Sewing Animal Dolls Part 1: Topic Overview & Getting Started

 

Hi Everyone, I'm Shari Fuller from Thimbles and Acorns! I have enjoyed sewing for dolls since I was a little girl.

In fact, I was just four years old when my mom took this picture of me the very first time I picked up a needle and thread. The memory of this moment is so clear. My doll's dress had torn and I wanted to fix it myself. My mom helped me thread the needle and then let me figure out what to do.

When I grew up, looked forward to the day that I could fill my own daughters doll wardrobes. I have always found it rather ironic, however, that I should be blessed with four wonderful boys and one darling girl that was more interested in gallivanting around with her brothers than playing with dolls. Ah well, I have found my solace here, designing clothing for all of you and happily watched my kids follow their own interests.

Despite their lack of interest in dolls, all of my kids did have a particular fondness for stuffed animals. Now, with the addition of two grandson's to our family - and no granddaughters in sight in the foreseeable future - I have decided I need to try to find a way to share my love for historical doll clothing with my boys in a way they will appreciate. What better way than with a stuffed animal doll?

For this series, I have developed three different stuffed animal doll patterns for you to try your hand at. Maybe you too have a child or grandchild that is more interested in playing with stuffed animals than dolls. These Animal Dolls are all designed to fit any standard 18” inch doll outfit and shoes, so both your doll lovers and stuffed animal lovers can share the same wardrobe!

As an added bonus, each Animal Doll has a 6” mini version that is just the right size for your 18” doll to play with! The mini dolls fit into most of the 6” an 8” clothing patterns in the Pixie Faire catalog, so they can have a wardrobe of their own as well. Some of the patterns shown will be available soon! (Heritage Drawstring Dress for 6" Mini Dolls and OMG Overalls for 8" Baby Dolls).

In the first video, I'm going to get you started by reviewing several different types of fabric that will work well with this particular pattern. Then, in the following videos we will sew up both an 18” and 6” version of the Bear Animal Doll.

Cinnamon will be joining us at the end to wrap up the topic with a few fun ideas to show how much the dolls really do love their Animal Dolls! I am really excited to present this Sewing Animal Dolls topic and I'd love to have you join us!

Let's get started with a look at fabric choices for your sew-along project!

 

You can find the patterns here on Pixie Faire:

Note: Sewing With Cinnamon members can find the Bear Doll pattern at no charge on the SWC+ platform and jump right into the sew-along!

  

 


6 Comments

Margaret
Margaret

November 02, 2022

I am so excited to see that a new 8 inch doll pattern from Marilyn C QTPi for the OMG overalls pattern.

cara
cara

October 16, 2022

I also have 4 boys and a girl! my daughter does love dolls fortunately and my 14 year old son is the most stuffy loving child ever i’m fairly sure. They are just about all he asks for for birthday and he saves up his chore money to buy them for himself.
I’m planing on making a mini bear and a mini Charlotte doll for our Christmas box kids this year. And my Dad who is a Cub’s fan i think will be getting a full size bear to wear the Ernie Banks outfit that i made for him last year.
I would love it if you had a cat pattern that could wear the 18in doll clothes! I’m thinking of doing a wildcat in a UK jersey for my uncle.

shari
shari

October 08, 2022

Yes, I do have a number of other Animal Dolls in mind. Just finished a Frog Doll design that I hope to have out in the next couple weeks. My son is requesting a Goat Doll, and I really want to do a Bunny. Happy to take any more suggestions, these are really fun to make design. :O)

Marcy Mahle
Marcy Mahle

October 06, 2022

Love the topic this month. Really love your sweet animal patterns. I have two Granddaughters who do love dolls and I have made many many outfits or their dolls. Now one is a freshman in HS and the other is in the 8th grade. Dolls have been put away but they still love their stuffies. I also have four grandsons, one is a sophmore in HS, two are in the 8th grade and one is in the 6th grade. Thinking would be fun to make them an animal doll dressed as a football or basketball player. They would love that especially if made by Grandma. Hoping you have some more animal patterns Sheri. Many thanks and Happy Dolling.

Kathy W.
Kathy W.

October 04, 2022

Me, too! I had four boys followed by a wonderful tomboy who thought dolls were creepy. And yes, she loved stuffed animals. Now 40, she’s had her first — and probably last — baby. Yes, it’s a boy! His name is Silas Fox, and his theme is woodland creatures.

Judy P
Judy P

October 04, 2022

This is going to be fun!! Thanks Shari!

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