Carried on the Wind

Jul. 10, 2006 - Full Circle

As a young girl my Mom would spend hours at her sewing machine, making clothes, blankets, curtains and little items for our dolls. Trips to town would often mean a stop at Fabricland, which my brothers dreaded! But I loved looking at and feeling all the different fabrics, and imagining what they could become. I was probably 8 or 9 years old when my Mom let me start sewing, making my own doll clothes. I took a home-ec class in 7th grade and learned a little more. In 8th grade I was making a lovely hot pink and black checkered skirt and ran the needle through my finger. I never finished that skirt (thankfully!) and it was a while before I started sewing again. A couple years out of high school I began selling things I made at a local market, and then sewed clothing for a store here for several years. On the side I did mending and picked up sewing jobs for various people. I even made wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses for some of my friends and for my own wedding. Since having kids I haven't sewed as much as I'd like to, just a few things here and there.
I finally got my sewing area organized and am ready to sew once more. And my first project? Doll clothes for the baby I just made for my little friend Keziah.

This is a Waldorf style doll made of natural fibers and stuffed with wool. The features and form are intentionally kept simple to encourage imaginative play. I ordered the supplies from Weir Dolls and Crafts and was able to make the doll in just a few days. I plan to make more- Alethea squeals with delight at the site of this one, and Peregrine wants a boy doll "with green overalls and a green shirt". It was such a fun project, and I'm glad for all the fabric I've accumulated over the years! There's something special about a homemade doll.
And so I've come full circle. Now I'm the Mama, sewing clothes for the baby dolls. And soon my daughter will be old enough to sit by my side and learn to stitch!

• Post A Comment!

Jul. 11, 2006 - Great doll!

Posted by tmlf

Wonderful doll for your little one. My boys are not into dolls unfortunately as I would love to make one. I love to sew and also drag them to fabric shops, as your mom did to your brothers, just to gaze at the fabrics and dream, buying a little (ok, a lot!) here and there. :-)

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Jul. 11, 2006 - How beautiful!

Posted by Pomaleedon

Oh, those are just too adorable!!! Great job!

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Jul. 12, 2006 - I'm with Alethea...

Posted by reformingmama

... I nearly squealed with delight, too! :) What a CUTE DOLL!!!! Great job! And my daughter is standing beside me right now saying, over and over, "That doll is darling."
Okay, so this is something I would love to do, and I checked out your links but found it all a bit overwhelming. Would you mind making me a list of what you got to make this doll? Did you buy a book? Which supplies, exactly....? And, do you mind giving me a ballpark figure on how much this may cost me? Okay... thanks, Rebeca! Again, so, so cute... that doll. I can't believe you made it! :)
~Stacy

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Jul. 12, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by reformingmama

Rebeca,
I went back to the Weir site and saw their doll-making kits. That's probably what you did, huh? What size is the doll you made? Did you sew the head and body yourself or pre-order them already done? And the hair... did you do that?
I think that's all the questions I have. Thanks again!
Stacy

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Jul. 12, 2006 - <i>Untitled Comment</i>

Posted by

Stacy,
I ordered the pattern and supplies separately since I plan on making several of these dolls, but if you're going to make only one then the kit is the way to go. I made a 12" one, just the regular style, not the button-jointed one which is more complicated. It went together pretty quickly. I did the head and the hair myself and it wasn't too hard. you may want to look at Joyswaldorfdolls.com and see their kits. I just spoke with her on the phone and she was very helpful. She's in Northern Washington so you would probably get your kit faster! She also has the options where you can buy the pre-sewn body, pre-made head and hair if you want. Her dolls are really beautiful. She does workshops in the Seattle area.
There are a couple books that you may be able to get from the library- Making Waldorf Dolls is the classic one and there's another one they sell on the Weir site I can't remember the name of just now. (I have a couple reserved at the library but haven't gotten them yet.)
I haven't forgotten about posting the kite making instructions and will try to do it soon!
Thanks,
Rebeca

Edited by Rebeca on Jul. 12, 2006 at 2:57 PM

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Jul. 12, 2006 - Thank you!

Posted by reformingmama

... for all the information, Rebeca! I really appreciate you taking the time to educate me on these dolls! That's great you're making lots of them. Are you doing them just for gifts for family and friends, or to sell? Your doll is really beautiful- I love all the details, too- the button at the neck of the shirt, the cute ends to her sleeves, the fabric, her cute hair, and I think I see cute little green matching buttons on her jeans? Very sweet. You have great taste!
Stacy

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Jul. 13, 2006 - she's so cute!

Posted by MintFlower

She turned out really good. i always wanted to make one of those for my kids, but never did. Jessamyn had a rag doll i made her, and then she wanted to re-make it like Kirsten from American girls, then her hair got weird and she fell apart and i always wished i had done something different. oh well. And peace still sleeps with her star-baby-i noticed the other day she'd dressed her up in a scarf. I guess if there's a few things i never did with my kids, then i'll get another chance when i'm a gramma! like a dollhouse--we never really finished ours and enede up giving it a way, but i still want to decorate a dollhouse someday! The girls got really into their American Girl dolls for a long time, but not anymore.

I loved wht you wrote about sewing-- i have good memories of it too, and Fabricland-- do you remember when i forgot my purse there and we drove back by and the store was closed and we could see my purse under the table and we lived 45 minutes away-- I was 10 and that purse had my Bonne Bell lipsmackers in it! (a friend picked it up the next day for me)

Boys hate fabric stores. My girls could stay all day, but Gabriel would wail even when he was little. Don't take a boy to a fabric store.

I'm enjoying and excited to pass along sewing skills to my daughters. I reall havn't found a curriculum i was thrilled with for teaching sewing, they're elarning anyway, but I plan on doing some more formal lessons this year- does anyone have any ideas?

well, i love the doll (maybe my kids aren't too old for one-i could make it look like them, better yet-you could make it!) I can't wait to see more, and i have one of the books for you, i'll try to drop it off tonight.

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