Nellie the Ragdoll Tutorial

Nellie is a cutie patootie. I use this pattern that I had in my head for most dolls that I make the wee one. The main difference between this doll and other dolls is that I dress the doll before I sew her up. I attempted to draw out the steps so you could get a general idea of how to make a ragdoll like little Nellie.

Step 1: Get two scrap pieces of fabric. one for the front, one for the back. Remember this will be the color of her skin. She can be whatever size you choose.

Step 2 and Step 3 can be done together in whichever order you choose. Basically you lay out her clothes on her body before or after you cut her out. You can use fusible webbing to iron them on or you can stitch them on with your machine. I usually do a shirt and skirt for the girl dolls and square pants for the boy dolls. Remember to do the back side as well. Lay them out side by side so they will line up later. If you haven't already...cut her out.

Step 4: Cut out the arms and go ahead and apply the sleeves before you stitch them up. After stitching up the sides, stuff the arms with polyfill. I usually cut a hand shape also.
Step 5: Lay the pieces inside out on top of each other. Sandwich the arms in between with the arms pointing in towards her belly button. You want to do them at this angle so they will hang correctly. Stitch the doll beginning at the side bottom all the way around to the other side bottom. All the way around the head and neck. Do not stitch the bottom edge (bottom of skirt). Use this opening to turn the doll back right side out and she will look like Step 6.

Step 6: stuff the doll completely.

Step 7: cut out the legs and stitch them up the sides and stuff. (of course you know to stitch inside out turning it right side out to stitch. Stitch straight across the legs at the knees so she will be jointed. Then insert the legs up into the skirt and stitch across the bottom of the skirt making sure the legs catch in your stitch and are secure. She is now completely stuffed and sewn shut.

Step 8: Yarn....take two or three pieces, stack together and tie them as one in the middle with a knot. Do this long enough to make long hair. You can trim it when done.

Step 9: Turn the doll over. Begin at the nape of the neck and sew the first knot onto the head. Follow all the way up sewing knots on in a line until you reach the front.

Step 10: Do the same technique all the way around the face and around the nape of the neck if you wish. The entire head will not be covered. Just the line, around the face, and the nape if you choose to do the nape of the neck.

Step 11: Smooth out hair and gather on sides and use yarn to tie in ponytails. Trim the hair up and you are done....except for the face and you are on your own on that one. It can be as unique as you wish. I did stitch a little ball nose on nellie.

I love to embellish these little dolls with belts, socks, shoes, necklaces, bracelets. Nellie even has her own purse. I use old clothes, onesies work great...recycle. This way you will already have the necklines and seams on the clothes if you place them correctly.
You can do this! Go do it!