doll making

A friend who joined me in my first doll-making experiment 5 (Is that right, Meg?) years ago e-mailed me about my last post, and I spent enough time searching out helpful links that I thought I'd post them here. I could do some tutorials, but frankly they've been better done elsewhere. As I come across them, I think I'll post...hmmm...this is making me think of a whole "ideas for Christmas gift-making" line of posts. I cannot for the life of me get anyone (one exception: thank you, Shannon!) to craft with me here in small town, PA (I even hit up the grandmas at church, to no avail), so maybe I'll get a little vicarious joy sharing ideas via web. Oh, that's why I type away here: I already do. Thanks for "listening."

(the girls wouldn't agree on where to pose with their dolls this evening, so you get both...)

Hi, Meg :).


I bought our doll kits a few years ago from Magic Cabin, and still feel like their kits are pretty economical, considering how hard it is to find good-quality dollmaking goods. Here's the link to their doll-making kits. http://www.magiccabin.com/magiccabin/product.do?section_id=0&bc=1004&pgc=170&cmvalue=MCD|0|Normal%20Search%20Result|P1

They also sell materials separately.

Magic Cabin does sell pocket dolls off and on, but I haven't seen kits for them. I'm sure kits are available from other sources, but you can find pocket doll or waldorf doll tutorials pretty easily online. There are great Waldorf toy books that have sweet patterns and ideas, too. We own these:

The Nature Corner: Celebrating the Year's Cycle with a Seasonal Tableau

Feltcraft: Making Dolls, Gifts and Toys

Making Flower Children

Toymaking with Children

and OH THERE ARE MORE! And more in print (back in print?) now, I just saw as I searched for links on Amazon, than when I bought those 3 years ago.

My favorite sites for Waldorf doll-making materials are A Child's Dream Come True (http://achildsdream.com/) and Weir Dolls and Crafts (http://www.weirdollsandcrafts.com/). Weir sometimes offers velour and wool felt scrap packs, which are perfect for wee dolls. I've especially had a hard time finding cotton velour. Recycling old clothes (lots of velour baby sleepers & I've dyed cotton tees for skin fabric, with walnut shells or tea) is a great source, too.

Have I said that I really, really, really love handmade toys for my children? The natural materials just are good for our souls. And kids treat them differently, even our visitors, not necessarily as firmly trained by their mama as mine are in handmade LOVE.

Please do share your results!
Love, V