How to Make a Distressed Muslin Doll
Distressed muslin dolls, also called primitive dolls, are often found in country- or Americana-styled homes. These folk art dolls are inexpensive to make because of their simplicity. Distressing muslin dolls gives them an appearance of being old and passed down through the generations, and their plain and simple style is what gives them their unique character.
Things You'll Need
- Muslin doll sewing pattern
- Muslin fabric
- Sewing scissors
- Straight pins
- Sewing machine
- Polyfil stuffing
- Stuffing tool
- Hand-sewing needle
- Notions
- Cotton balls
- Cinnamon
Instructions
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1
Purchase a muslin doll sewing pattern from a local fabric store or on the Internet. There are a variety of doll patterns available in many different styles.
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2
Purchase your muslin fabric and notions such as buttons for eyes or embroidery floss for sewing the mouth and nose. Refer to the pattern instructions for the amount of fabric yardage and notions you'll need.
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3
Cut your paper pattern pieces and lay them out on the fabric. Refer to the pattern instructions for proper layout of the pattern pieces. Pin the paper pattern pieces to the fabric using your straight pins, and cut out the pieces. Remove the paper pattern pieces from the fabric.
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4
Pin your pattern pieces, right sides together, and sew the body and head of the doll on the sewing machine using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Leave an opening of about 1 inch to add the stuffing. All dolls are assembled differently, some will be sewn as one continuous piece and some will have the arms and legs sewn on as separate pieces. Follow your pattern for assembly instructions.
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Turn the doll inside out and stuff the doll with the Polyfil stuffing. Use the stuffing tool that comes in the stuffing package, or if you don't have a stuffing tool, use the tip of a pencil to push the stuffing into the arms and legs.
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Finish off your open seam by hand-stitching with a hand-sewing needle and thread.
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Hand-sew any final details such as button eyes, nose and mouth, according to your doll's specific requirements.
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8
Dip a cotton ball into cinnamon, and rub the cinnamon onto the doll along all stitched edges and around the facial features. The cinnamon creates a primitive, dirty and distressed look and it adds a pleasant scent to the doll.
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Tips & Warnings
To create rosy cheeks on your doll, dab some cosmetic blush on a cotton ball, and lightly rub it on the dolls cheek area.
Use caution when operating a sewing machine.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit sewing image by Aleksandr Ugorenkov from Fotolia.com
