How to Make Newborn Dolls

A baby doll is a craft that can translate into a unique gift or treasured keepsake.

A homemade newborn doll is a gift and craft that will be valued and treasured for many years. Crafting the doll to resemble an actual newborn baby adds another dimension to the gift and makes the gift a timeless keepsake. Use the baby himself as inspiration when it comes to the face and hair, if applicable. Craft the clothes after his newborn outfit or the clothes he was taken home from the hospital in. For example, if he was brought home in a blue outfit, then make the doll's outfit blue as well.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric
• Scissors
• Batting
• Needle
• Thread
• Sewing Machine
• Yarn
• Marker
• Pencil

Instructions

1. Draw the outline of the doll on the back of a piece of fabric and cut out the shape. Trace the shape onto another piece of fabric and cut that out as well. This will create the front and back of the doll.

2. Pin the seams of the fabric together to form the body. Roll the batting, a form of stuffing that resembles pulled cotton, together into a mound about the width and height of the intended doll size. Stuff the battling into the doll body.

3. Roll another portion of batting into a ball and wrap a flesh colored fabric over it. A newborn sometimes has a pinkish tint to their skin, so you may want to use a fabric with light rose-colored hues. Tie a section off in the shape of a ball with the excess hanging loose, which will form the head and neck.

4. Attach the head to the body by tucking the hanging fabric and batting of the neck into the top of the body fabric. If necessary, stuff more batting into the body until it is plump. Remove the pins and sew the sides of the body fabric together.

5. Draw a face on the doll using a permanent marker. Glue yarn to the head for hair, if the newborn has a few tufts of hair. If not, a bald doll will be suitable.

References

• Martha Stewart: Handmade Dolls
• Martha Stewart: Making Dolls with Laura