I am excited to finally share the pattern pieces and instructions for the doll making activity that we did at Olivia’s 7th birthday party! This activity is perfect for a small group of children (we had 7 total, 3 of which were mine). Constructing the dolls is a pretty simple process.
Prepare Head:
Cut fabric corresponding to pattern pieces for head, hair, and pigtails.
Sew hair (bangs) onto head (face piece) along bang line; baste around edge, too, if you wish.
With face right side up, place pigtails on each side approximately 1/2″ up from neck edge. Or place a cluster of yarn if you prefer. Align the edges so that the pigtails lie in toward the center of the face. Baste in place.
Lay head (felt hair) on right side of head (face piece). Stitch together leaving neck open. Be sure your hair/pigtails remain in the center of the head. Turn right side out.
Prepare Body:
Cut fabric corresponding to pattern pieces for arms and body.
Sew two arm pieces together leaving the straight edge (where they connect to the body) open. Turn and stuff with fiberfill. (A chopstick works great as a stuffing tool!) Repeat for other arm.
Lay one body piece right side up and place stuffed arms on each side, aligning raw edges and setting the arms toward the center.
Lay other body piece right side down on top of arms and body. Stitch down each side, leaving neck and bottom open.
Serge or zigzag stitch around bottom of body. Sew ric rac around the bottom hem; be sure your stitch line is above the serger stitches. Turn ric rac under along seam line all the way around. (You will topstitch when you finish the doll.) For further instructions on this hemming method, go here.
Prepare Legs:
Cut fabric corresponding to pattern pieces for legs.
Sew two leg pieces together leaving the straight edge (where they connect to the body) open. Turn and stuff with fiberfill. (A chopstick works great as a stuffing tool!) Repeat for other leg.
For the Party:
I prepared the heads, bodies, and legs for all of the dolls and set them in piles for the party. Just before dinner, I had each girl pick out a head, body, and set of legs for their doll. I had a few extra on hand and anticipated a little arguing, but it went remarkably well – no “I want what she has” at all! After the girls chose their parts, I sent them to the dinner table and while they ate, I took the dolls and sewed all of the heads to the bodies (turn body inside out, place head inside, align side seams and neck edges and stitch around the neck). When the girls finished dinner, they came over to the table and stuffed their dolls. Some girls stuffed A LOT!! They absolutely LOVES this. Then, I helped each girl draw their doll’s face. The fabric markers are really tricky and bleed easily. I pre-marked the faces with a colored pencil and did the cheeks in advance. Then, depending on the girl’s age, I helped them quickly draw lines for the eyes and mouth. I sort of felt like making the face on your doll is an important component, but I also knew there was a high likelihood that the markers would bleed and the girls would be disappointed (and I sure didn’t want to resew dolls); I think the way we did it was a nice compromise. If you’re going to allow your party people to draw their own faces, I’d highly recommend you provide fabric for practicing. Then the girls had all kinds of fun cutting pieces of ribbon and twine to wrap around their doll’s hair, non-existent waistline, and legs. When they were satisfied, they delivered their doll and leg set to me in the sewing room. I tucked the legs into the body, readjusted some stuffing if needed (I tried not to adjust them too much), and stitched along the hemline to close the doll up. Done!
You can find the fabrics I used for these dolls by clicking on the Fabric.com link below and searching for “Michael Miller It’s a Girl Thing”:
You should be able to click on the images below to access the patterns pieces. Print to size as is and have fun!!
Comments & Reviews
tatiana says
gracias por los moldes de esta hermosa muñeca
Jan says
THANK YOU SEW MUCH!!!
The dolls are darling! This is the perfect activity for little girls. 🙂
I appreciate the time you took to give us this pattern and tutorial.
Bratling says
Hmm… Me thinks I have the crafty project for next time Bit is here during the weekend.
kate says
ooo yay! these are so cute, thank you for the pattern!! I want to make one for baby girl.
Jessica at Me Sew Crazy says
Stef – this is AMAZING!!! I am absolutely in love with this, it may be a MUST-DO for my little one’s Christmas list. I love love love it!
Shannon Phillips says
Funny! I have been looking for a pattern just like this! So hard to find a doll pattern that is not creepy looking. Thank you! I can’t wait to make one!
Jennifer: Two Bees and a Belle says
These are just precious! Thanks so much for the great instructions… I want to come to come to one of your fun parties 🙂 – a little girl’s dream!
Jennifer: Two Bees and a Belle says
These are just precious! Thanks so much for the great instructions… I want to come to come to one of your fun parties 🙂 – a little girl’s dream!
Jennifer: Two Bees and a Belle says
These are just precious! Thanks so much for the great instructions… I want to come to come to one of your fun parties 🙂 – a little girl’s dream!
kristin says
aw cute, thanks stef!
