Waldorf doll kits...

[capemom]

I'm thinking about ordering a kit from www.joyswaldorfdolls.com to make a doll for my dd for Christmas. Anyone have any experience with these? I am a sewer, but I have never made a doll. Are they hard? Can I handle it? Any recommendations for a particular doll? Thanks!

[esperanza4]

I tried the Honey doll my first time making a waldorf doll from Joy. I really enjoyed the pattern and didn' find it to be too complicated at all. once you get the kit read through the instructions carefully and look at the illustrations. Once you get a good feel for what to do and are familiar with the instructions it isn't hard at all to follow along as you make the doll. I love how mine turned out. More importantly my DD loves it!

Enjoy!

[boheime]

I ordered 16" Companion Baby kits last Fall to make for the kids. They weren't bad. I just finished the 12" Little Babies (I just ordered supplies this time). OMG! They are fantastic. These are the dolls I would recommend.

I did order the heads pre-made for all of the dolls. I am an experienced seamstress, but I'm not quite ready to trust myself with making the heads.

[daffodillysun]

Originally Posted by boheime

I did order the heads pre-made for all of the dolls. I am an experienced seamstress, but I'm not quite ready to trust myself with making the heads.

I am making some dolls that I got in a kit from Magic Cabin - very similar style and the heads look about the same. It is going well, and actually the heads were not all that hard to do. Just need to get them the right size. I am more concerned about the hair.

Jada

[Mama2E&O]

I have made these dolls from Joy's patterns:
16" honey
16" button baby
13" little love doll
They were all relatively simple to make- but the 13" little love doll was by far the easiest!
Making the head is easy too- just follow the directions she gives. I find her directions easy to follow.
Good luck! I love making Waldorf Dolls!

[udonandbroth]

I have made three dolls from Magic Cabin so far. I am getting ready to make three more for my kids Christmas gifts this year. It was really pretty easy: the hardest part was making the hair. This year I am going to order wigs from Joy's Waldorf Dolls just because it is so painstaking.

[mommymarliah]

I havent made it yet but I bought a kit from Dancing Rain on Ebay. and man is that a good deal. It was like $27 shipped and has everything I need for the doll and also comes with a pattern for a bunch of clothes. super deal. And the wahm is great to deal with. just do a search for dancing rain waldorf or doll and it should pull her listings up.

[E.V. Lowi]

I second the suggestions of pp-Here's the link www.dancingraindolls.com

Amy is so nice and helpful. She's a homeschooling mama to her 3 girls, but she can coach you through one of her kits, if you have any problems.

[babysbum2]

There are some really cute downloadable patterns here;
www.sarahs-dolls.com

and some free instructions here;

http://www.pummbaeren.de/Puppenkurs1...pchen/kopf.htm

[GoodWillHunter]

I've had great success with Joy's doll kits. The quality of her stock is really unmatched. I have tried Magic Cabin and Weir Dolls and found the instructions too vague for me and the dolls weren't as easy to make.

[welldone]

Originally Posted by GoodWillHunter

I have tried Magic Cabin and Weir Dolls and found the instructions too vague for me and the dolls weren't as easy to make.

I actually had the opposite experience. I've ordered two separate Bright Eyes Baby kits from Joy's Waldorf Dolls; both times, the kits were missing at least one item. I found the instructions to be specific in some areas, but confusing or non-existent in others. As a first time dollmaker, that was really difficult for me--I happen to be slightly experienced in sewing, so I was able to fill in the gaps. But after reading such glowing reviews about Joy's Waldorf Dolls and her patterns, I was shocked that the directions were so inconsistent and difficult to translate (at times).

I'm now making 16" waldorf dolls from Magic Cabin; I ordered two kits of six dolls each, and the directions are fantastic. Very clear and detailed. I'm making these dolls with six other women, and we've all found the kit to be easy to follow.

[Jillie]

I using a kit from Weir and although the instructions were a little vague, I'm really enjoying making the dolls. I ordered the pre stuffed head and pre sewed body. They look nice considering my lack of sewing skills. I'm really happy with them and cant wait to finish them. I found the kits very nice, with plenty of material in them. Way more than enough wool stuffing, thread and enough floss for me to make some mistakes.

[almama]

I have to vote against Magic Cabin. I bought a kit to make for a Christmas present. Shipping took forever and now I have found out the kit is woefully incomplete - no hair, no face material and there is no chance that it will be done before Christmas. They don't answer e-mails and some of the customer service people are helpful and some are not. I'll go with another one next time. Off to shop for a present since this one has no chance of being completed

[udonandbroth]

Originally Posted by almama

I have to vote against Magic Cabin. I bought a kit to make for a Christmas present. Shipping took forever and now I have found out the kit is woefully incomplete - no hair, no face material and there is no chance that it will be done before Christmas. They don't answer e-mails and some of the customer service people are helpful and some are not. I'll go with another one next time. Off to shop for a present since this one has no chance of being completed

oooh that sucks... my orders have been incomplete or one item replaced with another with Magic Cabin if I make an order closer to Christmas time.
It's too bad...

This year I ordered wool, inner stocking, embroidery floss and fabric from Weir and doll wigs from Joys and it ended up about $105 to make three dolls. They've turned out really well and right now I am making their clothes (which I should be doing right now while the kids sleep, instead I am taking a break) will post pics when they're done

[majazama]

n/m ...

[tanjarine]

There are free online instructions with a printable full size pattern at the waldorf homeschooling site
Tanja

[Star]

Thank you so much Tanja!