How to Make a Doll Using Nylon

Let your imagination run wild when making dolls from nylon stockings.

Doll faces made from nylons are wonderfully unique. From a baby doll to an old granny, a little wizardry with a needle, thread and polyester fiberfill creates a one-of-a-kind personality that will thrill a child and even bring a smile to an adult's face. Add some clothes made from fabric scraps and embellishments made from buttons, bells, lace, rickrack or anything else you might have in your sewing box. This simple, easy-to-complete project is a wonderful activity to do with a child.

Things You'll Need

• Pair of nylon stockings or pantyhose
• Scissors
• Polyester fiberfill
• Popsicle stick
• White glue
• Lightweight string
• Needle
• Thread
• Makeup, optional
• Embroidery thread, optional
• Yarn
• Sticky tape
• Fabric scraps
• Buttons, yarn, beads, feathers, ribbon and other decorations

Instructions

1. Cut off one foot of the stockings about 6 inches from the toe. Stuff the foot with polyester fiberfill.

2. Make a hole with your finger or a pencil in the fiberfill at the open end of the head. Put a little glue on each side of a Popsicle stick and insert it into the hole.

3. Tie a string around the open end of the nylon (and the protruding Popsicle stick) about 1 inch above the open end.

4. Insert a threaded needle through the top of the head and out through the center of the face. Make a few tiny stitches in a circle to define the nose while using the needle to pull up a little of the filling into the circle. Push the needle back up through the center of the head and pull the thread tight till the nose forms. Knot the thread and cut.

5. Use the same procedure to make two eyes, making the circles about the size of quarters.

6. Make the mouth by inserting the threaded needle through the center of the top of the head and bringing it out at one end of the mouth (which can be a smile or a frown). Run a basting stitch to define the mouth and bring the needle back out the top of the head.

7. Add some color to the face using makeup if you wish. You can add color to the eyes by stitching around them with embroidery thread. Eyelashes can be added the same way. Or add a mustache for a grandpa doll if you want.

8. Cut 30 strands of yarn about 20 inches long. Place the strands together lengthwise side by side. Place a piece of tape in the middle and sew through the tape and yarn to create the center part.

9. Glue or sew the hair to the doll's head. Braid the hair or put it into a ponytail if you wish. Alternatively, cut it short to make a boy doll.

10. Cut off the other foot of the nylon stocking about 6 inches from the toe. Stuff the foot with polyester filling, then sew two rows of stitches about 1/2-inch apart straight up the center of the foot. Cut between the rows of stitches, then tie off the end of each of the two parts with thread. These are the doll's arms.

11. Cut the nylon about 14 inches above the cut you made for the arms. Cut from the bottom of this piece up the center about 7 inches. Sew along the cut edges, then stuff the entire piece with polyester filling. This piece forms the legs and torso of the doll.

12. Make a hole about 3 inches deep in the stuffing at the top of the torso. Dab the bottom of the Popsicle stick protruding from the head with glue. Insert the bottom of it into the hole in the torso. Tie the top of the torso around the Popsicle stick with string, enclosing the stocking end at the bottom of the head.

13. Sew the arms onto the torso.

14. Use the scraps of fabric and decorations to make clothes for the doll in whatever style you wish. Glue or sew the clothes to the doll.

References

• Mother Earth News: Make Pantyhose People!