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Kids Art Rag Dolls

April 17, 2013

Kids Art Doll

When I first started off on Pinterest, I saw some adorable Rag Dolls that Rummage had made with her girls – their dolls are just TOTALLY adorable and you simply must click through and take  a peak! And I pinned it to make with MY KIDS one day.  I couldn’t wait for Red Ted’s and Pip Squeak’s drawings to develop enough to have a go. And so we did. I am so pleased that Red Ted wanted to make some do and that he came up with his own superhero idea (he is on a sleep over at Granny’s today and took his superhero with him!).

keepsake dolls - making kids' art rag dolls. A great introduction to sewing and toy making with little kids. The results make the most wonderful keepsake dolls too! #sewing #kidsart #ragdoll

Kids Art Doll – Materials:

  • plain fabric, I have some that I bought for making some of the Black Apple Dolls.
  • Fabric scraps for arms and legs.
  • Some stuffing.
  • Then either hand or machine sew.

We didn’t really use specific measurements to share for our kids art doll – it was all quite rough and ready, but I think that that is the charm of these dolls – an easy sewing project, full of quirky individuality!

Kids Art Doll How To:

keepsake dolls - making kids' art rag dolls. A great introduction to sewing and toy making with little kids. The results make the most wonderful keepsake dolls too! #sewing #kidsart #ragdoll

keepsake dolls - making kids' art rag dolls. A great introduction to sewing and toy making with little kids. The results make the most wonderful keepsake dolls too! #sewing #kidsart #ragdoll

1) I cut 2 rectanglur pieces of the plain fabric – marked a head and neck for Pip Squeak and then let her loose with my new sharpie pens. I talked her through the process, but she did all of it herself. I suggested “what colour eyes would you like to do?” she said “green”. Then she asked for some “black, to do the middle bit, mummy”. I asked “do we need eye lashes”, she “yes and eye brows!”. Is the doll happy or sad… etc. She did her drawing and then decorated the top. It was interesting to see how she modeled the doll on herself – she touched her hair when she decided on how to draw the dolls her, she touched her nose and said “I have two holes mummy” and added those to her doll etc. Very sweet session in “self recognition”.

2) We then went upstairs and Pip Squeak got to choose some fabric for the dolls arms and legs. She picked fabrics that used to be her old clothes. Yay. We cut 2 smaller rectangles for arms and again for legs.

Making Kids Rag Dolls. keepsake dolls - making kids' art rag dolls. A great introduction to sewing and toy making with little kids. The results make the most wonderful keepsake dolls too! #sewing #kidsart #ragdoll

3) I sewed the dolls arms and legs shut, turned them right side round and Pip Squeaked stuff them.

Keepsake Rag Doll/ keepsake dolls - making kids' art rag dolls. A great introduction to sewing and toy making with little kids. The results make the most wonderful keepsake dolls too! #sewing #kidsart #ragdoll

4) We then assembled the doll inside out – this was the fiddliest bit, because you have to pin the arms and legs in place and fit it all in. I whizzed round with the sewing machine and left a gap.

Making dolls. keepsake dolls - making kids' art rag dolls. A great introduction to sewing and toy making with little kids. The results make the most wonderful keepsake dolls too! #sewing #kidsart #ragdoll

5) Pip Squeak filled it.

6) Then I sewed it shut. We then had a rummage through our ribbons and bits and pieces and Pip Squeak found some organza flowers and ribbons to decorate her dolls with. Perfect.

rag dolls by kids, keepsake dolls - making kids' art rag dolls. A great introduction to sewing and toy making with little kids. The results make the most wonderful keepsake dolls too! #sewing #kidsart #ragdoll

Pip Squeak was SMITTEN. HER very own doll. SHE designed it all. She was so happy and showed everyone straight away.

simple rag dolls for kids - keepsake dolls - making kids' art rag dolls. A great introduction to sewing and toy making with little kids. The results make the most wonderful keepsake dolls too! #sewing #kidsart #ragdoll

Red Ted came home (from a bike ride with Opapa) and also wanted to make a Kids Art Doll – he decided on Superhero Robin! Made me smile. We went through the above process and I also found some shiny fabric to make a cape. On Red Ted’s doll I gave the doll a bit more shape around the head and neck. Makes sewing a bit fiddlier, but he was happy.

Once finished, both kids wanted to make ANOTHER doll. So we did. In total 4 dolls in 24 hours. Phew. But very happy kids.

