Potlucks on the Porch: {Mini} Swaddle Baby Dolls

Thursday, May 2, 2013

{Mini} Swaddle Baby Dolls

Mini Swaddle Baby Dolls are great for humanitarian aid projects, for little girls in foster care or shelters, baby gifts, and birthday gifts.

I saw a little doll similar to these at my sister's house the other day. I thought it was brilliant- the way the blanket and the doll are connected solves some serious little girl issues!!. I said to myself, "I must come up with a pattern for this and share it!!" Several days later, I found that there is a similar pattern out there. I saw THIS swaddle baby pattern from Becca....and it's adorable!

This is my own spin, which is a bit different. The great thing about these mini dolls is that 1/4 yard of flannel makes 8 little dolls.

Little girls love them...

If you want to make one or a whole bunch.....
(**If you do this for a service project, it would help to have a few people make the heads and 1 or two people make the bodies, then connect them.)

Supplies:
9 inch square flannel, small amount of skin colored cotton fabric, felt (I like wool felt), embroidery thread, small embroidery hoop, 3 inch circle to trace, pinking shears, sewing machine, stuffing.

First, trace {approximate} 3 inch cirlcles on skin colored fabric. Then draw little faces (I drew 2 half circles for eyes, then added some line for eyelashes, and another half circle for the mouth) ... don't worry, they're not supposed to be perfectly drawn.

Trace another 3 inch circle, and sketch some hair in to the circle. (Again, don't try for perfection- it gets stretched and pulled anyway). Trace the hair onto felt, and cut it out.

Embroider the faces, and sew on the hair. The hair can be sewn by hand or machine... I found it easier by hand on this size of doll.

Cut out a 3 inch felt circle for the back of the head.

With the wrong sides together, sew around the face. Leave a small opening to turn right side out.

Turn faces right side out. Stuff. Sew the bottom (not shown) and set aside.

Cut a 9 inch felt square.

Fold in half and press.

Repeat, if doing more than 1 :).

Find the middle point of the triangle. (It should be 6 1/2"). Measure just a little more than 1 1/2 inches on both sides of that point. (the body of the baby is just a little larger than 3"). Mark those points with a pencil. Measure up 3" on both sides. Mark those lines. Connect all the dots with a pencil or ink that erases.

Sew the two sides. Stuff the "body", and then sew shut.

Open one side of the flannel, and sew the head on. First sew the bottom of the neck (not shown). Then stitch all over the back of the head so that it will stay on the "blanket".

Top stitch the triangle together. Then with pinking shears, cut the 2 edges you've sewn.
With magic stitch, glue a little piece of trim or lace over the neck. This will hide the stitches here, and looks like the top of a baby blanket. Tie a little bow and glue it one. (Be sure to glue it together first with magic stitch, then it won't untie). If you are worried about the bow being a choking hazard, just don't put it on, or embroider it.