How to Make a Walldorf Doll

Making Your Doll

• 1

  Sew a running stitch a half-inch from the opening of a 12 inch section of stockinette tubing. Pull the stitch to close the stockinette opening. Sew a cross hatch to knot; cut the thread. Turn the stockinette inside out. Set aside a 6 by 9 inch sheet of batting. Tightly roll strips of wool batting into a uniformly round ball measuring approximately 9 inch around, or place a ball of pre-washed wool on the juncture of two 12-inch strips of wool batting. Wrap several layers of batting securely around the ball of yarn to create a smooth, uniform surface. The batting will stick to itself.

• 2

  Lay the ball on one end of the 6 by 9 inch sheet with the head's crown resting over the edge of the batting. Tightly roll the ball into the batting in jelly-roll fashion. Fit the stockinette tube over the head and pull until it form-fits the head. Tie the long end of the stockinette-covered batting with a 12-inch piece of cotton string. The long end will be the neck and trunk of the body.

• 3

  Define the eyes and cheekbones. Tightly wrap a 12-inch piece of cotton string horizontally around the mid-section of the head, moving from back to front and back again. This will create the definition for the doll's eyes. Tie the string in a square knot at the back of the head. Wrap another 12-inch string vertically around the head, not as tightly, moving from the crown, overlapping under the chin and then tying in a square knot at the crown. This string will define the doll's cheekbones. Sew a cross-hatch stitch where the cotton string intersects the nose and ear locations. Sew a cross-hatch stitch to secure the string on the crown of the head. The face should have a natural indentation where the eyes, nose and mouth will go. Pull down the cotton string knotted at the back of the head to the neck and secure with a cross-hatch stitch.

• 4

  Fold a sheet of skin-colored fabric, right-side in, with the stretchy pattern moving sideways. Draw the shape of the head and body with a water-color marker, If this is your first attempt at making a Waldorf doll, keep the arms, legs and body as one overall piece. The fabric fold will be the front of the body; the seam will be in the back. Cut out the pattern of the doll's body. Sew a seam a half-inch from the edge. Turn the fabric right-side out. Fit the skin-colored fabric over the head and stockinette-covered batting. Smooth out any wrinkles over the head. Tie a 12-inch piece of cotton string around the neck to secure the skin-colored fabric.

• 5

  Push four ball-headed straight pins into the eyes, nose and mouth locations. With colored cross-stitch thread and a needle, embroider eyes, a nose and a mouth. Using additional wool batting, stuff the doll's arms, legs and trunk until firmly stuffed. Sew the opening.

• 6

  Make a hair covering from yarn or sew bits of wool batting or dyed wool to a baby's hat. Attach it with needle and thread to the doll's head. Take liberties when making an outfit: You decide the persona of your doll. Knit or crochet a sweater; sew a dress; dress the doll in one of your child's baby outfits. Many Waldorf doll kits include outfit patterns. You can also sew an outfit from doll clothing patterns available at many fabric stores.