Materials
You can make dolls from countless different materials. Simple dolls can be made from things like cornhusks, dried apples, old-fashioned clothespins, handkerchiefs and other items that one wouldn't typically associate with dolls. You can make paper dolls either in the form of origami or two-dimensional pictures. More complex dolls tend to be made from things like clay, porcelain, fabric, yarn (especially knit or crocheted), wood, paper mâché, or a combination thereof.
Some dolls will require an armature, a base material comparable to a skeleton. This is necessary for posing dolls or for dolls that have heads made of heavier materials than the body. You can make armature from wire, or buy it as interlocking plastic beads.
Tools
The kind of doll you make will determine the tools you need. Cloth dolls require sewing needles or a sewing machine, as well as scissors, measuring tape or a ruler and possibly a thimble. If your doll needs armature, or if it includes wire anywhere, you'll need pliers to shape it. If you're using clay, you'll also need to have modeling tools. These can be anything from professional sculpting tools to homemade tools using things like toothpicks, chopsticks, wire and crochet hooks. You'll need sandpaper for some types of clay, as well as wood. The same can be said for knives and drills.
Decorations
You can use paint or waterproof pens for making faces or other color changes. Fabric has countless ways to be decorated, including lace, ribbons, embroidery, beads, sequins and buttons. You can also use buttons for eyes, or you can buy plastic or glass eyes. You can make doll hair out of yarn or buy hair to attach to your doll.