Joy's Waldorf Doll Kit Recommendations

[jenny junebug]

I want to make a dressable doll for my 3 year old and have been looking at Joy's patterns. Has anybody ever tried the 16" Honey Doll kit? How hard would this be for a first-time doll maker? Does this doll have a little "bum". He seems to want a doll with a cute little "bum". Thanks!

[E.V. Lowi]

Originally Posted by jenny junebug

I want to make a dressable doll for my 3 year old and have been looking at Joy's patterns. Has anybody ever tried the 16" Honey Doll kit? How hard would this be for a first-time doll maker? Does this doll have a little "bum". He seems to want a doll with a cute little "bum". Thanks!

I like this company- www.dancingraindolls.com --I think the quality of the materials is far superior. The skin tone knit is a lot thicker and more durable, doesn't pill so much or get holes and runs easily. Much better for beginners to use. It just makes the work so much nicer with good fabric.

Joy doesn't allow for any internet or catalog sales, so if you think you might want to sell a few dolls, I'd go with a different pattern so it won't be a problem for you, later --

http://www.joyswaldorfdolls.com/docs..._Workshops.pdf

[jenny junebug]

I checked out that site. Thanks for the tip. I think the Friendship Doll would be comparable to Joy's Honey doll. From the photo, it appears it might be a button joined doll....which really scares me. Has anyone made the Friendship doll? My son will want to know if it has a little formed "bum"? This seems to be a requirement for him!!

[MichelleS]

Originally Posted by jenny junebug

I want to make a dressable doll for my 3 year old and have been looking at Joy's patterns. Has anybody ever tried the 16" Honey Doll kit? How hard would this be for a first-time doll maker? Does this doll have a little "bum". He seems to want a doll with a cute little "bum". Thanks!

We have four Joy's dolls - two of which I made myself for Christmas. They are lovely, my babies love them and Joy is truly great to deal with.

[jenny junebug]

I actually have one of the little heavy babies that she made and we love it. I thought it would be fun to make a dressable doll. Do you know which pattern you made yourself? I'm debating between the honey doll pattern and the baby companion pattern. Did you experience any problems with runs in the fabric?

thanks!

[MichelleS]

Originally Posted by jenny junebug

Do you know which pattern you made yourself? I'm debating between the honey doll pattern and the baby companion pattern. Did you experience any problems with runs in the fabric?

thanks!

I actually made the 14" baby companion dolls, no problems with the fabric at all.
They send you out a finite amount of thread, and I was concerned at first about the amount; it seemed to be not enough. But it was fine. HERE is a link to show the completed dolls. HTH!

[E.V. Lowi]

Originally Posted by MichelleS

I actually made the 14" baby companion dolls, no problems with the fabric at all.
They send you out a finite amount of thread, and I was concerned at first about the amount; it seemed to be not enough. But it was fine. HERE is a link to show the completed dolls. HTH!

You did such a beautiful job on your dolls- they are so sweet! I especially love the fabric for the sleepers.

I am working on some 16" classic Waldorf dolls (legs cut in 1 peice with the body and arm cut together in 1 piece) I am using the organic knit from Joy's on 2 of the dolls and the European knit skin that DRD carries, for the other 2. I will post some photos when I finish. The difference in the quality of the dolls is remarkable. You can see through the organic short staple cotton and all the seam allowances are visible through the skin tone knit. Pin holes remain quite visible, especially along the seam lines and every lump and bump shows, as well.

On the other 2, the seam allowances are hardly visible and the thicker skin fabric, made from long staple cotton seems so much smoother when pulled over the wool stuffing. The fabric does not stretch quite so much and so it is easier to control the shape. There isn't as much wrinkling at the neck. I think once you have worked with both of these fabrics you will be amazed at the difference. As much as I love to buy organic, I would hesitate to recommend this short staple organic knit for doll making, especially for a beginners and for dolls larger than 12". There is just too much stress on the fabric and I don't think it would hold up well to play, at all especially at the seams and at stress points such as a formed nose. I think it's fine for small dolls, though and I love it for dolls 6-8" and smaller where the European fabric is just a bit too thick whan making details that need turning, like tiny thumbs.

www.weirdollsandcrafts.com also carries a nice quality cotton knit skin, which works quite well, durable and reasonably priced. It's a bit thinner than the DRD knit, but not as stretchy and see-thru as the Joy's knit. Nice skin tone colors, as well.

[Max'sMama]

Originally Posted by jenny junebug

I want to make a dressable doll for my 3 year old and have been looking at Joy's patterns. Has anybody ever tried the 16" Honey Doll kit? How hard would this be for a first-time doll maker? Does this doll have a little "bum". He seems to want a doll with a cute little "bum". Thanks!

I would go with Joy's. She is wonderful and as far as having a 'bum' you make the doll and can add more fiber to the bum so that it has as much or as little bum as you need. I made two for dd for Christmas and it was so not hard.

[MichelleS]

Originally Posted by E.V. Lowi

I especially love the fabric for the sleepers.

I bought the sleepers (from Joy's as well) - I had so much else to make for Christmas.

[E.V. Lowi]

Originally Posted by MichelleS

I bought the sleepers (from Joy's as well) - I had so much else to make for Christmas.

Did you also purchase the presewn body parts and the premade head?

[dianna11]

I would imagine for a 'bum', you could just put more stuffing there, and gather the fabric in the "crack" :

We just ordered a kit from Joy the other day and I'm so excited to receive it! I will probably do a little free-styling with elbows and knees like they do with Cabbage Patch dolls.

[lovebugsmama]

I also like dancingraindolls.com. I have now made two waldorf dolls, one was a pattern from Joy's and one was from dancingraindolls. The pattern from DRD was more detailed in my opinion and great for a first time doll maker. When I had trouble I e-mailed Amy and she responded right away with some extra tips even though she was supposed to be on vacation. I made the button jointed baby and the button jointing was probably the easiest part, although I was intimidated by the button jointing idea before I recieved the pattern. I am going to be ordering the friendship doll pattern next and I can't wait to try it!