How to Make Primitive Dolls
Primitive dolls are the earliest form of doll in American history. Settlers had little income and none to spend on toys, so primitive dolls were fashioned from leftover scraps of fabric and hand sewn. Today, this same style of doll is extremely popular and easy to make. Using a sewing machine has made the task simple. Gather the scraps of cloth you may have and make your own doll using the steps below.
Things You'll Need
- 8 1/2-by-11 inch paper
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Sewing needle
- Thread
- Sewing machine
- Common pins
- Large knitting needle of wooden dowel
- Fiberfill stuffing
- Cotton cloth
- Fabric markers (optional)
Instructions
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1
Fold the paper in half lengthwise. Draw half the body beginning at the fold of the paper. The doll can be tall or short, but the arms and legs should be wide enough for stuffing. You will lose about 1/4 inch after the fabric is sewn.
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2
Cut the paper pattern out and lay it on a piece of fabric, folded in half. Pin the pattern to the fabric and cut out the doll. You will have two doll pieces, a front and a back.
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3
Sew the two pieces together, leaving a 1/4-inch seam allowance on the sewing machine. There should be an opening left at the side of the body for stuffing. Turn the fabric right side out, and push the arms and legs to their fullest using the knitting needle or dowel.
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4
Smooth the fabric and begin the stuffing process using the fiberfill and the knitting needle or dowel to push the filling to the ends of the extremities first. When the entire body is filled, stitch the side opening closed with the needle, thread and a blind stitch.
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Adding features to the doll is optional. Use colored thread to sew them in place or use markers to draw them on.
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Tips & Warnings
The fabric may be dyed with tea to make it appear old. Make a bowl of strong tea and dip the fabric into it. Let it sit a few minutes and then wring it out, letting it dry naturally.
Prewash all fabrics before sewing to avoid shrinkage.
