Doll Crafts for Kids

Transform yarn into colorful dolls.

Manufactured dolls are available in retail stores to accommodate nearly any budget, but your child may enjoy creating her own friends at home. You do not need any expensive equipment, materials or skills to create simple dolls and many of the techniques are easy enough that even young children can participate.

Paper Dolls

Paper dolls are suitable for children of all ages. Draw a basic doll outline onto a sheet of paper and let children draw a face on the doll. Draw clothes with little tabs attached so that the tabs can be folded over the doll to keep the clothing in place. Younger children can decorate the clothing with crayons and markers while older children may be able to draw their own clothes and cut the items out with scissors. Use thin sheets of craft foam or cardboard instead of paper to make the dolls more durable.

Clothespin Dolls

Clothespin dolls are crafted by wrapping embroidery floss around flat slotted clothespins. These clothespins do not have springs and can be purchased at craft stores. Draw a face on the round end of the clothespin with a marker. Cut the heads off of matchsticks to form small arms for the doll and glue them to the sides of the clothespins with white craft glue.

Now create clothing with colored embroidery floss. Wrap the floss tightly around the clothespin starting at the dolls neck and working down the clothespin body to create a dress. When satisfied with your doll's attire, glue down the end of the embroidery floss to hold everything in place. Younger children may prefer making armless dolls as they are easier to wrap. Use clear tape to hold the floss in place at the starting point if your child has a difficult time with the embroidery floss.

Yarn Dolls

Make yarn dolls by wrapping chunky-weight yarn around a book approximately 60 times until there is a thick bundle of yarn. Slide the bundle off of the book and handle it carefully to maintain the shape of the yarn bundle. Wrap a rubber band tightly around the yarn approximately one to two inches away from one end of the bundle to create the doll's head. Cut through the opposite end of the yarn bundle with scissors. Separate small sections of the yarn to represent arms and secure them with rubber bands. Trim the arm sections to a more appropriate length. Continue to apply rubber bands to create the doll's waist and legs. Glue or sew additional yarn to the top of the head for hair and add facial features cut from piece of felt.

References

• Making Friends: Angel Worry Dolls
• PBS Kids: Yarn Dolls