How To Make A Rag Doll
By villageanne
@villageanne (8553)
United States
February 22, 2007 3:15pm CST
I love the wonderful example that the pioneers set for us. They proved that one did not need money to live a happy life. They proved that making homemade toys can keep our kids happy and entertained for hours. The homemade toys tend to encourage creative thinking and imagination. These skills are necessary in todays world as much as they were in the pioneer time.
I am concerned that we are teaching our children that money is the way to be happy and storebought toys are the best. I tend to disagree with this. I love the old homemade toys like the
sock monkey http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/785501.aspx
sock elephant http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/785611.aspx
and the rag doll. These toys teach many skills to children like how to love, by holding the toys in parental ways. They teach, how to communicate by talking to the toys like they were real. They teach other needed skills.
Another great toy that is so cute and so easy to make is the rag doll. You can make the doll and then make many different clothes for it. Kids just love them and they look great on a bed.
You can find the simple pattern here:
http://www.sewing.circleofcrafters.com/freeragdollpattern.html
This pattern is so versatle that you can make several and no two will be alike.
Did you have a rag doll when you were little?
Who made it for you?
7 people like this
15 responses
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
22 Feb 07
I wanted to make rag dolls for my granddaughter's for Christmas this past year, but was unable to find a suitable pattern. Thank you for the link to this pattern. I have vowed to make at least one craft item or more per month. Once I am finished with the sweaters for the grandkids I am focusing on gifts for Christmas. This cute little rag doll will be loved by my girls.
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
23 Feb 07
there are also many patterns for dresses for this adorable rag doll
@chaygylmommy (2470)
• United States
22 Feb 07
thank you so much for the link to the ragdoll. That is great. I am not creative at all, but I may try to do this for my daughter before she gets too old to enjoy it. :)
1 person likes this
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
30 May 07
these are so easy to make. Let me know how you liked the doll.
@Seibertron (231)
• India
23 Feb 07
nice to hear from you .. i never been a fan of anykind of toys so never really intereted in it .. I remember i ve had many toys when i was a kid but didnt bother to play with it ever ..
1 person likes this
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
22 Feb 07
I admire home economics teachers. They have so many talents to share. I think kids take them for granted alot. I still keep in touch with my high school home ec teacher and that has been over 28 years ago now.
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
23 Feb 07
I have a granddaughter who is going to need her first rag doll soon. My first mother in law made them for all of the kids, boys and girls. Samantha was nine months old when grandma brought her doll to her. I was at work, and came home to find my little girl sitting and rocking back and forth saying "Ka bye, ka bye" ( rocka bye, rockabye, LOL). You are right, our soft toys do provide essential developmental skills.
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
23 Feb 07
This is another one I will bookmark. We do art in homeschooling and so we shall make a few of these. Might make a few to take to the flea market and sew what kind of attention they will garner. Thanks so much for sharing this here at Mylot.
1 person likes this
@LadyLudie (359)
• Philippines
23 Feb 07
I agree with you.You are right for what you said,you know when I was small I used to make my own toys since my parents cannot buy us toys,I created dolls from a piece of cloth and I made dresses,I also create a wooden car made up from a piece of wood and a softdrink cap as a wheel.We can also do the same thing if we are only creative and have some ideas.we can give our children some nice things to play with without buying it from the store.
@Bee1955 (3882)
• United States
23 Feb 07
I didnt have a rag doll but I did have sock monkeys made by our grandmother. I sew stuffed toy animals and dress them for Christmas gifts to hospitals and nursing homes during the holidays. The patterns are easier than people think and should try them out. My favorite stuffed toy pattern is Simplicity 7421, a stuffed bunny, made from ladies crew socks! Try making that for easter instead of giving candy and make someone happy!
1 person likes this
@western_valleygirl (1363)
• United States
23 Feb 07
I agree with you about the fact that children no longer have any appreciation for the things in life, that were difficult to come by in the old days. And, yes, they are becoming materialistic. I don't remember if I had a rag doll as a child, however, I more than likely did, because my family were good about us taking care of our toys, and trying not to overspoil us. Of course, we were spoiled by family members, but growing older, we learned to work hard for the things that we wanted. I like the ideas for the rag dolls, I am going to check them out. Thanks
1 person likes this
@dhouston (417)
• United States
23 Feb 07
Homemade dolls and stuffed animals can be the best! And you can make them using the tiniest remnants of fabric. In the 1950s, when my brothers and I were growing up, my mother made cute stuffed animals and dolls. She didn't even buy the stuffing separately. When her nylons had worn out and run too much to wear, she cut them into thin rings that served as a nice, bouncy, easy-to-wash stuffing. The animals and dolls didn't go flat even after through repeated visits to the washing machine and they always dried quickly.
1 person likes this
@paidreader (5143)
• United States
23 Feb 07
My grandmother made me a stuffed green frog with little black fuzzy dots all over. I always thought it was special since I had watched (and helped just a little) while she was sewing it on her manual sewing machine. It just facinated me to see her make something new out of something old. My frog had been an outgrown dress in a previous life LOL.
1 person likes this
@Lifez2short (4962)
• United States
30 May 07
Oh wow that is too cool I will have to try to make these for my daughters. I have 3 girls so I guess I will be busy . But I think this is something I will have to try. Thank you for this post.
