New pattern: Zero Waste Cloth Doll
Hi Everyone, I have a new zero waste pattern. It’s a cloth doll with a wardrobe of zero/low waste clothes.
The pattern is in my shop now; please enjoy 25% off for the next month.
The pattern pieces for the doll are nested in a zero waste layout which includes a coat and overalls.
The doll has several hair options and a simple face which can be hand embroidered or drawn using a permanent marker.
This cloth doll pattern is a blank canvas for your creativity. The pattern has no specific gender, so you can make a girl doll, boy doll, or a doll that looks like the child who’ll be playing with it.
Suitable fabrics include linen, cotton, calico, poplin, homespun or sheeting. For a very soft doll, velveteen or baby cord can be used – the difference in nap direction is not noticeable in small items like this.
Accompanying this pattern is a separate file to make a wardrobe of zero/low waste dolls clothes. You may recognize some of these styles from Zero Waste Sewing and my other zero waste patterns.
Here’s a gallery of dolls and clothes….
I came to make this pattern after thinking about other applications for zero waste cutting – the concept could be used for quilts, toys, home decor, or anything where pieces are arranged on a flat surface. I thought I could make a toy (read my brief thoughts about zero waste toys here) and drew an idea which turned out to be totally unworkable! But eventually I arrived at the pattern I’ve now finished. Below is the original cutting plan from my sketchbook – you can see I kept the idea of nesting clothes in with the doll, but the arms and legs became separate and the clothes changed.
This is my last post for the year and this blog is now on annual leave until late January.
Thanks so much for reading, commenting, following on social media and ordering patterns and books. I wish you a happy and relaxing Christmas/holidays!
Cheers!
Blast! This is exactly what I was looking for a few weeks ago and now there’s too little time left before Christmas for me to make one. Great idea.
Gah! Sorry Anne! A week before Christmas isn’t an ideal time to put out a toy pattern but alas I couldn’t do it any faster. Please file it away for later!
Wow Liz she/ he is gorgeous
Thanks Tracy! We think she looks like Jemima from Playschool with the face of a lego man!
Thank you for sticking with this idea! How wonderfully creative and useful… and I have so many fabric pieces in my scrap bin… January might just become wardrobe month for a little darling. Wishes sent your way that you and your family will find joy, happiness and health this Christmas season, with a happy and healthy New Year!
Many thanks Chris. It’s quite a good scrap-busting project – I could have gone on and on making dolls clothes!
Have a wonderful Christmas too.
Oh no! I’ve just finished making a baby doll for my granddaughter and would much have preferred this one with more outfit options. I’d buy it now for next year but I’ve exhausted my budget.
I’m sure your granddaughter will love the doll you’ve already made, Sue.
This pattern is just what i need to use up all my scrap and left over fabric.
Plus it will do for making the buddy dolls/ toys for donating to the police in the uk for them giving to children who are caught up in domestic abuse etc
Thanks Karen 🙂 It would be wonderful to use them to make buddy dolls.
I’m loving the ZW clothing options!! The diddy Cendre top has just set off waves of ‘cute aggression’ . (It’s a thing- that tension you feel when you encounter something seriously cute)
Thanks Wendy – glad you spotted the Cendre top!
Adorable dolls, Liz! Thanks for sharing!
Cheers Mary! I certainly had a lot of fun making this pattern!
I am looking forward to creating some dolls, love this pattern! I have lots of scraps and ideas in my head!
Thank you, I just saw your order!