Making the doll

All the dolls are made from the same pattern (see Doll Template). The body and head are the same, only the facial
expressions and the hair change. Carefully follow the instructions below, then create the faces. Take inspiration from
the different models to make your own unique doll.

Materials
Doll template Sewing and embroidery needles
Old sheet dyed with tea, 40 x 60cm (16 x 21in) Tacking thread
Polyester wadding (batting) Sewing thread, beige
Pins

1 Cut out the pattern pieces for the doll. Cut out the of one another, right sides together, and sew all the way
pattern for the arms and legs twice in mirror image. around, leaving one side open. Turn the arms out and fill
with wadding (batting).
2 Fold the fabric in half and, ensuring the arrows are
sitting on the grainline, pin all the pieces onto the fabric, 6 Join the top of the feet to the bottom of the legs,
ensuring that the right and left feet are in the correct
with the centre of each leg placed along the fold to obtain
a single piece. Only the back and front of the head are position, and close up the darts. Fold the fabric in half,
pinned to a single thickness of fabric. Cut out all these right sides together, and sew along the length. Attach
pieces with a 1cm (½in) seam allowance. Insert pins to the bottom of the foot to the top of the foot using tacking
mark the notches. thread, and then sew by machine. Turn the legs right side
out and fill with wadding (batting), ensuring they are filled
3 Start by reducing the back of the head. Gather the top equally. Fit the legs and arms into the openings on the
of the head between the notches, so that the back and the body, and attach them with a line of machine stitching
front of the head are the same size. along the inside edge.

4 Using a sewing machine, join the two half-fronts of 7 Fill the head of the doll with wadding (batting),
the body along the centre and attach the front of the then the body, and close the back seam with small,
head to the top, at neck level. Do the same with the two invisible stitches.
half-backs and the back of the head, but leaving a large
opening in the centre of the back seam. Position these
two pieces on top of one another, right sides together,
and sew along the sides, shoulders and all around the
head, leaving an opening to insert the arms. Turn the
body of the doll right side out.

5 Place the two pieces of fabric that form the arms on top
 Blonde doll
Materials
Cotton yarn, vanilla Tissue paper
DMC Mouliné Stranded Cotton 819 (powder pink), Adhesive tape
3031 (chocolate brown), 3771 (peach pink),
3833 (petal pink) and Ecru

1 Make 11 skeins each of 15 strands of vanilla yarn, 50cm little French knot from ecru stranded cotton (floss). The
(20in) long, cutting their ends. Arrange nine skeins flat, mouth is made from a curve embroidered using stem
side by side, across a width of 18cm (7in), and tape them stitch, with two strands of petal pink stranded cotton
in the middle (on top and underneath). Place a strip (floss). The nose, just above, is made from a bullion knot,
of tissue paper under the adhesive tape and machine with two strands of powder pink stranded cotton. For
stitch down the middle before removing the paper and the cheeks, embroider two circles using satin stitch,
the adhesive. Fold in half along the line, adjust the hair with two strands of peach pink stranded cotton (floss),
on the head, 1cm (½in) behind the seam, and sew using spacing out the stitches.
small stitches. Fold the hair down well at the back, apart
from a little lock that you can let fall freely on each side.
Secure the hair on the back of the head using backstitch,
level with the ears.

2 Lay the two remaining skeins flat, side by side,

across a width of 6cm (2½in), and tape them
in the middle (on top and underneath), to
form a parting. Place a strip of tissue paper
under this parting, sew a line of stitching
on top by machine and remove the paper.
Position this hair on the doll’s forehead,
allowing it to overlap the hair at the back
by 1cm (½in). Stitch to the head using
little stitches along the parting. Attach
the two locks of hair either side of the
head using a few stitches level with the
ears and tie them together at the back
with a strand of cotton thread.

