Craft Instructions for a Colonial Rag Doll

Because only rich families could afford to buy their daughters dolls, many colonial girls made their own dolls out of leftover fabric scraps and rug strips. These dolls followed the same pattern as cornhusk dolls. These dolls are easy to make and do not require any sewing. Make these dolls out of any number of strips, starting at four. You can get creative with these dolls and add extra details such as hair, eyes, aprons and bonnets.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• 50 strips of fabric
• square piece of fabric

Instructions

1. Cut 50 strips of fabric twice as long as you want the doll to be.

2. Tie one fabric strip in a knot around the middle of 30 fabric strips. Cut the remaining fabric from the strip used as the knot.

3. Fold the strips in half. Tie one fabric strip in a knot around the other fabric strips an inch from the top. The round ball that the knot will create naturally is the head.

4. Take 15 of the strips you cut, and cut them in half. Keep one half, and toss the others, or put them aside for another doll. Tie one knot on each end of these strips using single strips of fabric. Cut off the remaining fabric from the strip used for the knot.

5. Take the 30 fabric strips, and separate the strips below the head in half. Place the fifteen shorter strips in between the separated strips to form a cross. Take one fabric strip and tie a knot directly below the cross formation to create the arms and waist.

6. Tie the square piece of fabric around the waist of the doll to create an apron.

7. To create a boy rag doll complete Steps 1 through 5. Then, separate the strips below the waist in half. Take two fabric strips and tie a knot at the bottom of each half. This creates legs.

References

• Rugmaker's Homestead: Make a Nettie Doll from Rug Strip and a Tribute to an Old Time Rug Maker: Diana Blake Gray
• Free Kids Crafts: Rag Doll Craft