Easy Rag Dolls - keepsake dolls - making kids' art rag dolls. A great introduction to sewing and toy making with little kids. The results make the most wonderful keepsake dolls too! #sewing #kidsart #ragdoll

Want to read more about How To Teach Kids to Sew.. take a peak:

How To Teach Kids to Sew - if you are thinking of teaching your kids to sew, here is a great guide with some pointers to get them started!

Similarly we have some great Sewing Projects for Kids here:

10+ Sewing Project for Kids - lovely kids projects that will help teaching kids to sew!

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Filed Under: Kids Craft, Sewing 22 Comments

Comments

  1. artsy_momma says

    April 17, 2013 at 4:07 am

    Cute idea! I am so bummed because I wanted to do our own version of your new spring tree crafts and started to collect twigs on the walk back to our truck after picking my son up from his preschool. I told him we were going on a nature hike when we got home to collect things for our trees and it started raining on the drive home….. I live in the desert, lol, so it never even crossed my mind that it would actually rain!!! 🙂 Congrats on your book & new blog design BTW!

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      April 17, 2013 at 8:22 am

      Oh no!! How annoying is that? The ONE DAY you want a dry day and it rains!! I hope you get to have a go in a few days time!! And thank you re the congrats **BEAM**

      Reply
  2. Jessica @ Play Trains! says

    April 17, 2013 at 8:22 am

    These are so cool! What a treasure to have in years to come, too. Pinning this! And thank you for hosting the link-up!

    Reply
  3. Neasa says

    April 17, 2013 at 9:56 am

    These are gorgeous. I can imagine the pride they both have in the ‘I made that’ moment.

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      April 17, 2013 at 10:05 am

      I am hoping to make them again when she is a little older and have a “set” of the dolls! Maybe do them as a party activity one year!

      Reply
  4. Adele- playfullearners says

    April 17, 2013 at 9:59 am

    Oh Maggy I just LOVE them!! I must make some with the children they are so sweet

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      April 17, 2013 at 10:05 am

      We are so pleased with them too! Do make some!

      Reply
  5. Joyce says

    April 17, 2013 at 11:20 am

    I have to find a kid to do this with! And love the “self recognition” session.

    Reply
  6. Jenny Jones says

    April 17, 2013 at 12:27 pm

    AWESOME! I have made dolls but never thought of getting my son involved in designing his own. We will be doing this soon. Thanks for the great idea!

    Reply
  7. SusieQTpies says

    April 17, 2013 at 1:10 pm

    These are so adorable!!!! xoxo susieQTpies

    Reply
  8. Judy says

    April 17, 2013 at 1:45 pm

    So stinking cute! I have to do this with my 6 year old…he would have such a blast. Did you use fabric markers?

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      April 17, 2013 at 1:58 pm

      I had some fabric markers Judy, but they were a little old. So I went for sharpies – basically meaning I won’t wash them. But you are right, if I used fabric markers that would make them great long term, as the stuffing I have is machine washable!

      Reply
  9. fivegoblogging says

    April 18, 2013 at 8:23 am

    I love this idea! The Princess has started doing some cool portraits and I can definitely see them as dolls.

    Reply
  10. Vicky @ Mess For Less says

    April 19, 2013 at 12:47 am

    Thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  11. Samantha Agar says

    April 19, 2013 at 3:24 pm

    I LOVE this! Definitely doing it with my boys. Just hoping you can clarify whether you sewed on the arms and legs with their tops open to the body or if you just seamed across them?
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      April 19, 2013 at 4:55 pm

      I just seemed across them – much easier!

      Reply
      • Samantha Agar says

        April 20, 2013 at 1:55 am

        Awesome. I am pretty sure that’s now my Mum used to do them but thought I would see if you had an opinion either way now that you’ve done it once or twice!
        We drew our “dudes” today on canvas scraps and when I went to sew them my machine jammed. I have just started using it again after a long hiatus and I have no idea what I am doing! Looks like these dolls will be hand sewn in the evenings until done :p
        Thanks for the great project!

        Reply
  12. becky says

    April 21, 2013 at 5:31 am

    Oh Maggy i think these are lovely it really is about valuing what children create isn’t it. Gorgeous. One for the treasure boxes

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      April 21, 2013 at 9:12 am

      Thank you Becky, yes, love how much it is a picture by JUST THEM!

      Reply
  13. Rachel says

    April 25, 2013 at 2:04 pm

    Those dolls are just precious! What fun little treasures to have. Thanks for sharing them at For the Kids Friday. I’m featuring your post at this week’s party! xoxo

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      April 25, 2013 at 3:29 pm

      Ooh thank you so much, appreciate the feature too!

      Reply
  14. Varya @ CWOV says

    May 3, 2013 at 12:47 am

    I love making rag dolls! They are always such a hit

    Reply

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