3 Embroider the eyes using stem stitch with

two strands of brown stranded cotton (floss).
Start at the centre and embroider in a circle
to the desired size. To give them sparkle, make a
 Brunette doll
Materials
Wool, chocolate brown Tissue paper
Blue cotton ribbon, 2 x 15cm (6in) Adhesive tape
DMC Mouliné Stranded Cotton Ecru, 413 (stormy grey),
3771 (peach pink) and 4200 (red/orange colour variation)

1 Make seven skeins of 12 strands of chocolate brown French knot in each eye in ecru stranded cotton
wool, 60cm (23½in) long, and cut their ends. Make (floss). The mouth is made from a little circle of
another consisting of eight strands, 10cm (4in) long. satin stitch with two strands of red/orange stranded
cotton (floss). Create a nose with a bullion knot in
2 Place the large skeins of wool flat, side by two strands of ecru stranded cotton (floss). For the
side, and tape them in the middle (on top and cheeks, use satin stitch and two strands of peach pink
underneath), to form a parting. Place a strip of stranded cotton (floss), spacing out the stitches.
tissue paper under this line, machine stitch line
on top then remove the paper and adhesive.

3 Do the same for the little skein that will act as

the fringe. Fold this in half and sew by hand using
little stitches at the top of the doll’s forehead.
Place the scalp of hair on top, centering the
parting and allowing the hair to come over
the fringe to disguise where it starts.
Attach to the head using little stitches
along the parting, then plait the hair and
tie with a piece of ribbon. Sew a few
stitches in chocolate brown wool on
either side of the head, level with the
cheekbones, to hold the braids in place.

4 Embroider the eyes using stem

stitch with two strands of stormy grey
stranded cotton (floss). Start at the
centre and work in a circle to the desired
size. To give them sparkle, make a little
 Red-head doll
Materials
Wool, rust brown Tissue paper
DMC Mouliné Stranded Cotton, ecru, Adhesive tape
413 (stormy grey), 4130 (rust colour variation)
and 4200 (red/orange colour variation)

1 Make seven skeins of 12 strands of wool in rust brown, stranded cotton (floss). For the mouth, embroider a little
60cm (23½in) long, and cut their ends. Make another circle using satin stitch and two strands of red/orange
consisting of eight strands, 10cm (4in) long. stranded cotton (floss). Create the nose with a bullion
knot and two strands of ecru stranded cotton (floss). For
2 Place the large skeins of wool flat, side by side, and the cheeks, stitch five running stitches in a circle, 1½cm
tape them in the middle (on top and underneath), to form (1⁄8in) in diameter and one stitch in the middle with two
a parting. Place a strip of tissue paper under this line, strands of rust stranded cotton (floss).
machine stitch a straight line before removing the paper
and adhesive.

3 Repeat this process with the little skein that will act
as the fringe. Fold this in half and sew by hand using
little stitches at the top of the doll’s forehead.
Place the scalp of hair on top, centring the
parting and allowing the hair to come over
the fringe to conceal the join. Attach to the
head by sewing little stitches along the
parting, then tying the hair on either side.
Fold these bunches in half and attach
them with a strand of rust brown wool,
making them puff out at the front.

4 Embroider the eyes using stem

stitch with two strands of stormy grey
stranded cotton (floss). Start at the
centre and embroider in a circle to the
desired size. To give them sparkle, make
a little French knot in each eye in ecru
 Auburn, Dark Blonde and Ginger Doll
Materials
Very fine Mohair wool, brown (auburn doll), very light Knitting needles, size 7mm, 6.5mm (US10.5),
yellow (dark blonde doll) or orange (ginger doll) 5.5mm (US9)
DMC Mouliné Stranded Cotton 3705 (coral pink), Crochet hook, 3mm (D3)
819 (powder pink), 310 (black), in ecru, Pink ink
894 (candy pink) and 930 (blue) Fine marker pen

