Thursday, August 23, 2007

Some toe info for a friend......

Here it is Allison,....... with a few simple pics and my own pretty simple explanation ....... ( I am a pretty simple person...so I don't want to confuse myself if possible !!) some people call them sculpted toes...some call them "pulled" toes. I can't even say for sure what they are, but here are Leonard's toes as promised.

Thread a needle with a length of upholstery or button thread in choice of colour;..knot on the end. Insert the needle into the foot somewhere near the heel.. sort of below the ankle bone area...then exit the needle on the same side of the foot a bit higher up toward the arch area but still out a bit away from the actual footpad. Gently pull the thread ...by grasping the thread (not using the needle to pull the thread as it could break the thread after awhile from sawing on the rough inside of the eye of a needle) until the knot disappears inside the fabric. Reinsert the needle almost in the same hole... and exit at the top of the foot at the spot that you want to use for the size and number of toes you have planned. I like to do big toes first and then do smaller ones. Take a large (external )stitch on top of the fabric..out over the tip of the foot..down to where on the footpad you want to make the base of the big toe……..insert needle and go back up (fairly deep inside the fabric.).to the top of the foot for the second stitch (mine will come out where the orange pin head is) Gently but firmly push the top of foot down a bit and almost roll it toward the sole of the foot.. (kind of tucking the toes under a bit) ....now… gently pull on the thread where you exited… pushing down with the other hand..till it holds the shape you are looking for...take the thread down to the space on the foot where
you want the second toe crevice/base …... inserting the needle there and again going back up to the top of the foot inside the fabric. Just those two stitches will give you three toes .. so .. go back into the fabric almost where you exited and now go down to the side of the foot near the big or little toe and you can begin the creases if you want some. A longer piece of thread will be plenty to do creases as well … but if not … anchor it off and get a new piece of thread.



















Do a couple of discreet stitches that will hold the pressure of the stitches...then, bury the end of the thread by cutting it close while pressing firmly on the foot or leg where you end.























Sometimes I put stitches horizontally for creases as well ... but mostly I just use a bit of shading and because you pulled and tucked them a bit .. sometimes that is plenty and almost appears as creases.

This little guy has been around on my blog before...because he has a boo boo....... yep. At the point where I turned the leg and foot...I poked a hole in the fabric...yikes! Poor, poor Leonard! I didn't want to toss his leg...so, instead I repaired the tiny hole.... with some invisible mending and then... glued on his ladybug. Since he is my own..I don't mind that he has a slight imperfection.... he is still really cute to me!!

Let me know how it works for you.

6 comments:

Laura Lynn said...

Vee your tutorial is awesome, thank you! I can't wait to finally try this for myself. I posted a link on my Free Teddy Bear Patterns blog too!

PS....Leonard is ADORABLE!

Hugz,
Laura Lynn

Unknown said...

Wow, Vee, your Toe Tutorial is nice and I heard the same thing about you. For an explanation, see my q.D.paToOtieS Blog entry for today!!!

http://qdpatooties.blogspot.com

BumbleVee said...

Hi Laura Lynn

Hope you find it helpful.

I would love to see the first foot you try ...to see how you make out with my suggestions. I was almost confusing myself with the wording, so I hope it is okay.
Hey... tx for posting it to your site too...now I must hope "double-y" (is that a word??) ...that it works. Yikes!

Teddy Bear Giraffe said...

Hello! Are there any Teddy Bears Dressed as Other Animals around here? Just wonderin' ...

BumbleVee said...

Nope....sorry TBDOA..... not guilty. I like my bears as is... just bears....

Linda Fleming said...

Thank your for stopping by my blog, Vee! It's always fun to meet someone new and get a glimpse into their life. I adore this bear! He is simply delightful. And I see you have made an Echlin, too. I had so much fun in that class and love that little doll. Mine sits on my dresser.

Hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend!