Making Your Own Dolls and Stuffed Animals

People have been making dolls for thousands of years. In fact, archeologists have found dolls in Egypt dating back to 2000 BC. Thousands of years later and dolls are still very popular. This popularity can be seen in the variety of dolls and stuffed animals that are available to purchase at stores. Even with all this variety to choose from, doll making is a popular activity. Keep reading to discover why doll making is so popular and more importantly, how to make a doll or a stuffed animal.

Why is Doll Making So Popular?

People have many reasons for making their own dolls or stuffed animals. These vary from person to person, along with the benefits. The reasons and benefits for making your own dolls include:


They are great to give as gifts,
You can customize the doll to create a very unique look,
It is very satisfying when you make something yourself,
People appreciate the work that went into a homemade gift,
Smaller projects don't require large amounts of fabric, so it's a perfect way to use up fabric scraps, and
It's a great way to introduce children to crafts.

How To Make Your Own Doll

Dolls or stuffed animals can be as simple or as complex as you want to make them. They are made from patterns that can contain 1-3 pieces that are sewn together or from many pieces. No matter how simple or complex the pattern is, the process is the same. First, trace the pattern pieces onto fabric and cut them out. Next, place the pieces together, with the right side of the fabric turned in. Sew the edges together, leaving a small opening. Turn the fabric inside out, fill with stuffing and sew the small opening shut.

Options

When it comes to doll making, you have a couple of options.


You could buy a pattern. The pattern will indicate what supplies are needed, the pattern and complete instructions for assembling the doll. The advantage of buying a pattern is that it is generally cheaper to buy the pattern and all the supplies yourself than to buy a kit, especially if you already have some of the required supplies.
Another option is to buy a kit. The advantage of buying a kit is that it will contain both the pattern and all the supplies that you need to make the doll. That means you'll save time in gathering all the necessary supplies.
A third option is to design your own stuffed animal pattern. You can start by drawing the shape on paper. Then cut the material and sew it together. As you gain more experience, you can make more complex patterns with several pieces. The main advantage of this option is that your doll or stuffed animal will truly be one of a kind.

Final Considerations

Most fabric will work wonderful. Material such as fake fur or any type of material that has long, fuzzy strands is better suited for medium to large sized projects. Just keep in mind that the thicker the material, the harder it is to sew together when it is in small pieces.

As well, take a look at the pattern itself. Does it have a lot of pieces to be sewn together? Does it have many curves or tight curves to sew? If you answered yes to these two questions, then just keep in mind that these are more advanced patterns that may not be suitable for children or beginner sewers. Once you have a little experience with sewing and are feeling up to the challenge, then these more complex patterns will allow you to make detailed dolls that are absolutely gorgeous.

Are you now inspired to make your own doll or stuffed animal? If so, please visit Beautiful Creations at [http://www.beautifulcreations.ca/ProjectIdeas/FreeProjectsForChildren.htm] for free doll projects, perfect for children and beginner sewers alike! Each project has pictures and step-by-step instructions to guide you along.