1 Make a cap on which to hang the hair. Using 7mm Catch the loop of the strand of wool and pull to make it
needles and mohair, cast on 47 sts, change to 6.5mm come out on the right side of the cap. Thread the ends of
needles. Beginning with a knit row work 3cm (1 ¼in) the strand of wool through the loop and pull to attach to
in stocking (stockinette) stitch ending on a knit row. the cap.
Change to 5.5mm needles and decrease on purl rows
only as follows: 5 Start by attaching the strands around the
circumference of the head and continue on the central
First dec row: Slip 1, (p3, p2tog) to last st, k1 - 38 sts. part of the cap to create a parting. Attach the strands of
wool every two or three rows evenly spaced, and cut off
Second dec row: Slip 1, (p2, p2tog) to last st k1 - 27sts. any strands that are too long, as well as the strands at
the front to make a fringe or short hair.
Third dec row: *P1, p2tog, rep from * to end - 18 sts.
6 Dab the cheeks in a circle with the pink ink. For the
Fourth dec row: P2tog to end - 9 sts. auburn doll, embroider the mouth with two strands of
coral pink stranded cotton, the eyes using stem stitch
2 Pass a thread through remaining sts and pull tight with two strands of black stranded cotton (floss) and
then fold in half and sew the seam. For a small head finish by making the nose with a French knot and two
circumference (for the little dolls), cast on 38 or 42sts, strands of powder pink stranded cotton (floss).
according to the thickness of the wool, and proceed in
the same way purling any extra sts left over at the end of 7 For the dark blonde and ginger dolls, embroider the
the decrease rows. mouth with two strands of candy pink stranded cotton
(floss), the eyes using stem stitch with two strands
3 Attach the cap to the head of the doll with a few little of blue stranded cotton (floss) and finish by making
stitches. the nose with a French knot with two strands of ecru
stranded cotton (floss).
4 Cut some strands of wool, 60cm (23½in) long. Fold a The dark blonde doll and the ginger doll are made in the
strand of wool in half. Push the crochet hook into a stitch same way. For the ginger doll, add a few freckles on the
of the cap and bring the tip out on the reverse of the cap. cheeks with a fine marker pen.
 Raven-haired Doll
Materials
Wool, black
DMC Mouliné Stranded Cotton 310 (black),
ecru, 894 (candy pink)
Tissue paper
Adhesive tape

1 Make the scalp for the black-haired doll

as for the Blonde Doll.

2 Embroider the eyes with two strands of

black stranded cotton (floss), the nose with
a French knot with two strands of bright
pink stranded cotton (floss) and the mouth
with two strands of ivory stranded cotton
(floss)following the design.

Raven-haired doll

Poupée 120 %
Kimidoll

Auburn, dark blonde and

ginger-haired dolls
 Needlecord
Materials
(see Needlecord hair pattern) Iron-on velvet, scrap
Brown needlecord, 15 x 40cm (6 x 16in) Pink ink
DMC Mouliné Stranded Cotton 3031 (brown),
3326 (soft pink), 819 (powder pink)

1 Turn under the fabric along the long edges and press 5 Dab the cheeks in a circle using pink ink. Embroider
lightly with an iron. Fold this rectangle in half along the the mouth with two strands of soft pink stranded cotton
length, right sides together, and sew the ends. (floss) and the nose in a French knot with two strands
of powder pink stranded cotton (floss). Cut out the eyes
2 Turn right side out and machine stitch a line in the from the velvet and attach them using an iron.
middle to form a parting. Run a gathering thread along
the front of this line for 4cm (1½in), and gather the fabric
to achieve a width of 1½cm (5⁄8in)

3 Hand stitch the needlecord strip to the front of the

head, positioning it at the centre of the forehead, and
sewing a few stitches at the back, at the base of
the neck.

