Made to Love Vintage Doll Tutorial
If you love classic dolls and have been searching for doll sewing patterns with a vintage feel, look no further!
Learn how to make a doll that looks like the doll you played with as a young girl when you make this adorable DIY doll pattern.
Looking just like an old-school toy, the Made to Love Vintage Doll Tutorial shows you have to make a doll entirely out of fabric that is the perfect homemade Christmas gift for your granddaughter or daughter.
Complete with free doll clothes patterns that fit the doll perfectly, this sweet little easy sewing pattern is one you are going to want to make again and again.
We're also sharing the PDF of this tutorial and pattern at the bottom of this page. As a bonus, you can also download a PDF for DIY doll clothes for your new DIY doll. It's certainly all made to love and we know you will!
From Coats & Clark: "'Made to be Loved' was a leaflet published by Coats & Clark in 1955. We are sharing one of the original dolls, 'Betty Ann' from the leaflet. We are also including an updated version of the original pattern that takes a little less time to complete, but is just as cute!"
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Made to Love Vintage Doll Tutorial & Sewing Pattern
Skill Level: Intermediate
Project Type: Make a Project
Time to Complete: In an Evening
Sewn By: Machine
Materials List:
• Doll templates
• Coats and Clark Dual Duty XP All Purpose Thread to match fabrics
• Coats and Clark Dual Duty XP Heavy Thread to match muslin
• E & P Coats Embroidery Floss, black, blue, brown, red, and pink
• Red Heart 4-ply yarn for hair, approximately 16 yards
• Muslin, 1/4-yard
• Polyester fiberfill for stuffing
• Water-soluble marking pen
• Hand Embroidery Needles
• Embroidery hoop, 6"
• Crayon, light pink
DIY Vintage Doll Instructions:
All seam allowances are 1/4" unless otherwise noted.
Finished size: 15" tall.
- Trace and cut out body pattern pieces. Print templates here.
- Before cutting the head and body piece trace facial features to a 6" x 12" piece of muslin with a water-soluble marking pen.
- Embroider features using J. & P. Coats Embroidery Floss. See the pattern here for an illustration. Remove any markings with a damp cloth. Allow to dry. Highlight cheeks with a pink crayon.
- Pin pattern pieces to muslin. For the head and body match facial features to the paper pattern. Pin and cut. Transfer pattern markings on the leg as noted.
- Right sides together sew body pieces. Backstitch at the beginning and end of seams. Leave a 2-inch opening on the bottom of the body for turning. Leave an opening at the top of the arm and leg pieces for turning. Trim corners and clip curved edges before turning.
- Stuff body parts with polyester fiber fill. Use small bits of stuffing at a time. Stuff the body pieces until firm. Be sure to get stuffing into all corners.
- Turn in raw edges on the body, arms, and legs. Overcast the edges together with small, close stitches.
- Use Coats and Clark Dual Duty XP Heavy Thread to assemble the doll. Attach arms to the body with small overcast stitches. Align the upper arm with the top shoulder edge. Place the arm with the thumb facing upward. See the pattern here for an illustration.
- Sew legs onto the body with small overcast stitches. With outside leg markings facing outward place legs flush with the hip bottom. See the pattern here for an illustration.
- Add any finishing touches as desired. Make clothes if you wish using the Coats & Clark Made to Love Vintage Doll Clothes pattern PDF found here.
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What was your favorite toy as a child?
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