A Nameless Rag Doll

I have yet to name this doll, but I imagine it being something befitting of a girl of the mid-nineteenth century. As a girl of that era, she wears a pink calico frock, muslin pantalettes, and a muslin apron. Her hair is one plait made of the type of yarn intended for washcloths and the like. I quite like it in this context -- it's endearing, but without the frizzy wisps that acrylic yarn unwinds into!

I've actually gone and hemmed everything quite neatly this time...

And the French knots I used for her eyes have stayed!

She's such an endearing creature; yet I cannot think of a name!

A Springtime Gown for Charity

In light of the new warm weather, I thought that my reproduction Queen Anne doll, Charity, could use a new gown. She was a gift for a past birthday -- she's from the 1995 UFDC convention! She came with clothes of her own, but I wanted so badly to dress her myself in 18th century garb! She wears a shift, pannier hoops, a petticoat, and a pocket as underthings. I have yet to figure out how to construct a pair of 18th century stays. She also wears a mobcap.

The new gown is a pink print with a modesty piece, ruffled sleeves, and gathers in the back to simulate the tapes of a robe anglaise.

Brown ribbon laces down the front of her bodice.

And here's some sleeve details!

I think Charity finds true solace in the gardens.

Mary, Another Girl of the Mid-1800s

This is Mary. She's a fairly proper girl who enjoys stitching and baking. She's really very proud of her samplers, but I almost wish she'd stop making them! They clutter every spare corner in the house, considering the terrible weather has kept us cooped up inside the house as of late. Being a proper lady, Mary never leaves her hair a mess. Much like in the Swedish style of the mid-1800s, she ma

kes a braid on either side of her head and pins both braids to her head in order to make buns. In order to preserve her fair complexion, she never sets foot outside the house without her brown printed sunbonnet. She also neglects to wear shoes, but this is only to preserve her only pair for church on Sundays. Most of the time, she prefers to wear pink. At the moment, she is wearing a pink dress that she made herself with a pink gingham apron over it. Mary has a nice, weighty feel, since I stuffed her with natural wool roving. So, she'll sit nicely and brighten up any room! She's available on Etsy, and comes with a little brown bird sewn from the same fabric as her bonnet.

Emma, a Girl of the Mid-19th Century

Meet Emma. She's a lively girl of the mid-1800s with a penchant for sunbonnets, running barefoot, and cows. It's no use trying to tame her; she refuses to wear pantalettes or shoes! She eays that shoes would only slow her down, and no one lays down on the ground at her ankles in order to check for pantalette hems. Hence, she thinks that a petticoat will do the job of pantalettes quite nicely.

Emma loves bright flowers, and it shows in her garments. She wears a bright purple printed frock (her favorite) and a pink calico pocket that she sewed herself, which she uses for the transport of flowers. If I were to open one of her books, pressed flowers would float to the floor in droves.
In order to preserve her favorite frock, she consents to don a white batiste apron; it's really rather miraculous that she hasn't entirely ruined it by now. Forunately, she values her complexion to some degree; she never sets foot outside the house without her mustard-colored bonnet.
Emma is an entirely hand-stitched OOAK doll. She's been stuffed with natural wool roving, and her clothing is also my design. Her bonnet is not removable, and I don't recommend removing her frock, either. Emma is available on Etsy!

Cora, a 19th Century Reproduction Rag Doll

This is Cora, a doll that I picture as being the companion of a little girl living on the prairie in the mid-1800s. Cora is an original design and was made without a pattern. She was hand-stitched and is stuffed with natural wool roving, which gives her a nice, weighty feel. Her sweet countenance was hand-embroidered and needle sculpted. Her braids are made of English mohair that

I dyed myself. She wear

s a calico bonnet to keep the sun from burning her fair face. A sunburn would be unsightly! She also wears a green calico dress with long sleeves and a hem that reaches her ankles. Over that, she wears a simple muslin apron and a shawl. Under her dress, she wears pantalettes that she tries very hard to keep neat and clean; however, the dusty prairie makes this a trifle challenging! Her legs are made of blue and white ticking, so she has "stockings" on at all times. Also, unlike most of my other dolls, Cora wears shoes. Cora quite enjoys wearing her little boot-like shoes. She says they make her feel like she's a fancy girl from the town where her little mistress' papa brings the crops to market.

A Jane Eyre-Inspired Rag Doll

This is Jane, a rag doll inspired by the Jane Eyre miniseries. She's an original, OOAK design. Jane is entirely hand-stitched and stuffed with natural wool roving. She's wearing a bonnet that's been sewn to her head, a muslin apron and pantalettes, and a blue-checked dress. The dress was inspired by mid-19th century frocks, and it has two rows of tucks along the bottom hem. She's available on Etsy!