About Rag Dolls

Features

• Rag dolls are, by definition, made from cloth, often from clothing or other sewing projects. Modern rag dolls may also have yarn hair, button eyes and painted or sewn faces. Traditional rag dolls or "pancake dolls" have simple heads and bodies that are fairly flat. They may be just a simple outline or include separate arms and legs. The rag doll's clothing may also be made from fabric scraps, ranging from simple smocks to elaborate petticoats and bonnets.

Benefits

• Rag dolls can be a great way to make use of fabric scraps and materials that would otherwise be thrown away. For families with limited resources, rag dolls have historically been one of the few playthings available. Rag dolls are usually soft and lightweight and can be carried easily, even by small children. Rag dolls can be used to help children role play, and they can be a fun project for young girls learning to sew.

History of

• The British Museum's oldest rag doll is a Roman doll from 300 BC. Rag dolls remained popular throughout the centuries because they could be easily made from readily available materials. Rag dolls were traditionally stuffed with fabric scraps, sawdust, leaves, feathers or cotton. In the 1850s, the invention of sewing machines and preprinted rag dolls increased their popularity. Rag dolls were especially popular during World War II, when resources were limited and polyester stuffing became available.

Significance

• Rag dolls may be cherished possessions for the children who own them, particularly when they are the only toys available. Several rag dolls have become popular children's characters, such as Raggedy Ann and Andy. Versions of these rag dolls have been made commercially, and they are still one of the most popular rag doll patterns. In ancient cultures, rag dolls such as the ones from first-century Peru may have been used in fertility or religious rites, rather than as children's toys.

Evolution

• Many rag dolls are now commercially manufactured, but rag dolls continue to be handmade in homes from scraps or from preprinted fabric or patterns. Modern rag dolls may be designed to look like old-fashioned rag dolls with patches, even if they're produced from new materials. Although simple fabric rag dolls remain popular, rag dolls have also inspired more sophisticated cloth dolls, including Martha Nelson's needle-sculpted dolls that eventually became known as Cabbage Patch dolls.