4 Pass a gathering thread along each side,

level with the ears, gather the fabric and
hold it tight with a piece of embroidery
yarn. Sew the ends together and hang
them at the back of the neck.
Bloomers
1 Cut out two copies of the pattern for the Half- 4 Turn under the bottom of the legs to the inside, level
Bloomers. Fold some cotton voile in half, in the direction with the fold. Turn under a small amount of fabric and
of the grain, and pin the two pattern pieces to it, with stitch it all the way around, leaving a little opening level
the long side along the fold. Cut the fabric, allowing with the seam to thread the elastic through. Sew a
1cm (½in) for the seam allowance and the fabric to be second, parallel line of stitching, 8mm (3⁄8in) apart, all the
turned under at the top, and 2cm (¾in) for the hem at the way around. Thread 10cm (4in) of thin elastic through the
bottom. resulting channel and tie the ends together. Sew a piece
of scalloped broderie anglaise to the bottom of each leg,
2 Fold each half-bloomer in half, right sides facing, and then turn the bloomers right side out.
sew a line along the legs to close them up. Pin the two
half-bloomers together, right sides together, and sew 5 Tie two decorative bows in pink ribbon and stitch one
the inside leg seam. Oversew these seams. to the outside of each leg, level with the elastic. Sew
a little heart button to the centre front, level with the
3 Fold the waistband over to the inside of the bloomers, waistband, with two strands of pink stranded cotton
turn under a small amount of fabric and stitch, ensuring (floss).
that you leave an opening. Thread a piece of flat elastic
through this gap to adjust the waist to 23cm (9in) and
sew the two ends firmly together.

Vest
1 Cut out two copies of the Vest pattern. Fold some and gather until it is 9cm (3½in) wide. Tack a piece of
cotton voile in half, in the direction of the grain, and scalloped broderie anglaise to these gathers, as well as
pin the two pattern pieces to it, with the centre back some tape, to the right side of the fabric. Oversew the
and centre front along the fold. Cut the fabric allowing three thicknesses of fabric together. Turn the tape over
1cm (½in) for the seam allowance and the fabric to be to the reverse, tuck in the sides and attach them to the
turned under at the top and 2cm (¾in) for the hem at the front of the vest using a few hand stitches.
bottom. Insert a pin at the armhole notch.
5 Cut two straps 10cm (4in) long from some fine lace
2 Pin the sides up to the armholes, sew a line of and sew the ends to the top of the back and front, on the
stitching, then finish off with a hem either side of these reverse using little stitches. For the front, attach them
armholes. Oversew the seams. to the broderie anglaise having turned under the ends.
Sew a heart button centrally at the front, beneath the
3 Turn under the top of the back by 1cm (½in) to the embroidery lace, with some stranded cotton (floss) in
reverse, turn under a small amount again and stitch to pink. Finish the vest by sewing a hem at the bottom, and
make a channel. Thread a piece of flat elastic through topstitch it on the right side with a running stitch using
the channel to adjust the width to 9cm (3½in) and attach pink stranded cotton (floss).
the elastic on either side using a few hand stitches.

4 Pass a gathering thread around the top of the front

 Doll Pattern
opening arm

opening leg
Body front
C

grainline
B

centre front

grainline

grainline

Foot top

Head front

M
A

C
A

centre back
opening back
opening leg

Body back

opening arm
 A

gra
inli
ne
rs t
gathe C Foo om
t
bot

fold arm
grainline

centre
M

Head back

grainline
Arm

gathers
B

Leg

centre leg – fold

 Seam

Fold

Gathers at ears
Ballerina

Needlecord hair
Doll
Front

Line of stitching centre parting

Gathers pulled up to 11⁄2cm (5⁄8in)

Gathers at ears
 Gathers at ears

Fold

Edge of hair Seam

centre back and front

Fold

grainline
line front

Vest
elasticated turnback back

½ back and front

armho
le
openin
g
Fold without seam Fold waistband

Half-Bloomers
½ back and front

grainline

Fold
 Bloomers
Fold without seam

½ back and front

grainline

Fold

Turnback leg
 Seam

Fold
Vest p. 15

Gathers at ears
Needlecord hair
Doll 120%
Ballerina
Front

Line of stitching
centre parting
Gathers pulled up to
11/2cm (5/8in)

