QuietStandards Rag Doll Pattern Instructions

This post is the instructions for my Doll Pattern. I use to try to sell this pattern on Etsy, but I have now decided to release it here for free. 

This link will give you access to the pdf with the pattern pieces. You should be able to print them from there.

This link will give you access to the document with the instructions. You should be able to print them from there.

QuietStandards Rag Doll Pattern

Supplies:

- ¼ yard cotton muslin in color of your choice

- Embroidery floss for the face in colors of your choice

- Thread

- 4 oz. Polyester filling 

- 25 yds. of Yarn for hair in color of your choice

- Thread in the same color as the hair

Step 1. Cutting Out Fabric

Lay the pattern pieces on double layer thickness of fabric. Pin in place and cut out pieces. Trace markings for face onto the right side of the fabric. Trace the  seam allowance markings and arm and leg placements onto wrong side of the doll pieces.

Step 2. Embroidering The Face

Make the eyes with full 6 strands of floss. For the eyes make French knots.

For the eyebrows, nose, and mouth use 1 strand of embroidery floss. Stitch the eyebrows, nose, and mouth using a Stem Stitch. 

Tip: Tie your embroidery off very firmly on the backside. Children will usually be hard on the face and you want your facial features to stay on for a long time.

Step 3. Sewing The Arms And Legs

Sew the arms, right sides together, along the ¼ inch seam allowance. Turn right side out and stuff with polyester filling, a narrow dowl such as a pencil or chopstick is helpful with task. Fill with stuffing until you are satisfied with the fullness of the arms. 

Sew legs, right sides together, along the ¼ seam allowance.Turn right side out and stuff with polyester filling. Fill with stuffing until you are satisfied with the fullness of the legs. 

Tip: Basting the open ends of the arms and legs once they are stuffed makes the pieces easier to work with later.

Step 4. Sewing Body And Attaching Arms

(Warning: This is the most difficult step. Getting the arms to fit inside the doll's body while you stitch the seam is difficult, but it is worth the effort. Take your time, you will persevere.)

Pin the arms inside the doll body at the arm placement markings, matching raw edges: baste in place.

Sew the doll body, right sides together, along ¼ inch seam allowance, leaving open the leg placement and the area between the legs.

Tip: Sew an extra row of stitching where the arms are attached. Doll arms have a lot of strain put on them and the reinforcement stitching can help them hold up to use.

Turn right side out. Stuff with polyester filling until desired fluffiness is achieved.

Step 5. Attaching Legs And Sewing Up The Opening

Fold under the ¼ inch  seam allowance at the base of the doll. Position the legs at the leg placement markings: Pin, and Baste.

Stitch the whole opening closed. Stitching through all thicknesses close to the edge of the fold.

Tip: This seam can be stitched twice to add reenforcement for the legs.

Step 6. Making The Hair

Pick out a thin book, 8 inches tall. Wrap the yarn around the book 56-66 times or, until the wrapped area is about 4 inches long. At the open end of the book snip through all the yarn with scissors, resulting in strands of yarn 16 inches long. 

Draw a line with a pencil down the center of the back of the doll's head. Continue the line down the center of the forehead for ⅜ of an inch.

Double thread a needle with thread the same color as the hair yarn, knot it securely.  Make a small stitch along the pencil line at the base of the doll's neck. 

Loop the thread back around a strand of yarn at the center of the piece of yarn.

 Stitch the yarn into place. Make the needle come up along the center pencil line a very short distance ahead of the secured strand of yarn. With the needle and thread loop back around a second piece of yarn. Stitch the second strand of yarn into place. Make the needle come up along the center pencil line a very short distance ahead of the second piece of yarn. Continue like this until all the hair is stitched on the doll.

Gently comb the hair into pigtails. Tie the pigtails tightly with yarn. Stitch the pigtails to the side of the doll's head.

Braid the pigtails and secure by tying yarn around the ends. Trim the ends of yarn to make them even.

Congratulations, your Rag Doll is finished!

Sewing in June

 

My son needed this button sewn to his shorts.

These shoes that are new to me needed a little stitch where the thread had unraveled.

You may have noticed that I had no sewing updates for May. That is because I had a baby on April 28th. I took the month of May off from sewing projects. Due to baby gifts and people bringing us meals I have a lot of thank you cards to send.

I made this design, copied off a bunch, and then added the color with crayons. It's not a sewing project but it is a creative endeavor.

I have also started another pioneer doll. So far the face is embroidered and the seam allowances are marked.

By the way, our baby is a girl. Delivery was a very uncomplicated, routine affair. Baby girl has been blessed with good health and is growing like a bean. We love her very much!

Art

 

My mother-in-law bought me a sketch kit for my birthday this week. I was so excited to use it that I started as soon as I opened the package. I made these two drawings for a double baby shower today. I made the cards from these drawings. One of the families is expecting a boy. The other one is expecting a girl. And their due dates are a week apart, I believe. They are going to be close cousins!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend and get to enjoy fellowship with believers tomorrow. 

Hebrews 10:24+25

And let us consider one another 

to provoke unto love and to good works:

 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, 

as the manner of some is; 

but exhorting one another: and so much the more, 

as ye see the day approaching.

Stuffed Baby Whales Toy Tutorial Part 2: The Eyes

To sew the eyes:

I cut the eyes from a piece of tightly woven, white cotton. I use the back of a pen for a template.

I place the eye on the whale and use a pin to keep it in place.

I thread a needle a tie a secure knot at the end. I poke the needle into the whale a short distance from the eye. I am careful to put the point of the needle between the weft and warp of the weave.

Pull the needle up through the edge of the eye. And pull the knot through to the inside of the whale.

Make a small stitch around the edge of the eye and through the whale fabric.

Pull the stitch down to a small loop.

Using the tip of my needle I lay the stitch just where I want it as I pull the thread tight. 

Keep stitching around the edge of the eye.

Go all the way around.

And then stitch all the way around for a second time.

To tie my thread off, I tie a knot in the the thread.

I tie another knot right on top of the first knot.

I poke the tip of my needle, trying to place it between the weave. I have my needle come up a short distance from the eye.

I pull the knot through the hole, and down into the whale.

Clip the thread off. 

Next, the pupil of the eye has to be added.

I use a double threaded needle. I tie a knot and pull the knot to the inside of the whale.

I make the pupil with a padded satin stitch. Meaning; I make stitches in one direction and then stitch over top of the first stitches in the opposite direction.

To tie the thread off; I tie a single knot in the thread then poke the tip of my needle down, trying to place it between the weave of the eye fabric and the whale fabric beneath.

I put the needle up some distance away from the eye. I pull the knot through the fabrics. I help the knot go through by pushing down with the tip of my needle while keeping tension on the thread by pulling tightly with my fingers.

Clip the thread.

Tada! Finished!