Anonymous says
Thank you! I have been looking for a pattern to make my niece a doll for Christmas. This is perfect! Kathy (O:
Destri says
All sorts of in love with this idea! I just happen to have a little one’s birthday coming up and this would be perfect!
I shared on our pinterest and newsletter 🙂
Destri
Audrey says
I was so hoping you would post the tutorial for this! thanks so much. adorable idea and always look forward to reading your wonderful blog. thank you!!
Amy (naptimecrafters) says
Adorable!! Definitely making one for my girl for Christmas if I can find the time 🙂
Alida Makes says
This is every little girl’s dream party! Did you hand sew or machine sew these? I just showed Charlotte this and she said “this is what I want at my next birthday party!”
Caila says
Ohmigosh! This is so amazing, Stef! I can’t wait to make one for Abby!
TheSewingLoft says
Wonderful idea for a party!
~Heather
Anonymous says
A cute option for younger children might be to prepare different felt/fabric eyes, noses, and mouths/lips to create different facial expressions and personalities. The kids could glue the feature onto targeted areas. Just a twist in this WONDERFUL idea you’ve developed!
andriani retno says
wow thank you for the pattern
i wanna make one for myself :))
thank youuuuu 🙂
Susan says
This is such a great idea!!
Amy says
these are so cute. I want to make one of these for my god-daughter being born in just a couple weeks, but I am going insane on how to do the face. Do you have a template for how you did the face of this doll? Thanks!
Haley Estes says
I absolutely loved this idea! I have already made one for my little girl that I will be featuring on my blog next week!
I also featured your tutorial on my blog today! feel free to go check it out! http://littlebitsofeverythingqce.blogspot.com/2013/04/pinned-it-friday-haley-edition_19.html Thanks for the tutorial and for the great inspiration!
-Hlaey
Pilipita says
Muy linda muñeca, gracias por compartirla
Natalie says
Just adorable, I can see my daughter and I having fun making one of these in the school holidays, thank you 🙂
solange de fatima rodrigues cruz says
olá, adorei seu blog, como faço para me adicionar a ele.. aguardo
Suas coisas são lindas!
Solange Rodrigues
Melody♪♫ says
What a fun party! Thank you for the adorable doll pattern.
tonya steele says
Hi. I just found your website and really like it! Thanks for the free doll pattern. I will be stopping by often. Have a great day.
m says
hi,i want patterns,plz guide me
girlinspired says
Hi! If you click on the pictures above that show the pattern sketches, you can download the image and print it! Hope that helps!
Joy Books says
This is too, too cute!!! Love it! Since I’m having a grandson, I guess I’ll have to make one for myself! Thanks a bunch!
girlinspired says
Yes! You should make one for yourself, Joy. I have one of them still perched in my sewing room – they’re so fun.
Wen says
I love these little dolls. I made one for each of my daughters last year, and tonight I’m making another 4 … this time for a friend who is a missionary in Malawi and has asked for some handmade dolls for her to use with the local kids there. I think the kids there will love them! I know my 2 year old does … she sleeps with “dolly” every night!
girlinspired says
How sweet! That is a great idea!
Carol Ann says
Thank you for sharing!!!! this will be my first doll project for my daughter!
Lyndsey says
Hi I was on the look out for a doll & I just adore yours! Only problem is I can’t get it to print correctly! Is there anyway you could email it to me thanks!
Karla says
Linda! Obgada pelos moldes, fácil de fazer!
Kimberley says
Hi Thanks For This Doll Making Tutorial My Query Is; Is The Less Curvy Body Piece Pattern To Be Use As a Boy Doll Pattern OR Can I Use It & Turn It Into a Boy Doll Pattern; just asking because I feel I might turn it to use for boys version doll. I Look forward To Your Response A.S.A.P! TAFS.
girlinspired says
Hi Kimberley, I just have two options for fun and variety. I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t make a boy doll. The parts are just very basic for easy sewing.
Renee says
Thanks for posting these instructions and the pattern. I really appreciate the time it takes to do that. I’ve pinned it for later, when I get the time to make it. Great post. Cheers from Melbourne, Australia
girlinspired says
Well thank you so much for your sweet comment! That was very kind. 🙂 Have a great day!
Fantasys says
I am so excited and happy to be making this doll for my soon-to-be-adopted foster baby. He’s 17 months old, we’ve had him since he was 1-day old and we are adopting him on April h. I plan to give him the doll on that day to celebrate. He has been really interested in other dolls and pats their heads and hugs them (so sweet). I wanted a real, baby size pattern and I love the hands and feet on this on. Thank you so much for sharing the pattern and instructions.
girlinspired says
😍😍😍😍 congratulations, brave mama.