How to Make a Native Indian Cloth Doll
Native American Indian dolls come in as many types as there are tribes. The antique Native Indian dolls have helped us to better understand the culture and people of these tribes. Some of the dolls were made for worship, but many were designed specifically for the entertainment and education of the children of the tribe. Making a simple Native Indian cloth doll is a wonderful way to display a piece of old fabric or bead work. The "papoose" doll described in this article is of no particular tribe, but offers a simple, almost no-sew project that shows respect to the Native Indian doll artists.
Things You'll Need
- Dowel rod, 1-inch diameter, 12-inches long
- Styrofoam ball, 3-inches diameter
- Craft glue
- Small foam brush
- Scissors
- Tan cotton fabric, 8-inch square
- Tan thread
- Pencil
- Embroidery floss, variety of colors
- Embroidery needle
- Fabric paints, fine tip bottles, variety of colors
- Yarn, black or dark brown
- Embroidery floss, black or dark brown
- Cardboard, 6 by 12 inches
- Polyester batting sheet, 12 by 24 inches
- Indian blanket fabric, 24-inch square
- Ribbon
- Feather
Instructions
-
-
1
Insert 2 inches of a 12-inch long piece of dowel rod into the Styrofoam ball. Withdraw the dowel rod and paint the 2-inch end with craft glue and a small foam brush. Re-insert the glued end into the Styrofoam ball and allow to dry.
-
2
Cut an 8-inch square of tan or light brown cotton fabric to cover the 3-inch Styrofoam ball.
-
-
3
Wrap a piece of coordinating thread tightly around the base of the Styrofoam ball while pulling the fabric tight and smooth around the ball. Tie the thread off where the dowel protrudes from the Styrofoam ball.
-
4
Draw in the facial features with a pencil. Since this is a "papoose," the baby can be sleeping, smiling, yawning or crying. Complete the face with embroidery floss or fabric paints. Allow enough time for the fabric paint to dry before proceeding.
-
5
Create a wig from black or dark brown yarn, or embroidery floss. Cut a piece of firm cardboard that is at least 6-inches wide and 12-inches long. Wrap the yarn or floss around the cardboard side that is 12-inches long; this will become the "braids" for the baby. Wrap the yarn or floss at least 100 times. Cut the end of the yarn or floss when finished. Cut a 6-inch piece of yarn or floss to tie the bundle together. Slip the entire bundle off the cardboard and tie in the middle.
-
6
Place a small amount of glue on top of the doll's head and position the hair so that the tied section becomes the "middle part" of the hair. Pull the pieces of yarn or floss around and over the head to cover it with "hair." Once dry, cut the yarn or floss to the desired length. Braid the hair and tie off with a piece of colorful ribbon or yarn that coordinates with the Indian blanket.
-
7
Cut a piece of polyester fiberfill batting that is 12-inches wide by 24-inches long.
-
8
Fold the batting in half so that it becomes a 12-inch square. Cut a small hole in the middle of the fold which is large enough for the dowel to pass through. This double thickness of batting will become the "body" of the Native Indian papoose. Paint craft glue on the pencil and insert it into the batting. Allow to dry before proceeding.
-
9
Cut a 24-inch square from the "Indian" blanket fabric that will wrap the papoose.
-
10
Place the "papoose" in the center of the Indian blanket and carefully fold the bottom of the blanket upwards towards the top of the doll. Fold back the end of the blanket so that it does not cover the doll's face or reveal any of the batting.
-
11
Fold the right side of the blanket towards the middle and make a fold in the blanket that looks like there is an "arm" under the blanket. Repeat on the left side. Adjust the blanket and batting so that there appears to be a body within the blanket. You may add extra pieces of batting to complete the illusion.
-
12
Glue or sew several stitches into the blanket to hold the shape of the papoose and to keep the blanket in place.
-
13
Roll the back of the blanket down and fold about the neck and shoulders. Add some glue or stitches to hold it in place.
-
14
Add a headband of ribbon and a feather to the baby's head.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
There are many Native American Indian designs found at the local fabric store. Consider the fleece blanket fabric as well. This fabric can often be found as inexpensive remnants.
You can substitute the Styrofoam ball head with a porcelain or plastic doll head.
Add a piece of wood with leather straps made from leather shoelaces to make your doll a real papoose. Place the doll on the wood and tie in place with the leather straps.
This doll is not intended as a child's play toy since it has a dowel rod in the center of it.
