How to Make Rag Doll Primitives

Rag doll primitives were the special confidants that traveled west with children in the back of a pioneer wagon. Back then, nobody had a word for recycling, but that was the expected practice of our ancestors. From bits and scraps, mothers created primitive rag dolls and stuffed them with whatever was available, such as grass, straw or wood chips. Rag doll primitives are easy to construct, because there is really no right or wrong way. If the body and clothes turn out less than perfect, then your primitive rag doll is perfect.

Things You'll Need

• 1/4 yard muslin
• 4 tea bags
• 2 cups hot water
• Bowl
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Coffee cup
• Newspaper
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine
• Stuffing
• Needle and thread
• Black or brown embroidery floss
• Embroidery needle
• Hot glue gun

Instructions

1. Place four tea bags in two cups of hot water in a bowl and allow them to steep. Remove the tea bags and immerse the muslin in the tea dye. Allow the muslin to set in the tea until it has cooled. Remove the muslin and wring it out. Place the muslin on a clothes line to dry. Do not be concerned about the wrinkles. When making rag doll primitives, wrinkles are a good thing.

2. Draw a four-inch-wide by six-inch-long vertical rectangle on a sheet of newspaper for the body of your primitive doll. Place a standard coffee mug, upside down, above the top four-inch line of the rectangle and draw around it for the head. There should be no gap between the circle and the rectangle. Blend the inside corners at the head and body to create the neck. Cut out the head and body pattern.

3. Fold the muslin into two layers. Position the head and body pattern of your primitive doll on the muslin, allowing at least a 1/4 inch of space from the fabric edge. Trace the pattern onto the muslin. Pin the inside of the drawn shape.

4. Sew the layers together using the lines as your sewing guide. Do not sew the bottom of the body. Cut the sewn head and body out using a 1/4 inch space allowance from the stitches. Clip at the corners of the body and snip slits on the head and neck curves. Turn the head and body right side out. Fill the primitive rag doll head/body with stuffing and sew the opening closed.

5. Trace a 1 1/2-inch-wide by six-inch-long strip for the arms and a 1 1/2-inch-wide by 10-inch-long strip for the legs on a sheet of newspaper. Cut the patterns out.

6. Fold the muslin into two layers. Position the arm patterns on the muslin and draw around it. Move the pattern on the muslin, allowing a 1/2-inch space between the arms. Draw around the pattern again. Pin the centers of the arm pieces together and sew on the drawn lines, leaving one short end open. Cut the arms out leaving a 1/4 inch space from the stitches. Repeat these steps for the legs.

7. Turn the arms and legs right side out and fill with stuffing to within one inch of the top of each. Hand stitch the openings closed. Hand stitch the top of each leg to the bottom seam of the body and each arm to a corner shoulder.

8. Lay the rag doll on a sheet of newspaper. Draw around the primitive rag doll body to create the shape of a simple dress. Draw the shape at least half an inch away from the arms and body. Cut the dress pattern out. Double a small amount of homespun fabric with the right sides together.

9. Lay the pattern on the fabric, draw around it and pin. Sew the dress on the drawn line, leaving a sufficient opening at the neck for the head. Do not sew the ends of the sleeves and the bottom of the dress. Cut the dress out with a 1/4 inch space from the seams. Fold the neckline, cuffs and the bottom of the dress to the wrong side a 1/4 inch and sew. Turn the dress right side and place it on the doll.

10. Stitch a primitive face using six strands of embroidery floss. Stitch an "X" for each eye and nose. Place five "X"s together for the mouth. Tear 1/2-inch-wide by three-inch-long strips of brown cotton fabric. Tie the centers of each strip into a knot. Hot glue the knots to the back, sides and top of the primitive rag doll's head.

Tips & Warnings

• These are the basics to making rag doll primitives. You can alter the size and shape, even creating whimsical out of proportion patterns for primitive rag dolls.