Inspiration for a doll made of yarn

A doll made for me by my great-grandmother, possibly when I was an infant, always stored in my mother's cedar chest until she died in 2005. Then it came to me, first stored in my own cedar chest and then tucked up on a shelf in my closet. She has a bonnet made of the same yarns and stitches which has lost one of its ties. I hope it's in my sewing basket.

Recently, Isabelle discovered her and is delighted with her. She is sure she can make one for herself and so it begins... taking her apart to find out how to make another. 

Starting at the back where the dress has been laced closed and tied with a single strand of yarn with pom-poms attached to the ends.

To get the yarn through the crochet stitches, I had to cut the pom-poms off the ends. The top of the dress is tied shut using the long end of the crochet.

 

The dress. Now I will be able to wash it gently in cool water and hopefully remove some of the dirt.

Her panties

front

back

  

The arms are not what I thought, but are entirely separate, one long braid shoved through the body.

The netting for the pettycoat is stitched to a ribbon which was sewed together and then stitched to the back of the doll to hold it in place.

Here are the basics - head, body, legs, and arms.

back

front

The legs are tied off at the ends and a pom-pom attached to one strand of yarn.

Where it all begins... a bundle of yarn tied together at the middle point and folded over at the top of her head.

And with a big of digging, I've discovered a styrofoam core. I am guessing the doll this doll was inspired by wouldn't have had this core, but the styrofoam builds up the head to match the size of the plastic face.

Rather cheeky isn't she, looking at us out of the corner of her eye.

Isabelle is already talking about how her eyes and mouth can be sewed on using either colored yarn or wooden buttons to avoid using the plastic face. Maybe a wooden bead to replace the styrofoam. We don't know yet but we'll let you know.

Cheers.