Knitting lovers have at least once created dolls or animals for their children. There are no difficulties in forming almost all parts of the body, but the features of the muzzle or face cause difficulties. Especially many nuances arise when choosing eyes. In order not to delay the search, you can try to embroider this part of the decor. This type of decoration is the most optimal. To perform this type of work, you need to know a few secrets on how to embroider eyes for a knitted doll in accordance with its appearance.
Features of creating eyes
A knitting person will immediately agree that a toy should be natural and safe from start to finish. To achieve this, you should not use purchased accessories to "arrange" the muzzle or face of the product. The ideal type of decoration will be ordinary threads with a needle.
Embroidered eyes on toys have several positive factors:
- They look more attractive than a regular bead or plastic eye.
- This option is completely safe, since the child will not be able to tear off and swallow the plastic.
- The parts can be given any shape, color and size.
- It is easy to think through any design and appearance of the element.
- There is no need to think through the principle of attaching the part to the head of a soft toy.
- Tactilely, such a detail is much more pleasant for the baby than hard plastic.
Additional information! The peculiarity of the fittings is their high-quality appearance and neat workmanship.
The advantage of this type of product is that it will be a great addition to the original and beautiful fittings of a finished toy. The execution of this type of "eyes" has the following features:
- It is advisable to choose needles with a small diameter. This will allow you to keep the knitted or textile fabric without holes.
- The stitches should be placed as close to each other as possible. This will make the base of the element more complete.
- If fabric is used to create a three-dimensional shape for the eyes, it must be durable and definitely thick. Felt can be used as a base.
- To make it you don't need a lot of expensive tools or materials. Even a beginner needlewoman can embroider the element.
When making embroidered eyes, it does not matter how the base fabric was created. It can be made using a hook, knitting needles. Such details can also be formed on fabric.
Step by step instructions
Before you start working, you need to decide what embroidery technique will be used. There are several options that are used most often, but the most popular is satin stitch.
Eye embroidery can be done using the following set of tools and materials:
- Threads for embroidery. Silk or floss are usually used.
- A needle of suitable diameter and sharp scissors.
- Marker or pencil for sketching and marking locations.
- Safety pins and pieces of felt may come in handy.
Please note! If you combine satin stitch embroidery and felt with filling, you will get voluminous eyes.
First, you should decide on the shape and size of the eye. For a doll, you should choose more complex options. It is advisable to develop a design with a large eye cut, iris and pupil. This will be the most suitable type of embroidery. In accordance with the same model, an option for a cat is developed.
If you choose the appropriate type of eyes for animals, namely a bunny, a bear or a pig, you can use embroidery using a French knot. To do this, you need to bring the needle out at the place where the eye is formed, entangling the thread at the base, insert the tool near the exit point. You will get a noticeable "dot". The same option is suitable for various tilde toys.
How to embroider eyes on a knitted toy:
- On the muzzle/face you first need to mark the points where the eyes of the toy will be located.
- Use a marker to draw the outline of the future product. To ensure that the sketches are identical, it is better to use a template.
- Embroider the base with white thread using the satin stitch technique. Along the contour, stitch the element with black thread.
- The iris is then formed on the prepared base. You can choose any color.
- A black pupil is already embroidered on the iris itself.
If you follow the master class exactly, you will get a wonderful version of the eye with the most natural contours and shape.
Useful tips
Embroidery seems like a very simple type of handwork, but even here there are some nuances. If you know a few useful techniques, even a simple satin stitch will become a real work of art.
Embroidered eyes for a doll may not turn out very attractive if you don’t know a few secrets:
- It is essential to follow the step-by-step algorithm of actions during the manufacturing process of the part.
- To make details more natural, neretine is often used in work.
- To create volume without using fillers, you can embroider on felt, then cut out the piece and sew it in the right place.
Important! To ensure that the details look harmonious, it is recommended to accurately calculate the proportions.
Even the most ordinary bunny will look beautiful and original if the fittings are made neatly and attractively.
Drawing instead of embroidery
In addition to embroidery, you can use the painting technique, that is, the eyes are painted with special paints on textiles. If the toy is made using the knitting technique, then the procedure is carried out as follows:
- Prepare a white fabric that will become the base. It is advisable to wash and iron the base.
- Sketch the base first with a pencil. This forms the main base, which can be adjusted at this stage.
- Using a brush, paint the eye, forming the iris and pupil. First apply white paint, then the color of the iris and the black pupil.
Instead of paints, you can use textile markers. It is easier to work with such tools than with paints. However, the appearance of such an eye will be less natural. Over time, the marker will be erased from the tactile surface, and you cannot wash a toy with such "fittings".
To make the appearance more attractive, you can partially apply embroidery. This technique will highlight the necessary details and emphasize the line of eyelashes and contour. To prevent the paint from rubbing off over time, you need to cover the surface with transparent glue or special varnish.
Threads can be used as the main material for forming the eyes. This finishing element can be replaced with standard plastic fittings. This makes the toy more attractive and natural. Additionally, the concept of a homemade toy is preserved. The algorithm for creating an eye can be different - embroidery, drawing. Any child will love such a doll hare.
