This post is adapted from the Tutorial which accompanies my Basic Jointed Cloth Doll Pattern. I’m posting it here because the techniques used are readily transferable to many patterns for dolls and softies (although some patterns will have some pieces that will have to be cut with a seam allowance and sewn in the traditional way). Although I’ve been delighted to receive compliments about sewing tiny dolls, I’m really hoping to show that for general sewists and quilters the step from 2D to 3D isn’t as big as many people suppose and, given a pair of hemostats and an open toe foot, toy making can be fun and very manageable :)

If you are not using my pattern, skip this section (in blue) and go straight to ‘MAKING YOUR DOLL’.

If you are using this pattern to make the larger GRANNY SQUARE, KNIT and PURL dolls print:
GRANNY SQUARE – ‘Scale 110%’
KNIT at ‘Scale 100%’
PURL at ‘Scale 90%’

If you are using this pattern to make the 1:12 dolls house sized GRANNY SQUARE, KNIT and PURL dolls print:
GRANNY SQUARE – ‘Scale 55%’
KNIT at ‘Scale 50%’
PURL at ‘Scale 45%’

1. Cut out your pattern pieces using paper scissors. If you are making more than one size of doll. it is helpful to write the scale on your pattern pieces. 

3. For any body parts that require two identical pieces to be sewn together, draw around the SEWING LINE on your pattern pieces using a pencil or a vanishing pen marking where you need to leave openings for turning.

I have placed pins to hold the fold in place

4. Sew over your pencil/pen markings on the SEWING LINE only. Use a short stitch length (1 1/2 – 2 recommended) and reverse stitch at the beginning and end of each line. Take care to sew on the line. On the tighter curves, you may find it helps to shorten your stitch length and sew very slowly. 

5. Cut out your pieces. Cut approx 1/8″ from your SEWING LINE or 1/4″ if you are intending your doll to be a child’s toy. Cut 1/4″-1/2″ away from your dotted lines – the places you have left open. If you have used a vanishing marker vanish your lines after cutting out.

6. Align the seams on the top and bottom of each foot and pin. Sew across the foot in a slight curve, as shown.

7. Use your hemostats to turn your pieces right-side-out. Push the Hemostats into your piece, grab hold of some fabric, lock your handles and wiggle and pull. On very small pieces this is a bit fiddly but once you get the hang of using the hemostats you’ll find they let you turn even very tiny pieces through small openings. The following photos demonstrate with a leg piece:

insert your hemostats, grab the toe and lock your handles

pull through the opening

repeat with top of leg

insert your hemostats back into the leg and push the piece into shape

8. Stuff the body very firmly. You will probably be surprised at how much stuffing this takes! To avoid lumpiness, use your hemostats and feed your stuffing into the piece in a single long line. Keep stuffing until the body and neck stump are as full as possible. This piece needs to be very firm for the button joints to work well. Hand sew across the neck stump opening.

9. Stuff the head very firmly (as in step 8, above) and stuff the neck lightly.

10. Turn under approximately half of the neck edge (the actual measurement will vary depending on what size doll you are making).

11. Pull the neck over the neck stump as far as possible and pin. This is tricky to start with but gets easier as you proceed. You may need to go around the neck several time pulling the neck edge down tighter with your hemostats and repositioning the pins.

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2

4

3

12. Slip stitch the neck edge onto the neck stump turning the neck edge under as you go. Your stitches will pull the neck down. If the head doesn’t feel completely secure use your hemostats to add more stuffing before you complete your slip stitching. I recommend you then slip stitch or ladder stitch round another time to pull the head down a little further.

13. Now move onto the arms and legs. Stuff the hands and feet reasonably firmly. Stuff the lower arms and legs less firmly, stopping before your tying lines. Take care to stuff each limb the same amount as its partner. The place to stop stuffing will vary depending on the size of your doll. Use your pattern pieces as a guide to position the tying lines. If you hold the limb at the tying line the lower limb should be able to swing freely, as shown.

14. To make the elbow and knee joints, secure a piece of strong thread to the back of the joint. take your needle through to the front of the joint and back again two or three times.

15. Wrap your thread around the joint two or three times and fasten off.

16. Stuff the tops of your arm and leg pieces. Stuff very firmly at the top (shoulders/hips) and less firmly as you work down towards the elbows and knees. Stop stuffing before the joint stops moving freely.

17. Slip stitch the openings closed.

18. Secure the arms to the upper body using buttons and strong thread.

pin to find a position you like

Draw thread through button. arm, body, arm, button. Work back and forth several times.

secure thread and bury the end in the arm

19. Secure the legs to the lower body using buttons and strong thread in the same way that you joined the arms.