A Delicate Disposition: A Free Eucalan Bottle Doll Tutorial

I get some of my best ideas in the shower. Consequently, my idea folder tends to get a little damp.

The idea for this doll tutorial came about because I was washing some of my delicates in Eucalan No Rinse Delicate Wash. While my laundry soaked in a tub on the bathroom counter, I multi-tasked and took a shower.  Suddenly it hit me that Eucalan bottles look really rather like a feminine form. 

  
So while washing my hair, I set about designing a doll that had a simple one piece cloth head and extremely easy clothing pieces made from rectangles, triangles and circles.  At the same time I wanted to make use of the entire Eucalan bottle, including the lid. Eucalan is an environmentally friendly product and I wanted an environmentally friendly project to go with it.

That little round lid made a perfect base for a bonnet, so the doll just simply had to be Jane Austen inspired.  There was nothing else for it.

To find the free tutorial, click the following link to Download A Delicate Disposition Instructions and Pattern

What can I say?  Suds are inspiring.  I want to inspire you to make this doll, but for that you'll need a Eucalan bottle.  And I can help you there too.

You can win a lovely package of Eucalan with this giveaway  - I'm sorry, this giveaway is now closed!

The prize includes:

1 x 500mL/16.9oz No Rinse Delicate Wash in your choice of scent

1 x 100mL/3.3oz No Rinse Delicate Wash in your choice of scent - this is the size of bottle for the doll!

1x Getaway Gang travel set which consists of 8 x single use packets, 4 x stain treating wipes, 1 package of lint remover sheets, 1 nail file and 1 sewing kit 

Scope out the prizes by watching the following video where Jen, Managing Director of Eucalan, walks you through each of these products and the scents that they come in:

 

If you've never used Eucalan before you may not realise all the wonderful uses for this environmentally friendly product. 

Here are my top 5 uses for Eucalan:

1.  Use Eucalan to wash (and block) your hand knits and fine knitwear -  I use Eucalan to block my loom and hand knitted items and then to keep them looking and smelling wonderful ever after.  I won't let anything else near my husband's cashmere jumper (that's a sweater in North America).  Knitting Daily shared some tips on how to use Eucalan for your hand knits with this video:

 

2.  Use Eucalan to create felt from hand knits - Eucalan can also be used to help get a knit item to felt or full as long you combine it with hot water and lots of agitation.  In this case, I put the knit item with Eucalan in the washing machine and run a cycle with hot water (also throw in a pair of jeans to increase the agitation levels) and voila - felt.  The loom knitting book, Loom Knitting Primer, actually recommends Eucalan by name, in the felting chapter. 

Eucalan works well for bringing wool back to life after felting as well. As the lanolin enriched formula of Eucalan helps to naturally condition fibres, it can help to restore the natural hand and texture of felted knits.

3.  Treating Printer Ready Fabric - Whether you use printer ready sheets (such as Jacquard InkJet Cotton Fabric) or Bubble Jet Set 2000 to print photos or text onto fabric, you'll find that the sheets tend to come out a little crispy after printing.  I find that if I soak the printed sheets in Eucalan, the lanolin in the Eucalan softens the fabric and any excess ink leftover from printing also comes out, leaving me with a softer fabric that is much more pleasant to feel and work with. 

4. Use Eucalan to soak dyed fabrics -  I often use Jacquard's Dye-na-flow to dye ribbons, cheesecloth and fabrics, like I did for the cheesecloth headdress on my doll Treasures of the Deep, pictured below. 

Dye-na-flow is non-toxic and goes on like a paint so it is very easy to use in the small space that I have to live and craft in.  However, after I heat-set the newly dyed fabric in either the clothes dryer or with an iron, I find that the fabric tends to be a bit stiff, so I give it a soak in Eucalan with a dash of white vinegar.  The Eucalan restores the soft drape of the fabric while the vinegar helps to set the colour.  Two birds, one soak.

5.  Use Eucalan to save money - Instead of taking some of my fine washables to the dry cleaners, I simply soak them in Eucalan.  I recently washed a silk chiffon, lace and satin dress I wore to a wedding in Eucalan and it came out beautifully.  And you know what that means - more money for fabric. 

HOW TO ENTER TO WIN THE EUCALAN PRIZE PACK:

1. The giveaway is open to US, Canadian and British residents only.

2. Leave a comment telling me what your preferred Eucalan scent would be - Eucalyptus, lavender, grapefruit or unscented.

3. To get further entries in the giveaway "Like" Eucalan on Facebook, or Tweet or Blog about this giveaway.  For each additional entry, you must leave an extra comment for each telling me what you've done in order for it to count as an extra entry.

Entries will be accepted until midnight (GMT) Thursday July 28th. I will then choose the winner with Random.org and will notify the lucky winner via email. In order to secure your prize you must respond to my e-mail within 48 hours or I'll have to pick a new winner!  - please note that this giveaway is now closed!

Just so you know, I was not given any compensation or payment for this post, but I thought all my readers deserved to try one of my favourite products.

Good luck.  Gets sudsy and get inspired!

Comments

[Stephanie in MI]

I did a nice blog post, too.

http://peasinapod.typepad.com/peas-in-a-pod/2011/07/a-delicate-disposition-a-free-eucalan-bottle-doll-tutorial.html

Say hi to Jen for me! It was fun to see her again in these videos!

[Stephanie in MI]

I liked it on Facebook. Thanks for letting me know about that. I do want to keep up with them!

[Stephanie in MI]

I would love Lavender! I love Eucalan. My mom uses it all the time for everything! Thanks, Colleen!

[Lori Bradley]

I love the Lavender Eucalan. I'm glad to see someone else sees dolls (tassels, jewelry...) everywhere they look. Thanks for sharing.

[lorraine]

i liked eucalan on fb

[lorraine]

cool giveaway! i love Eucalyptus!

[Deb Samuels]

I'd love to try the grapefruit scent! Sounds especially good for using during this heatwave we're having :)

[jenclair]

I would like lavender. I've not heard of the product before, so thanks for the head ups.

[Sharon B]

I need to find this type of bottle here in the States - she is just too cute.

[Mary Ann]

I also post your giveaway on my blog....My Tate Gallery.

http://mytategallery.blogspot.com/

[Mary Ann]

I've never seen Eucalan before and it sounds like a very good product. I think I'd like the grapefruit:) The doll idea is terrific. Thank you.

[Juanita Lanaux]

I would love the grapefruit scent. :)

[Denise Giardullo]

I really enjoy your blog.
I would like to try the lavender Eucalan. This seems like a great, versatile product!

[Carla Finley]

I did like them on Facebook. I was number 505 :)

[Carla Finley]

I think the doll is so cute! Thank you. This stuff sounds wonderful. I think I would go with the unscented but I like them all.