Which came first, dolls, or crafting?

There seen to be a great many folks simultaneously involved in dolls and crafts and the arts. I did not take count, but those first practicing their crafting skills before getting into dolls or bjd, are of a greater number than the other way around. Of those who got their dollies first and then began to get into the crafts, it seem most do it out of necessity. They wanted clothes, but could not afford any, or the ones they could afford were not of the quality they wanted. There were quite a few who also sewed clothing for themselves, sometimes for the reasons above, or specialty items for specific events. Some liked being able to dress their dolls in fanciful, but impractical outfits, because those clothes do not work for their own wardrobes in this century. "Lucky dolly", by one lady.

I definitely see that bjd are another link to other useful hobbies/crafts. One lady said her forte was making useful items out of scraps. I have seen beautiful quilts made just this way. One person did not yet have a sewing machine, was a bit concerned about learning to use one, but she is game to get into it anyway. The number who mentioned how their prior experiences were helpful in enjoying the hobby was interesting. Quite a few mentioned making doll houses.

I was into the arts and crafts long before my first and recently aquired bjd. The women in my family were skilled seamstresses, my grandmother mad her daughters' prom and wedding dresses, I wore my mother's. My mother continued, making all manner of clothing, curtains, upholstery, etc., as well as knitting and crocheting many things. My sister is a retired home economics teacher, with some six or so sewing machines, including embroidery and a long-arm quilter. I learned the bare basics of these crafts at home, but did not get into sewing until I graduated and could not buy the clothing that I wanted. Oh, so many mistakes!

I am retired from teaching art, high school, middle school, and so continue with ceramics, watercolors, metal smithing, and picking up silk painting, beading, and so on, more recently. All these things mesh very easily with bjd. It seems the bjd community is very well versed the arts of making.

In any case, unlike the way it once was, where the only way to learn something new, was to know someone who could show you, struggle through with printed instructions or sign up for a class, today people can go on-line for tutorials. Free!

 

My dolls came first and then my sewing and face-up skills came next XD I already loved dolls

 

It's been a little of both for me. I've been sewing since I was five and painting dolls since I was about 11 or 12, so I already had some experience when I got into BJDs, though I had to learn new techniques for them.

I have learned to make a lot of props, since previous dolls were pretty easy to just buy props (Barbie, American Girl, dollhouse, etc). Wig making is new to me. Body blushing is new.

So it's probably 50/50 for me.

 

Definitely crafting for me. The only dolls I cared about as a wee one were a set of Russian nesting dolls that I cherished.

I've been crafts-obsessed my whole life, which turned into sewing for OT dolls, which gradually led me to my first BJD!

 

I have been knitting and sewing for years. I started with Adults then moved to AG now I have Layla I only want to knit and sew for her.

 

I have always been way into crafts (thanks to my mother) and when we saw these dolls, her and I knew we had to have one and make some clothes for them. It's been super fun to learn more about pattern making so far. We sewed, but we have only gone off of patterns and modified existing patterns. It's awesome starting something from scratch. It's such a great sense of accomplishment.

 

Before, I was making lot of jewelry for myself. Now I make them for my dolls.

 

I am actually waiting for my doll right now ^ - ^
I'm planning on sweing clothes for him after he arrives, since it would make measuring and figuring things out easier!

 

i could do all the needlework stuff ie knitting crocheting sewing, long before i even knew bjds existed. i actually got my first one to use as a drawing model, and then became enamoured with them once i realized how many of the things i love to do, could be done for my dolls. on the other hand i learned face painting because i could afford more dolls if i bought mine blank, i've learned (and am constantly learning) photography to be able to take pictures of them, and i'm attempting to learn woodworking to make larger props/room boxes

 

I've been sewing and crafting for much longer than I've had bjds. However, much of the practice for different crafting techniques did happen with dolls (sculpting, hair styling, building sets, sewing--although that was more like 50/50 dolls/me--I make a very good dress model: I don't complain...unlike some people [cough...sister...cough]).

I knew about bjds before I got really into dolls, but I was still living with my parents then, and I thought they were too expensive. A love of bjds (I stalked them for years on Flickr) got me into action figures, because they are almost as customizable (except for the eyes--not removable) and then into obitsu and volks (especially the neo series). However, these dolls are so small, and I am pretty bad at working (especially 2D art--repainting) at that scale. That got me into pullips, and I practiced my sewing skills, modding skills, hair styling, etc.

Finally I ended up just biting the bullet and buying a bjd (this time in MSD size--a "starter" doll, although some members hate them--for practicing modding and dyeing--this doll is Pip, my only complete doll, and my companion away from home during college). I eventually moved on to 1/3 scale because I wanted to be able to sew more detailed clothing--I like this scale for sewing and crafting/modding, but they are very large, and kinda hard to carry...

 

I've always loved makeup and fashion. I grew up sewing, drawing and doing my friends hair and makeup. I currently work in the fashion industry but I have other ideas for clothing and accessories that are not practical for everyday. I use to make costumes for myself and do photo shoots but the human-sized costumes take so many hours, effort and $$$ to make. So, when I came across BJD's I decided it was easier and less expensive to make costumes for them.

 

For me the dolls came first! I never really found my niche in the hobby until recently and I've been in the hobby for 7 years. But I like to make wigs, specifically alpaca wigs. I'm still learning a lot every time I make one. I was never very good with sewing and I don't like doing faceups too much.. mostly because I don't have the patience for either! Maybe one day, doing faceups will be more enjoyable for me!

 

Crafting was before collecting BJDs. I've been crafting and drawing since I was little and I started to sew when I was 15. When I got into the hobby in my mid/early 20's and I already knew how craft/sew for my dollies and did just that. Of course I had to learn (and still learning) how to mod and I want to learn how to make a wig for my dollies.

 

Once I got my first doll that's when I started to learn to craft things for them
Before that I knew how to crochet and sew
But I didn't have anyone or anything to make stuff for
My first doll was motivation for me haha

 

Getting my first doll actually inspired me to start making stuff for him, so I suppose dolls came before crafting. I've honestly learned so much from this hobby that it's crazy.

 

For me art came first. Art in every form imaginable. I've always drawn and painted, written stories, sewn, knitted and sculpted. Breathing life in stories, characters and beings, always looking for a way to make my creations more real, more here. I will never be a realistic painter, I don't have the patience.

So how then to bring my creations into this world? For a long time I thought sculptures were the way, but they are immobile, silent and frankly a bit boring. So when I found out about bjd's l was home, this was the medium I've been looking for and I will make myself into a modern Frankenstein, breathing life in my own creations.. *cackels madly*

Ehem, it's late in Sweden and I was feeling poetic okay?

 

Arts and crafts first and I already worked in miniature, so getting into BJD made sense

 

Crafting. I learned to sew and crochet many years ago from my grandmother. Crafting came from my mother. My parents also built a dollhouse for me from a kit when I was 5. I still have that dollhouse, and 2 others besides. I still love miniatures. I wish I could find a 1/12 size mature featured/bodied BJD!

 

Art and crafting came first. I liked BJDs but it wasn't until I found out that you could do face-ups and customize them so much that I got interested in owning one.

 

Definitely crafting. I sculpted and painted long before I knew about bjds. Bjds are the reason I picked up sewing (despite sucking at it) and got into resin casting.