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Rx Whamm-it Doll Whamm-it or Damn-it, whatever you want to call these colorful, funny creatures, they bring a smile to the face of anyone who sees them. But a prescription for a doll? YES! I discovered their healing qualities last year. I saw my first doll in a class taught by Yvonne Perez-Collins (and she saw her first doll on a charter bus-they do get around), and was so impressed with the idea that I went home and immediately made up four of them. And, I seldom do anything immediately! Just before Christmas of last year I learned that a friend and neighbor had been hospitalized by a stroke and was paralyzed on the left side. When I went to visit Hank in the hospital, I took him a Whamm-it doll rather than flowers. Well, he was weak, shaky, and very depressed, but the good right hand came up and grasped the doll. Before I left, he was showing the doll to a nurse and reading her the accompanying poem (see pattern). In subsequent progress reports, Ann said her husband's mental attitude had improved and that he was hitting all the doctors and nurses with his Whamm-it doll.
Trace pattern on fabric, marking the eye/nose positions. Hoop fabric and embroider face, necklace, etc. Cutout except inner legs and sew one side (¼" seam). Mark the starting and stopping points for necklaces on both front and back panels. Embroider necklaces. Sew remaining side and inner legs, reinforcing inner leg seam. Leave top open for stuffing. Trim inner legs. Finish all edges. This doll could take a beating! Turn & stuff with Poly-fil. Check that the eye backing is in place and turn under top edges. Stuff the Stay-stitched yarn into opening and top stitch the head closed. Trim hair to desired length. Make several more dolls because you'll want your family and friends to have their own! Have a Wham-it Doll party and invite your friends over for an afternoon of doll making! Be sure to sign up for TreadleArt's e-newsletter. Just send me an e-mail and I will sign you up! Janet Stocker |
Then a doctor told Hank that we would probably never walk again. WHAMM!! Out came the doll and nobody was safe. Hank was mad and determined to prove the doctor wrong., As he was wheeled down the hallways I am told he would WHAMM anyone within reach. And he started improving! Soon it was time for him to be transferred to a rehab facility. Hank worried that the doll might get lost in the transfer, so I made him two more dolls "just in casae." He and his "family" were moved to the new hospital where he continued to improve. Today, I can watch him as he takes a walk up and down the street-twice a day. He's not quite ready to enter a marathon, but neither is he the invalid that was predicted. And the doll family has a permanent home on the family room sofa. Now, of course, the doll didn't heal Hank. He healed himself with a lot of stubborn determination and with the loving support of his family and friends. But I know the doll became a focus for him to concentrate hiw energies. Not to mention the sheer exercise of swinging at anyone that came close His son Bobby drew the cartoon and allowed me to put it in the Newsletter. Nowadays, instead of get-well cards, I send Whamm-dolls. And I keep one for myself next to my sewing machine and telephone.
¼ yd colorful, tightly woven fabric Mylar or Lame' EYES - Tiptoe around the eye circle 3 times (that means use free motion stitching) or here you could just use one of your pre-programmed embroidery designs for the entire face! Using a wider stitch, stitch eyelashes. Wild is good! Use scrape of mylar or lame' for eye backing. Tack in place for eyes-or do whatever you want! That's part of the fun! NOSE - Fill in with a lot of thread to form a fat, round nose. NECKLACES - This is a good place for pre-programmed or cam stitches, bobbin work, couching, ribbons, fringe, laces, ric-rack, scraps etc. You get the idea! HAIR - Yarns and other heavy threads. Wrap two or more colors around your fingers, then stay-stitch one end. This makes it easier to keep the ends in place when sewing the head. * |
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