Since They Aren't Real, Mine Look Great

My niece Moose is turning 5 today. Her party is on Saturday and she has chosen a mermaid theme. That rocks because now my girls get to wear their mermaid costumes I made for Big Girl's party back in January.

So I decided that I could make a mermaid doll for her. Call it a temporary moment of insanity. It all seemed so simple in my mind. I would just use this doll my sister made 7 years ago or so for a pattern.

So I cut out my pattern, making sure the bottom half was mermaid-y instead of legg-y.

So far, so good.

The I sewed the bottom to the top using a zig-zag stitch.

Then I sewed the two sides together, turned it and stuffed it. And we've got to have a shell bra. Or something that resembles one anyway.

Hey, Nester says "it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful", and that doesn't just apply to home decor!

And that's good to know, because this is my first attempt at yarn hair. I found a great tutorial at TanteHilde and I followed the directions. Here's one-half done.

I think I need more practice though because look at all the gaps in the back. Hmm. Should I try to glue strands in place, paint the gaps red, or create some sort of top piece to cover all this?

I'm still working on that.

Then, of course, she'll need a face.

And an excuse for why her arms look like flippers. OH! That's where the "it's an imaginary creature--how do you know what mermaid arms look like?" argument comes in.

Come to think of it, I might have to use that argument for her hair too.