Babushka Doll Directions

Material:
6 pieces of different colored felt or other fabric
Embroidery floss
Pattern (3 pages)

1] Make copy of patterns.

2] Cut out fabric as follows (I used):
Color A: 1 babushka and 2 ties (light green)
Color B: 1 hair (medium brown)
Color C: 1 face (very light pink/beige)
Color D: 1 main body-this is the apron (medium green)
Color E: 2 sleeves (mirror imaged) 1 under blouse, 1 skirt and petal 2 (yellow)
Color F: 1 petal 1 and flower center (medium blue)

3] Transfer marks and embroider face.
Eyes: I used 3 strands black floss. I used a stem stitch to outline the eyes and eyelashes, and on each eye, 3 satin stitches to create the irises.
Nose: I used 3 strands black floss and a steam stitch.
Lips: I used 3 strands of red floss. I used a combination of outline, straight and satin stitches until I got the right affect.
Freckles: I used 3 strands of pink floss. I made French knots wrapping the needle only once.

NOTE: If you check out any babushka doll you will notice that the faces ARE NOT perfect… most of the time they aren’t very symmetrical! If your face doesn’t turn out “perfect” they are closer to real babushka dolls than “perfect” faces. Kinda takes the pressure off, right??!

4] Pin hair to face. Using 3 strands of matching floss, attach the hair to the face using a running stitch, along the 2 curved bang lines. You do not need to attach the top. That will be sewn later.

5] Center the face on the backside of the babushka with the face “looking out”. Pin in place. You face should be centered both up and down and sideways. Using a running stitch and 3 strands of floss, attach the face to the babushka. (I used a contrasting thread in medium green.)

6] Place the under blouse behind the main body piece. Attach using French knots and 6 strands of contrasting floss (I used yellow). NOTE: Lay out the doll so you can see where the ties will lie. You do not want to French knot under the ties, or they will not lay flat later. Only attach on the lower curve. (See picture or pattern.)

7] Using the pattern as a guide, pin arms in place over the main body. To check placement, position babushka and face on main body. The babushka should hide the top of the arms. Reposition the arms if necessary. Using 3 strands of contrasting floss (I used medium green) attach the arms to the body using a running stitch. NOTE: Do NOT sew the outside edge. This will eventually be blanket stitched to another piece of fabric.

8] Pin babushka and ties to main body. Using 3 strands of contrasting thread (I used medium green) and a running stitch, attach the babushka only along the lower edge. Then sew all around the ties. The whole top of babushka will not be sewn. This will eventually be blanket stitched to another piece of fabric.

9] Pin the skirt behind the main body. Using 6 strands of contrasting floss (I used yellow) and French knots, attach the skirt to the main body.

10] Position and attach the petal 1 to the doll using 3 strands of contrasting floss (I used yellow) and a running stitch.

11] Position petal 2 over petal 1. Do NOT attach. Place flower center over petal 2. Using 3 strands of contrasting floss, blanket stitch the flower center to the body, making sure to go through petal 2 and petal 1. (I found it easiest to go through the main body, too.)

OPTIONAL: Babushka dolls are usually quite ornate. If you’d like to embellish the doll, add embroidery now.

12] Blanket stitch the doll to fabric to finish the project. You can do this in 2 different ways depending on the look you want to achieve. You can use 3 strands of the same colored floss and blanket stitch around the entire doll or you can change floss to match the color of your fabric.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE MULTIPLE SIZE DOLLS: Using your printer, reduce the size of your doll pattern until you create the desired effect. How much you reduce your pattern depends on tastes and how many dolls you’d like to make. (I’ve seen as few as 4 and as many as 10) Keep reducing the main pattern, not your reductions. (For example… place your pattern in your printer. Set your printer at 90%. After you run a copy, set your printer for 80%, and so on.) Also, looking at traditional babushka dolls, faces can be very different as sizes get smaller. Designs usually get simpler as the designs get smaller. Also, you may wish to change what the doll is holding. THERE IS NO RIGHT WAY to do this. Have fun, and be creative!