Sewing Dolls for Boys- Pattern Review
**Crafty Gemini’s Guide to Making DIY Dolls for Kids: A Step-by-Step Video Tutorial**
by Vanessa The Crafty Gemini
Hey there! It's Vanessa from *The Crafty Gemini*. I’m back with another fun how-to video tutorial, this time all about creating a special little doll that my son and I made together. If you’re not already following me on my blog, make sure to click the description box below for more crafting ideas and updates. Without further ado, let’s dive into this project!
---
### **About This DIY Doll Project**
As many of you know, my kids are aged 2 years, 1.5 years, and 4 years old. They’re really into imaginative play these days, coming up with all sorts of characters and crazy stories. With that in mind, I’ve been looking for ways to create unique doll characters they can play with.
Enter *Abby’s Designs*—a go-to resource for the cutest softies, dolls, and sewing patterns! In her *Family of Dolls Ebook*, you’ll find patterns for a little boy doll (Liam), a little girl doll, and even a baby doll, all in one convenient ebook. I showed my son the pattern for Liam, and he was absolutely thrilled to get started!
---
### **Materials You’ll Need**
When it comes to crafting with kids, having the right materials is key. Here’s what I used for this project:
1. **Fabric:**
- For the outside of the doll, I used fleece fabric. Abby recommends her patterns, and I love getting mine from *Fabric Diva*. She has an incredible variety of fleece options—solid colors, prints, plaids, you name it! The color I chose for Liam’s shirt was camel, but there are so many other great options to choose from.
2. **Stuffing:**
- For the inside, I used polyester fiberfill. This is where things can get a bit tricky—stuffing dolls until they’re nice and firm while avoiding lumps that might clump over time. My tip? Stuff them tightly so they keep their shape!
3. **Eyes and Features:**
- Abby’s patterns call for safety eyes, but I didn’t have any on hand. Instead, my son and I used buttons since his older kids can handle them safely. However, if you’re making this for younger children (like a baby or toddler), be cautious—buttons pose a choking hazard. A safer alternative is to use small pieces of fleece or felt for the eyes, which you can hand-stitch into place.
4. **Thread and Needles:**
- I used regular sewing thread and needles for most of the project.
5. **Other Tools:**
- Embroidery stitches for the mouth.
---
### **The Making Process**
1. **Pattern Instructions:**
Abby’s patterns are well-written with clear text instructions, but they also include helpful picture diagrams to guide you through each step. This is super useful if the written instructions feel a bit unclear.
2. **Sewing Stitches:**
- Most of the construction involved straight stitching. For curved areas, I did most of the sewing myself, while my son helped with the straight seams on the arms and legs.
3. **Facial Features:**
- The nose was tiny—just a small knob—and I wasn’t sure how to stitch it on by hand at first. But Abby’s patterns make this process much easier!
- For the mouth, I used simple embroidery stitches.
4. **Hairline:**
- A zigzag stitch worked perfectly for creating Liam’s hairline.
---
### **Involving Kids in the Process**
One of the best parts of this project was involving my son every step of the way:
- **Stuffing:** He loved helping me stuff the doll until it felt just right.
- **Fabric Selection:** He got to choose the colors and patterns for Liam’s shirt, pants, and shoes.
- **Sewing Help:** Once he was old enough, I let him help with some of the sewing on straight seams.
This is a fantastic way to teach kids about crafting while making something they’ll love to play with. Even younger children can assist by selecting fabrics or helping with the stuffing—no sewing skills required!
---
### **Where to Get Patterns and Materials**
- **Abby’s Designs:** Check out her shop for the *Family of Dolls Ebook* and other fun patterns. She currently has a 15% discount for *Crafty Gemini fans*, so make sure to use the code in the description below before it expires!
- **Fabric Diva:** For all your fleece fabric needs, visit *Fabric Diva*.
---
### **Important Tips**
- **Safety First:** If you’re making this doll for younger children, avoid using small parts like buttons. Opt for hand-stitched eyes made from fleece or felt instead.
- **Durability:** These dolls are machine-washable and sturdy, thanks to the quality fabrics and tight stuffing.
---
### **Final Thoughts**
We had an absolute blast putting Liam together—and we’re already planning to make more dolls! Huge shoutout to Abby for her fantastic patterns and the discount she’s offering to my fans.
If you enjoyed this video, don’t forget to hit that thumbs-up button, share it across your social media, and subscribe to my channel so you don’t miss any future tutorials. I’ll see you in the next video! Bye!