Customer Reviews

Sewing Dolls

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I have been making dolls for a number of years and always in search of different patterns. When I received this book, I was quite disappointed. The patterns are not the greatest.

Two interesting points however that made me keep the book.

STUFFING: Her stuffing technique is different than traditional in that she used the felting needle to "sculpt" body parts. It is a good idea, especially for the limbs that can be stuff very smoothly.

HAIR: The most interesting part was the 2 different methods she uses for short boys hair. Rather than using the traditional cap wig or "rug hooking technique" featured in Maricristin Sealey book (which only work with thin yarns), the author introduces two methods that - I think - would work with thick / handspun yarn.

I have been sewing for over 20 years. Mostly quilts and clothing. This was my first go at sewing a waldorf doll. I am sadly disappointed in the book. I attempted to make "Emma" in the book. First of all, the pattern is too small. I made the head to perfect specs as require in the pattern and I could not get the head into the knit head sleeve. The arms too, were scrawny and not as pictured. Also, her description on how to sew the body together is severly lacking. I sew, so it was fine for me to figure out, but a novice will be in tears trying to figure it out.

You'd be better off making your own doll pattern. Find a cheap doll the size you like and take it apart. You can find great free directions for the head all over the internet, also hair instructions are better on the net than what is in this book.

This book has easy to follow patterns and beautiful illustrations to inspire you.

I loved the book and all of the different Waldorf styles and levels of difficulty depicted.

I am a long time cloth dollmaker and designer and have made many Waldorf type dolls "by the seat of my pants" so to speak, simply by looking at pictures. It was fun to see how close I was. I plan to make one of the full sized dolls from the book for a Grand daughter for Christmas this year.

Sincerely, Judi Ward