Create a Greek Doll

Step-by-step, create a Greek doll from an ordinary doll. Because the size of dolls vary widely, from dolls smaller than Barbie to dolls larger than baby dolls, the exact amounts of ribbon and fabric will vary.

Things You'll Need

• Very thin ribbon for weaving through doll's hair--It should be long enough to wrap around the doll's head approximately three times.
• Two rectangles of fabric (a little wider than your doll's shoulders by the length of the doll from shoulder to knee)
• Two rectangles of fabric (a little wider than your doll's shoulders by the length of the doll from shoulder to ankle)
• 3 thin strips of craft leather (or cord), or substitute brown ribbons, to form the girdle/belt and sandals
• Optionally:
• Longer rectangle of fabric
• Doll jewelry

Instructions

1. Begin by cutting out your rectangles to fit your doll. As the ancient Greeks wore their garments hanging loosely, an exact fit is not required. Cut the undergarment rectangles (the peplos) so they will hang from the shoulder to the doll's feet. For width, consider a measurement wider than the doll's shoulders approximately the distance from one outstretched elbow to the other. Grecian garments were sleeveless, so the extra length will simply dangle and be decorative. For the outer garment (the chiton), the length should hang to the doll's knees. The width can be the same as the undergarment or slightly narrower.

2. For the full-length peplos and the shorter, over-garment chiton, use whatever colors you like. Each of these garments for your doll can be made from a pair of rectangles orientated to hang in the long direction. Simply sew (or tack) the rectangles together at two points on the top, each tack a little in from the edge.

3. Since this is a doll, you can leave the sides of the peplos and chiton open as they'll be gathered to close together when belting the garment. But for accuracy you can choose to sew the sides, making the garment like tunics. Sew the sides together from the bottom corners up, but not all the way to the top. Leave an opening for the arms to come out--the size of the opening dependent on the size of your dolls arms. In general, leave a generous opening for a nicer drape of the fabric.

4. Pull the peplos over your doll, sticking the head between the tacked opening and the arms out the open sides. Then place the chiton on top. If the neckline (the distance between the points you tacked) is not wide enough for the doll's head (perhaps because your doll's head is disproportionately large) you can either use much larger rectangles (in which case you'll have more drape in the neckline) or you can undo one of the neckline tacks and re-tack the garment together around the doll, effectively sewing the doll into her clothing.

5. With the peplos and chiton hanging over your doll, arrange and gather the sides together, allowing for a gentle swell at the neckline and waist. Use the leather cord (or strips) to tie a belt. The belt can be a simple around the waist once and tied off, or can be a more elaborate series of wrapping and ties. I suggest, start with the cord around the front and tie in the back. Then wrap both ends loosely around the front and tie again, allowing the ends to dangle. Trim the dangling length to taste.

6. Using more of the leather cord/straps, wrap the doll's feet to simulate sandals. Begin under the ball of the foot, wrapping and tying the strap. Then crisscross it around the feet, ending by tying it off at the ankle. Depending on the size of the doll's foot, this may be challenging. And depending on the doll's value, you might consider anchoring the strap with a touch of craft glue or by sticking a straight pin into the doll's foot.

7. The finishing touches for giving your doll that Grecian look can be found on top of the doll--at her head. Greek women wore their hair curled and piled high or with braids. Again, depending on your doll's hair, it may not be possible to restyle it. Either way, you can achieve that Greek look by weaving the thin ribbon through the doll's hair, much the same way you "laced" sandals on the doll's feet. Again, using straight pins to anchor the pin against the doll's head may help. Tie the ribbon around the doll's head, like a hair band, then weave the ends in a crisscrossing fashion through the doll's piled up curls. End by tying the ends off and snip off any dangling portion.

8. Optionally, if you like, add necklaces, hairpins, brooches or rings to your doll to give her a patrician air. Women in ancient Greece often carried fans, so you could give your doll a small, paper folded fan. And when traveling outdoors, Grecian women usually covered up with a himaton, another oblong (rectangular) piece of fabric wrapped around the body like a one-armed cape. One end would also be wrapped atop the head like a veil.

Tips & Warnings

• If the fabric you have chosen for the doll's peplos and chiton does not fray, you can choose the leave the edges raw. If, the fabric does fray, you may wish to either serge the edges or turn them under an sew a tight, small hem. A rolled hem would be nicest, if your machine is capable. For historical accuracy, you would make the garments out of wool. Although we imagine the ancient Greeks in white robes, because of so many white, marble statues, the ancient Greeks usually wore colorful garments. (The paint originally on the statues has simply worn away over time.)