How to Make Spun Cotton Dolls

A spun cotton doll is a doll formed from spun cotton roving fabric. This fabric is soft and string-like. The roving is often used to weave into other fabric types, but you can use it directly to form spun cotton dolls. Use a wire armature for the doll’s body to create a pose-able doll ideal for a child’s plaything, decoration or Christmas ornament. A spun cotton doll gives an old-fashioned appearance to any decorative theme and can be modified to suit a variety of themes and occasions.

Things You'll Need

• Wood bead
• Craft wire
• Masking tape
• Cotton roving
• Craft glue
• Scissors
• Fabric paint
• Paintbrushes
• Scrap fabric

Instructions

1. Cut a piece of wire about 24 inches long. Thread the bead onto the wire; the bead will act as the head, so choose something appropriately sized and textured. Fold the wire under the bead and twist the two ends of the wires together three times. Use the rest of the wire to form a body. Gently pull apart the wires to make two legs. Cut a 10 inch piece of wire. Twist this wire below the doll’s neck to make arms. Position the arms and legs into the desired positions.

2. Coat the wire with a ¼ inch thick layer of masking tape. This will give cushioning to the doll and prevent the wire from sticking out through the cloth.

3. Cut the cotton roving into ½ inch thick strips. Brush craft glue onto the doll’s body. Wrap the cotton roving strips around the body and head of the doll. Layer the cloth on until the arms and body of the doll are as thick as you want. Add more glue to the fabric where it does not sit tightly against the body of the doll. Allow the glue to dry overnight.

4. Paint on facial features, shoes and hair onto the doll. Also consider using yarn or other natural materials to glue on for hair. Allow the paint to dry two hours.

5. Cut the scrap fabric pieces into clothing shapes. Glue the clothing onto the doll. Allow the glue to dry overnight before storing or touching the dolls.

References

• Spun Cotton Ornaments; Izannah Walker Doll-Inspired Spun Cotton Ornament; Paula Walton; 2009
• “Introduction to Making Cloth Dolls;” Jan Horrox; 2011