Gathers at ears
 Gathers at ears

Vest p. 15

Fold

Edge of hair Seam

centre back and front

Fold

grainline
elasticated turnback back

line front

Vest p. 15

½ back and front

armho
le
openin
g
 Fold waistband
Fold without seam

Half-Bloomers p. 15
½ back and front

grainline

Fold
 Bloomers p. 45
Fold without seam

½ back and front

grainline

Fold

Turnback leg
 Dart
x2

Espadrilles p.
69 Espadrille p.69
▲

▲
Upper
Heel

Boots p.
Espadrille
24-100
p.69
Sole
Sole

k
k

ac
ac

b
eb

e
ntr
ntr

e
Ce

C
O Boots O
p. 24-100
Upper

A A
Turnback
Centre back

Centre back

Centre back

Boots p. 24-100
Leg
 Shoes
p. Sh
30
-3 oe p. 30-36-46 A
6- s 62-84-110
46
-6
2- Sole
Str
ap 84
-1
10

p.
30 Sh A
-3 oe
6- s
Up46-
pe 6
r 2- Pump
84
-1 p. 54-106
10
Sole

O
A

O Pump p. 54-106 O
Upper
milieu dos et devant

M
Doudou p. 75 M
Mule p. 76
Upper s Mule p. 76
rture

Df Sole
x2
ouve

t
os et devant
 A

O Ballet Shoes p. 92 O
Upper

A
Ballet Shoes
p. 92
Sole

O
Centre front

Breast poc-
ket
grainline

Dungarees
Bib
p. 25
 grainline
Pocket

Dungarees
p. 25
½ leg front
 Dungarees
p. 25
½ leg front
Brace

grainline
grainline
 Veil
p. 53
e
Sid
 ide
S

Veil
p. 53
Gathers
Gathers

Veil
p. 53

Centre fold
 Veil
p. 53

Centre fold
Opening

Opening
Bag
p. 31

Ric rac

Fold
 Dress p. 30
½ Front
A

½ Back
grainline
Dress p. 30
½ Bodice front
Centre front

Centre front

centre back
grainline

Overlap
Overlap
centre back
grainline
Dress p. 30
½ Bodice
back

B
 Centre

grainline
B A

back front

Dress p. 30
Sleeve

Elastic

Turnback sleeve
grainline

Fold

Pinafore p. 31 Straps
 grainline

Pocket

grainline

grainline

Bib
Waistband front
Gathers

grainline
grainline Pinafore p. 31
Waistband
back

Pinafore
p. 31
Pinafore
p. 31

grainline

Centre
centre back

opening back
Pleat
centre back Dress
p. 60

centre sleeve
Blouse
p. 24 and 36 p. 24 and 36
Blouse

grainline
½ front
½ back
grainline
Nightdress
p. 74
½ sleeve
 grainline

opening back
Dress p. 60

centre back

Pleat
Nightdress p. 74

½ back
½ front
 Fold

Skirt with braces p. 37 Waistband

height back

Waistband bac
Fold

Elastic

front gathers
height front

Centre
Skirt p. 37/45

centre front
Fold
½ brace
Skirt p. 45
½ front
½ back

ric rac
 Pleat Pleat Pleat
grainline

Pinafore dress ½ back

½ front
p.83

Pinafore dress p.83

centre back and front
Pinafore dress
p.83

Fold
Bib

brace
grainline
Pinafore dress p.83
Fold
½ Waistband
 back A
front

Cape p. 38
grainline

Back and front

centre back and front
(no hem)

