Make a Small Waldorf Doll - Part II

Last week, we featured Part I of fairienest's beautiful small Waldorf doll-making tutorial. Today is the second installment of her beautiful how-to. If you'd like to learn even more about finishing off your small Waldorf doll, please visit her blog, The Fairies' Nest.

Make a Small Waldorf Doll - Part II, by Cyn of fairienest

The first thing you need to do is cover your doll's legs. I usually make tights by tracing around the legs, cutting out this pattern and sewing around it. Notice the tabs on the bottom of the pattern's feet. You sew right over these and then rip off the paper when you're done. This makes these tiny pieces much easier to work with. Then turn your tights right side out and slip them on your doll. (use knits to make tights and save yourself a LOT of frustration.) Now sew the waist of the tights to the doll. I also sew the bottom of the tights to the doll's feet as this helps prevent shoes being pulled off.



Next we need to cover the arms and make hands. Simply sew a tube of fabric, turn it and slip it on. I have a pair of hemostats for turning tiny pieces and they are fabulous! Mine came from one of the many trips to the emergency room for stitches the kids have taken. They were going to throw them away!!! But you can avoid the trauma and get some here. Sew the arms on at the top and then make a wrist and a mitten hand.







If you want, you can give your doll some bloomers like these! Cut out two, sew up the front and back and then sew up one leg and down the other. Turn and after you put them on the doll, sew to the waist. But that's strictly optional.



I like to give most of my storybook dolls a petticoat because it looks so sweet peeking out from under a dress. Just sew up the back on a piece of lace and gather around the dolls waist. Arrange the gathers so that they are mostly in the front and back and less on the sides. This will keep your doll from looking too fat.



Note: I use fray check on the cut edges of my non knit costume pieces (here the pantaloons and the top of the slip) to prevent them from raveling and to reduce bulk in the finished doll...I think it is absolutely essential!
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Here's another doll from her shop!