Fabric Dolls

I know there are an incredible selection of dolls produced these days; in vinyl, resin, porcelain or similar substances. I know many of you collect very specific dolls, but I wonder if any of my readers like to make or collect fabric dolls. I have made several fabric dolls in the past and have suddenly had the urge to do so again.

A blast from my past!

Sometimes people refer to these stuffed, handmade dolls as Waldorf dolls and this is not necessarily correct, as many fabric dolls are not  made with children or their education in mind at all. A Waldorf doll is doll based on the principles of Waldorf education (also known as Steiner education), which emphasizes the role of imagination in learning, striving to integrate the combined intellectual, practical and artistic development of pupils.

Waldorf dolls are typically handmade for children, from natural fibres, usually with cotton knit skin and stuffed with wool, and crafted using traditional doll making techniques which originated in Europe. You will find a full description HERE.

In my case, I have mainly made my dolls for teenagers or young at heart adults, who like myself, simply enjoy collecting (and playing with) dolls of all kinds. Many of the traditional doll making techniques are still applied, as is the use of natural fibres. However, I have in the past used acrylic paint, water based gloss, buttons and other decorative items from time to time, depending on the finished look I wished to achieve. Some were made with clothing attached as in the quirky little doll shown here, while others had removable clothes.

Buttons used for eyes.

Acrylic paint and water based gloss used to paint shoes & socks.

My mother referred to them as a rag or cloth dolls, but I have also heard them called interior dolls, tilda dolls, primitive dolls, or softies, but whatever one may call them ... to me they are simply hand made fabric dolls, which one can dress and play with, or simply use as decoration around the home.

The doll I am working on at present, is an enlarged Nekomimi (cat ear) doll pattern from Nunodoll, which will not look like the Nekomimi doll at all when finished. Being re-sized it will enable me to dress her in different outfits and allow her to wear children's size 4 or 5 shoes with socks.

Although I have most of the supplies to make this doll, I am waiting on 2 items to arrive from the Netherlands, so I will have little to show you for a couple of weeks. While I am waiting I will make some outfits of my own design so she will have lots to wear once she is completed.

Of course not all my fabric "dolls" were made of cotton, some like my one of a kind Ballerina Bunny were made of mohair and had a needle felted faced. Of course she is totally OTT with her sequined dress and glittered high top sneakers, but I have always loved things which are decidedly unconventional and she makes me smile!

Hope you are all having productive dolly time too!
Hugs,
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