Dolly, Come Out & Play With Me

My sis came up with 

an ambitious idea...

Let's have a doll exchange

at our summer sewathon.

This was our inspiration board.

Here are her quite specific guidelines...

cause let's just say,  

we've had exchanges go awry.

So listen up ladies.

1. This needs to be a DOLL. Not just a stuffed animal/doll. It can totally be an animal but it needs 2 legs, not four. NO monsters, nothing goofy, no crazy sock bizarr-o faces. No ninja's, clowns or grungy tea dyed. A sweet "doll" done in the cutest fabrics/felt and embroidered or safety eyes.

Ask yourself: "What would Martha make for her grandchildren?" I've read a lot of Living Magazines over the years and I'm pretty sure I have a good handle on that! :)

2. I don't want to squelch your creativity. HOWEVER, we are going for sweet. And we are going for EFFORT. Do not throw together something in the final days. "Ahem".

3. They can be simple, but simple darling-ness.

4. Preferably no removable clothes. Something attached is okay but I've seen too many naked dolls running around.

5. They can be knitted or crocheted (but I'm thinking that will take sooo much longer to make, yes?) But they must be DARLING, not 1979 grandma crocheted this.

6. They can be boy or girl. But even boys can be DARLING.

7. They need to be AT LEAST 10-12" and no more than 18".....because that's a great size for a DARLING doll.

8. If you aren't sure if your idea meets the Martha standard, just ask. I have opinions.

That might have scared a few players away.

Luckily, everyone didn't join in, 

because that would have been

a lot of dolls to make.

I made Little Red out of my

Red Riding Hood linen and Mochi dot

that I love.

As someone who doesn't make softies much, I thought linen might be nice for the bodies and the whole doll, since it's thicker, and I wouldn't have to be so gentle when stuffing.

Worked out great.

This pattern is from Revoluzzza.

The girls were pretty easy.

A bit of embroidery, felt and stuffing.

Put my tags on. 

(It's a girl carrying a sewing machine.)

Packed them up to meet their new friends.

Three of us participated.

Des made the kitty, and 

Leela made the mermaid.

I think they turned out DARLING.