Sewing Pattern
Holly Fairy
Toys
Adorn your tree with our pretty Holly Fairy. Winter is full of magic, and this precious dollmaking centrepiece is no exception. Amanda Walker’s gorgeous snow fairy is sure to bring good fortune to all this merry season. With her sweet wool braids and patterned poseable wings, she’s just as stylish as she is sweet. If this dolly is destined for a tiny tot’s stocking, make sure to securely attach all ribbons and buttons, or replace them completely with child-safe options.
Essentials
- Fabric: printed cotton, various colours; cotton jersey, cream; felt, red, self-adhesive, white
- Fusible webbing
- Toy filling
- Wool, pale yellow
- Ribbon, red satin
Sizes
- 30cm tall
Download and print the templates from sewmag.co.uk. Before sewing the pieces together, stay-stitch across the base of the two body pieces, head and top of the legs. This will stop the fabric from stretching and keep the waist nice and trim. Sew the leg pieces together, down one side and up both legs to the opposite side. Clip the curved seam allowance between the legs and turn to the right side. Stuff each one with filling, taking care not to distort the shape.
Stitch the body and head pieces, starting from the base on one side, up around the arms, the neck and head, then down the opposite side. Clip under the arms and up into the curve of the neck on both sides. Turn to the right side and stuff. Sew the body and legs together. Turn in the raw edges along the staystitching lines, then hand slip-stitch the two together. To make the hair, plait together six lengths of yarn to 23cm. Hand stitch in place over the head seam and add ribbons. Sew a tiny ‘V’ for the mouth and two blue dashes for the eyes.
To make the dress, match the shoulder seams of the front and back bodice together and stitch. Repeat on the remaining front and back pieces. With the right sides of the two bodices facing each other, match the necks and back opening and sew together. Clip around the neck, turn to the right side and iron flat. Stitch down both side seams through the layer; the neck edge has been neatened, leaving the armholes raw as they will be covered by the jacket.
To make the skirt, use webbing to fix a 2.5cm hem along one of the long edges of the fabric rectangle. Make a row of gathering stitches on the opposite long edge. Gather the material to fit the base of the bodice by pulling up the threads. Pin the skirt and bodice together, then sew in place. Match the back seam of the skirt and stitch some of the way, leaving 2cm free at the waist of the skirt. Place the dress on the body. Sew the back neck of the bodice to fasten.
To make the jacket, stitch two underarm seams as indicated on the pattern piece. Turn the jacket sleeves to the right side, turn over the curved edge (this will become the collar), then place on the angel. To fasten the jacket, wrap the front edges over each other and sew a button through both layers.
Place two pieces of felt together for the hat and stitch two cuff areas on the hat, as indicated on the pattern. Clip into the top of two seams and turn through to the other side. Tease out the seam allowance at the top of the cuff seams. Sew around the curve. Turn out the fabric, fold up the cuff, then attach a button. Stitch the hat in place, then sew the wings to the back of the jacket. Attach a hanging loop to the top of the heart, place between the hands, and stitch together. Add a ribbon for decoration.