Hello! I'm Star. This tutorial is to follow one of my cat (or other animal) doll patterns. In this example I'm using my tuxedo cat pattern, but swapping the black and white so it's easier to see on camera. To keep this tutorial simple, I will assume you know how to make a multi stitch cuff AND how to follow a kandi pattern. If you don't know, Kandi Pad has official tutorials detailing how. I recommend you make a multi stitch cuff BEFORE trying to make one of these dolls.
Step 1
The materials you will need: - Lots of string! About 2 wingspans worth (I recommend cloth stretch string, though I've never used clear plastic string for one of these) - About 150 pony beads in whatever colors you want (I used 133 white beads, 29 black beads, and 1 pink bead for this cat) - Scissors - Kandi needle (optional but HIGHLY recommended)
Step 2
(optional step, but a helpful one) Take an image of the pattern you'd like to use and, using the ruler tool, draw a straight line across the face, right between the eye beads and nose bead. This will be the reference point from which we will start to make the head.
Step 3
For the next step, focus on these particular beads as marked here.
Step 4
Cut a string the size of your wingspan, maybe a few inches bigger (better safe than sorry!) and put the sixteen (16) marked beads in the middle of the string. Make sure there's sixteen (16) beads! Tie off the beads, and do NOT make it tight! Tie it as if you're tying a single. DO NOT CUT EITHER STRING!!!
Step 5
Now add the row with the eyes. If the beads don't want to sit still, don't worry, adding the next row will fix that. Make sure your tension is fairly tight.
Step 6
Continue following your pattern or adding beads until you get to this point, at which you will be met with a choice... Which direction would you like the ears to be facing?
Step 7
Skip every other space when putting in the last top row. If you want the ears to be facing out to the side for a more cat-like appearance, make the spikes like this.
Step 8
If you want the ears to be facing forward, make the spikes like this. Either way, the next steps will be the same. (The ears will be added near the end.)
Step 9
Move your string so it's coming out of a tip-of-the-spike bead, add one bead, then go through the next tip-of-the-spike bead. Keep going until the top of the head is closed, and the beads look like a diamond or square.
Step 10
Tie it off tightly and securely, and DO NOT cut the string!!! We will use this string to make the ears later!
Step 11
Take the other end of your string, and start following the pattern for the bottom half of the head, including the spike placement.
Step 12
Unlike before, we will NOT be closing the spikes at the bottom. Leave them open and guide your string until it comes out of a bead at the top of a spike and DO NOT cut it!
Step 13
Now it's time to make the body. Cut a string about the length of your arm & chest. Following the top row of the body on your pattern, add eight (8) beads to one side of your string and tie it off. Again, DON'T MAKE IT TIGHT! You can cut off the shorter tail of string, but don't cut the long one!
Step 14
Follow your pattern to make the torso.
Step 15
When you get to the bottom, loop your string through the bottom 4 beads and pull. Unlike the top of the head, no extra beads are needed between the spaces.
Step 16
Tie it off tightly!
Step 17
To hide the string, pull the string through a few of the body beads (two (2) or three (3) should be good) and then cut it off.
Step 18
Now it's time to attach the head to the body! Using the string coming out of the bottom of the head, loop it through one sticking-out body bead, then the tip of the next spike on the head, then the next sticking-out body bead, until the whole neck is looped through.
Step 19
Pull the string tight and tie it tightly. We're done with the head and torso!
Step 20
If you want front-facing ears, skip to step 23. If you want side-facing ears, focus on these beads. Using the string coming out of the top of the head, weave the string so it's coming out through one of the beads. Make sure the string is coming out between the two (2) beads on the same side. Add three (3) beads, then put it through the next circled bead.
Step 21
Weave your string through the beads on the top of the head until you reach the other side, then add the second ear by repeating the previous step.
Step 22
The ears should now look like this. If you want to skip the front-facing ears and continue to the limbs, go to step 25.
Step 23
For front-facing ears, we will be focusing on these beads. Using the string coming out of the top of the head, weave it until it's coming out of one of the outer beads, and pointing inwards towards the other beads. Add 3 beads, then weave it through the closest circled bead.
Step 24
Pull your string through existing beads until it's coming out of the next circled bead, then add 3 beads and weave it through the next circled bead. Tie off the string somewhat tightly. Your ears should look like this! (The head in this pic is only partially done because it's an example for exclusively the ears)
Step 25
Cut a piece of string about seven (7) to eight (8) inches in length. Weave it through one bead on the torso where the arm would go (your pattern may have a mark telling you where to place it) and make sure both sides of the string are even. Put four (4) beads on both strings like so.
Step 26
Put three (3) beads on ONE side of the string, as shown in the picture, then tie the strings together. The result should look like the arm of a ladder stitch lizard. DON'T CUT THE STRINGS YET!
Step 27
Feed the long tail ends of the strings into the arm beads to hide them, THEN cut the string. This way, it will be hidden. Repeat steps 25-27 for each arm and leg.
Step 28
For the tail, instead of three (3) beads, use one (1) at the end.
Step 29
YOU DID IT!!! You're finished with your little creature!
I hope this tutorial was helpful in detailing exactly how to make one of my animal/character dolls. Heck, if you wanna make a pattern of your own like this then go for it! It doesn't have to be an animal, either. I'd love to see what you make! :) Thank you so much for reading, and have fun making your creature army!! ^w^