EASY TO MAKE SOCK DOLLS

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I am a day early with my blog this week because I am travelling to see family and friends for Christmas.  I wish all of you a safe and happy holiday!

These little sock dolls are the cutest!  Perfect for babies because there are no dangerous parts.  Easy to make they make the perfect gift.  Follow along with my free tutorial!

CUTIE PATOOTIE INSTRUCTIONS

I saw these cute dolls on Pinterest some time ago but was unable to find a pattern and instructions.   I wanted to be make these dolls for a childrens’ charity that I support in Costa Rica because they are so simple but perfect for small children.  After much thought and a bit of tweaking, I came up with a basic pattern for the dolls.    

Materials

• 1 white sock for the doll’s body
• 1 or 2 colored socks for the clothes
• Black embroidery thread
• Needle and coordinating thread
• Template – download here

Step 1

Keeping as much as the sock as possible, square the sock and cut off.

Step 2

Trace the template onto the sock.  You may need to adjust the “crotch” to fit.  Do not adjust the legs or they will be too skinny – This will be your sewing line NOT the cutting line.    TIP – It is best to use chalk.  I tried tracing with a pen and the colors showed on the finished doll.

Step 3

Sew around your markings being careful not to stretch the sock.  
Clip out between the legs approx. ¼ inch from the stitching.

Step 4

Make an opening in the “Toe” of the sock.   Turn inside out and stuff.  Slip stitch to close the opening.

Step 5

Make the head.  Make a ball of about 2 ½ inches at the top of the doll.  Tightly tie a string around what will be the neck of the doll.  You should now have a head, body and legs.

Step 6

Time to dress the doll. Starting with the hat.  Take the second sock, place the top of the sock on the head where desired and slip stitch around the edge of the hat.  Gather the top of the hat and tie tightly with your thread.  Cut off the remaining sock approx. 1 ½” from the gathering.  Clip from the edge to the gathering approx. 3/8 inch apart to form tassels.  Save the remaining sock to use for another doll or for a matching dress.

Step 7

To make the dress of the doll,   Using a third sock or the remaining portion of the sock used for the hat, make a tube from the foot of the sock (heel of the sock to the toe).  Cut off the toe and then square to the heel creating the tube. Turn under ¼ inch on one end of the tube and hem either by hand or machine.  Place the tube around the body of the doll with the unhemmed side of the tube around the neck.  Slip stitch around the neck turning under the raw edge and gathering as required.

Step 8

Using a double thread start your stitching 1 inch from the top of the neckline.  Sew tightly for 2 inches,  ¾’ from each edge of the doll to create the arms.  I use a backstitch because I find it stronger.

Step 9

Using 2 strands of black embroidery floss, embroider the eyes on to the face of the doll.   You may choose a straight closed eye look, add lashes, curve the eye or create a look of your own.

Because my dolls are meant for young toddlers, I do not use buttons or beads as they could be a choking hazard.  If you are making the doll for an older child, you can substitute buttons or beads for the eyes.

TIP – Use pencil to draw on the eye before stitching.  Use a backstitch to keep the stitches straight.

OPTIONAL

Add scarves, pants, shoes or trim as desired.  Be sure to secure the items to the doll to prevent them from coming off.  For example, even though the scarf is tied around the neck of the doll, I still secure it to the doll for safety.

To make pants/leggings – using the template, sew legs into a second sock. Leaving a couple inches above the crotch, cut the sock straight across to form a waistband.  Pull the pants over the legs of the doll and secure at the waist.  There is no need to hem the waistband as it will be covered by the dress.

For scarfs, you may knit or crochet a small scarf, use scraps of fabric, ribbon, beads (not for babies).

GET CREATIVE.  Let me know how you dressed your doll. Better yet, send me a picture.  I would love to see what you create!

Resources used in this tutorial

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