Finished heights: 18 1/2 inches, 21 1/2 inches and 24 inches
Materials (for one doll)1 1/4 yds. of homespun cotton checked fabric (dress, arms)
1/2 yd. muslin
1/4 yd calico print for bloomers
scraps of lace, buttons, ribbon
Tea bags, for staining
Polyester fiberfill
acrylic paints in off-white, black, brown and red
satin-finish clear varnish
Pine-color wood stain
Knitting needle or other blunt pointed object
Pattern
A 1/4 in seam allowance is included with each pattern. Use 1/4 in seams in all stitching.
Solid lines on pattern pieces are cutting lines: broken lines indicate where a pattern piece is placed on the fold of the fabric for cutting. Lines that alternate dots and dashes indicate top stitching. Blue lines on head patterns are guides for painting faces.
Cut out pattern pieces. For the body, align the AB markings on the body piece on the first page with the AB markings on the body piece on the second page to make one pattern (please check size - I drew a 6 inch rule on the edge of each piece, you will need to play with the sizing, I am afraid)
Tea-dye the muslin and all other fabrics before cutting. To tea-dye, boil 4 cups of water with eight tea bags. Remove bags; soak all fabrics in the tea. Remove fabrics and let them dry thoroughly.
From muslin, cut head, hands, and lower leg/shoe pieces. From check, cut arms, body and a skirt rectangle as follows: 25 x 16 1/2 inches (lg), 24 x 15 inches (med) or 24 x 12 inches (sm). Also from check, cut waist sash as follows: 19 1/2 in x 2 1/4 inches (lg), 19 x 1 3/4 in (med) or 18 1/2 x 13/4 inches (sm).
From print, cut upper leg/bloomers.
With right sides together, stitch around head pieces, leaving neck open. Clip curves; turn right side out and press.
Fold bottom edge of one upper leg/bloomer piece under 1/4 inch; press. Lay folded edge of upper leg over top edge of lower leg/shoe piece; top stitch the two pieces together. With right sides together, fold leg in half and stitch. Leave top open for turning. Trim seams; clip curves and turn. Use a blunt-pointed object such as a knitting needle to push toes of shoes out. Stuff the shoe and the leg. Repeat for second leg; set legs aside.
Turn 1/4 inch under on bottom (wrist) of arm piece; press. Position arm over the top of hand piece; top stitch. With right sides together, fold arm in half. Stitch seams, leaving top edge (shoulder) open. Trim seams; clip curves and turn.
The larger and smaller dolls have top stitching on the hands to define fingers (See marks on patterns) To sew fingers, put a small amount of fiberfill in hand and top stitch following the pattern markings.
Finish stuffing both arms.
Stitch body around the top and down the sides, leaving open the armhole areas and the bottom.
Turn armhole openings on body in 1/4 inch and insert the arms approximately 1 inch into the body. Top stitch across the armhole openings through all layers.
Firmly stuff the body. Stuff the head. Turn 1/4 inch of the fabric at the bottom of the head piece (neck) to the inside. Set the head on top of the neck area of the body and hand-stitch the head to the body.
Fold 1/4 inch of the bottom edge of the body to the inside; press. With toes pointing forward, and the leg seam running down the front of each leg, insert legs into the bottom opening on the body. Top stitch across the bottom of the body through all layers.
Paint the head, hands, and legs with off-white acrylic paint. Let dry. Repeat/ Paint boots black (shaded area on the lower leg/shoe pattern indicates where to paint the boot.) Paint hair, nose and eyes brown and mouth red, using the head pattern as a guide for positioning features. Paint the back of head brown. Let dry. Brush stain over all painted areas. Wipe off excess stain with a rag; dry thoroughly. Brush on varnish. Let dry. Note: If varnish is applied over wet stain, a milky filmy appearance will result.
With right sides facing, stitch short sides of skirt rectangle together. Turn hem under 5/8 inch and stitch. Sew gathering stitches to skirt top. Gather skirt to fit doll's waist: hand stitch in place at doll's waist.
Fold right sides of waist sash together. Stitch, leaving a 2-inch opening at the center of one long side. Trim corners. Turn right side out: press. Stitch opening closed. Place over gathering on skirt and tie in a bow in back. Optional: Tack lace to bottom of bloomers and around doll's neck. Sew button to dress front. Use wide lace for shawl.
I hope you can make the pattern the correct size and that you enjoy Sarah
as much as I have.
