" ......a handcrafted doll is one of a kind, an individual which carries the spirit of the maker in its stitches and absorbs the spirit of the child who loves it".
Isn't this a beautiful description of a handmade doll? I've been making waldorf dolls for about six years now and I was very lucky to be shown how by a German lady who was based at the waldorf school in Kings Langley. I started off making dolls for my own children and I in turn have taught other people to make dolls for their childen. In this way the waldorf doll making tradition continues as it has done for most of the last century. I have no idea why these dolls, which I believe were originally made by Kathe Krusse in Germany were adopted by the Steiner movement. I do know though that the dolls are made wherever there is a waldorf school and each country seems to have a slightly different way of forming the head, or tying the eye line or using different fabric for the skin. I make a few dolls each year to sell at our school's Christmas fair and as I was making a doll the other day I thought it would be interesting to document the process. So for those of you struggling with a book here are some basic instructions:
The dolls I make are 16'' tall and made from natural materials. First off I wind a ball from washed fleece to form the head. The ball on the left of the photo has a 12'' circumference and is probably a bit large to be honest. Then I take two pieces of carded fleece and place them in a cross and I put the head on top and I encase the ball and put it into a piece of tubigauze which I have stitched along the top. I push the head into the tube and tie it at the neck. There will be fleece sticking out but that's OK because it forms the shoulders/chest.
Next off you need to tie the eye, head and chin lines. I take a long needle and linen thread and I go into the side of the head at the ear (halfway down the head) and I go through the head to the other ear. Bring the thread back across the face and tie very tightly to the thread hanging out at the first ear. Then take the needle over the head and back through second ear to the first ear and pull tight, then take the thread under the chin and through the second ear to first, pull tight and finely round the back of the head and same process back to the first ear. Phew - your fingers will be aching by now but tie the two threads together and cut off the tail. Then take a piece of skin coloured stockinette and stretch it and pin it across this head and sew up the back and top and again tie at the neck.
Place pins where you think the eyes and mouth should be and embroider them.
Then sew up the arms and body on the sewing machine ( I can give you a pattern if you don't have one - just e-mail me). Turn right side out and stuff the hands and arms with fleece, firmly.
Sew the arms onto the back of the chest piece. I forgot to say to leave a few inches free at the top of the arms.
Stuff the feet and then the legs and then the tummy of the doll. Place the head and arms into the body and sew around the arms pushing in more fleece from the other side to firm up the chest. Finally sew around the neck and sew the head to the body with ladder stitch. You will need to bind off the hands and feet now but I forgot to take a picture of that.
Now the time consuming process of doing the hair. For boys I crochet a cap and then hook individual strands into the cap. For girls I either make a hair piece by winding wool around a book or I weave the hair over pins placed on the middle of the head and the ear which I then sew down. I would seriously recommend that you get a book for the pattern and for hair making instructions. A very good one is 'Kinder Dolls' by Maricristin Sealey. For doll supplies like the tubigauze, stockinette and hair you could try Weir Dolls, Waldorf Toys or Myriad.
Here are a few more pics of some of my dolls. Once you can make the head there are endless ways of making dolls with them. You can make a doll with a felted body or use and old cardigan.
You can even make little dolls for the seasonal table:
or some angles (which incidentally are for sale on Etsy):
Well, I think that's enough navel gazing for one evening. Do let me know if it doesn't make sense and good luck - it isn't that difficult honestly and your child will cherish it forever. Please see below for pattern link.
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Update 28 October 2009.
How spooky to be re-writing this post almost exactly three years later. Since that time I have been inundated with requests for the doll pattern which I naively offered to send by email (little did I know that I would send well over two hundred).
Nowadays there are so many more posts and tutorials about. One blogger has put together a page of helpful links here and you can also search Flickr for inspiration - there are some very beautiful dolls there.
I usually get asked about supplies and I would suggest that you look at the websites of the suppliers above. They have a comprehensive list of what you need and how much of it. As for the pattern I've finally worked out how to attach it here. So all you have to do is click on the link and print it off .
Thanks for the lovely compliments you've sent me and good luck with your own doll making. I hope you have as much fun as I have had.
Please can I ask that you use the link above to print out the pattern. I will not be sending patterns out by email anymore.
I have been admiring your pretty dolls for some time now. Thanks for taking the time to post a tutorial. I have two young nieces... so here we go.
Posted by: lucette | October 24, 2006 at 10:17 PM
So many lovely dolls.
Posted by: littlejennywren | October 25, 2006 at 09:10 AM
Your tutorial is very timely! I have been looking at instructions since there a couple of people I want to make the dolls for. Your dolls are an inspiration.
Posted by: Cathy | October 25, 2006 at 04:03 PM
I think YOUR dolls are beautiful! I too have been looking at them for awhile and thinking they are just the sweetest things. Very inspiring!
Posted by: Mae | October 25, 2006 at 07:00 PM
your dolls are wonderful. and they all have those cute round eyes. how do you manage to stich those perfect eyes? i'm in love with your dolls! makes me want to make dolls again. i wish i had time and space for it at the moment. i especially like the boy in the 4th pic
Posted by: ramona | October 25, 2006 at 07:15 PM
Hi,these little ladies are gorgeous! and doll making seems to be so easy! project for future!
