Sometime ago a special kind of doll came to this country from Italy. These dolls were so beautiful that grownups bought them just to look at. They could sit on dressing tables and beds in the most lifelike way. Some of these dolls live in dolls’ houses and delight hundreds of little girls who are lucky enough to own them.

Made entirely of felt (which means that they are really rag dolls!), they have fat, dimpled arms and legs, and adorable faces. Despite the fact that the heads are made of the same felt as the bodies, the faces are rounded and modeled like those of the bisque dolls. There is a very special manufacturing trick involved in making these faces which the home doll-maker can never duplicate. But the charming roundness of the rest of the doll serves as an inspiration in making a more realistic rag doll.

By cutting out the arms, legs, body, and head individually, it is possible to get the realistic shape which is so attractive. The head is made from three separate pieces. It is quite round and even has a cute little snub-nosed profile.

How TO MAKE A REALISTIC RAG DOLL

The patterns necessary for this doll are shown on below. Click on the image for a full size pattern to print. The arms and legs are cut in “profile” which results in the seams being along the center front and back of each leg instead of at the sides. One hardly notices these seams when the stuffing has been put in. The body shape is very natural looking.

The head pattern calls for two pieces for the front and one piece for the back. The center seam which runs down the front of the face makes it possible to give the doll a real profile. When firmly stuffed, this seam is hardly visible.

Trace and transfer the pattern to heavy paper. Use fine, firmly woven cotton material to make the doll. Pin each pattern piece to a double thickness of the material. Trace around the outside edge of the pattern. Remove the pattern and baste the two pieces together to keep them from slipping out of place while the final stitching is being put in.

Sew along the pencil outline, either by hand with back-stitches, or on the machine. Cut the piece out about 1/8 in. outside the line of sewing. Turn the piece inside out. Finish the arms, legs, and body before doing the head.

Stuff each section just as firmly as possible, using either absorbent cotton or wool batting

The drawings show how to place the arms and legs against the body. Turn in top edges of the arms and legs and hem them to the body. Set the stitches close together to make a strong seam. Secure the end of the sewing so that there is no possible danger of it starting to rip out.

Sew the two front pieces of the head together with the tiniest of backstitches. This line of sewing must be perfectly straight and even. When the seam is finished, turn the piece inside out The pattern for the head shows exactly where to place the eyes and mouth. Punch pinholes along the lines showing the eyes and mouth on the pattern. A sharp-pointed pencil tip will just fit into each hole. Lay the face piece flat on the table and fit the paper pattern on it so the edge of the pattern exactly matches the seam line of the face.

Put the pencil point into each pinhole and make a dot on the cloth. These dots will guide you in embroidering or painting the features. The face should be put on before the front of the face is joined to the back head piece.

Head

Sew the face and back of head together, leaving the bottom open for stuffing. If the back circle is a little too large, shirr the edge slightly to make it fit. Turn it right side out. Roll a tiny bit of cotton into a ball and place it in the nose to accentuate it. Place a large flat piece of cotton inside and against the face. Stuff the rest of the head tightly and smoothly.

Push a 2-in. piece of lollipop stick halfway up into the head, and halfway down into the chest. This will keep the head from wobbling. When the head is sitting firmly on the shoulders (and right in the middle), sew the bottom of the neck to the body. The edge of the fabric must be turned in, of course, before sewing.
Use thread that matches the color of the material and make the tiniest stitches possible so that, if the doll ever wears a low-necked dress, the seam will be practically invisible.

Hair

You can make your own wig like the ones shown here or buy a commercially made wig from a doll hospital. They are attractive, and not expensive. They can be sewn or glued on. If you buy a wig, take the doll with you to be sure you get the right size.

Shoes

At the same time, you might be able to get a pair of shoes to fit the doll. If they’re a trifle too big, the toes of them can always be stuffed with a bit of cotton. However, if you want to make your own shoes, the pattern for them is given below. Click on the picture to print the full size pattern.