Mule p. 76
dessus

M o hem
n

Mule p. 76
Semelle
 Dress p. 44
½ front
½ back
Dress p. 44

Centre front
Overlap
Bodice
grainline

½ back
½ front

Gathers
Centre front grainline

Overlap
Centre back
 Fold Cape
p. 38
½ hood

opening arm

no hem
Semelle

grainline
Teddy p. 75
Nightdress

Bodice p. 127

A
 Centre front

grainline

grainline

Mop cap p. 46
½ brim
Mop cap p. 46
Gathers

½ Head circumference

Centre front

Top
grainline

Mop cap
Centre

p. 46
Elastic

½ crown

Bottom
Centre back
 Fold

Dress
p. 52

centre

grainline
back front

grainline

Dress
centre front

p. 52
Bodice
½ front
grainline
centre back

Dress
p. 52
Bodice
½ back
 grainline
Gathers

Pinafore

Centre
p. 61
Frill
M

Mule p. 76
dessus

Pinafore
centre back and front

Teddy p. 75 M
p. 61

centre back and front

½ back
½ front
Mule p. 76
grainline

Semelle
ng
Openi

x2

Pocket
grainline
Pinafore p. 61 Strap
centre fold

grainline

Pinafore
p. 69

centre front fold

Top
centre back

grainline
Pinafore p. 61 grainline
Fold Strap
 Pleat centre front fold
Handle Handle
grainline Opening
Strap
Leotard p. 91

Barrel bag
p. 92
Side

Side
grainline
Strap
Centre Bottom of bag
k seam
centre bac Fold
 Side necklin

back
e front

back with seam and opening

Hat p. 68

Right edge

centre back and front

gr
ain
lin
e

centre back fold

Dress
p. 68
½ back
½ front
Side
grainline
 Hat p. 68

gra
inl
ine
ce
Right edge

ntr

e
Sid
ef
ro
nt

Side
Hat p. 68
gr

e
Right edg
ain
lin

ce
e

nt
re
fro
Side nt

grainline

Hat p. 68
Crown

e
Sid
 Dressing gown

½ sleeve
p. 76
Armholes

fold shoulder
gown
sing
Dres
p. 76
nt
½ fro
Loop
oles
Armh
 Dressing gown p. 76
½ waistband

grainline
Fold

grainline centre back fold

Dressing gown
p. 76
½ back
Armholes
 C

Blouse
Blouse p. 82
p. 82 C A
½ front
centre front

½ collar
grainline

Blouse

½ back
p. 82

grainline

centre back

Overlap
 rs Gath
Gathe Centre ers
B A
Back Front
Blouse
grainline
p. 82
Sleeve
Fold
 Underskirt
p. 90
½ leg back

centre back fold

Underskirt
p. 90
½ leg back

centre front fold

 centre back fold (without seam
)
p. 90
Tutu
p. 92
Barrel bag
 m)
ithout sea
nt fold (w
centre fro
grainline
p. 90
Tutu
 grainline
Centre
Raincoat
p. 98
Sleeve

k
re bac
t
cen
Raincoat
p. 98
Hood
 neckl
ine ba
neckl ck
ine fro
nt

grainline
Raincoat
p. 98
½ back
centre back fold

front overlap
½ front

Facing

Pocket
 Trousers
p. 99
½ back
½ front
back

grainline
turnback waist

pocket flap

Pocket
Side centre box pleat

front
 broderie anglaise edge
Trousers
p. 99 grainline
½ back
½ front Fold sleeve

Sailor’s top
p. 99
Sleeve
 grainline

Cupcakes
p. 106
Side
centre front and back fold
grainline

Sailor’s top
p. 99
ck

½ back Cupcake
Turnba
Vent

½ front p. 106
Base

Wand
p. 107
Tablecloth
p. 107

Gathers
gr
ai

Cupcakes p. 106
nl
in
e

Top
 turnba
ck arm
hole

p. 106
Dress with stars

grainline
centre back and front fold
 Kimono
p. 108
Pleat
join
ner
clea
pipe

Kimono
p. 108
½ back

Butterfly
p.107
Add 1cm all around for turnback
centre back opening
 p. 108
Kimono
grainline
centre back fold

½ back
p. 108
Kimono
grainline
centre back fold