Just Like Me Doll

DOLL

You need:
View and print the pattern (PDF format requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader) and enlarge (see below for instructions).
.5 m broadcloth in desired skin tone, 115 cm wide
Matching thread
1 skein of yarn for hair
.6 m satin ribbon for hair, 13 mm wide (optional)
Polyester fibrefill
Small felt piece for eyes
Orange permanent marker for freckles (optional)
2 small beads for earrings (optional)
Pink embroidery thread for mouth and nose, brown for eyelashes
Sewing and embroidery needles
White craft glue
Dressmaker's chalk pencil
Brown paper
Pencil

To make:

1. Enlarge pattern by the squaring method: On brown paper, draw a grid of horizontal and vertical lines 2.5 cm (1 in) apart. Each square on the diagram equals a 2.5 cm square on your paper. Enlarge by drawing each part of the design onto the corresponding square on your paper. Cut out.

2. Cut out all pattern pieces. Pin pattern pieces on corresponding fabric.

Note: Use 6 mm (1/4 in) seam allowance throughout. Trim seam allowance and clip curves before turning right side out. Overcast raw edges with a machine zigzag stitch or use pinking shears.

I. Body
Fold broadcloth so right sides are together. Using chalk pencil, trace body on broadcloth. Do not cut out. Pin around outline, through double fabric, so pins are perpendicular to line. Stitch along chalk line, leaving 8 cm (3 in) open on top of head. To reinforce neck, underarm and crotch areas, stitch again. Trim seam allowance to 6 mm (1/4 in). Clip seam allowance every 3 mm (1/8 in) on hands and feet; clip every 1 cm (3/8 in) on rest of body. Turn right side out. Press. Stuff legs and arms firmly to within 13 mm (1/2 in) of dotted lines indicated on pattern. (A chopstick makes an excellent stuffer. Be sure to stuff small spaces such as the thumbs.) Topstitch along dotted lines. Stuff body and head. Make sure neck is stiff and head is firm and round from front to back. Shape body as you stuff, to create a round look. Slipstitch top of head closed.

II. Hair
Long hair: Cut yarn into 56 cm (22 in) lengths (number of lengths will depend on thickness of yarn).

Shoulder-length hair: Cut yarn into 30 cm (12 in) lengths.

To form a part in hair, machine stitch through centre of yarn lengths (see Hair Diagram 1). Part should be approximately 6.5 cm (2-1/2 in) long for most hairstyles and 12.5 cm (5 in) long for braids.

Place yarn on head, centring part. Glue part and bottom layer of yarn in place so head is completely covered. Arrange rest of yarn. Secure with a few hidden stitches. Trim yarn to form bangs.

Make braids and tie bows with ribbons if desired.

Curls: Wrap yarn in a single layer around a piece of stiff paper, approximately 5 x 25 cm (2 x 10 in) long. Machine-stitch down centre of paper, forming loops. (See Hair Diagram 2.) Remove paper. Make as many of these as you need to cover head. Handstitch section of curls around front hairline. Fill rest of head with remaining sections. Separate and fluff loops to form curls.

III. Face
Mark nose and mouth lightly with chalk pencil as shown in pattern. Stitch with 3 strands of pink embroidery floss using outline stitch. On a black doll, stitch nose in brown embroidery floss. Slipstitch eyes in place. (Experiment with placement of eyes as they can change the expression. To make eyes more noticeable on a black doll, back the eyes with a slightly larger circle of white felt.) Using a single strand of brown embroidery floss, sew 3 eyelashes for each eye. Add any freckles with marker (experiment on a scrap of fabric first). Sew beads to side of face for earrings if desired.