Can dolls kill? If you’re an aficionado of horror
books and movies, you’ll probably say they can. But dolls are inanimate objects
without minds of their own. Humans kill, but in Death By Killer Mop Doll, the dolls I’ve created for a new
television show become a killer’s props. Pity my poor mop dolls. They took
quite a beating before I figured out whodunit. If you’d like to make a mop doll
of your own, they’re quite easy and require no special crafting skills. Anyone
who can use a pair of scissors, some tacky glue, and a glue gun, can make a mop doll. Here’s how:
Basic Mop
Doll Directions
Materials:
24 oz. mop head (available in the cleaning section of
most hardware stores, discount centers, and supermarkets), 4” Dylite® (smooth
craft foam) ball, 5” x 5” natural muslin, wooden craft stick, 3/16” black
half-round beads, rubber bands, tacky glue, glue gun (optional), blush or pink
powdered chalk, 1/4 yd. 3/8” wide ribbon, 1/2 yd. cotton or cotton blend
fabric, 1-1/4 yd. 1-1/2” gathered lace, desired lace or ribbon embellishments
for neck edge, needle and thread, 8” straw doll’s hat.
(NOTE: All
gluing can be done with either tacky glue or a glue gun except for attaching
the muslin to the Dylite® ball and gluing the dress. These steps must be done
with tacky glue.)
1. Cut a 4-3/4” diameter circle from muslin for the
face. Snip 1/4” cuts around the perimeter of the muslin circle. Using tacky
glue, glue the muslin to the front of the Dylite® ball, smoothing out any
wrinkles.
2. Poke a hole in the bottom of the Dylite® ball
directly under the muslin face. Glue the craft stick into the ball, allowing
approximately 3-1/2” of the stick to extend.
3. Spread the mop apart on a table. Randomly pull 26
strands from the mop. Set strands aside.
4. With the bottom of the doll head
adjacent to the top of the mop, glue the craft stick centered over the mop
tape.
5. Glue several strands of mop closest to the head down over the craft stick
and mop tape to conceal them. Flip the doll over and repeat the previous step
to conceal the mop tape on the reverse side. Wrap one of the mop strands you
set aside around the doll’s neck, gluing in place.
6.. At both the left and right sides of the doll, take
the top 18 mop strands. Trim 3” from length, saving trimmed pieces to use for
hair. Braid strands for arms, securing each wrist with a rubber band. Glue ribbon around wrists to cover rubber bands.
7. Tie the body together under the arms with one mop
strand to form a waist. Trim ends even with bottom of mop.
8. Cut remaining mop strands into 3” lengths. Run a
line of glue around the edge of the muslin for hairline. Fold strands in half,
gluing folded edge to the muslin. Run a second line of glue in front of the
hairline. Glue a second row of folded strands in front of the first row. Place
the doll face down. Working in even horizontal rows from the base of the neck
to the top of the head, continue gluing hair in place.
9. Glue beads in place for eyes.
10. Use blush or chalk to color cheeks.
11. To make the dress, press under short edges of
fabric 1/2” twice and glue in place.
Glue gathered lace to right side of front bottom edge of fabric.
12. Press under remaining long edge of fabric. Run a
gathering stitch along this edge. Gather fabric and tie under arms at center
back of doll.
13. Glue lace and/or ribbon embellishment under neck.
14. Glue hat to doll’s head.
Death By
Killer Mop Doll
Overdue bills and constant mother vs. mother-in-law battles at
home are bad enough. But crafts editor Anastasia Pollack's stress level is
maxed out when she and her fellow American Woman editors get
roped into unpaid gigs for a revamped morning TV show. Before the glue is dry
on Anastasia's mop dolls, morning TV turns crime drama when the studio is
trashed and the producer is murdered. Former co-hosts Vince and Monica—sleazy
D-list celebrities—stand out among a lengthy lineup of suspects, all furious
over the show's new format. And Anastasia has no clue her snooping has landed
her directly in the killer's unforgiving spotlight.
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Those dolls are too cute to do anything nasty (smile!).
ReplyDeleteThanks, Angela!
ReplyDeleteHello! So very cute! Many years ago, like 35 I used to make mop dogs for the school bazaars. I am wondering if you have instructions? I can find many pictures on pinterest but no instructions and I can not remember how I put them together. I remember 1 mop head, glue gun, 2 tongue depresses and ribbons and black buttons for nose and eyes.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could help you, but I've never seen instructions for a dog made out of a mop. Have you tried doing a Google search? Good luck!
ReplyDeleteMy 70yr old brother sent me 3 mop head dolls his late wife made 25 years ago. They are discussing filthy. Can I put them in the washer? Hope you can help.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nancy
Hi Nancy! Without knowing how they were constructed, I can't answer your question definitively. If your sister-in-law used a water soluble glue, then no. The glue will wash away. However, if a fabric glue was used, it is possible. I suggest placing the dolls in lingerie bags and washing them with cold water on a gentle cycle. Also, if markers were used to draw faces, they would have had to be indelible markers. Otherwise the colors will run and/or wash away. Given how filthy the dolls are, you really have nothing to lose by trying to wash them, since I doubt you want to keep them as is.
ReplyDelete