How to Make a Greek Doll

Greek costumes can make a regular doll into a Greek doll.

Greek dolls can serve many purposes, including providing an important visual reminder of your child's Greek heritage. Even if you are not Greek, having a Greek doll can serve as an important lesson in the cultures of the world. However, Greek dolls can take on a variety of forms, and can be difficult to find in mainstream toy stores. By considering several factors and adding special details, you can make the perfect Greek doll for your child.

Things You'll Need

• Doll
• Fabric
• Sewing machine

Instructions

1. Buy or make a basic doll. Decide which kind of doll you want: plastic or cloth. You can find both kinds at a toy store; even dolls like Barbie can provide the perfect base for a Greek doll. If you wish to make one on your own, you can make a cloth or rag doll by creating a ball for a head, a rectangle for a torso, and longer, narrower rectangles for arms and legs, from cloth and stuffing on your sewing machine.

2. Choose a Greek period. The period you want your Greek doll to represent will determine its final appearance. By giving your child a doll representing ancient Greece, you can show her the styles associated with this important historical period. On the other hand, if you wish to broaden you child's cultural understanding, you might wish to give your child a doll dressed in traditional modern Greek costumes.

3. Construct a Greek dress in accordance with the period of Greek history you have chosen. For example, if you want to dress your doll in an ancient Greek costume, you might make a chiton, or a tunic, for the doll. This is simply a piece of fabric draped around the doll and tied into place with a girdle at the waistline. You have many options for this fabric, from wool to linen or silk.

4. Add Greek accessories. Fresh flowers and ribbons have been a traditional part of Greek costumes since ancient times. Sandals, particularly gold sandals, are also strongly associated with traditional Greek costumes.

5. Give your doll a Greek hairstyle. Modern Greek women style their hair in many different ways; likewise, ancient women also had several options. You can weave flowers and ribbons into the doll's hair and attach them by sewing or tying them into place. Similarly, you can braid, curl, or put your doll's hair into an updo, depending on how much time and effort you want to put into the doll.

References

• Fashion Era: Ancient Greek Costume History
• Amazon: Greek Barbie