Mar 19

Mar 19 A new Mannikin in 2021: Henrietta Swan

creative process, custom orders, dollmaking, mannikin, Needle Felting

Oh my dear friends, it’s been a long while since I last showed you snippets of the creation of a new Mannikin. But in a short tick you will be able to discover Henrietta Swan in her full glory.

This time we are changing things around, as I am wont to do with all my dolls, especially as I tinker with patterns all the time. Last year I downsized the Petite Fig, and once the iron was hot I decided to then downsize the Figlette as well. Fun times!

Henrietta Swan, natural fiber art doll by fig and me. Wool sculpture.

Now, don’t panic, as I am not downsizing the Mannikin just yet, but since I haven’t made a Mannikin since 2017 it was only natural I accrued a few new tricks under my sleeve; for this little girl I am giving her the same type of head construction as the Petite Figs, that is: that the head can turn all around, up and down and because Mannikin is made over an inner skeleton of armature, then she can hold the head in whichever pose you give her.

If you want to see her little head in action you can watch my very first Instagram reel over here>>>

The technique is just slightly different than the one I use to construct the Petite Figs due to the armature there, as the Petite Figs do not have an armature.

If you are very curious as to how one builds a doll with needle felting and lots of separate inner wire armatures, I created an entire series last year via Patreon.

You can find the entire list of Patreon tutorials on this page, so you can check out what I have shared.

Henrietta Swan is a little bit more curvy or with a bit more wool on her bones.

The photos above and below are of her when she was in the initial stages, we have progressed quite far from that look, so I hope to bring her soon with her eyes fully embroidered and her long brunette hair.

She is a beautiful girl I have to say and she is full of life and stories, which I hope she decides to share with us. So keep your eyes peeled for more of Miss Henrietta Swan.

To be continued.