I have a stack of plastic canvas needlepoint patterns that I got thrifting. Much more prevalent on the craft scene in previous decades, these crafts take miniatures, pixel art design, and needlepoint and smash them together into a three-dimensional craft that ranges from home accessories to doll furniture. The needlepoint yarn often screams memories of the 80s and 90s, and although prevalence is down, some similar skills are cropping up in modern designs.
A lot of plastic canvas needlepoint patterns are made for Barbies or other fashion dolls that are about 11″ tall. This means my 10–11″ tall Tatter raccoon would be able to use this scale of furniture with only minor adjustments.
| Figure | Figure Height | Imitating Height | Representing | Approx. Scale |
| American Doll | 18″ | 4’6″ (54″) | 10YO Girl* | 1:3 |
| Alexander Girlz Doll | 14″ | 4’6″ (54″) | 10YO Girl* | 1:3.8 |
| Monster High | 12″ | 5’4″ (64″) | Adult Woman* | 1:5.3 |
| Classic Barbie | 11.5″ | 5’9″ (69″) | Lower End Supermodel Height Range | 1:6 |
| Vintage GI Joe | 12” | 6’ (72”) | A tall man | 1:6 |
| Bratz Doll | 10″ | 5’4″ (64″) | Adult Woman* | 1:6.4 |
| Standard Dollhouse | 8”-12” | 8’-12’ | A floor of a building | 1:12 |
| Green Army Men | 2” | 5’9” (69”) | Adult Man* | 1:34.5 |
| G Scale(Train) | 3” | 5’6” | Adult | 1:22.5 |
| O Scale (Train Model) | 1.4” | 5’6” | Adult | 1:48 |
| Warhammer (Heroic Scale – older models) | 28mm ** | 5’5” ** | Adult Man* | 1:54 |
| Warhammer (Heroic Scale – newer models) | 32mm ** | 5’6” ** | Adult Man | 1:54 |
| HO Scale (Train) | .75” | 5’6” | Adult | 1:87 |
| N Scale(Train) | .4” | 5’6” | Adult | 1:160 |
** To Eye Height
I pulled the 3083 Plastic Canvas Fashion Doll Country Kitchen, published by American School of Needlework (out of print), for my first project I didn’t design fully.
For this project, I had to adjust the pattern by removing the bottom ladder slat on the ladder-back chair to accommodate Tatter’s tail. I also chose to remove the top ladder slat and shorten the height of the chair, because I typically want my chairs to be shorter than my head.
For the design, I wanted to wander away from a traditional country cottage style. I pulled the cottage from Scandinavian Floral Folk Art (then approximated as much as my scrap yarn stash could). I wanted more pattern, even on the small canvas, so I added some more leaves and an alternating dot pattern along the back post.
The plastic canvas I chose was somewhat flimsy—it would have been better on a firmer plastic canvas due to it needing to provide structural support to a sitting doll. However, I believe I can add metal wire into the back posts and keep the back of it from swaying backward. This more flexible canvas would be better for things that require some bend to them.
After completing the chair, I found 36 count evenweave cloth and made an approximation of what a 1:6 scale would be for her (so a 1:36 for me!). When stabilizing this, I found I needed to cut the fabric out from the actual measurement and add fray check to reduce (but not totally prevent) fraying. In the future, if attempting this again, I may use an awl to poke holes in a piece of transparency or other solid material instead of fighting the fray.
Following curiosities:
- How much of an antique pattern must be changed to publish it?
- Add metal wire to Tatter’s chair
- Transparency sheet to make tiny plastic canvas?
- More needlepoint furniture for Tatter
Leave a Reply