The Nature Corner: Celebrating the Year's Cycle With a Seasonal Tableau
by M. V. Leeuwen and J. Moeskops
Paperback, 88 pages, with diagrams & colorful photographs
Whether you have a Seasonal Table or not, you will find this to be a valuable addition to your craft library. First published in Dutch, and now available in English, this translation is a joy to read. The photographs alone are inspiring! Learn to make small dolls, animals, gnomes, objects in nature, and more. The instructions are well written, often giving more than one method for completing a project. Sewing, knitting, dollmaking -- this book has it all!
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Making More Flower Children
By Sybille Adolphi
Paperback, 88 pages with full-size patterns
From buttercups to blackberries and poppies to mistletoe, this beautifully illustrated book contains the patterns, color photographs and clear instructions for making a broad range of small flower children dolls for the dollhouse or nature corner. This sequel to the ever-popular Making Flower Children includes all the basic instructions and offers an entirely new set of flower children to create. The projects are arranged by season and are so adorable you’ll want to make them all!
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Magic Wool Fairies
by Christine Schafer
Paperback, 103 pages
Unspun sheep's wool, also known as magic wool, is a warm vibrant material, perfect for making these beautiful soft figures. Christine Schafer includes detailed instructions on making fairies and angels for every occasion: flower fairies for a seasonal nature table, fairies for birthday celebrations, guardian angels to watch over a crib and, of course, a range of Christmas angels. This book includes step-by-step instructions, colour photographs and diagrams which clearly show the reader the basics for making simple figures, progressing to detailed instructions for making more elaborate versions.
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Making Waldorf Dolls
by Maricristin Sealey
Paperback, 157 pages
Maricristin Sealey is a professional doll maker, who has many years' experience of teaching people how to make dolls. Her dolls draw on a rich variety of European traditions. This book will show you how to make dolls in all sizes, plus jointed dolls. It has one of the best chapters on hairstyles and how to create them that I've ever seen! Also included are clothing patterns. Overall, it is one of the best, most comprehensive Waldorf dollmaking books available on the market today.
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Feltcraft: Making Dolls, Gifts and Toys
by Petra Berger
Paperback, 95 pages
Felt is a durable and flexible material that is perfect for children to work with. This book contains a range of simple creative items to make using felt: from dolls and animal figures, to wall hangings and jewellery. All of the projects are accompanied by step-by-step instructions, patterns and colour photographs. They are all suitable for making with children.
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NOTE: These are book recommendations only. To purchase, click on the link.
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Sewing Dolls
by Karin Neuschultz
Paperback, 110 pages
In this book, the author demonstrates new methods for sewing Waldorf-style dolls, including the use of a felting needle. The variety of adorable dolls is extensive and the photos will inspire! You can choose styles and sizes from beginner to more advanced. I found this to be a very useful addition to my dollmaking library.
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Felt Wee Folk: Enchanting Projects
By Salley Mavor
Paperback, 80 pages with full-size patterns
Artist and children’s book author, Salley Mavor has revealed her secrets! With felt, pipe cleaners, embroidery thread, wool fleece for hair and found objects of nature, you can create your own one-of-a-kind wee folk dolls that are simply adorable! Besides a wide variety of dolls, also included are other felt projects, such as spectacular fabric relief pictures, decorated balsam pillows, appliquéd purses, fanciful pins, an embroidered checkbook cover and cell phone holder. The brightly colored photos are inspirational and the directions and diagrams are very easy to understand, making these delightful projects appropriate for children (under 8 with adult help) and grown-ups, too. Just as the title suggests, I guarantee you will be enchanted!
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Baby Dolls & Their Clothes
by Valeria Ferrari
Paperback, 160 pages
Sadly, this book is out of print, but if you're able to find a used copy on Amazon or Ebay at a good price, it is worth the hunt! These soft, cuddly baby dolls are simple to make, fun to personalize--and impossible to resist! A basic doll pattern shows you how to stitch several styles of baby dolls, plus knitted dolls and even small plush animals. Vibrant, close-up photos illustrate each technique step by step, from sewing doll bodies to adding lovely tresses, beautiful costumes, and simple accessories that will help to create a doll that's as unique as its maker.
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Dolls Kids Can Make
by Sheila McGraw
Paperback, 72 pages with photos and patterns
I checked this book out of our library so many times I finally decided I had to have my own copy! It is out of print, but inexpensive used copies can easily be found. From baby dolls to a double Wolf/Red Riding Hood doll, this book is filled with kid-appealing ideas. Clear, step-by-step photos show the easy techniques for putting eleven different dolls together. It’s not just for kids either! Beginner doll makers will find it an excellent resource. This is the book that inspired my daughter and me to start sewing dolls together!
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Making Dolls
by Sunnhild Reinckens
Paperback, 76 pages
This little book with its many color photographs and simple diagrams describes how to make seventeen different kinds of waldorf-style dolls, from a cuddly doll for toddlers, a large baby doll, finger puppets and gnomes, to dolls for a doll's house, and many others. There are clear instructions on how to form the head, create different hair-styles, indicate the features of the face, and make the body of the doll. For the longest time, this book was THE Waldorf dollmaking guidebook! I highly recommend for beginners and advanced dollamkers alike.
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Toymaking With Children
by Freya Jaffke
Paperback, 141 pages
The toys which surround children in their early years can have a profound effect on their developing skills, creativity and imagination. The author, an experienced kindergarten teacher, explores the nature of children's play and shows how different toys are suitable for different ages. The book has instructions for making a wide variety of toys, from simple knotted animals and play cloths, to a dollhouse, a play store, puppets, boats and trains, and many varieties of dolls. Presented in a clear step-by-step way, all the instructions are fully described and illustrated. Parents and teachers will find inspiration and helpful guidance in this practical handbook.
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Making Fairy Tale Scenes
By Sybille Adolphi
Paperback, 93 pages
Bring the magic of classic fairy tales to life! This book provides instructions and patterns for felting a variety of figures and settings from Grimm’s wonderful stories, including Cinderella, Hansel & Gretel, Sleeping Beauty, Rumpelstiltskin, Rapunzel and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Directions for both needle felting and traditional wet felting are given. The color photographs are marvelous and highly motivating for either a skilled or beginning felter.
