How to Make Life Size Cloth Dolls

Spread the muslin on the floor. Have your child lay down on one end of the cloth with her arms down and spread out as much as possible and her legs slightly apart. Trace around your child one inch away from her body. She should point her toes down when you trace her feet.

Double the fabric and cut along the shape you traced, cutting through both layers. Sew the two layers together with a half-inch seam allowance, leaving a five-inch opening for turning. Reinforce the seam by using a zigzag stitch close to the seam in the seam allowance.

Clip curves and turn the doll right side out. Stuff the head half full with fiberfill.

Cut two, 12-inch circles from scrap muslin. Make a neck support by wrapping the ends of the dowel with large bunches of fiberfill. Wrap the muslin circles over the fiberfill and tape the edges of the circle to the dowel. The result should resemble a dumbbell. The ends of the neck support should be so large that one end will have to be compressed when it is pushed through the doll's neck into the head.

Insert the neck support through the neck into the head. Fill the head firmly with fiberfill. Stuff the arms and legs firmly with fiberfill. Fold up the dolls feet and slip stitch the resulting crease closed. This will hold the feet up.

Finish stuffing the doll. The doll should be stuffed firmly such that the body remains straight, but loosely enough for the arms and legs to bend. Slip stitch the opening in the doll's side to close it.

Sew loops of elastic to the doll's hands and feet large enough for your child's hands and feet to slip into. Sew on yarn hair and felt features or draw on hair and features with fabric markers or fabric crayons. Dress the doll as desired.