Dollying around ...

Another weekend flown past, they don't hang around for long do they? Stuart had to work on Saturday, so I took the opportunity to start my next dolly project to while away a few hours. I've been dying to try another style of doll-making and as you know, have a fancy for the primitive raggies, so of course, I opted for a raggedy doll. As this is only the second doll (aside from knitteds) I have ever made, I chose to work from a purchased pattern to see how someone far more experienced than me, recommends doing things. I used a versatile pattern by 'Sweet Meadows Farm' to create my interpretation of one of Maureen Mills' raggedy dolls. If you would like to see more of Maureen's wonderful dolls, please visit http://www.picturetrail.com/sweetmeadowsfarm

'Bessie Buttons', my very first prim raggedy doll!

I was hoping my little raggedy doll would finish up somewhere between cute and prim - a little grungy so I had a good excuse to mess around with tea stains, sandpaper and so on, but still on the endearing side and surprise, surprise, I think that's where she eventually landed up!

Dollying around ...

 Typically of me, I decided not to start with the straightforward flat-faced dolly, instead I headed for the more complicated round head doll - which was fun to make, but has proved to me I need more practise with my stuffing technique, so that next time my doll's head will be a little more rounded.

Helga and Bessie, my very first attempts at doll-making
(Pictured with my lovely 1940's Chiltern 'Bobby Bear')

As I was saying, 'Bessie Buttons' is the outcome of my weekend's crafting and she as been heaps of fun to make! I felt far more in my comfort zone making this doll than I felt while I was making 'Helga', my cloth and clay doll, but even so, there's still plenty of room for improvement (isn't there always?!) and I'm looking forward to more dollying around in future!