Posted by: ille | October 26, 2006 at 02:09 AM
You have such a talent in making these dolls. Each one seems to have their own, sweet personality. I have a bag full of supplies to make a doll and I am going to dig into it and try forming that head. Thank you so much for sharing this and inspiring me.
Posted by: Selena | October 26, 2006 at 05:21 AM
thank you so much for that description - I have always loved those dolls and wondered if I could make one - not sure I have the patience for hair though - and as I am a bit of a perfectionist I think I should leave it to teh experts! do you ever sell your dolls ???
Posted by: katie | October 26, 2006 at 09:33 AM
How wonderful you are for this turorial. Thanks so much - Julia x
Posted by: weirdbunny | October 26, 2006 at 02:35 PM
The Waldorf dolls are very attractive and look very huggable too. I can see why children would become very attached to them. I've never attempted to make a doll - maybe when Kaitlyn is older...
Posted by: Rowan | October 27, 2006 at 07:11 AM
oh my goodness! They're all just so precious! They just have the sweetest faces. :)
Posted by: Dannielle | October 28, 2006 at 05:06 AM
So lovely--and I had to have boys who don't care at all for dolls! Thanks for the tips and inspiration.
Posted by: Cristina | October 28, 2006 at 10:29 PM
Hi Simmy,
re the dolls (which are BEAUTIFUL!), I always tell people that if they can't find the flesh coloured stockinette material, to dye an old white tee shirt or singlet in cold tea until you get the right shade. Much cheaper too.
Posted by: Suse | November 01, 2006 at 02:24 AM
Beautiful dolls, thanks for the explanation. I would be interested in the pattern if you would be willing to share it. Thanks ahead of time!! I like the 16" doll and the little one with blue flowers. Tjamls/
Posted by: Jennifer Fancher | November 10, 2006 at 11:12 PM
Dear Simmy
Thanks for stopping by my blog the other day!
Your dolls are really really cute!
This is the one I would wanted to make if I have a chance to make dolls! Lovely work!!
You have lived in Tokyo? wow, quite near! wanted to see you earlier when you was here in Japan! xx Yuko
Posted by: Yuko | December 03, 2006 at 01:32 PM
Thank you so much for the instructions. I will be making both my babies dolls using this for their birthdays in December/January. I would really appreciate the pattern too if that's OK.
I'm planning to make my wee boy (3)a boy doll to be his "buddy" and my baby girl a "Buba". Your dolls are just what I aspire too make for them! Wish me luck :)
Posted by: Erica | December 06, 2006 at 09:42 AM
Thank you so much for the instructions. I will be making both my babies dolls using this for their birthdays in December/January. I would really appreciate the pattern too if that's OK.
I'm planning to make my wee boy (3)a boy doll to be his "buddy" and my baby girl a "Buba". Your dolls are just what I aspire too make for them! Wish me luck :)
Posted by: Erica | December 06, 2006 at 09:48 AM
I love the dolls, I've been making outfits for my daughters doll and would love to make her another doll to dress. Please send along that pattern you listed above..
Thanks a bunch
Posted by: JESS | February 12, 2007 at 04:41 PM
I love the dolls, I've been making outfits for my daughters doll and would love to make her another doll to dress. Please send along that pattern you listed above..
Thanks a bunch
Posted by: JESS | February 12, 2007 at 04:43 PM
I am so glad I found your site I have the pattern but lost the instructions on how to make the doll. Can you please tell me the length of the stockinet tube, and the size of the skin tone fabric for the head for a 16"doll.
Thank you Alica
Posted by: Alica | March 08, 2007 at 06:05 PM
Very nice instructions. I would love a pattern for a 12 inch waldorf doll, if you don't mind.
Posted by: Jo in Utah | March 13, 2007 at 12:07 AM
Those are just adorable! I'd love a pattern for the doll if you wouldn't mind horribly.
Posted by: Katie | April 09, 2007 at 01:59 AM
Your dolls are just lovely ! I have been making waldorf dolls for just a little while but do not have a pattern until I found your site. Thank you for being so generous.Now I am looking for doll clothing patterns. I seem to have trouble designing knitting patterns for dresses and the like and am not happy with the ones I have made. A lot of ripping. Do you have access to such? I would like to buy some if you do. Thank you again, Alyce Pollock
Posted by: Alyce Pollock | April 10, 2007 at 01:35 PM
wow!!! thanks for being so generous with your ideas-most people would be stingy with them just to make a buck or two.
Posted by: joy | April 24, 2007 at 03:27 AM
Fantastic resource for any Waldorf parent! Thank you so much for the advice on how to make beautiful dolls for my 2 children, they will be cherished! Also great to see you've made this available for others to use, you have probably made many children very happy indeed with a doll they can keep forever!!
Blessings to you.
Posted by: Michelle | May 14, 2007 at 04:46 PM