Freebie Friday - How to Pick Colour Schemes for Dolls

Like everyone else who has a Fine Art degree, I know all about colour wheels.  The standard colourwheel invented by Sir Issac Newton is my personal favourite.  I understand the logic behind the Munsell Colourwheel but for the life of me can't get it to work in practice.  However, if truth be told, I never design my dolls by thinking 'I know I'll use an analogous colour scheme on this one!'.  It just doesn't happen.  So if you don't know anything about colour wheels then maybe my method of picking colour schemes will work for you.  I call it the Come to Mama Method.

Step 1

When you are out fabric shopping look for that fabric that makes your heart race and your toes tingle and your soul sing the Hallelujah Chorus - that fabric that says 'Come to Mama'. 

OK, so this picture isn't great but this is so a Come to Mama fabric for me.

Step 2

While you've got that fabric in your hot little hands in the shop see if there are matching fabrics.  They may be designed as a set (that is not cheating, it's efficiency) or not, but while you've got that fabric you might as well match it.  at this point you can stash these fabrics or break them straight out for a project.

Step 3

When you've got a pattern in mind, think about how many fabrics you'll need.  Make sure to match in the shop or in your stash, fabrics that may not be so all singing and all dancing.  I call these 'Good to Have' Fabrics.  They are simpler fabrics like solids, or in this case, subtle polka dots.  They let the Come to Mama fabrics shine.  In this case, the subtle polka dots are going to be used as the base for my clock doll pattern, so the fabric there needs to be less patterned so the clock hands can be seen.

Start laying your fabrics out in the order they will appear on the doll.  Also, try folding the fabric so that proportionately, you see the amounts of the fabric you will see on the finished doll.  Notice how the pale blue of the polka dot is balanced by the blue of the patterned fabric that will form the shawl.  I read an article recently in the July issue of Doll Crafter & Costuming by Arley Berryhill and he does this same trick with laying fabrics out.  It really works.

Step 4

See what other elements the pattern calls for and pick out colours from your main fabric to use in these pieces.  For example in my case I need a ribbon to make the tie for the apron and a soft leather for the shoes.

I pulled out the fuchsia pink/orange in the belt and bright turquoise for the shoes. 

Step 5

One problem though, although these colours were pulled from the motifs in the fabric they are large areas of bold colour that draw your eye to those areas.  I don't want people looking at the dolls feet.  Now, I need to introduce those colours elsewhere to balance things out.  This doll is based on the Jane Austen period so I pulled turquoise feathers out of my stash to adorn her hair - a really trendy thing in Jane's day, although a bit Austentatious (sorry, couldn't help it).  I can also bring the pink into the shoes with some pink embroidery thread. 

 

However,I've still got the bold colours at top and bottom, how about some beads (maybe a beaded fringe) on the shawl to bring those bold colours into the centre of the doll.

And while I'm at it some hair.  This hair is black with a slight hint of purple (purple is picked up in the fabrics)  The doll will also have her printed apron, the print being black to echo the hair colour. 

So now you've had a glimpse into the mind of Colleen Babcock, Dollmaker.  Scary, I know.  Granted, I know The Come to Mama Method of picking colour schemes is not scientific in anyway, but personally, I think it's pretty fun. 

Comments

[Liz]

A very nice tutorial. My stash is full of Come to Mama fabrics, but I need to work on picking out coordinating bits. Your method makes a lot of sense. Not scary at all!

[Kitty Babcock]

How lovely indeed. The colours are so fun and yet make so very much sense. Thanks for the links to the colour wheels. Even makeup can do with a check up on colour harmony now and then.
Love ya!

[Romona]

Thank goodness,it appears I've been doing that part right. That's what I do for any creative project I'm planning. I can form conga lines with the different groupings, then I whittle it down to one group that causes me to vocalize with a resounding YES...and I have so much fun in the meantime pawing all the fabrics and trims... ;o) Romona

[shashi.]

Your minds workings are not scary but very creative. Now if only I could get my mind to work like yours then I would get a lot of things done.