This is an idea for a rag doll, using print fabric for the face and body. I found this photo on the internet years ago.
I am also inspired by the well-known dollmaker, Mimi Kirchner.
She uses upholstery fabric with toile prints for her cloth dolls, especially for the male dolls with tatoos.
Here are some other tattooed cloth dolls.
This is a doll-making challenge for me, and a project for the Doll Club. It’s based on this Burda pattern.
Finally finished the Lady Elf – here are some pics:
Here’s my Tomten, outfit finished.
He’s inspired by the Tomten poem.
Here’s Grace and Mary finishing their panda toys at a Doll Club meeting.
This is the Columbine doll I’m trying to make for our Spring Doll Club Challenge.
It’s from the book Commedia Dell’arte at the Court of Louis XIV
Here’s the doll body in progress. Columbine is about 19.5 inches tall.
And here’s the dress – made with three kinds of silk fabric, some lace and black embroidery to simulate lace trim. The lace apron is an important feature because the Columbine character is a lady’s maid.
Last details are her shoes, jewelry and hairdo.
I hope to have this finished next week in time for Molly’s third birthday.
Using Simplicity pattern 8908
Here’s the panda, finally finished!
And here’s Molly with her Panda toy.
Here’s the basic doll:
Upholstery fabric body, plastic eyes – and rooted mohair yarn hair.
Here’s her outfit in progress:
And a fur jacket for professional outings. OOps, still need shoes!
Now she’s saying goodby to buddy, Francine.
Towanda has adjusted to life in Modesto, CA. Here she is in conference with attorney Dennis Duncan.
Here’s a cutie! I’m working on my own version, from the photo. I found the doll pattern online.
Here are some of the dolls:
My doll will be not so well color and pattern-coordinated because she’s more out of control.
And here she is! I think she still needs a necklace….
Update: the two Einsteins have moved in with Simone in Los Angeles. Simone writes, “the boys sit together and do mathematical equations all day until bed time…”
This is my own version of the Einstein doll. I’ve used upholstery fabric for the body.
He has rooted mohair hairdo – some trousers -plus a shirt and a tweed sweater and shoes with no socks.
This doll’s body is from a vintage Holly Hobby pattern, Simplicity 6006.
My version will be a first attempt at a Pippi Longstocking doll.
I’ve used a rayon-like lining fabric for the body.
Her clothing: first a simple dress; then a smock in yellow or red fabric; mismatched stockings….
And as a birthday surprise for Mary!
Here’s my first attempt at a Boyfriend Doll, trying to copy Yermit’s wonderful series of animal/human cloth dolls.
The head starts with a stuffed animal I purchased at the thrift store. I removed the head at the neckline, took out the stuffing. Then I cut out a circle in the face, removing the nose and mouth.
Next, I cut a new face piece – a circle of felt – and sewed it on the fur head. This was the hard part. Then added a felt stuffed nose. The eyes were a special purchase of 9 mm sew-in doll eyes from Sassybears & Fabrics.
For the body, I used a piece of corduroy fabric and a modified rag doll pattern for a boy doll from Simplicity 7247.
The doll is 20 inches tall. We’ll call him “Shrink” since he reminds us of a psychiatrist.
Here he is with shirt, chino pants, vest and bolo tie. I’ll soon be working on a pair of shoes.
And the final accessories are shoes and a prescription pad.
Here’s the prescription pad up close:
This is the Butterick pattern # 3490 for a simple rag doll.
For the body, I had some rayon lining fabric which I sewed wrong-side out. I did the facial features in embroidery and made a yarn hairdo. The hairdo is a new technique for me, with woven strands of yarn. A tedious process but nice results!
The page above is from Sew It, Stuff It by Robert Merrett.
Here’s the doll with completed body.
Last, here she is in new dress, with fancy knickers and red felt boots.
Cat’s Pajamas
Cat's Pajamas 