Introduction:
This type of doll uses wooden beads for the shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee joints. It is very posable and very easy to make. The doll is put together after all the parts are individually finished. If you make a mistake on one of the parts, all is not lost; simply remake that part and continue on. The Pumpkin Doll is a variation of the Cloth Bead Doll. Refer to that project for more construction photos.
A note on the beads:
I've tried to use materials that are in most crafter's stash, or readily available locally or online. If you are not able to find all of the beads listed in the specified sizes, you may substitute what you can get. As long as they are similar in size (i.e. ¼" vs. 3/8") they should work.
Because some of the beads are small, this doll is not recommended for young children. There could be a choking factor if the beads were to come loose. If you wish to make it for younger children, omit the beads and joint the arms and legs together by sewing with upholstery thread at each outside point of the limbs.
Materials:
Fabrics
-Black Halloween Print or Solid Black Fabric - 1/3 yard (12" x 44") for body, upper and lower legs and upper and lower arms
-Orange Halloween Print, Plaid or Solid Orange Fabric - scrap 5" X 10" for head
-Matching threads
Wooden Beads
-Two 1 3/4" round with small holes for hip joints
-Two 1 1/4" round with small holes for knee joints
-Four 1" round with small holes for shoulder and elbow joints
Trims and Miscellaneous
-Upholstery thread for sewing the bead joints
-Polyester stuffing
-Craft paint, orange and black for beads and Jack O Lantern features
-Varnish
-Fabric Pens, black and yellow embroidery floss and/or black felt for Jack O Lantern features
-Tree or bush stem, purchased, made from oven bake clay or from the back yard
-Artificial fall leaves or green and/or brown felt for leaves
-Florist wire
-Halloween trims, ribbons, raffia as desired
-Tacky Glue and/or hot glue gun as preferred
Preparing Beads:
Paint the beads with the orange paint and let dry. Hold the beads so the holes are at the sides of the head, and then paint black vertical lines to represent pumpkins and Jack O Lantern faces on them. The faces can be identical to each other and realistic in detail or different from each other and crude or cartoon like, as you choose. Varnish and set them aside.
Pumpkin Doll (22" Tall)
Note: Read all instructions before starting.
Cutting:
The pattern pieces are all laid out in one direction on the fabrics, so you need not worry about nap or one way prints. However, you will need more fabric for matching plaids. Print the pattern and cut out the pieces. Fold the black fabric in half with the right sides together. Make sure the arrows on the pattern pieces lay on the straight of grain on the fabric and any one way design points in the correct direction. Lay the upper and lower legs, upper and lower arms and body pattern pieces on top of the folded fabric and pin in place. Cut out all the pieces and transfer any markings from the pattern pieces to the back of the fabric. Leave all the pattern pieces attached until you are ready to sew that part. There is no pattern for the head. It is a rectangle 5" x 10" cut from the orange fabric.
