How to Make a Colonial Doll

Colonial dolls were simple cloth dolls, most often made from scraps used to make the family's clothing. This is a fun project for adults or children, and a great addition to learning about colonial times. Most toys in colonial America were made by hand from items available around the house. You can make your own colonial doll with minimal materials and sewing skill, and sew it by hand or machine as you prefer.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cotton muslin
• Black tea for dyeing
• Sewing thread
• Embroidery floss
• Fabric scraps for clothing
• Newspaper or tissue to make a pattern
• Sewing machine if desired
• Stuffing
• Yarn or dark cloth for hair
• Snaps or hook and loop for dress

How to Make a Colonial Doll

1. Draw a simple doll outline on newspaper or tissue. The outline should include a head, two arms and two legs, something like a simple paper doll a child might cut out or a gingerbread man. Most colonial dolls were fairly long and slender, so keep this in mind when drawing your colonial doll pattern. You can cut the long full skirt onto the dolls body if you prefer, or do separate legs and make a dress for your doll. Be sure to allow for seams when you cut out your doll pattern. A 1/4-inch seam is fairly typical for doll making. You might also find that a simple printable doll pattern can be easily modified to make a doll of this period.

2. Take your clean, prewashed muslin and put it in a bowl of strong black tea. This will age and antique your fabric but can be skipped if desired. Once your fabric is dry and ready to use, press it and fold in half. Put your pattern on the muslin and cut two, a front and a back. You can use your body outline to cut a dress bodice from fabric scraps at this point as well, cutting two to allow for lining. A skirt may be cut from a simple rectangular fabric scrap while you are cutting out your colonial doll pattern.

3. Put your doll front and back right sides together and stitch around the edges by hand or machine. Leave a two-inch opening between the legs for stuffing. Stuff your doll with polyester fiberfill stuffing. Traditionally, wool, cotton or fabric scraps were used for stuffing, but modern choices are more easily laundered. If you prefer a more traditional choice, that will work well. Keep color in mind when stuffing as dark colored stuffing may show through light fabric on a colonial doll.

4. Stitch the opening with needle and thread. Cut yarn to desired length and put strands of it on the doll's head. Stitch down the center by hand. Use embroidery floss to embroider a simple mouth and eyes on your colonial doll. The hair may be braided or simply styled, or you can sew a basic bonnet for your colonial doll. You could also paint a face on your doll if you prefer.

5. If you cut out a dress for your colonial doll while cutting the doll, sew together both the outer and the lining of the bodice. Stitch together the right sides to finish the neckline and add sleeves if desired. Run two rows of gathering stitches along the rectangular skirt pieces and stitch to the bodice. Hem the sleeves and skirt. Attach snaps or hook and loop to finish your dress. Colonial dolls can be very simply dressed in plain dark colors or wear elaborate Revolutionary War styles.

Tips & Warnings

• Any color of cotton cloth can be used to represent the skin tone of your choosing.