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Homemade Amish Dolls

Most Amish communities' general religious beliefs dictate a simple lifestyle, where modern conveniences and popular culture are shunned. Almost all toys that Amish children play with are made by hand at home, including dolls. Both boys and girls of this culture play with them. What sets these dolls apart from other handmade dolls is that, traditionally, Amish dolls do not have faces. Some Amish believe that there is a biblical mandate against making graven images, which includes giving a doll a face. Construction of homemade Amish dolls is fairly simple, though, and can be accomplished by even beginning seamstresses.

Materials
- Traditionally, Amish dolls were made from fabric scraps. The bodies would be a myriad of colors, but the faces were usually covered in white cloth. Strong muslin, white cotton and poly/cotton broadcloth are all good choices for the doll body and head. These fabrics will stand up fairly well to the wear and tear if the doll will be played with.
  
  Clothing for Amish dolls--either boy or girl dolls--is similar to their human counterparts. All the dolls should have appropriate underclothing and, again, muslin is a good choice for this. Girl dolls wear plain Amish-style dresses in subdued solid colors like brown, green and blue, usually with an apron and black bonnet or white prayer cap. Boy dolls wear black pants with a colored or white shirt and often also wear a vest and black hat. Plain cottons or cotton/poly blends in the appropriate colors work well for the doll clothing--but this can be customized to suit, especially if you are working with fabric scraps.
  
  Amish dolls were traditionally stuffed with fabric scraps or rags, although store-bought cotton stuffing--such as you would use to stuff pillows--is now more common within the Amish community and popular with those who are not Amish yet wish to make these dolls.
Size and Body Style
- A basic one-piece rag doll pattern is appropriate for homemade Amish dolls and is often the easiest pattern for inexperienced or beginning seamstresses to make. Most homemade Amish dolls would be considered mid-size, measuring from about 10 to 15 inches long, although the majority of Amish doll patterns that you can purchase are for either 12-inch or 20-inch dolls.
  
  More elaborate rag doll patterns can be used, if desired, such as those with attached arms and legs having more life-like hands and feet. Alternatively, simpler patterns can be used. Some Amish dolls are referred to as "stump dolls" because they are essentially just a body and head. The doll's dress has arms, but the fabric just hangs limp and the skirt of the dress hides the fact that the doll doesn't have any legs.

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