Rag Doll

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• 1/4yd cotton or polyester skin tone fabric
• Fat quarter of cotton, polyester or fleece fabric for doll hair
• Fat quarter of cotton or polyester fabric for pants
• Fat quarter of cotton or polyester fabric for shirt
• 4" embroidery hoop
• Embroidery floss for eyes, nose & lips
• Pattern pieces
• Sewing notions

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut all doll patterns. Pin appropriate patterns to the doll skin, clothes, and hair fabric. Cut all pattern pieces for the doll body, hair, and clothes. Cut 2 doll bodies, 4 arms, and 4 legs.
2. To embroider the doll face, use a 4" embroidery hoop. Place the center of the head of the body front in the embroidery hoop. Place the face template centered in the hoop. Use a fabric pencil to push through the face template to mark the face on the fabric. Use embroidery floss colors of choice for the eyes, and lips. Add eyelashes if desired and use a matching skin tone floss for the nose. Leave the cheeks free or use cosmetic blush or a pastel crayon on cheeks. Be sure to check blush options first on a scrap of skin tone fabric before applying to the doll face.
3. Sew and stuff arms. Pin arms right sides together. Double stitch 1/4" seam allowance along the outer edge. Leave top edge of arm open for turning and stuffing. Turn right side out and stuff semi-firm, stopping 1/2" from the top. Repeat steps for the remaining arm and legs.
4. Attach hair to doll body front and back. Pin hair to the doll front. Top stitch 1/8" from edge of hairline. Pin hair back to the front side of the back skin tone piece at the neckline. Double stitch 1/8" from bottom edge of the doll hair.
5. Attach arms to doll body. Pin arms to doll front at shoulders at a slight downward angle. Double stitch 3/8" seam allowance along both doll sides.
6. Stitch doll body. Pin right sides of front and back doll body pieces together. Double stitch 3/8" around the outer edge of the doll body. Tuck opposite arm in the neck while stitching the opposite side to make arms fit while stitching. Leave bottom edge of doll body open for turning and stuffing.
7. Turn body right side out and begin stuffing with poly fiber fill. Start with the head and stuff firmly. Smooth stuffing throughout the doll to make sure there are no lumps, especially focusing on the face. Stuff the neck firmly but be careful not to strain the neck seams. Continue stuffing the doll torso.
8. Attach the legs. Fold a 1/2" of the bottom edges of the doll torso opening inside and insert 3/4" of the leg tops inside the doll. Pin the legs and doll torso closed. Double stitch 3/8" seam allowance along the bottom edge of the doll torso.
9. Sew pants. Fold over and pin down 3/8" of the waistband on both pant pieces. Do the same for the bottom hem of both pant pieces. Top stitch 1/8" from the edge of the waistbands and hems. Pin right sides together and sew 3/8" seam allowance along outer edges and inner inseam of the pants. Turn right side out.
10. Sew shirt. Fold over and pin down 3/8" of shirt collar, cuffs and hem on the shirt front. Snip tiny triangles around collar to make it curve smoothly. Top stitch 1/8" from edges. Fold over and pin down 3/8" of both shirt backs on straight edges about 3 1/2" down from the collar for space for a head opening. Top stitch 1/8" from the edge. Fold over and pin down 3/8" of shirt collars and cuffs on both shirt backs, leaving hem for last. Snip tiny triangles around collars to make them curve smoothly. Top stitch 1/8" from edges. Pin right sides together of shirt backs and stitch 1/8" seam allowance along the bottom 1/2" of the straight edges to combine shirt backs into one piece. Stop stitching when you reach the beginning of the top stitches to keep the opening for the head. Fold over and pin down 3/8" of hem and top stitch 1/8" from edge. Pin right sides together of front and back shirt pieces. Stitch 1/8" seam allowance along outer edges of the shirt. Be sure to leave shirt cuffs open. Turn right side out. Stitch hook and eye, Velcro® or two 8" ribbon pieces for the back head opening closures.