|


|
I have used
Hellebore's arm here. (Note that the third and fourth fingers are joined.)
- Using a sharp 2B
pencil, draw or trace the arm onto the wrong side of doubled fabric
leaving an opening to turn through.Using a small machine
stitch (size 2 on most machines) and matching thread, sew
carefully along your pencil
line. Stitch a tiny curve between the fingers rather than a point.
Be sure to back stitch at each side of the opening.Carefully cut out
the arm leaving about a 3mm (1/8in) seam all around. (You may wish to
leave a slightly wider seam if the fabric you are using is prone to
fraying.)Using a small finger
turning tool, (see accessories), turn each finger then the whole the
arm right side out through the opening.(See below for instructions
on how to use the turning tool.) Lay out 4 x 15cm
(6in) pipecleaners, one for each finger and one for the joined fingers.Place
a very small blob of glue on both ends of each to stop the sharp wire
ends from catching on a thread or poking through the fabric. Allow to
dry. Fold back about
25mm (1in) on one end of each and line them up to correspond to each
finger. Use the last one to twist around the others and hold them together.
Feed these through the opening up into the hand, folded ends first.
Ease each pipecleaner into its corresponding finger. (It's a bit like
putting gloves on a toddler.)When in place,
top stitch between the third and fourth fingers, tying off the threads
at each end or back stitching.Place a little
stuffing up into the back and front of the hand ( you do not need to
put any stuffing into the fingers) and continue to stuff the arm until
it is a good firm shape. Close the opening using slip stitch.
- Repeat for the
other arm. Remember to pose a left and a right hand.
How to use the
turning tool.
To turn through a
finger or small limb, place the straw inside the piece to
be turned. Push it as close as possible to the end without forcing it.
Position one end of the rod on the outside so it is lined
up with the end of the straw on the inside. Gently roll the finger over
the rod. Repeat for all the fingers and turn the arm through. See diagram.
|