose official language is French and French speakers live in over 75 countries.  Many French speaking people have never heard the gospel.  Operation French World is a mission that is set up to help French speakers hear the gospel.  They pair people with mission opportunities, train and prepare workers, and help start churches.  If you would like to learn more about what Operation French World does, aid them financially, or are interested in giving of your time and energy to help French speakers hear the gospel Click Here. If this link doesn't work just go to www.ofwmissions.com

 

How to make a French Clothespin Doll

This is traditional clothing, so if you went to France you probably wouldn’t see anyone wearing clothes like this except maybe at a festival.

 

Supplies Needed:

a clothespin

four colors of fabric

a hot glue gun and glue sticks

thread

paint

needle

scissors

 

  

Optional Items:

Wood (for arms)

a selvedge edge (for sleeves)

friendship or embroidery thread (for the sock and ball of yarn in the basket)

 

 

 

 

Number one:  Make the dolls hair with hot glue.   Since you can’t see her hair it doesn’t matter what it looks like.  But I made her with a bun. Paint the dolls hair.  I didn’t do it until the end but it would be much easier to do it first.  

                                              

You do not need to use the same materials that I do.  I am merely going off a picture in the encyclopedia which is the reason for the colors on my doll.  You could use any colors and still make a “French Doll”.

 

First we will begin with the skirt.  I measured roughly how long I would want the skirt, leaving enough space for the bodice.

 

 The skirt pieces:

Front piece:  2 ½ inches high and 4 inches wide at the bottom with the sides slightly tapering in at the top.

Back pieces: Cut two pieces 2 ½ inches high and 2 inches wide at the bottom tapering in at the top.

Next I cut the two bodice pieces. ½ inch high and 2 ¼ inches long to fit around the clothespin with a seam allowance.  Sew together the skirt  pieces and then gather the top of it until it is 2 ¼  inches long.  Sew the purple piece to the skirt and then the top of the bodice (the white piece) to the rest of the bodice. Tip: I use hot glue on the seams after I’ve sewed them so they don’t fray.

You have now basically completed the dolls dress.  All you need to do is sew up the back. Make sure you don’t sew it so tight that it won’t fit on her with the seam inside.  After you have sewed the dress back you can flip it and slide it up the dolls body and that is done. 

Now for her arms. This is optional but I like how she looks best with arms so if you have a saw handy and some thin wood, go for it.  I use a scroll saw for most of my projects.  I figured out  a shape that worked well for my clothespin you can see kind of the shape but you kind of have to experiment with the length.  I also use a belt sander to smooth the arms out and make them a bit more realistic.  Now cut two sleeve shaped pieces (a rectangle would probably work) and add the white selvedge edge for lace.  Next you do a gathering stitch at the top.  Instead of trying to sew this on I just hot glued it together at the top and then down the side.  Finally glue the arms onto the dolls sides so they look fairly realistic.

Another optional piece is her necklace.  This is a very unnoticeable piece and so if you don’t want something tedious skip it. I used a needles eye and a piece of wire and glued them together and then strung a string through and sewed it to her clothes.

Now to make the shawl:  Cut a 4 ½ x 1 inch piece of green fabric and #1. pleat the ends (see the picture).  Next fold down the middle of the piece to where the shawl will be big enough to cover the white bodice and tack it down.  Now it is time to make the fringe. #2 The easiest thing is to figure out what will work best for you. Just make it look like a fringe.  #3. Now wrap the shawl around the doll and tack it together in the front #4.  You might need to pleat it a little bit in the back so it will fit better.

#2

#1

Next we will make the apron.  #1.  I did mine 3 ¾ x 2 ¼  inches and then did 1/8 inch hem all the way around except for the top where I gathered it and then sewed it onto the dolls waist.  I did this all with one string.  But you can do it in as many pieces as you want. #2.   I put a rubber band around her waist for a little while to help hold it down.

 

The next optional piece is her knitting basket.  With a combination of friendship thread, hot glue, pins, and paper you can have this little lady knitting socks galore.  First you make a little ball of blue thread and secure it with hot glue.  Next make a paper “sock”  by rolling a paper into a short strip and bending it so it looks like a sock and wrap the thread around it gluing as you go.  Then you glue the sock between her hands. #1.   Now we will make her basket.  Use the thread and glue to make a disc for the bottom of the basket. DO NOT CUT IT.  Now use regular white thread to sew together the sides.  Here I found using pins very helpful because I could do several rounds before sewing them together.  #2.   Once you have the basket the desired size you can cut off the Friendship thread and secure the end.  Now glue the ball of thread into the basket and also glue the basket to her apron and there you go!

#1

Now you need to make her head piece.  Cut a white piece 2”x 3” and a purple piece 1” by ¼" .   Hem all the sides except one on the 3” side.  I just folded this in about ¼ inch.  Now wrap the head piece around her head and stitch the purple piece tightly around at the top of her head.  Use either sticky tack or hot glue to hold the head piece on her head. 

Last but not least  find a French name for your little French girl.  My sister named her Aimee.

Au Revoir!

 

Sources :  Encyclopedia

                 Wikipedia

                   Operation French World