Wednesday, September 5, 2012

DIY Recycled Waldorf Inspired Rag Doll

Making things out of items that are being discarded is a great way to be frugal and Eco-friendly.  It is also perfect if you have a piece of clothing that is outgrown but still holds some sentimental value. The materials could come from home, hand me downs, or even the thrift store. 

We had an old pair of PJ pants laying around from one of our teenaged foster children who had long since left.  They never fit, so I set them aside since the fabric was cute for the kids.  I used one leg of those pants last year for Ana's No Sew Headband Holder. These little dolls used the other leg, and the shorts that are left over will be donated to Goodwill

Tools Needed:
  • Fabric Scissors
  • Seam Ripper
  • Iron
  • Sewing Machine
 Materials Needed:
  • 1 leg from a pair of knit adult small (or larger) pajama pants.
  • Old long sleeved shirt.
  • 2 or 3 pairs of unwanted socks
  • Cotton batting or fabric scraps for stuffing

Reuse Repurpose Finished Product



Step 1
Step 1
Step 1- Cut the leg of of the pajamas off leaving a pair of shorts and a tube of fabric.

Step 2
Step 2- Rip the hem out and press.

Step 3
Step 3- Fold the pant leg into thirds for three tiny dolls or in half for two slightly larger dolls.

Step 4
Step 4- For three dolls, cut along the two folds. Do NOT cut the tube of the pants legs open.  For two dolls cut along the one fold. 

Step 5
Step 5- Find a mismatched sock in a small size.

Step 6
Step 6- Stuff the sock with natural cotton batting or you could use scraps of fabric, wool, etc.

Step 7
Step 7- Stuff all the stuffing into the toe of the sock, and twist the sock creating a "head" for the doll. 

Step 8
Step 8- Turning one of the tubes inside out, pin across the top adding the sock head to roughly the middle. 

Step 9
Step 9- The head part should be facing the right side of the fabric inside the tube.

Step 10
Step 10- If your fabric is stretchy, it is a knit.  You will have to use a special setting on your machine.  It is the stitch that looks like my number three.  I never knew this until recently, and what a difference it makes! 

Step 11
Step 11- Sew all the way across the top edge only with a 3/8" seam allowance.  Use a back stitch or locking stitch at each end to secure your seam. 

Step 12
Step 12- After checking that your seam is secure all the way across, trim the seam and cut the end of the sock off. 

Step 13
Step 13- Using a 3/8" seam allowance, sew the bottom of the doll closed.  Be sure to leave a small space open so that you can turn the doll inside right.  Trim the seam.

Step 14
Step 14- Turn the doll inside right, and use your fingers to reach inside and poke all of the corners out.

Step15
Step 15- Turn the raw edges inward so that they are about even with the finished seam.  Depending on your level of comfort, you could press or pin this spot.  If you are comfortable holding it and sewing, just hold it in place and sew.  This time sew as close to the folded edge as you can while still catching both sides. 

Step 16
Step 16- The seam will look like this in that spot. 

Step 17
Step 17-Stretch the corner as far as you can and hold it in your fist. 

Step 18

Step 18- Extend your pointer finger and wrap the fabric around with the corner facing down.  Continue that corner around and pull out your finger.  Start pushing the corner through the hole left by your finger.  You are tying a simple knot.  This is not as easy as it looks.  You have to really stretch the fabric to make the knot.

Step 19
Step 19- Pull the corner through carefully.

Step 20
Step 20- Continue to stretch and work the knot back and forth until it is tight and small as shown.  Repeat steps 17-20 for each corner. 

Step 21
Step 21.  Cut the end off of an old longsleeved shirt for a hat.  Tie a knot on the raw edge.




Tags: , , , , , , , ,

9 comments:

  1. great tutorial and these are so cute and easy to make. Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I'm glad you like it. I think they were very easy. They were actually my first successful knit sewing project now that I know which stitch to use.

      Delete
  2. What lovley soft toy for little ones, made with so much love!

    Thanks for linking up to Made With Love,
    Angelique

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a great tutorial… What a simple way to make play so much fun! … And the colours are stunning…

    Thank you for joining the Made with Love ~ Sept *smiles*

    Hope to see you joining in with more ‘me time’ in Oct…

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank You! I didn't know about the Oct. link up. I'll check it out!

      Delete
  4. It is сrеated up fгоm many dіffeгеnt
    gгaԁеs оf minor mіхture that havе
    been befoгehand coated in inсreԁibly hot bitumen thаt functions as a bindеr when сombіneԁ totally with sсоrching asphalt.
    Maѕοnгy heatеrs consist of a modeѕt fire
    box crеatеd to ratio with the ѕmoke chamber previouslу mentioneԁ.
    Αs a make a ԁіffеrenсe of inescapаblе fаct іt іѕ
    theѕе a verу highlу-cοnсentrateԁ foodstuff thаt, until taκen іn еxсeedingly ѵeгy ѕmаll poгtionѕ, it is lіable to uρѕet weak digestions.
    Also visit my weblog : round pizza stone with handles

    ReplyDelete
  5. analyst I fеeling that there аre non-rational forces at shοw results.
    Hоmemade bгead іs not οnly uncompliсated
    to make, but it rеally is moгe beneficial fоr you.
    Cаrrу on 11 miles, anԁ wаtсh fastiԁiοusly for the sign
    to Laupahοehoe Plaсе
    Ѕeasіde Parκ οn the apрropriate.


    Feel free to viѕit my wеb blog; Old stone Oven

    ReplyDelete
  6. Do you mind if I quote a few of your articles as long as I provide
    credit and sources back to your weblog? My blog is in the exact same niche as yours and
    my visitors would definitely benefit from a lot of the information you provide here.
    Please let me know if this ok with you. Thanks!


    Also visit my website :: Kup.ro
    Also see my website - bathroom sinks

    ReplyDelete