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 Tassel Dolls and More
by Sylvie Michaud
Doll Castle News Magazine (May & June 2002)
"For centuries tassels belonged only to royalty and the very wealthy. They were marks of distinction that decorated their homes and clothing and lives. I hope they will do that for you too. Tassels are not just for tie backs anymore. They are starting to be used in many different ways to decorate our own homes and lives. Tassels will fit almost anywhere."
The tassel dolls are truly all purpose, with many uses. They’re used on draperies, tie backs, table cloths and table runners, tree ornaments. They add a simple elegance to any arrangement. In the Victorian era, tassels made a come back and were used to adorn costumes, draperies, table settings, anything that would look better with a tassel! With many people redecorating in Victorian and earlier era styles today, I found an elegant, simple decoration that many will enjoy. It als fits in with most of the dolls I make, since I do mostly Victorian fashions.
Starting with a porcelain angle head and arms, I modify basic doll patterns to create the top using crochet cotton. Most of the tassel portions are made with chenille and some with cotton. The angel head makes it easy to attach the tassel to the doll without having to use a special tassel form. Having very few patterns to choose from, I’ve modified a number of my fashion doll pattern tops to fit.
Like most girls my age, my mother made many knit Barbie outfits for me, I made some for my daughter and years later, looking for some for my granddaughter I found a web site with some beautiful "Fashioned doll" outfits for 11.5" fashion dolls. I enjoyed making them so much, and enjoyed the results more, I started making them for sale on our web site.
Starting with a few fashion doll patterns, I was hooked from the beginning. Finding more patterns, making modifications and eventually creating a few of my own, markets and craft shows were our primary venue for sales. We had our web site for years so my husband added a display of my dolls and other crafts we do. Putting my creations up for sale on the web was an easy task, even though web sales for these types of dolls is very slow.
We go to many of the local craft shows and some markets, showing my paintings as well as my dolls but, because of the cost of the fashion dolls most people weren’t doing more than passing with a nice "....great doll!" comment. I looked for something just as nice, without the cost of time and materials it takes for the fashion dolls, and started making outfits of 3 and 4 ply yarn to put on 8" - 23" porcelain dolls. I never stop looking for something unique and eye-catching though, and while shopping in a Victorian store we were visiting in the Ohio Amish country, I saw some tassel dolls. Thinking about all the left over cotton, yarn and chenille I had from other projects I knew I had something that would fit in with the rest of our display. I knew I could make them just as nice without the $50+ price tag they had on the ones in the specially stores.
While I do sew and knit, I prefer crochet. I find its easier to do th small things in crochet rather than knit and I can sit and work while we watch TV or drive somewhere on a trip. Making dolls is interesting as there is always something different to make and its not as boring as making afghans! You can never have enough dolls, but how many afghans can you put on your sofa?
While expanding to other crochet miniatures I’ve started doing hat, purse and shoe sets in the same styles and colors as the dolls, as well as some crochet dolls and stuffed animals. My husband makes the display boxes and once we find the perfect place to move to, we will be able to set up his wood shop again to make everything from the doll stands to the tassel forms I need as well as other accessories for the dolls.
We do have plans on moving and setting up our own boutique. We’re currently condo dwellers so there isn’t a lot of storage space for me to create too many, nor to stock up on supplies, so I try to keep one of each on hand and mke new ones as needed. Besides, its nice to offer someone the option of the colors they want on some of the dolls, like the bed dolls or the bag holder doll for the kitchen.
So for now I’ll keep making dolls as I get orders. Currently I have a couple of original patterns I’m trying to get published and a couple more I´d like to set up and complete.
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