PREVIEW: How to Create a Cloth Doll – s02e06

My earliest Christmas memory is finding a new doll from Santa Claus under our tree. It was magic! Each year a new doll appeared right on cue and I couldn’t wait to see what she looked like. My first male dolls were Ken and Alan - companions of Barbie and her best friend, Midge. Until then I played mostly with baby dolls like Tiny Tears and Betsy McCall. My mother often sewed new clothes for the dolls and I couldn’t wait until she taught me how to stitch with her beautiful sewing machine!

I’m not sure how old I was when I finally got my wish - I learned to sew! That opened a whole new world of designing doll clothes and wedding dresses for my Barbie doll. I even learned how to add tiny zippers and buttonholes. I now have no idea how did that, but I was determined to get the look I was after. I even learned how to make tuxedos for Ken and Alan! I must have had too much time on my hands as a kid. 😉

The inevitable day arrived when there was no doll for me under our Christmas tree. My memory is one of confusion because I couldn’t understand what happened. Although I was old enough to know who was leaving the dolls for me, I still couldn’t understand why my parents had forgotten something so important. They told me that I was too old for dolls. . .

All these years later, I still have those special dolls. I even sometimes unpack them and admire my sewing tenacity as a little girl.

After my kids were older I realized that some people actually made dolls! The light bulb in my mind lit up like that magical Christmas tree and I began exploring an art form that I didn’t know existed!

I was in love and my muse went crazy as dolls began to spill from my sewing machine. Slowly, I gained enough confidence to try creating my own patterns and teaching online classes before video was even possible. That was a while ago, for sure!

My favorite doll class to teach is this one. Lakshmi - goddess of prosperity is a simple form which will allow you to embellish her to your heart’s content.

Be sure to download your pattern and class notes and let’s get creative.