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Voyageur Clothespin Doll Ornaments

 

Sporting a Phrygian "bonnet rouge" toques, these cozy clothespin dolls echo the Voyageur tradition of adventure, strength and commerce. 
They are dressed in red and white capotes that represent standard HBC points blanket. The blue capote is the Red River version. 
And of course, no voyageur would leave home without their essential and vibrant ceinture fléchée (sash). 

Supplies:
  • Sprung clothespins (the type with 2 pieces of wood and a spring)
  • wooden bead
  • felt in assorted colours
  • paint in assorted colours
  • embroidery floss
  • hot glue sticks ( you can use tacky glue as well)
  • wire
Tools:
  • scissors
  • wire cutters
  • glue gun


1) Cut out felt pieces. Paint any strips you wish to include. Note that I painted the "points" stripes along the collar on the other side (see step 9)










2) Pull the clothes pin apart, discard the spring.








3) Attach the moccasins to the bottom of the skinny end of each pin side with hot glue.









4) Wrap some rectangle felt pieces above the moccasins to form the pant legs. the seam should be on the flat side of each wooden pin. Run some glue along one of the seams and sandwich them together.









5) Cut a piece of wire about 8cm in length. Fold the wire in half and twist the center together, leaving a loop on one end. Punch a hole in the center of the toque felt piece, and tread the wire through the hole.








6) Feed the wire through the hole of the wooden bead. Apply glue to the base of the toque felt and attach it to the head, a little higher than 1/2 the diameter of the bead. Apply glue along the side of the toque and press against the other side to form the cone shape of the hat.









7) Apply glue between the exposed wood pins (above the pants), and to the bottom of the bead. Place the wood bead on top of the clothes pin, making sure the wire fits between the pin sides and is secure. Add the bib shaped shirt just under the bead head









8) Using a small amount of glue, add the beard and mustache. If you find these pieces fray (some felt will) consider adding a coat of mod podge or thinned out white glue to one side of the felt to stiffen the fabric up before cutting.









9) Take the capote piece and bend back the collar. With your fingers, "iron" this out by sliding your fingers over the crease a few times. 









10) Now wrap the capote around the body, so the center slightly overlaps and add a drop of glue between the 2 sides at the base of the coat. Make sure the large collar is bent back. Set aside.









11) the sash felt piece is around 15cm long, make two braids the same size (knot to knot), knot on both ends and leave a bit of floss on end end to make a fringe.






12) Wrap the sash around the doll's "waist" This will also flatten down the large collar. Once I was happy with the position I glued in place. I also bent the sash ends down vertically and pinned in place with a little glue









13) I also made Northwest Company and HBC flags. I used felt and embroidery floss, and added jump rings for ornament hooks. To hide the stitching to the back side I added a piece of felt which I glued with a strip of glue I ran along the top edge only.




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