Make your own rag doll

Craft & Dcor

This sweet doll is sure to have pride of place in a nursery or childrens bedroom. Once you have made the basic doll, create different personalities and different sets of clothes so that when you are selling them the dolls will be individual and collectable. Knitting abbreviations alt beg c/on(off) cont dec g st inc k N(s) M1 moss patt p psso RS sl st(s) st st tog WS Sewing notes For all the toys, you will need to add a 1cm seam allowance to all the pattern pieces. It is easier to sew them with a machine rather than an overlocker as the pieces are very small. You can sew them quite easily by hand as well, using a small neat backstitch for the seams. Trim the seam afterwards to 5mm before turning so the finished toy isnt bulky around the seams. alternate begin(ning) cast on(off) continue decrease garter stitch increase knit needles make a st by picking up the horizontal loop lying before the st k1, p1 across all RS rows, p1, k1 across all WS rows pattern purl pass slipped stitch over right side slip stitch(es) stocking stitch together wrong side

next st on left-hand N and knitting into the back of it

Measurements Height from head to toe: 49cm You will need template (see below) 100 x 100cm unbleached calico remnants of printed cotton for dress remnant of green linen for shoes scrap of black felt for eyes matching coloured sewing thread polyster toy stuffing pair of 4mm knitting needles oddments of DK yarn in cerise and baby pink 50cm pink and red satin ribbon 5mm wide 1 x 50g ball of DK yarn in brown dressmakers pencil embroidery needles fabric glue red thread Rag doll template To cut Enlarge the template grid to the actual size and cut out. From the calico cut out two body pieces and two head pieces. From the printed cotton, cut out two bodice pieces, one rectangle 60 x 8cm for the first tier of the skirt and a second rectangle 75 x 11cm for the second tier of the skirt. The bodice is finished off with a bound edge around the neck and armholes. Note You will need to cut 3cm bias strips from the printed cotton to fit these measurements; it is best to sew the bodice first and then measure around the edges before you cut the strips. Now, cut out two soles and two upper shoes from the green linen. Finally, cut out two small black circles from the felt for the eyes. To sew Body Note It is easiest to sew the body, stockings, shoes and then the dress before sewing the head section, as the pattern pieces are designed to fit in this given order.

1 With the right sides of the body pieces together, machine-stitch around the outer edge, leaving the neck edge open. Take care when sewing around the thumb section on the hands. Clip the seam allowance around all the curved edges frequently for a smoother seam, taking care not to cut into the stitching. 2 Carefully turn the body through the opening at the neck to the right side. Insert a knitting needle into the hand, thumb, underarm, toe and crotch sections to ensure the seam lies flat. 3 Using polyester toy stuffing, stuff the body firmly. Use a knitting needle to push stuffing into the smaller areas. Tack the neck edge closed. Striped stockings (make two) Knitted section Using 4mm Ns, and cerise yarn, c/on 30 sts. Work 2 rows in g st. Change to baby pink yarn and work in st st stripe patt, working 2 rows in each colour. Do not cut off the ends every time you need to work a different coloured stripe, simply pass the yarns over each over at the side edge. Cont in st st stripes until the work measures 17cm from the beg, ending with a p row. C/off. To assemble Darn in any loose ends. Fold the stocking in half down the length and, using ladder stitch, sew the seam closed. Slip the footless stocking over the foot, so the seam is on the inside of the leg. Work a few hand stitches at the top and lower edge to hold the stockings in place. Dress 1 With the right sides of the bodice pieces together, sew the shoulder seams closed. Turn the bodice through to the right side. Using the bias strips, bind the neck edge, starting and finishing the binding at the centre back. 2 Bind the two armhole edges in exactly the same way, starting and finishing at the underarm. Turn the bodice through to the wrong side and close the side seams. Turn the bodice through to the right side again, through the neck edge. 3 Gather the first skirt tier to fit the lower bodice. With the right sides facing, machine stitch the tier in place. Gather the second tier to fit the first tier and machine stitch in place. Fit the dress over the neck. The edges of the skirt have been designed with a raw edge. If you prefer, you can pull out more threads to create a fringe on the lower edge of each tier. Shoes 1 With the right sides facing, sew the sole to the upper shoe around the curved edge. Clip the seam frequently around the curved edge for a smooth seam. 2 Neaten the raw edges with a zigzag stitch or overlock the upper edge so the linen does not fray. Fit the shoe onto the foot, making sure it covers the cast-on edge of the stocking.

Hand-stitch the opening in the seam to fit. Cut the pink ribbon into two equal lengths and tie a bow, then attach to the centre front of the shoe. Head 1 With the right sides of the head pieces together, machine-stitch around the edge, leaving the neck edge open. Clip the seam frequently around the curved section and turn though to the right side. 2 Fill the head with stuffing, taking care to push some into the ears as well. Remove the tacking stitches in the body neck. Turn under the seam allowances and insert the head into the body. Carefully hand-stitch the head to the body so it is secure. Hair Note The hair is attached to the centre back of the head. Draw a line down the back of the head and use it as a guide. 1 Cut pieces of yarn approximately 60cm in length. Fold the yarn in half and sew to the guideline on the back of the head. Try to sew through the yarn to catch it; otherwise strands of hair may easily fall out over time. Continue in this way until the back of the head is covered. 2 For the fringe, follow the seam line along the top of the head. Cut strips of yarn approximately 15cm long. Attach the centre of the strand to the seam in exactly the same way as before. Continue in this way until the fringe is full. 3 Trim the fringe around the face when it is completed. You may also want to trim the hair if it is not straight. Create your own hairstyle with pigtails or plaits and tie with a neat bow using the red satin ribbon. Face Stick the felt eyes in position with the fabric glue and leave to dry. Draw a smiling mouth using the dressmakers pencil and, following the line, embroider a mouth with small neat backstitches using the red embroidery thread.