This months’ project is a quick and easy washcloth doll that could easily be a best seller at your next craft fair or a favorite toy for the small children that you know.
Each washcloth doll takes one terry washcloth — use white, or peach color or brown, as you would like, small scraps of fabric for the pants and hat, and a small length of eyelet lace for the top (blouse).
Fold the washcloth in half and mark the center with a pin. Roll the two opposite edges toward the center (fig 1).
Cut the top center line 2 1/2″ down from the top for the arms, and 3 inches up from the bottom for the legs (fig 2). Tack down the raw edges.
Fold the top backwards on the fold line as indicated on the diagram (fig 2). Lay a string through the top of the head; wind a string around the neck and tie firmly. Then tighten the string at the top of the head and tie. Tack the arms to the sides of the body with a few stitches (fig 3).
Weave the ends of the hands together and wrap the thread up from the ends of the arms about 5/8″ to form the wrists (fig 4).
Embroider the face, following the diagram above, making the eyes blue, brows and nose brown and mouth red. Hair: For a girl doll make yarn loops around the face in desired color; for a boy, cover the back of the head with long yarn stitches, taking a few shorter stitches in the front.
Clothing: Cut two 5″ strips of eyelet or peasant type embroidered trimming for the blouse – cross in front and back and tack to the doll. For boy doll, follow the chart to make a pants pattern, letting each square equal one inch. Cut four, stitch right sides together to form trousers; turn right side out. Fold under the raw bottom edges and crease. Pull pants onto the doll and tack around the top. Cover the stitches with bright ribbon sash. For a girl doll, cut a circle 5 inches in diameter; cut a small circle out of the center and slip over the doll, tacking the skirt to the waist. Cover the stitches with a bright ribbon sash.
For the bonnet, cut two hat pieces (for the pattern enlarge the chart above, letting each square equal one inch), Join the bonnet at the ends with whipstitches and tack the hat to the head at a jaunty angle. Tie a ribbon at the neck to resemble a scarf.
TO MAKE A PATTERN FROM A CHART:
Read the particular pattern to see how big each square should be — the ones used for this pattern should equal one inch. On a sheet of paper, rule off the same number of squares in the same arrangement as shown on the chart, according to the scale given. These crossing lines guide you to drawing in the scale. Put all lines in the same positions on the large squares as they are in relation to the small squares on the chart.
An easier way to enlarge a chart to one inch squares is to copy the chart that needs to be enlarged and use a photocopier to enlarge the pattern until the squares equal one inch squares. The pattern will be ready to cut and you don’t have to draw in the lines.
I’ll just bet if you make several of these dolls to sit in various spots in your customer waiting area (with price tags on them) – you’ll be busy with all the orders you’ll be getting!
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