Thursday, July 7, 2011

Babushka Cloth Doll

I'm making toys! They're for a little 'project' I'm still cooking up. I don't want to give away details until the plans are a little more concrete. But for now, I am showing you some Babushka cloth dolls I made last night. And I prepared templates and a little tutorial so you can try this too!

I was able to finish 2 dolls last night. These are around 6 inches tall and the sewing part only took a few minutes. And it only requires small pieces of fabric so I was able to use some from my scrap pile. The hardest part for me was trying to design the faces.

To make these, you will need:
  • A template, available for download below.
  • Some scrap fabric (soft fabric, like the one I used for the pink doll, works better)
  • Small piece of felt for the face
  • Something to use for stuffing (I used polyester)
  • Small pieces of felt, fabric or other items to decorate the faces
  • Fabric glue or glue gun
  • Sewing machine

Step 1: Download the template and resize according to your preference. Print and cut out.
To download: Click on the image to load full size. Once full size image is displayed, right click and select Save As to save the template to your computer.

Step 2: Cut out the fabric pieces using the template as guide. Please remember to add seam allowances since I didn't add the seam allowance to the template.

Cut fabric, with seam allowances.

Step 3: Put the hood part over one piece of the main body. Both right sides facing outward. And then put the second piece of the main body over the hood, right sides facing inside. Wrong sides must be facing out. Sew around the sides leaving the bottom open.



Step 4: Turn right side out.

Step 5: You can choose to iron to set the seams... or if you are lazy like me and if the cloth you are using is soft, you can proceed with stuffing your doll with your choice of stuffing.

Step 6: Sew the opening shut.

Step 7: Decorate the face. I didn't include templates for the face because I didn't use any. I used felt to cut shapes for the hair and mouth, beads for the eyes and black thread for the eyelashes for the pink doll, googly eyes for the black and yellow doll (which I don't like so much).

Step 8. Use fabric glue or glue gun to attach the face to the doll.



I gave them to Andrea this morning to see if she will like them (though they aren't really for her) and she does. I'll see if she still likes them by the end of the day. If she, does then I guess she can keep them. I can make more. She calls them 'babies' and that gave me an idea for another doll *wink*. 

Looking at them after I was done, they remind me a little of the characters from Higglytown Heroes because they are nesting dolls as well. I'll check out the characters in detail for inspiration when I make more. Because I might need more for my 'project'. 


Have you checked out my interview with PC for Creating Success Around the World yet? You should check it out. PC is really a talented lady. And if you haven't linked up to the blog hop yet, you have 5 more days to meet other creative bloggers. Hope to see you there!

I am linking up to the following parties:
Link Party at Tea Rose Home | Sugar & Spice at Seven Thirty Three | Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts | Hoo's Got Talent at Night Owl Crafting | Wicked Awesome Wednesday at Handy Man, Crafty Woman | Strut Your Stuff at Somewhat Simple | Creative Juice Thursday at Momnivore's Dilemma | Get Your Brag On at Gluesticks | Thrilling Thursday at Paisley Passions | Free for All at Young and Crafty | Think Pink Sundays at Flamingo Toes | K.I.S.S. at The Tattered Tag | Sundae Scoop at I heart Naptime | Sunday Showcase at Under the Table and Dreaming | Not Baaad Sundays at Lamb Around | Craft-O-Maniac Monday at Craft-O-Maniac | Making Monday Marvelous at C.R.A.F.T. | Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative | Craftastic Monday at Sew Can Do | Motivate Me Monday at Keeping it Simple | A Round Tuit at Creating My Way to Success  | Amaze Me Monday at Dittle Dattle | A Marvelous Mess at Marvelously Messy | Made By You Monday at Skip to My Lou | Market Yourself Monday at Sumo's Sweet Stuff | Handmade Tuesdays at Ladybug Blessings | Take-a-Look Tuesday at Sugar Bee Crafts | Tutorial Tuesday at Hope Studios | Sew Cute Tuesday at Creative Itch | Show Me What Ya Got at Not JUST a Housewife | Tuesday To-do Party at The Blackberry Vine | Tip Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie | Tuesday Party at Running With Glitter | Confessional Link Party at Confessions of a Stay at Home Mommy |

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

OH how adorable...

Diane Writes said...

Hello Janelle! Ang cuuuuute! and I think aside from giving them as toys to kids, it could be innovated to bag charms. Suggestion (i hope you won't mind) i would love to see a paired or couple dolls. But whatever are your plans for the dolls, I'm sure it would be more creative!

Anonymous said...

Hello Janelle, thanks for popping over to my blog :)
Really nice to meet you :)

Thendral said...

Lovely!!! I love the pink one.

PC said...

Can't wait to see the final reveal!!!

Kristen said...

I would Love you to submit this to my blog!! www.culturecottage.blogspot.com. this is so cute!!!!

Jill said...

Gorgeous little dolls! I'm getting even more curious now!

Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a great week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

Jessica at Me Sew Crazy said...

these are very cute!

Handy Man, Crafty Woman said...

those came out so cute!! Thanks for linking it up to our Wicked awesome wed link party.

Unknown said...

This is a fabulous idea and I love the look!
Would you be willing to share this at our Weekly Playdate link party? This week's party is here: http://beneaththerowantree.blogspot.com/2011/07/playdate-link-party-blog-hop-16-all.html

Cheers,
Lori
Come & Play :: Playdate
www.beneaththerowantree.com

Mariel@ www.sexymodeststyle.com said...

how cute, easy and simple these dolls are!

Come link it up at WOOT WOOT WEDNESDAYS!

http://tootsiewootsieboutique.blogspot.com/2011/07/its-official-every-wednesday-i-am-doing.html

Unknown said...

I featured this project on my blog, Marvelously Messy, today!! Thanks so much for linking to my party. If you would like to come see your post and pickup a "featured" button here is the link: http://marvelouslymessy.blogspot.com/2011/07/marvelous-mess-22-and-features.html

Also, feel free to link up any new projects you have to this weeks party!!

Jami said...

These little dolls are so sweet! I'm so glad you chose to add them to the Tuesday To Do Party last week!
Smiles!
Jami
www.blackberryvine.blogspot.com

American Girl Doll Clothes said...

Hello friends,

Nowadays, Babushka cloth doll appears to be the entranceway, it is entails making cloth dolls customizing all of them is really a lot of the enjoyable, these types of dolls are going to be dealing with you need to make sure that the stitches tend to be extremely long lasting. Thank you so much for sharing it.....